Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, August 6, 2015

Aug 6, 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


  • 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance meeting. Washington, D.C.  Agenda includes overview of workers’ compensation trends and regulatory framework discussion including a detailed focus on workers’ compensation opt-out legislation, as well as the issue of personal auto insurance affordability.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

Florida Updates Neutral Evaluation Rules for Sinkhole Claim Disputes

New rules changing the way disputed sinkhole claims are handled in Florida as part of the state’s Sinkhole Neutral Evaluation Program have been approved and took effect July 27, Insurance Journal’s Amy O’Connor reports.

 

Jeff Atwater puts his office’s resources behind flood recovery in Tampa

Flood waters in Tampa are receding, but Tampa residents still face a multitude of concerns as they survey the damage.  Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is helping residents navigate the insurance claims process, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Janelle Irwin reports.

 

Insurance fraud in the sober home industry:  How peeing in a cup can make millions

Owners of recovery residences can bill insurance companies as much as $3,000 for tests on one urine samples. Insurance companies claim that recovery residences are testing too often and filing false claims.  The Palm Beach Post’s Christine Stapleton reports for the “Post on Politics” blog.

 

Lawmakers Reveal Starting Point For Special Session:  Split Leon County In Two

Lawmakers return to Tallahassee next Monday to redraw the state’s congressional borders.  Yesterday, leadership released the map that will serve as the session’s starting point, Nick Evans reports for WFSU.

 

Florida inspectors find violations at 4 Planned Parenthood clinics

Florida officials say three of the 16 Planned Parenthood facilities inspected last week were performing procedures beyond their licensing authority, and one facility was not keeping proper logs relating to fetal remains.  The Associated Press reports via the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Florida law-enforcement and environmental chiefs approved

Florida’s top cop and the state’s chief environmental regulator are keeping their jobs, the Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.

 

All Aboard Florida allowed to issue bonds

Members of a Florida bond-financing board Wednesday night unanimously gave permission for a private company to issue $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds to build a passenger rail from Miami to Orlando.  The Associated Press’ Mike Schneider reports via TCPalm.com.

 

Matt Gaetz Cancels Father-Son Talk After Getting Whooping Cough

State Representative Matt Gaetz had to cancel his half of a father-son appearance yesterday because of a case of whooping cough apparently contracted from Florida Congressman Carlos Curbelo, according to Gaetz’s father, state Senator Don Gaetz.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Margie Menzel reports via the “Politics in Polk” blog.

 

Heavily Hispanic Florida city home to Trump resort rejects anti-Trump resolution

A resolution to condemn Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s remarks about Mexican immigrants failed Wednesday night to win approval of the city council in Doral, a city dominated by Hispanic immigrants and home to one of the billionaire businessman’s biggest resorts.  The Associated Press’ Sergio Bustos and Marisol Medina report  via the Tampa Tribune.

 

Florida Retirement System pension plan outperforms financial targets

The Florida Retirement System pension plan continues to perform better than long-term targets, according to the State Board of Administration, which oversees the plan.  Jeff Burlew reports for the Tallahassee Democrat.

 

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon:  Home insurance market rebounded post-Katrina

Today, Louisiana has 22 insurers that weren’t in the state in 2005, as a result of active recruitment of companies and strategies including the Citizens Depopulation program, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon writes in this New Orleans Times-Picayune editorial opinion.

 

Payroll Firm ADP to Compete with Brokers in Offering Health Exchange

Automatic Data Processing Inc., the payroll- processing giant, will offer companies a new way for their employees to select health benefits, challenging firms like Towers Watson & Co. and Marsh & McLennan Cos.  Bloomberg’s Zachary Tracer reports via Insurance Journal.

 

 

 

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