Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, May 12, 2015
May 12, 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
9:30 a.m.–Florida Department of Financial Services Proposed Rule Hearing. To view the hearing notice, click here.
- Proposed repeal of Rule 69J-8.004, “Qualification and Certification of Neutral Evaluators,” because the standards for neutral evaluators are now in s.627.7074, F.S.
- Subsection 69J-8.008(2), “Selection of Neutral Evaluator,” would be amended to require insurers to contact claimants within three business days of notice of a request for neutral evaluation, and to copy the DFS on the correspondence to the claimant.
- Subsection (9) of Rule 69J-8.008 would be added to impose a duty on neutral evaluators to disclose conflicts of interest within three business days of assignment.
- Subsection (5) would be added to Rule 69J-8.009, “Evaluation Process,” to require disclosure of professionals used by a neutral evaluator and related conflicts of interest.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Scott said he expects that the Legislature will pass a continuation budget during a June 1 special session to keep the state running. The 2014-15 fiscal year ends June 30. SaintPetersBlog.com’s Christine Jordan Sexton reports.
Rick Scott Names Hospital Panel Without Hospital Executives
Governor Rick Scott on Monday appointed nine people — none of them hospital executives, and only one of whom appears to have significant medical experience — to a commission meant to examine the economics of health care and hospitals in Florida. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Brandon Larrabee reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
About Governor Rick Scott’s hospital profit sharing idea . . .
How do state lawmakers feel about Republican Governor Rick Scott‘s recent suggestion that hospitals pool their profits to cover charity care? The Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Surprise medical bills hit 1 in 3 consumers, but Florida fix fails
Legislation to address balance billing and emergency care (HB 681, SB 516) did not pass in the session that ended May 1. Insurers objected to early versions supported by hospitals and doctors, but amended versions were strongly opposed by medical providers, the Associated Press reports via the Bradenton Herald.
Dennis Ross Fights for Tax-Preferred Disaster Savings Accounts
On Monday, U.S. Representative Dennis Ross, R-Fla., showcased his proposal to amend the federal tax code to create tax-preferred savings accounts to help Americans prepare for natural disasters. Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida Supreme Court throws out blind trust appeal
In an unanimous ruling, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal to review a lower court decision upholding the state’s blind trust law. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Florida Lawmakers: 2015 Special
Session a Snap Compared to Some Past
Three weeks remain until state lawmakers will pack their bags and head back to Tallahassee for a special legislative session to complete the work on Florida’s massive $77 billion budget, and as legislators gear up to nail down the specifics, some look back on special sessions past for insight on conflict resolution. Allison Nielson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Agent Support, Ratings Added to Expanding Google Compare
The auto insurance comparison website Google Compare is expanding into Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania, as well as adding ratings and insurance agent support. Don Jergler reports for Insurance Journal.
Governor Signs Missouri Medical Malpractice Damage Caps into Law
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed a measure capping some damage awards in medical malpractices cases, three years after the state’s Supreme Court struck down similar limits as unconstitutional. The Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
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