Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Florida Approves Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease of Nearly 10%

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has issued a Final Order granting Approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance for a Statewide Overall Rate Level Decrease of 9.5 percent and Premium Level Decrease of 9.8 percent.  Insurance Journal reports.

Hospital Takes Car Accident Case To Florida Supreme Court

The Case focused, at least in part, on Liens that Lee Memorial used to try to get payment for services provided in 2006 and 2007 to Car Accident Victim Ruben Gallegos, according to the Ruling by a Three-Judge Panel of the Appeals Court.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via WLRN.

Florida Supreme Court Tosses Out Part Of State Medical Malpractice Law

Justices, in a 4-3 Decision, said the 2013 Law — which involved an issue known as “Ex Parte” Communications between Doctors and Defense Attorneys — could lead to the disclosure of Patients’ Private Health Information that is unrelated to Malpractice Cases.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via the Palm Beach Post.

Mortgage Broker is 5th Person Arrested in Pasco Sinkhole Real Estate Fraud Case

The Home did not qualify for Insurance because the Sinkhole History was discovered.  WFLA.com reports.

U.S. Supreme Court Takes Second Houseboat Owner Case Against Riviera Beach

Justices Agreed that just because a home floats it doesn’t mean it’s a boat. Lozman’s Floating Home shouldn’t have been seized under Centuries-Old Maritime Laws, the Court Ruled.  Jane Musgrave reports for the Palm Beach Post.

Tab Mounts To Clean Up Irma Water Debris

Florida continues to spend about $2.4 Million a week to clean up debris strewn across State Waters during Hurricane Irma.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Gainesville Sun.

Orlando Could Require Home-Sharers To Be At Home

City Planners have proposed a change that would let Homeowners rent out space for short-term stays, but only if the Owner is living on the Property at the time, which the City calls a “Hosted Rental.”  Jeff Weiner reports for the Orlando Sentinel.

Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Efforts Ramp Up

Two Treasure Coast Lawmakers are teaming up with the Florida Chamber of Commerce to help lessen Septic Tank Runoff to the Indian River Lagoon in hopes of paving a way to cleaner water for Florida’s Treasure and Space Coasts.  Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.

Displaced Puerto Ricans Face Medical Insurance Confusion In Central Florida

Puerto Ricans arriving in Florida are finding a Confusing Health-Care System, with Deductibles higher than those they are used on the Island and Private Insurance Plans that don’t transfer smoothly.  Bianca Pedro Ocasio reports for the Orlando Sentinel.

·         Central Florida Officials Ask Rick Scott For More Coordination For Puerto Rico Evacuees

In Florida, It’s Legal For Deceptive Doctors To Offer Plastic Surgery Without Training

Florida Law allows any Doctor to do any Procedure as long as they have a Patient’s Permission.   Amy Viteri reports for WPLG.com.

Worries Grow With Lawmaker’s Plan To Kill Tree Rules

Alachua County and the City of Gainesville take pride in their reputations as Tree-Loving Communities, and a State Legislator’s Proposal to dismantle Local Tree Ordinances is not germinating well locally — or throughout the State.  Cleveland Tinker reports for the Gainesville Sun.

Florida Governor Scott To Release Final Budget

This is Scott’s Final Budget Request since the Republican Governor is leaving Office in early 2019 due to Term Limits.  The Associated Press reports.

·         View The Governor’s Budget Outline Here

Florida’s Pot Patient Count Tops 50,000, Palm Beach County’s First Dispensary Set To Open

As of November 8, some 50,775 Patients had visited a Doctor and paid for a State Medical Card.  That puts Florida’s Cannabis Program 10 percent of the way to the half a million people that Pot Proponents expected to ultimately sign up.  Jeff Ostrowski reports for the Palm Beach Post.

Opioid Crisis Taking Toll On Florida Children

More than 4,000 Babies were born Addicted to Opioids in Florida last year, an Increase of over 1,000 percent from a Decade ago.   THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via the St. Augustine Record.

Group Launches Effort to Bring a Different Kind of Single-Payer Health Insurance to Florida

The drive for a package of Constitutional Amendments is focusing on a strategy that keeps Private Insurance intact.  Ryan Benk reports for WJCT.org.

Financial Stability Board Reportedly To Drop Systemically Important Designation For Insurers

The Financial Stability Board is likely to stop using a “Too Big To Fail” Designation based on Insurers’ size, instead focusing on the Companies’ Activities, said a source briefed on the issue.  Reuters reports via the PCI SmartBrief.

Changes To Louisiana Insurance Producer, Adjuster Licensing Begin January 1

Beginning in 2018, Producers will File a Single License Renewal, which will renew all eligible lines on the License. Licensees will no longer renew in an even or odd year based on the Lines of Authority on the License.  Insurance Journal reports.

Fitzpatrick Elected Chair of Insurance Council of Texas Board

The Board also Elected its other Officers for 2018-19.  Insurance Journal reports.

Subscription-Based Car Buying Picks Up Steam

Buying a Car keeps going the way of Netflix, as more Automakers and Dealers adopt Subscription-Based Purchase Models that give Buyers access to multiple Models and Insurance for a Fixed Monthly Rate.  Ad Age reports.

A.M. Best Webinar on New York’s New Cyber Regulation: A Producer’s Guide to Compliance

The Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY) and A.M. Best will host a National Web Broadcast in which a Panel of Experts will guide New York-Licensed Resident and Non-Resident Producers through a practical approach to Compliance with New York’s New Cybersecurity Regulation, including obligations applying to “Exempt” Firms and Individuals.

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