LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Strength in Numbers by Sam Richie & Shannon K. Mitchell, AASP-MN Lobbyists
The 2022 legislative session is now in full swing with a lot of debate over the (recently updated) $9.25 billion projected surplus. Over 5,000 bills have been introduced this biennium, and few will receive hearings before the end of March (the deadline for non-finance bills to be heard). As a reminder, AASP-MN is laying the groundwork for legislation that would require insurance providers to accept or reject a submitted claim within three days. This will likely be a two-year campaign. Alongside the work at the legislature, AASP-MN is monitoring the issue of “short-pay,” which is becoming a more frequent and severe occurrence for members. Insurance companies not fully reimbursing for the repair and collision work necessary to ensure vehicles are safe has always been of concern, but recent factors have exacerbated the problem. There are slow supply chains and workforce shortages coupled with wage increases that are driving up costs. To make matters worse, insurance companies are increasingly refusing to cover repairs that were previously covered (or countering with significantly smaller amounts). There is strength in numbers and action AASP-MN members can take! We will be putting out a best practices
sheet for documenting and handling these challenging issues on a case-by-case basis. Also, we encourage members to consider investing in BillableGenie to best capture the necessary cost of repairs. BillableGenie is the newest preferred provider in the AASP-MN member savings program line-up. We also want to tackle the problem more systemically, which requires documenting the frequency and severity of this practice. To that end, we are asking that you share your stories with AASP-MN by filling out the short-pay form or contacting AASP-MN’s Executive Director Linden Wicklund at (612) 623-1110 or linden@aaspmn.org. Establishing that this is a pattern is a critical step to address it. Collecting and synthesizing these trends also provides shop owners with anonymity and strength in numbers. If you are not a member, becoming a part of AASP-MN is another way to help fight this, as we are dedicating time and resources to pursuing a solution that will benefit all shops. See how documentation and strength in numbers can bring out a win - bit.ly/MNDOC_GEICO
AASP-MN News
April 2022 | 5
