Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, August 10, 2015
Aug 10, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Statewide Florida sinkhole map nears completion, officials say
For two years, a team of sinkhole hunters with the Florida Geological Survey has been scouring the state to create a map of where sinkholes are most likely to form. James Rosica reports for the Tampa Tribune.
Florida activates price gouging hotline for 5 flooded counties
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has activated the state’s price gouging hotline for people living in five counties affected by severe weather and flooding. The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
New Florida building codes adding more cost
Effective July 1, Florida imposed new building codes that are meant to improve the safety, energy efficiency and construction of new residential homes and remodels, columnist Don Magruder writes for the Leesburg Daily Commercial.
Insufficient manpower continues to be an issue for Lake County fire department as death toll rises
At the center of a long-simmering debate over the weaknesses in Lake County’s fire service is the number 16. That’s the number of people who have perished in fires from 2009 to 2014, and to some, it’s an alarming figure, Livi Stanford reports for the Leesburg Daily Commercial.
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to push balance billing ban in 2016
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will support efforts to limit what physicians can charge insured patients who seek emergency medical care from out-of-network providers, Christine Sexton reports for Politico Florida.
Health insurance, not just home and car, focus for Florida’s new Insurance Consumer Advocate
Florida’s new insurance consumer advocate says she wants residents to tell her about problems they they’ve had with their insurance, and not just home or car – also health, an area that has not always been a big focus of the job in the past. The Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports for the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.
Led by Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Deputy Commissioner David Altmaeir, the NAIC’s Creditor-Placed Insurance Model Law Working Group reviewed key takeaways from an NAIC 2012 public hearing on lender/creditor-placed insurance, Colodny Fass’ G. Donovan Brown reports on NationalInsuranceNews.com.
Rising Medicaid Costs Loom Big for Florida
Florida may be heading toward its version of the Bill Murray movie “Groundhog Day,” with the Legislature and state budget in the prime roles, Lloyd Dunkelberger reports.
Who’s to blame for nation’s biggest-ever drug heist at Lilly warehouse?
A Florida jury might soon hear that crime scenario sketched out in opening arguments in an upcoming trial that has all the elements of a made-for-TV thriller. The case involves the biggest pharmaceutical heist ever, and Indianapolis-based Lilly was the prime victim. A dogged investigation by Lilly’s insurer, National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, has put a dramatic new twist on the case, Jeff Swiatek reports for the Indianapolis Star.
Marsh subsidiary buys Tequesta Insurance Advisors
Marsh middle market agency subsidiary Marsh & McLennan Agency has purchased Tequesta Insurance Advisors in Florida, International Business Review reports.
Legislators return to draw new maps once again
Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, stung by a harshly worded ruling from the state’s highest court, returns to the state Capitol this week for a 12-day special session to draw up new congressional districts. Gary Fineout reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Mike Fasano contemplating return bid to the Florida Senate
One of the Tampa Bay region’s most popular politicians is contemplating running for the Florida Legislature in 2016, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch reports.
Cuba plans boating boom as U.S. luxury ships head to Havana
For the first time in decades, the U.S. government is authorizing a wide range of large-scale sea travel to Cuba. Since declaring detente in December, the Obama administration has issued permits to dozens of sailboats, at least five ferry companies, four cruise lines and the Palm Beach-based yacht broker that chartered out the Still Water. The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Judge weighs if Uber case is a class-action
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen heard arguments in San FranciscoThursday about whether O’Connor et al vs. Uber Technologies deserves status as a class-action case representing 160,000 current and past Uber drivers in California, or whether it should be confined to the three drivers who brought a suit seeking to be deemed employees. His decision is not expected for several weeks, the San Franscisco Chronicle reports via Advisen.com.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Cybersecurity Task Force will discuss the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Cybersecurity Assessment Tool as part of its Summer 2015 National Meeting agenda (Twitter Hashtag #NAIC2015) on Sunday, August 16 in Chicago. Colodny Fass’ G. Donovan Brown reports on NationalInsuranceNews.com.
SNL Financial Releases Property and Casualty Insurance Outlook for 2015 through 2019
According to SNL’s P&C industry projections released in a new report, SNL Insurance expects the personal and commercial auto insurance lines to help trigger modest erosion in underwriting profitability in 2015, InsuranceNewsNet.com reports.
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