Jim Greer, President of the Association of Property & Casualty Claims Professionals (PCCP), issued a press release this morning indicating that the Department of Financial Services would drop the proposed administrative regulations pertaining to adjusters.
The release, in part, stated:
Early this morning, the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Agent & Agency Services, provided Notice of Withdrawal of its proposed amendments to Rules 69B-220.051 and 69B-220.201, Florida Administrative Code, relating to adjuster conduct and ethical requirements.
It is doubtful that there has ever been a more united and passionate response to any proposed rule change than that which the DFS experienced since it’s [sic] initial surprise announcement in February 2010.
Claims adjusters (company, independent and public), their employers, and numerous local and national insurance industry trade groups came together in July and voiced their strenuous objections to the Department’s attempt to correct a number of service-related issues that still remain from the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons.
After two formal rule workshops, an administrative challenge filed by the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA), and additional feedback and discussion between the WCCP and PCCP Associations, the Property & Casualty Insurers Association of America, the Florida Insurance Council, and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the DFS has decided to leave the Ethics Rule(s) intact.
In a statement made in the July 30th workshop, Team Leader Eric Purvis admitted that they were surprised at the very obvious "passion" that these proposed changes have evoked across the claims community. Sometimes it’s the passion that gets the job done. (emphasis added)
The highlighted section seems to be a rare kumbaya moment. How often do public adjusters and insurance industry adjusters agree upon anything involving public policy?
As a person that is looking out for the consumer interests, I suggest that the Department of Financial Services not abandon their work. Strong ethical regulations regarding the performance of adjusters of all types are needed so the insurance product works as intended. Sometimes, incremental regulatory changes can be adopted which make significant progress getting full, fair and prompt payment to policyholders. The goal of common-sense and ethical regulations which reflect the rules of good faith claims handling should be paramount to government leaders and inherent in public policy.
