U.S. House Judiciary Committee Votes to Pass McCarran-Ferguson Repeal for Health Insurers
The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee voted 20-9 in favor of H.R. 3596, the Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Act, which would partially repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act as it applies to health insurers. The House leadership has not scheduled consideration for the floor. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) says it supports a repeal of the
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A/M Parts: Like, Kind and Quality?
I recently read a news story on your Web site [CAA Survey Questions Quality of CAPA-Certified Parts] and feel the need to comment. First, a little background on me. I’ve owned and operated a larger shop on the West Coast for almost 30 years and have experienced firsthand all of the different changes that have
ASK BSB:Supplements and the Law
Dear BSB: Is there a federal law that requires insurance companies to write a supplement within 48 hours of receiving notice? Signed: Stymied by Supplements Dear Stymied by Supplements: No. First, there is no federal law that requires an insurer to write an estimate. (In fact, state law typically doesn’t require insurers to write estimates
California Steering Bill Signed into Law
Earlier this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed A.B. 1200, insurer-backed legislation that loosens restrictions on the information insurers can provide to claimants during the claims process. The bill adds the following to section 758.5 of the California Insurance Code, known as the anti-steering statute: An insurer may provide the claimant with specific truthful and nondeceptive
Federal Government Aims to End Distracted Driving
Though multitasking is a way of life in the U.S., the federal government is taking aim at a form of it that’s causing thousands of collisions – distracted driving. At the conclusion of a recent two-day summit on the issue in Washington, D.C., U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a series of actions the Obama Administration
PPG MVP Conference Attendees Fly High on Business Survival Strategies
Over 200 attendees at the PPG MVP Business Solutions Fall Conference held Sept. 13-15 in Nashville knew they were in for a treat when Jim “Murph” Murphy jumped onto the stage in a pilot’s suit. The U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and CEO of Afterburner, a corporate training company, wowed the crowd with a video
New Co-Sponsors Sign On to McCarran-Ferguson Antitrust Bill
More members of Congress recently signed on to repeal the McCarran-Ferguson act. U.S. Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter, D-New York, and U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, D-New York, have signed on as co-sponsors to H.R. 1583, legislation that would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act as it applies to property-casualty insurers. The bill now has eight co-sponsors. Since 1945,
Anti-Steering Bill Introduced in Kentucky for 2010
A bill pre-filled for the 2010 Kentucky legislative session would define "deceptive referral," also known as steering, and prohibit insurers from requiring claimants to have their vehicles repaired at specific shops. The bill also addresses labor rate issues. Specifically, the bill, filed by Sen. Gary Tapp, would: • Define “claimant,” “deceptive referral,” “request or require”
Antitrust Gets More Buzz as Legislator Now Targets Health Insurers
As Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and collision repairers take aim at property-casualty insurers by seeking a repeal of their anti-trust exemptions under the McCarran-Ferguson Act (click HERE for story), one legislator is also now striving to do the same in the health and medical malpractice world. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
California Repairers Launch Campaign to Veto A.B. 1200
The Collision Repair Association of California (CRA) and the California Autobody Association (CAA) are spearheading efforts to persuade Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto A.B. 1200, a bill that both groups feel severely weakens the state’s anti-steering code. The Assembly approved A.B. 1200 (Hayashi) 42-19 on Sept. 9. The CRA says it believes the insurance industry-supported
‘Graveyard Carz’ Brings Vehicles to Life
At body shops, cars are brought back from the dead every day, but an Oregon shop owner is banking that his spin on the process will net him his own TV show. Mark Worman, owner of Welby’s Car Care in Springfield, Ore., spent $25,000 filming a pilot episode of his show “Graveyard Carz,” which documents
A.B. 1200 Sent to Governor
The California Assembly has approved the Senate’s amendments to A.B. 1200, which would loosen restrictions on the information insurers can provide clients during the claims process, and the bill has been sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his approval. The California Autobody Association (CAA), which opposes the bill because it believes it would weaken California’s