Click the button below to search for articles... View News Items from prior months... December 2018 February 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 March 2016 February 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 | Bill Would Bring Transparency to Michigan No-Fault System Lansing – A bi-partisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill today and would subject the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) to the state’s transparency laws. The MCCA is a critical component of Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system that acts as a reinsurance fund for Michigan auto insurance companies, reimbursing them for catastrophic injury claims above $545,000. Published: 06/18/15 Summary Analysis of SB 288 (S-3) - "D Insurance" In an effort to address the problem of excessively high auto insurance rates in Detroit, SB 288 was recently introduced by Senator Virgil Smith. The Senate Insurance Committee passed two amendments to this bill, which is currently referenced as SB 288 (S-3). This bill gives Detroit residents, as well as residents of any city where more than 35% of its residents are uninsured, the option to purchase a stripped-down auto no-fault insurance policy that is not legal to sell to any other Michigan citizens. This type of substandard no-fault policy is referred to as a “Qualified No-Fault Policy.” These substandard no-fault policies contain drastic limitations in coverage and benefits compared to that which is available under a traditional Michigan no-fault insurance policy. That means people insured under these substandard policies will have second-class auto insurance compared to other Michigan citizens. Moreover, such policies are likely to have significant negative consequences statewide. The main features of SB 288 (S-3) are described in this summary. Published: 06/10/15 CPAN to Lawmakers: Too Many Unintended Consequences in D-Insurance Plan CPAN's press release following Senate Insurance Committee hearing where Mayor Mike Duggan presented his D-Insurance Plan. Published: 06/08/15 Proposed Low-Cost Auto Insurance Policy Leaves Detroit Accident Survivors Without Care, Shifts Costs to Taxpayers CPAN's press release following the Senate Insurance Committee Meeting on June 3rd that resulted in a vote on SB 288, Mayor Duggan's D-Insurance Bill. The bill passed out of committee by a 5 to 3 vote and is now on the Senate floor with a vote anticipated during the week of June 8th. To read CPAN's Analysis of the D-Insurance bill, check the CPAN website Urgent Action Alerts. Published: 06/08/15 Summary Analysis of SB 248 (H-3) After barely 72 hours of consideration, the Michigan Senate, on April 16, 2015, passed SB 248. The Insurance Committee of the Michigan House of Representatives amended SB 248 and voted SB 248(H-3) out of committee on April 30, 2015. SB 248 (H-3) (hereinafter “the Bill”) is now pending in the House of Representatives. The Bill would: (1) significantly reduce reimbursements to medical providers; (2) substantially limit attendant care benefits to catastrophically injured patients who are cared for at home; (3) create a new catastrophic claims commission for accidents occurring after the effective date of the legislation; (4) create a new insurance fraud authority; and (5) adopt a new test to determine if insurance premiums are excessive. CPAN believes the Bill is seriously flawed, will create great instability in the Michigan auto no-fault system, impair patient access to medical care, seriously reduce revenue to the Michigan health care industry, result in a significant loss of jobs, and completely fail to reduce auto insurance premiums for the majority of Michigan citizens. The highlights of the Bill are summarized is this document. Published: 06/01/15 |