MINN. SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES PIP REFORM BILL:

Insurers are optimistic that a Minnesota Senate bill designed to curb fraud abuses in auto personal injury protection (PIP) will move quickly through the legislature, according to the Des Plaines, Ill.-based Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). The bill failed previously in the Senate Commerce Committee on a tie vote with two committee members absent. Then the bill was amended to contain only a provision that would prohibit the practice of allowing medical providers to bill accident victims for whatever wasn’t awarded in a no-fault arbitration proceeding, according to PCI. The bill as amended passed on a 7-5 vote and was referred to the Senate floor.