Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, July 27, 2015.
Jul 27, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
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There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Flooding In Pasco County, Florida Threatens Homes And Businesses
Pasco County, Florida, has issued an evacuation order for 321 homes and two businesses in anticipation of additional rain on Sunday, WFLA-TV, Tampa, reported. The evacuation order applied to residents in flood prone areas in Elfers in southwest Pasco County. Sarah Berger reports for the International Business Times.
Uber recruiting initiative heads to South Florida
Uber is continuing to expand its ride-for-hire service in South Florida – and the latest move is bringing the UberUP initiative to Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Lance Dixon reports for the Miami Herald.
The Doctors Co. Challenging Florida’s Order to Decrease Med Mal Rates
An order by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for medical malpractice insurer The Doctors Co. to decrease its rates by 15 percent is being contested by the California-based company. MyNewMarkets.com’s Amy O’Connor reports via Insurance Journal.
Medicaid costs may soar under Florida’s private HMOs
Florida’s move to privatize Medicaid saved money in its first year, but it could wind up costing taxpayers more in the long run if costs aren’t kept down, state officials warn. The Orlando Sentinel’s Gray Rohrer reports.
The number of reported HIV cases in Florida has increased 23 percent so far this year, the biggest rise in a continuing upward trend that began in 2012 after several years of decreases. MedicalXPress.com notes the Sun-Sentinel story.
Will the roadmap through Florida redistricting include revising Senate map early?
Legislative leaders are privately discussing whether to proactively redraw the Senate map before it is thrown out by a court or – in their worst-case scenario – redrawn by the court. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Governor Scott wants answers from groups getting state money
Governor Scott’s budget office is asking more than 300 letters to groups and local governments that received money for projects in this year’s budget to provide detailed information on how the state money will provide a “positive return” on the investment made by Florida. The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Rick Scott at odds again with fellow Republicans
Increased strain with Florida Governor Rick Scott comes as Republicans must draw a new map for congressional districts after the state Supreme Court ruled the existing map was gerrymandered. Gary Fineout reports for the Associated Press.
Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll to Admit Ethics Violations, Pay Fine
Florida’s ethics panel and former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll have reached a deal over allegations that she broke the state’s ethics law. The Associated Press reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Exodus from Puerto Rico could upend Florida vote in 2016 presidential race
As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans are relatively easy to register to vote, and they are attracting unprecedented attention because they could change the political calculus in Florida. Mary Jordan reports for the Washington Post.
New hunt for oil in Florida raises environmental concerns
Renewed hunts for oil in sensitive Florida ecosystems have environmental groups raising questions about the state’s regulation of the oil and gas industry. The Associated Press’ Jason Dearen and Jennifer Kay report via the Tampa Bay Times.
Booming vape shops in South Florida brace for new rules
After largely ignoring vaping for a decade, the federal Food and Drug Administration is set to roll out a finalized rule this summer that would treat e-cigs just like real cigs. Jenny Luna reports for the Miami Herald.
Court says that “pocket-dialed” calls aren’t private
In Ohio, a federal appeals court has ruled that a person who accidentally pockets dials” someone shouldn’t expect any overheard conversation to be considered private, Advisen.com reports.
Airbnb now offers vans “down by the river”
RVs in Queens, New York go for as little as $22 a night. Serena Dai reports for New York’s micro-local blog DNAinfo.com.
Report on California Workers’ Comp Reforms Touts Successes
The Department of Industrial Relations and its Division of Workers’ Compensation have released a report on progress implementing California’s workers’ compensation reforms, Insurance Journal reports.
Override: A story about the future of work
In May, Amazon hosted the “Amazon Picking Challenge“-a competition to build a robot that can identify objects of any shape and take them off shelves. Such a machine could one day replace most of the human workers in Amazon’s warehouses. So what will life be like when those jobs are gone? Quartz.com’s Gideon Lichfield imagines the scenario.
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