Task force approves several studies and consumer‑facing initiatives; key votes summarized
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Summary
The task force approved recommendations to develop care pathways and an adjudication board, increase transparency of PIP balances, study crash-related towing/storage costs, support a repair-bill cleanup, encourage driver-education/notifications for gig-economy drivers and recommend broader use of speed cameras; several other motions failed.
At its hybrid meeting the Delaware automobile insurance reform task force finalized multiple decisions and study charges that will be combined into a final report for a March 9 roll-call approval session.
What the task force approved (motion outcomes as recorded in the transcript):
- Standardized care pathways and adjudication board: Approved. The task force supported developing standardized care pathways for common soft-tissue injuries and creating a post-filing adjudication board to provide more predictable resolution of certain medical billing disputes.
- Transparency of PIP balances: Approved. Members directed further work to improve transparency so providers can see remaining PIP balances and avoid uncompensated care due to missed filing windows.
- Arbitration framework amended to education/outreach: Rather than recommending mandatory arbitration, the task force amended the recommendation to emphasize consumer education and outreach about existing arbitration options and retained the item for the report.
- Study towing and storage costs for crash-involved vehicles: Approved. Following input about predatory towing and reference to a 2025 Representative Rosinski bill that addressed unauthorized towing, members voted to further study towing/storage fees and practices for vehicles involved in crashes.
- Support for Department of Insurance repair bill cleanup: Approved. The task force supported drafting language to encourage the General Assembly to amend code to strike a limiting reference to "glass" so repair-choice rules apply to all repair facilities.
- Gig-economy driver coverage and notification: Approved. The task force agreed to explore whether Delaware code requires adequate protection for drivers using personal vehicles for work and to consider employer notifications to drivers about necessary coverage.
- Speed-camera pilot: Approved. Members voted to encourage broader use of speed cameras, noting the pilot's 30-day warning/signage period, that no license points are assessed for camera violations in the pilot, and evidence cited that cameras can reduce crashes.
What the task force did not adopt:
- PIP medical fee schedule tied to Medicare-based rates: Motion failed (4–13).
- Further explore the collateral-source rule as a recommended change: Motion failed (10–6).
Next steps: staff will incorporate amended language and explanatory narrative into a redline and a clean draft of the report and circulate materials to members ahead of the March 9 final meeting.