The Florida Fire Chiefs' Association passed a resolution urging Gov. Charlie Crist to call a special legislative session to address no-fault auto insurance, including mandatory personal injury protection. No-fault is scheduled to expire Oct. 1 without legislative action.

In its resolution, the group said that fire and EMS departments could lose millions of dollars in emergency transport reimbursements if personal injury protection is allowed to die. The fire chiefs also said they fear that first responders will be required to spend more time testifying in court, instead of on the job, as lawyers try to determine who is at fault in cases where emergency services were provided. The loss of personal injury protection is expected to generate a new wave of costly and time-consuming litigation because fault will have to be established in every accident before payments can be made for medical treatment.

The fire chiefs also are encouraging lawmakers to extend personal injury protection for now so that it does not expire without alternative medical coverage or replace personal injury protection with alternative mandatory coverage that includes EMS transport services for drivers and passengers.

“It is our view that the loss of [personal injury protection] will hurt all Floridians — not just accident victims — through increased health and auto insurance costs and a loss of access to health care services for those least able to pay,” said FFCA President Rick Talbert.

The resolution said that 40% of auto accident victims treated in hospital emergency rooms and trauma centers have no health insurance to pay for their treatment other than personal injury protection and that a majority of these patients are being transported by public-sector EMS providers.