N.Y. Senate Passes Two Insurance Fraud Bills
At least the New York Senate seems to have heard the messages from the NAII and the PIANY. It passed two bills last week dealing with insurance fraud. The next hurdle will come when the state’s Assembly considers the bills, and Gerald L. Zimmerman the NAII’s Senior Counsel said the insurance industry is now waiting for the Assembly to take action.
“We’re hopeful the Assembly will move quickly on these Senate bills, or on their own Assembly bills, to pass meaningful legislation that will address these problems that are costing New York consumers millions of dollars,” Zimmerman stated.
The bulletin noted that the Senate had passed S.B. 683, which deals with no-fault insurance fraud, and S.B. 555, which would criminalize “runners” — who procure clients for attorneys or health care providers with the intent of defrauding an insurer. The two bills have been sent to the Assembly Committees on Codes and Insurance. “Senate President Bruno and Speaker Silver have both stated publicly that Senate and Assembly bills might go to Conference Committee for resolution,” it noted.
“NAII is wholly supportive of both bills as they both address the abuse and fraud that is rampant in the New York no-fault system,” Zimmerman stressed.