LANSING (WWJ) - It's been 26 years since a limousine crash ended the career of former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Vladimir Konstaninov.
While his playing days have been long over, the aggressiveness he was known for on the ice has found new spirit in a different fight -- the fight to support all auto no-fault catastrophic crash survivors struggling for care in Michigan.
Konstantinov was among the catastrophic crash victims gathering in Lansing Wednesday, as officials with the Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association urged legislators to correct a mistake they believe was made four years ago when the current auto no-fault reform law was amended.
Konstantinov was paralyzed following a limousine crash in Metro Detroit days after the Wings won the 1997 Stanley Cup.
“What Vladdy’s message here today is, is ‘fix this for all,’” said Barry Cargill, the President and the CEO of the MHHA.
Cargill says the changes made in 2019 have allowed insurance companies to avoid paying for most of the costs for the home health care that's needed by seriously injured crash victims, despite having paid full personal protection coverage (PIP) into the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA).
“Health insurance will pay for some of the hospitalization costs and such, but when it comes to attendant care, these are catastrophically injured people who need to have attendant care. If they’re going to live a valuable life, they need to have the support of their family, to be able to stay in their homes,” he said.
While auto insurance has coverage for home care, Cargill says the legislature reduced reimbursement for such services “below what any provider can provide it,” leaving many victims “going without the care that they paid for.”
Those who have been injured in crashes have had to resort to going through the court system to resolve their reimbursement issues.
Cargill says the association anticipates a court decision will be made before the end of July, with an expected ruling that the rules for reimbursement under the auto no-fault law that passed is unconstitutional.
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