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House Bill 478 to Remove Choice of Reserving Lost Wages.

By Edward A. Brutscher, Esq.

The Kentucky Law Review posted an op-ed on HB 478, which apparently removes the right of an insured to direct withholding of no fault benefits for the payment of lost wages, in cases of emergency care. It would require the no fault obligor to pay emergency services directly to the medical provider and that the benefits be considered primary to all other forms of payment. While not specifically mentioned in the op-ed, the bill also contains language establishing a means to challenge whether a medical bill or treatment is reasonable or necessary by establishing a review and appeal process, including examinations.

This bill appears to be an attempt to address some of my earlier concerns in my post titled Chiropractor on Trial, PIP Abuse, and Other Thoughts. I question why hospitals and emergency services should receive priority over other medical services or wage loss claims. Especially, in light of my earlier questions regarding extensive workups for relatively minor injuries. I am unsure what costs in healthcare have risen the most recently but I would imagine emergency services are right up there. I don't see how this would maximize the use of no fault benefits to the injured party's benefit. I disagree with Mike's comments that the "PIP insurer wins", because I don't think it matters to the PIP carrier whom it pays, the hospital or the insured.

The procedure suggested certainly appears to address the issue of what treatment is reasonable or necessary, but as I mentioned in my earlier posts addressing reasonable and necessary treatment does not make the charges reasonable or necessary or maximize the PIP coverage. It also seems to pit the PIP carrier against the insured in that determination by requiring examinations, reviews, and appeals of requested treatment. Most of these options are already in place but simply are not effective. I am concerned this language will lead only to increased costs and litigation, without accomplishing any real change in the means in which unreasonable and unnecessary charges are dealt with.

What Kentucky needs is for someone to address the disparity in no fault benefits as payment for medical expenses compared to other forms of compensation for these expenses. What Kentucky needs is for someone to address the ridiculous gold mine that is no fault and its propensity to encourage unreasonable and unnecessary treatment, leading to a reduction in the value of no fault insurance coverage over time. It's the manner in which the coverage is administered that is the problem not in the means in which it is accomplished.

All of which brings me to something I have been thinking about. Should Kentucky simply do away with its no fault law?

Full post as published by Kentucky Tort Journal on February 11, 2008 (boomark / email).