Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, August 8
Aug 8, 2013
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
9:00 a.m.–Executive Office of the Governor public meeting. Tallahassee, Florida. Citizens Inspector General candidate interviews. To view the meeting notice, click here.
10:30 a.m.–Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Rule Development Workshop. Development of amendments to Rules 69L-7.020, “Florida Workers’ Compensation Health Care Provider Reimbursement Manual,” and 69L-7.602, “Florida Workers’ Compensation Medical Services Billing, Filing and Reporting Rule,” in accordance with amendments enacted to Chapter 440, F.S., pertaining to reimbursement for physician-dispensed repacked/relabeled prescription medications. To view the Workshop notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida CFO: Why aren’t insurance rates dropping?
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater wants to know why homeowner insurance rates aren’t dropping, the Associated Press reports via the Miami Herald.
U.S. Army Corps will continue Lake Okeechobee water releases
Heavy releases of water from swollen Lake Okeechobee will continue for the foreseeable future to protect the lake’s aging earthen dike during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday, reports Associated Press’ Jennifer Kay in Tampa Tribune.
Florida Senator Fasano, Veteran on Insurance Legislation, Leaving for Tax Job
Florida Governor Rick Scott is appointing maverick legislator Mike Fasano to the position of Pasco County tax collector, the Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Florida Attorney General Bondi’s Office Sues Company to Protect Floridians from Mortgage Relief Scam
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office has sued a company that allegedly preyed on distressed homeowners by defrauding them out of thousands of dollars in a mortgage relief scam.
Frank Brogan, chancellor of Florida’s university system, leaving for Pennsylvania
Frank Brogan knew his time as chancellor of Florida’s state university system was drawing to a close, but even he didn’t know he would be leaving his post or the Sunshine State so soon, Tia Mitchell writes for Tampa Bay Times.
Blog: Senate President rejects new Stand Your Ground Committee
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has rejected a request by Minority Leader Chris Smith to form a select committee that would examine the controversial “stand your ground” self-defense law and consider bills.
Black Caucus Chairman: State Representative Mike Hill is Not Allen West
During an interview on MSNBC this week, newly elected state Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach, also a State Farm agent, corrected his host and longtime friend Joe Scarborough when he said Hill was “the first Republican African-American man elected to the state Legislature since (Reconstruction).”
South Carolina Researchers Unveil New Hurricane Model
As hurricane season approaches its peak, researchers at South Carolina’s Coastal Carolina University unveiled a new hurricane model program named after a massive Category 4 storm that smashed into South Carolina a quarter-century ago, Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Mississippi Wind Pool Rates Rising
Insurance rates for the state wind pool are set to increase Dec. 1 on renewals and new policies, Anita Lee reports for the Biloxi Sun-Herald.
Jim Donelon: National Flood Insurance Program Rate Increases Would Crush Louisiana’s Economy
Actuarially-based flood insurance rates scheduled to be phased in starting next year are unaffordable to Louisiana’s coastal residents, and could have a devastating impact on the state’s economy, the state’s insurance commissioner says. Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
Insurers Face Increasing Climate Change Reporting Burden
Insurers are facing a rising tide of calls to account for climate change in the industry’s business model, but industry officials said there are reasons to be reluctant to do so, A.M. Best’s BestWeek reports via Advisen.com.
Vermont health insurance startup wants re-evaluation, not redo
When Commissioner of Financial Regulation Susan Donegan in May denied the Vermont Health CO-OP’s bid to become the state’s third health insurance company, she laid out two paths for the embattled organization: Appeal her decision to the Vermont Supreme Court, or begin afresh with a new application, Peter Hirschfeld reports for the Rutland Herald.
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