Florida plans audit of program that blocks parents of brain-damaged newborns from suing
Apr. 9—Declaring that
Chief Financial Officer
The Herald, in partnership with the investigative news organization ProPublica, detailed how NICA has amassed nearly
In the budget year ending
And while many NICA families struggle, the professionals who do business with the fund do not, the Herald reported. NICA paid its lawyers
"We need to make sure these kids and their families aren't being nickel-and-dimed," Patronis said in his statement, echoing the language of two parents quoted in the Herald. "This program needs to treat these children with kindness instead of treating them as though they are a liability for shareholders."
In a prepared statement late Thursday, NICA administrators said that, while the Herald presented "a moving and emotional story of several families," the investigation failed "to provide a completely accurate portrayal" of the program.
NICA said that the stories included criticism of the program for policies that no longer exist. "We have worked tirelessly to address issues that have arisen over the years, including making processes more responsive to families' needs, while fulfilling our obligation as fiscal stewards," read the statement sent by Executive Director
NICA defended its mission to reduce malpractice premiums for doctors, and said it had followed through on the Legislature's intent to "provide catastrophically brain-damaged infants with the medical care they need without subjecting their families to protracted legal battles. We take this critical mission very seriously, recognizing the physical, emotional and financial toll it takes on families to care for a highly disabled infant, child or adult."
The program said it will work with Patronis on reforms Shipley and NICA's board had once opposed, including adding a parent to the board and raising awareness of program benefits for families.
Separately, Shipley also sent an email to NICA families, repeating many of the same points. "We aim to treat every family in the program fairly and individually, providing the benefits they are entitled to based on their specific needs," Shipley wrote.
The sister and legal guardian of a
Their mother,
For nearly 20 years, NICA has been authorized by state law to pay parents who miss work or leave careers to care for their injured child at home. But NICA's caseworkers never told
"There needs to be a stronger relationship between NICA and the families. You have to work together,"
In 1988, the
The Herald and ProPublica reported that NICA often denies requests for care and services, and forces families to file costly appeals before the state
Since its inception, the program has never included the parent of a disabled or medically fragile child or an advocate for such families on its five-member, unpaid board of directors. The current board, all men, represents only healthcare and insurance industry interests.
In his statement, Patronis said that his wife, Katie, had sustained complications during childbirth for both of the couple's sons. "I know that every loving parent is stressed out and undergoing an intense amount of emotions when their children are at risk," Patronis wrote. "I cannot imagine or understand how difficult things are for families of children with neurological injuries."
He added: "We've got to figure out a way to make things easier for them."
Patronis, who served in the
"It's also ridiculous that NICA's money managers get more in lump sum payments than parents with sick babies," Patronis added.
Lawmakers already are considering legislation that would increase parents' one-time benefit from
Patronis' statement appears to challenge the program's core principle. Parents whose children meet the criteria for NICA benefits generally have no choice but to forfeit their right to file a lawsuit. But in his statement, Patronis said "parents shouldn't be put into a position where they feel pressured into signing their rights away."
A sponsor of the pending legislation, Sen.
Book said she and Burgess, who could not be reached, are amending their bill to require the state to include a family member on the NICA board. "I was stricken by how these moms are left to carry on, oftentimes when families crack under the pressure of these immense challenges," she said.
The two lawmakers also would like to require NICA to appoint a parents' "advocate" who can "help families navigate the system" and receive the full benefits state law requires.
"We have to ensure these families have everything they need when having to deal with a lifetime of challenge and pain," Book said.
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