Jeff Brandes Files Bill to Curb Insurance Fraud

Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, is going after insurance fraud in the Sunshine State.

On Friday, Brandes filed legislation to tackle insurance fraud by requiring insurance companies to to develop anti-fraud plans and submit them to the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services.

Brandes' legislation would also require companies to provide anti-fraud training and would require companies to provide anti-fraud statistics.

“Insurance fraud in Florida is evolving, and policyholders are forced to pay for it through higher premiums every year,” said Brandes. “This is a hidden tax on every Floridian who drives a car, owns a home, rents an apartment, or pays for health insurance.

"If left unchecked, the cost of fraud will grow and consumers will continue to pay the price," Brandes explained.

Brandes teamed up with Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on the legislation, which is likely to be one of his last collaborative efforts as Florida CFO.
 
“We’ve made significant strides in our fight against insurance fraud,” said Atwater. “With this bill we hope to further improve our processes and hone our techniques so that we can continue to stay a step ahead of the criminals who seek to defraud Floridians."