Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, August 3, 2015
Aug 3, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Q&A with Stephen J. Klingel, National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc.
Stephanie Goldberg of Business Insurance interviews Stephen J. Klingel, who has served as president and CEO of the Boca Raton-based National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. since 2002.
Uber takes last ride in Broward; Palm Beach County showdown set for August 18
Uber has made good on its threat to leave Broward County, raising the stakes for a showdown with Palm Beach County in mid-August. The Palm Beach Post’s Eliot Kleinberg reports for the “Post on Politics” blog.
Citing Uber, Melbourne may drop taxi permits
Citing competition from Uber and up-and-coming ride-sharing services, Melbourne officials may deregulate taxi, shuttle and limousine companies to level the competitive playing field. Rick Neale reports for FloridaToday.com.
About 30 Claims Bills Filed In Florida Senate, Including Some Controversial Ones
With Friday’s deadline, about 30 claims bills were filed in the Florida Senate. A few of them seeking to further compensate different victims are controversial. Sascha Cordner reports for Health News Florida.
Struggling South Florida HMO sells Medicaid business to competitor
Molina purchased the Medicaid book of business from the financially struggling south Florida health maintenance organization, Preferred Medical Plan, according to information distributed by the state Agency for Health Care Administration late Friday afternoon. Christine Jordan Sexton reports for Politico.com.
Florida Agent Arrested for Selling Fraudulent Policies with Suspended License
The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud announced the arrest of insurance agent Julia Shurdom, 67, for allegedly transacting insurance related business with a suspended insurance license, scheming to defraud, and uttering a forged document while working for Absolute Insurance Services in Orlando, Florida, Insurance Journal reports.
Florida Governor Rick Scott highlights hospital infection problems
Florida Governor Rick Scott is using new infection control data released this week by a consumer magazine to provide further justification of his call to create a commission to review the state’s hospital system. The Miami Herald’s Jeremy Wallace reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
- Read the Consumer Reports study here.
- St. Petersburg General Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville and Venice Regional Bayfront Health were among the 12 worst hospitals in the nation in preventing infections.
Feds crack down on check-cashing stores in South Florida
For a very fat fee, South Florida check-cashing businesses have routinely turned a blind eye to criminals who use fake IDs to cash millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained tax-refund checks from the U.S. Treasury Department, authorities say. The Miami Herald’s Jay Weaver reports.
Wilton Simpson for Florida CFO?
Is Wilton Simpson for Florida CFO a byproduct of this fall’s Senate map redraw? SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch poses the question.
Florida House districts unchallenged, but why?
House leaders have avoided much of the criticism over Florida’s 2012 redistricting effort, but an attorney for the groups that successfully challenged the Senate and congressional maps said the House shares some of the blame. Zac Anderson reports on the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s “HT Politics” blog.
Study: 79% of elected prosecutors in US are white men; 80.9% in Florida
Florida’s elected prosecutors reflect a national trend in which these positions of authority over criminal defendants are most often occupied by white males. April Warren reports for the Ocala Star-Banner.
Standing up for Florida-friendly lawns not easy when HOA says no
In 2000, the Florida Legislature gave homeowners across the state the freedom to install Florida-friendly landscaping, regardless of what is required by their association, calling it “a compelling public interest.” Alex Harris reports for the Tampa Bay Times.
Pensacola cybersecurity pipeline in the works
Pensacola is the latest incubator for student cybersecurity programs, Carlos Gieseken reports for the Pensacola News-Journal.
Ft. Walton Beach Bingo Operations Scrutinized
State and federal authorities have already acquired volumes of information about a Fort Walton Beach bingo operation, Tom McLaughlin reports for the Northwest Florida Daily News.
Little-claimed Louisiana Citizens rebate lowered
Everyone in Louisiana who buys property insurance will lose 28 percent of a tax credit they can get for covering the debt of the state’s property insurer of last resort. Ted Griggs reports for The Advocate.
Use of Big Data in the Insurance Industry
Driveway is a smartphone-deployed telematics platform designed to reward safe driving. Its iOS and Android apps, paired with powerful cloud analytics, automatically and objectively scores driver behavior. Diogo Costa reports for Tech.co.
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