He has introduced a bill to limit access to personal information in accident reports, and on Wednesday, the measure passed the Committee on Law and Government, and is now headed for a full Council vote.
One injury lawyer who testified at the committee hearing agreed the marketers can be a pain, but he said some of his clients didn't realize they were entitled to medical coverage until they were solicited.
Kenney's bill would benefit no one but insurance companies, lawyer Robert Baccari said.
"It will cut down on their claims," he said. "It will keep people ignorant."
Ordinarily, people must pay $25 to obtain copies of police reports, but the records department has offered a "privilege pass" to all reports for an annual $200 fee, said Deb Noone, who investigates insurance fraud.
She said the marketers pay the annual fee and get unlimited computer access to unredacted reports. They can sell a week's worth of information on accident victims for up to $1,000, Noone said.
"Then the telemarketing and scramble for patients begins," she said.
Another fraud investigator said she was solicited for medical treatment after someone smashed into her parked car - even though the accident report clearly said her car was unoccupied.
If Kenney's bill passes, only accident victims, their attorneys, insurance companies and representatives of the insurance companies would have access to reports. The current $25 fee for the reports would remain in effect.
Contact staff writer Troy Graham at 215-854-2730, tgraham@phillynews.com, or @troyjgraham on Twitter.
