Hillsborough Commissioners Take Aim at Insurance Fraud

By unanimous vote (a vote of 7-0), the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance Sept. 21 to address the 546 percent increase in staged accidents and questionable claims in Hillsborough County from 2008 to 2010.

According to a press release from the county, the county ordinance, spearheaded by Commissioner Kevin Beckner, Countywide District 6, in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office, will require the licensing of any medical clinic that provides treatment or therapy to patients claiming injury due to an auto accident.

“This ordinance will give our sheriff’s office the tools it needs to put an end to the auto insurance fraud that has plagued our community,” Beckner said. “Our actions today will put a stop to rising car insurance rates due to the proliferation of staged accidents and act as a model for statewide policy.”

The passage of this ordinance is the culmination of more than a year’s worth of work by Beckner and other stakeholders, including the National Insurance Crime Bureau. According to the NICB, Hillsborough County is ranked No. 1 in the state in auto insurance fraud, and ranked second in the country behind New York City.

The issue surrounds the ability for criminals, including suspected organized crime organizations, to set up fake PIP medical provider clinics that support their fraudulent activity. Due to loopholes in the Florida Statutes, these fake clinics are able to operate without adequate state inspection or regulation. Law enforcement organizations have been hampered in their ability to combat this fraud due to lax statutes and state regulation.

“I applaud my fellow commissioners for making this issue a priority,” Beckner said. “We are sending a unified message that fraudulent behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”