Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Friday, August 12, 2016
Aug 12, 2016
State’s Largest Insurer Withdraws 8.1 Percent Rate-Hike Request for South Florida
South Florida customers of the State’s largest Home Insurer earned a reprieve this week from looming Rate Hikes, the Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise reports.
Florida Regulators to Take up Citizens Rate Hikes
Regulators will hold a Public Hearing next week on Proposals that would raise rates for many customers of the State-Backed Citizens Property Insurance, FloridaToday.com reports.
United Insurance Holdings Corp. Appoints Scott St. John as Chief Claims Officer
United Insurance Holdings Corp., a Property and Casualty Insurance Holding Company, announced that the Company has appointed Scott St. John as its Chief Claims Officer effective August 22, 2016. Mr. St. John will be responsible for directing and leading all aspects of the Company’s Claims Operations.
Citing Zika, Advocates Push for Florida Medicaid Expansion
Florida’s Medicaid Expansion Advocates are seizing on the Zika Crisis as a compelling reason for Tallahassee’s conservative Republicans, who have twice rejected Expansion, to reconsider their opposition. Troy Kinsey reports for
Baptist Health Offers Telemedicine to Compete with Rival Startups
South Florida’s largest Healthcare Network is going Digital, the Sun-Sentinel reports via Crain’s Miami.
Seminole Tribe Challenges Florida’s Water Toxin Rule, Prompting Delay
Florida Environmentalists are hoping that a legal challenge by the Seminole Tribe of Florida will provide the catalyst needed to force State Regulators to redo a controversial rule that raises some of the Legal Toxin Levels allowed to be dumped into Florida’s drinking waters. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Joe Negron’s Lake Okeechobee Proposal Takes Sugar Industry by Surprise
According to Negron, there are two Parcels of Land, primarily in Palm Beach County and sized approximately 60,000 Acres each, that could be used as reservoirs for excess Lake Okeechobee water. Phil Amman reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Florida Watchdog Group Warns of Federal Judicial Vacancies
Lingering Judicial Vacancies aren’t causing a crisis in Florida’s Federal Courts — yet. Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Never Too Early to Plan for Florida Redistricting
Because of the lengthy legal battle that followed the Florida Legislature’s original efforts at drawing the lines, the beginning of the next redistricting process is less than five years away. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
Crowded, Diverse Field Seeks To Replace Margolis
The Six-Way field in the August 30 Democratic Primary is now made up of State Representative Daphne Campbell, former North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Gongora, Attorney Jason Pizzo, High School Hospitality and Tourism Teacher Don Festge and Accountant Anis Blemur. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s
Heroin Overdoses in Delray Beach Hit Record in July
Delray Beach surpassed its own troubling record in July when 66 people overdosed on Heroin, topping the previous high of 64 in March. Seven of the overdoses resulted in Death. Lois K. Solomon reports for the Sun-Sentinel.
Florida Bank Takes Baby Step Closer To Marijuana Industry
A Florida Bank is making its first few tentative steps into the Marijuana Industry. But there’s still a long way to go before Pot is treated like other businesses. Nick Evans reports for Health News Florida.
North Dakota Lawmaker Questions Reserves in Workers’ Comp Opt-Out Plans
States with Workers’ Compensation Opt-Out Programs are likely to bear some costs when an employer is unable to pay a claim or doesn’t cover certain illnesses and injuries, Insurance Journal reports via the PCI SmartBrief.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to colodnyfassnews@gmail.com.