
However, such a charge may not exceed the amount the person or institution customarily charges for like services or supplies. (a) A physician, hospital, clinic, or other person or institution lawfully rendering treatment to an injured person for a bodily injury covered by personal injury protection insurance may charge the insurer and injured party only a reasonable amount pursuant to this section for the services and supplies rendered, and the insurer providing such coverage may pay for such charges directly to such person or institution lawfully rendering such treatment if the insured receiving such treatment or his or her guardian has countersigned the properly completed invoice, bill, or claim form approved by the office upon which such charges are to be paid for as having actually been rendered, to the best knowledge of the insured or his or her guardian. This paragraph does not require an insurer to establish a claim reserve for insurance accounting purposes. The time periods specified in paragraph (b) for payment of personal injury protection benefits are tolled for the period of time that an insurer is required to hold payment of a claim that is not from such physician or dentist to the extent that the personal injury protection benefits not held in reserve are insufficient to pay the claim. After the 30-day period, any amount of the reserve for which the insurer has not received notice of such claims may be used by the insurer to pay other claims.

The amount required to be held in reserve may be used only to pay claims from such physicians or dentists until 30 days after the date the insurer receives notice of the accident. 395.002, or who provide hospital inpatient care. (c) Upon receiving notice of an accident that is potentially covered by personal injury protection benefits, the insurer must reserve $5,000 of personal injury protection benefits for payment to physicians licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or dentists licensed under chapter 466 who provide emergency services and care, as defined in s. An insurer committing such violation is subject to the penalties provided under that part, as well as those provided elsewhere in the insurance code.

An insurer writing motor vehicle liability insurance in this state who fails to comply with such availability requirement as a general business practice violates part IX of chapter 626, and such violation constitutes an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice involving the business of insurance.

Such insurers shall make benefits and required property damage liability insurance coverage available through normal marketing channels. Insurers may not require that property damage liability insurance in an amount greater than $10,000 be purchased in conjunction with personal injury protection. 627.7275 as a condition for providing such benefits. Only insurers writing motor vehicle liability insurance in this state may provide the required benefits of this section, and such insurer may not require the purchase of any other motor vehicle coverage other than the purchase of property damage liability coverage as required by s. The insurer may pay death benefits to the executor or administrator of the deceased, to any of the deceased’s relatives by blood, legal adoption, or marriage, or to any person appearing to the insurer to be equitably entitled to such benefits. Death benefits are in addition to the medical and disability benefits provided under the insurance policy. Death benefits of $5,000 per individual.
