Cunningham repeated concerns by consumer advocates that health regulatory colleges “have not been responsive to complaints regarding members who conduct IEs.” He also remarked that it “must be a challenge to insulate themselves from outside influence.”

If that wasn’t clear enough, Cunningham added, “The problem is obvious. An expert retained by an insurer who supports claimants is unlikely to be retained again. For this culture shift to be successful, the government will need to be proactive.” That seems a polite way of saying it’s difficult for experts appointed by insurers not to provide reports that favour the insurers who pay them large sums of money in return.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/03/08/action-on-insurance-reform

New changes to the standard Ontario auto insurance policy were characterized this week as “mean spirited” by the New Democratic Party’s consumer services critic, though the Insurance Bureau of Canada suggests that one amendment that took effect Feb. 1 did not actually change an auto injury victim’s entitlement to attendant care from professional health support workers.

http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/news/ontario-ndp-slams-changes-to-auto-insurance-attendant-care-benefits/1002951965/

“This is an access to justice issue,” he said. “The preservation of the court system is a fundamental principle in protecting the rights of innocent victims.”

“Justice Cunningham mentioned that possibly the option to go to court would still exist. In his recommendations he doesn’t say anything more about it other than to say once this enhanced settlement meeting has occurred the option would be taken away.”

OTLA Trial lawyers express concerns TWI March 3 2014

A Toronto clinic has been ordered to pay $75,000 in fines this week, after its principals pleaded guilty to engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance related to auto insurance fraud, the Insurance Bureau of Canada reported Thursday. http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/news/toronto-rehab-clinic-ordered-to-pay-75-000-in-fines-in-auto-insurance-fraud-case/1002950025/

“Yet this issue is central to the very reason for the recent mediation backlog — too many cases indiscriminately turned down by insurers based on questionable medical reports. The possible recourse that ‘the expert should not receive compensation for appearing as a witness’ if their evidence is not ‘fair, objective or non-partisan’ does nothing to protect accident victims.” DRS report is too weak Thompsons World Insurance News Mar 3 2014

Ontario is introducing new initiatives to protect the nine million drivers in the province and reduce costs and uncertainty in the auto insurance system. Reducing costs will help lower rates for Ontario drivers.

http://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2014/03/new-legislation-to-protect-ontario-drivers-improve-the-auto-insurance-system-and-continue-to-reduce.html

Bill 171 March 4 2014 or the FIGHTING FRAUD AND REDUCING AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE RATES ACT, 2014    

http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/40_Parliament/Session2/b171.pdf

TORONTO, March 5, 2014 /CNW/ – The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has launched new resources and is taking part in activities throughout Fraud Prevention Month to educate consumers about auto insurance fraud. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1317525/financial-services-commission-of-ontario-launches-fraud-prevention-month-campaign

The Ontario government is introducing legislation that would move administration of the current dispute resolution system for auto insurance claims from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario to the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Licence Appeal Tribunal.

http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/news/ontario-government-plans-to-move-auto-insurance-dispute-resolution-system-out-of-fsco/1002944391/6zw427qWx8q274yyr0w370xM2vx/?ref=enews_CU&utm_source=CU&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CU-EN03052014