SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1833

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 8, 1997

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1833.

      This bill, as amended by the committee, requires an injured party who is receiving medical treatment covered by automobile insurance medical expense benefits coverage to inform his treating medical provider, when requested by that provider, of his name and address, the automobile insurance policy number and the insurer's name and address. If the injured party does not provide this information prior to treatment or within a reasonable time thereafter, the treating medical provider shall have recourse against the injured party for any amount by which the payment for services is reduced because the treating medical provider did not provide notice to the insurer within 21 or 90 days following commencement of treatment, as the case may be.

      The committee amendments also provide that the written notice of commencement of treatment covered by automobile insurance medical expense benefits must be made within 21 days following commencement of treatment in other than a hospital and within 90 days following the commencement of treatment in a hospital; and require the commissioner to establish procedures for resolving disputes between claimants, insurers and medical providers.