The province is launching a pilot project offering mediation to Manitobans who disagree with Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) decisions. PIPP decisions are made by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), Attorney General Andrew Swan, minister responsible for MPI, and Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh, minister responsible for the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission (AICAC) and the Claimant Adviser Office.
“This project will offer mediation as an option to claimants with appeals to the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeals Commission,” said Swan. “We want to look at new ways to speed up the resolution of these cases so people can get on with their lives.”
The mediation pilot office will use independent, qualified mediators and operate over a two-year period. Data collected during that time will include claimant satisfaction surveys to help evaluate whether participants felt the process was worthwhile.
Currently under the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act, claimants who are unsatisfied with their case manager’s PIPP decision can request an internal review by MPI. If the claimant is still not satisfied, they can request a hearing with the appeals commission and the Claimant Adviser Office (CAO) is available to assist with that process.
“The goal of this pilot project is to resolve as many cases as possible without the need for a hearing at the commission,” added Mackintosh. “This should mean individuals will have their cases heard faster and ultimately receive better customer service.”
The project was developed in consultation with representatives from AICAC, MPI and the CAO.
