The Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was created by the Florida Legislature in 1988. NICA is a statutory organization that manages the Florida Birth Related Neurological Injury Compensation Plan ("Plan") used to pay for the care of infants born with certain neurological injuries. This Plan is available to eligible families statewide without litigation. By eliminating costly legal proceedings, and through professional management of its disbursements, NICA ensures that birth-injured infants receive the care they need while reducing the financial burden on medical providers and families.

NICA's Mission is three-fold:

1. To encourage physicians to practice obstetrics and make obstetrical services available to patients.



2. To stabilize and help make malpractice insurance available to all physicians.



3. To provide needed care to injured children.

The NICA Plan may help to provide for the following:

• Actual expenses for necessary and reasonable care, services, drugs, equipment, facilities, and travel, excluding expenses that can be compensated by state or federal governments, or by private insurers.



• A one-time cash award, not to exceed $100,000, to the infant's parents or guardians.



• A death benefit for the infant in the amount of $10,000.



• Reasonable expenses for filing the claim, including attorney's fees.