Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, March 20, 2015
Mar 20, 2015
To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below. Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
FEMA to states like Florida: No climate planning, no money
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is making it tougher for governors to deny man-made climate change. Starting next year, the agency will approve disaster preparedness funds only for states whose governors approve hazard mitigation plans that address climate change. InsideClimateNews.com’s Katherine Bagley reports via the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida Legislature faces $5 billion health care spending “chasm” between House, Senate proposals
The Florida House and Senate rolled out vastly different health care spending plans Thursday, putting the two chambers on a collision course over the state’s $77 billion budget. Kathleen McGrory reports via the Bradenton Herald.
State group health insurance is overhauled under proposed Florida House bill
A 23-page bill released by the House Health Care Services Committee proposes to redesign the state group insurance plan and begin offering employees access to a variety of plans, including discount medical plans and direct primary care plans beginning 2016. SaintPetersBlog.com’s Christine Jordan Sexton reports.
Florida Hospital parent company settles radiation-oncology case for $5.4 million
Florida Hospital’s parent company is paying $5.4 million to the U.S. government to settle claims that several of its hospitals provided radiation-oncology services to patients with Medicare or military health insurance without direct supervision by qualified health professionals, according to the Department of Justice. Naseem S. Miller reports for the Orlando Sentinel.
Scott signs bill moving presidential primary to March 15
Governor Rick Scott signed a bill Thursday setting the primary date, which will give Republicans the option of making the election a winner-take-all contest. The Associated Press reports via the Orlando Sentinel’s “Central Florida Political Pulse” blog.
Pain continues for Amendment 1 supporters with release of Senate plan
Environmental groups hoping the Florida Senate would do better than the House in respecting the intent of Amendment 1 were disappointed on Thursday. Michael Van Sickler reports for the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.
Seminole Tribe says no progress on compact as Legislature “postures”
After five years of quietly writing a monthly check to the state as part of the landmark gaming compact that gave them the exclusive right to operate card games at their Hard Rock casinos, negotiations over renewing the deal have ground to a halt. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the Tampa Bay Times.
FEMA Official: “We Are Undertaking Sweeping Reforms” at National Flood Insurance Program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is undertaking sweeping reforms that will change the way the NFIP is delivered, a top FEMA official said. Insurance Journal reports.
Mississippi Attorney General asks U.S. for probe of insurer “steering”
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate allegations that some insurance companies’ are “steering” auto policyholders to certain repair shops and coercing those shops to use inferior replacement parts. Jack Weatherly reports for the Mississippi Business Journal.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to colodnyfassnews@gmail.com.