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Auto No-Fault Insurance Claims by Medical Providers

Medical service providers have legal standing to independently bring and enforce auto no-fault insurance claims. Recently, however, auto no-fault insurers have tried to challenge and prevent medical providers from bringing legal action directly against the insurer. In Wyoming Chiropractic Health Clinic, P.C. v Auto-Owners Ins Co, __ Mich App __ (2014)(a unanimous published opinion) the […]

Auto No-Fault Insurance Reform

The auto no-fault insurance industry’s recent effort to reform the Michigan system of auto insurance is currently stalled before the Michigan House of Representatives. The version of the bill as passed by the State Senate, changed modestly after being reported out by the House Committee on Insurance. As with any politically charged issue, partisan rhetoric […]

NASCAR Admits Catch-Fence System Failure Is Not New

NASCAR admits that catch-fence system failure is not new. Remarkably, in a moment of candor, Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president for racing operations, remarked “‘This is not new.’” Viv Bernstein, NY Times, dated February 24, 2013. It truly is not. In 1987, the gravity of this known danger of poorly designed catch-fencing systems was […]

NASCAR & Motor-sports Industry Renew Historical Debate About Fan Safety & Catch-fence Systems

Race car wheel assemblies keep flying over catch fences. For the motor-sports industry, that is neither new nor a freak accident. And with the recent incident at the Daytona 500 last Saturday, with yet another wheel assembly flying over the catch fence system, NASCAR and the motor-sports industry are renewing their historical debate about fan […]

The “New” Michigan Assigned Claims Plan for No-fault Benefits

In 2012, the Michigan Legislature passed and Gov. Snyder signed into law, a new Michigan Assigned Claims Plan for No-fault Benefits. The new law modifies the administration of the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. Formerly, the plan was administered by and through the Secretary of State. Now, under the new law, it is administered through the […]

No-Fault Insurance Medical Service Providers Beware

No-fault insurance medical service providers must be aware and cautious of the status of a patient’s no-fault PIP claim. Particularly, if the patient has filed a lawsuit and the medical provider has elected not to intervene or file its own, joint action. That is because if the patient ultimately settles his/her PIP claim for future […]

IMPORTANT NO-FAULT UPDATE FOR MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MVA VICTIMS WHO ARE MINORS AND/OR SUSTAIN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Yesterday, the Michigan Supreme Court did away with the long-held rule of protecting minors and the infirm in no-fault claims.   This legal issue has literally been a political ping-pong match with the balance of the court changing so much since 1999.   Since 1973 — when the no-fault act was enacted — it had always been […]

A health system’s actual procurement costs for surgical implants is subject to disclosure for payment consideration by auto no-fault insurers. Patients of Bronson Methodist Hospital, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, were involved in motor vehicle accidents and sustained traumatic, orthopedic injuries requiring surgical implants.  Pursuant to the no-fault act (MCL 500.3107(1)(a)), Bronson submitted its charges incurred by the […]

A Camping Trailer No Longer Qualifies for No-Fault Insurance Coverage Once It Is Parked At The Camp-Site And Is Being Used As Accommodations

A family towed their camping trailer and set it up at their designated camp site.   After the camper was set up, one of the family members entered it to retrieve her glasses for reading.  While exiting the camper, she slipped on the steps and suffered bodily injury requiring medical care.  She applied for no-fault benefits […]

The battle to save Northern Michigan jobs and to preserve Michigan’s Auto No-fault Insurance resumes in 2012

In the 1992 and 1994 Michigan statewide elections, many remember the no-fault insurance industry’s ballot initiatives (Proposals C and D) which sought to dramatically convert Michigan’s auto no-fault insurance system into managed care funded by tax payers.  These efforst were resoundingly defeated by the people of Michigan.  See the Official election results here. After 17 […]