Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Jun 3, 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
8:30 a.m.–Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology meeting. Tallahassee, Florida. Continuation of June 2 meeting. Teleconference: (888) 670-3525; conference code: 7135858151. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Scott vetoes consumer protection for Citizens depopulation, first of 2015 Session
In his first veto of the year, Governor Rick Scott rejected Tuesday a bill that sought to make the de-population of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation more consumer-friendly. The Miami Herald’s Michael Auslen reports for the “Naked Politics” blog.
Rick Scott Urges Hurricane Readiness
With Monday marking the kickoff on hurricane season, Governor Rick Scott urged Floridians to prepare, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida Division of Insurance Fraud Makes Arrests in Workers’ Compensation Fraud Scam
The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud has arrested Juan C. Garcia, owner of Construction Forever LLC, for his involvement in a workers’ compensation insurance fraud scheme. The investigation revealed that Garcia provided false and misleading information on his application for workers’ compensation insurance with the intent to lower premium costs, Insurance Journal reports.
Florida Supreme Court: University’s Athletic Association Entitled to Sovereign Immunity
A private corporation that runs the University of Central Florida’s athletic program won’t have to pay $10 million to the family of a football player who died during practice, the Florida Supreme Court ruled May 28. The Associated Press’ Mike Schneider reports via Insurance Journal.
Lawmakers slash Governor Rick Scott’s tax cuts and berate his top Medicaid expert
Governor Rick Scott picked a good time to be far from the Capitol Tuesday as House members slashed his tax cuts and angry senators accused his top Medicaid expert of playing politics with health care. Steve Bousquet and Mary Ellen Klas report for the Tampa Bay Times.
Things to Watch in Today’s Special Session
There’s only one meeting worth watching today in Tallahassee, Tampa Bay Times’ Michael Auslen reports on “The Buzz” blog.
Feds scoff at Scott’s lawsuit over LIP funding
The federal government says Governor Rick Scott’s lawsuit over a pot of money that helps compensate hospitals for the costs of uninsured patient care is premature and off base, Gainesville Sun’s Christopher Curry reports.
Dueling presentations on Senate plan show merits of health expansion all in the eye of beholder
Healthcare committees in the House and Senate on Monday discussed the same proposal to expand healthcare access to the uninsured in Florida. But it might not have sounded like it, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Ryan Ray reports.
Scott signs 17 bills, including guardianship reforms
Governor Rick Scott signed another 17 bills into law yesterday, including provisions to make abuse of elders by their guardians much rarer. The Miami Herald’s Michael Auslen reports for the “Naked Politics” blog.
Amendment 1 getting short shrift in health care battle
The multi-billion health care fight in has been “sucking the oxygen” out of the Capitol and has taken attention off Amendment 1, Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee said on Tuesday. SaintPetersBlog.com’s Christine Jordan Sexton reports.
Tampa man at center of U.S. Supreme Court bankruptcy ruling
A green and white house in Tampa, home to a retired social worker and his 10 dogs, is at the heart of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting thousands of people in bankruptcy who are underwater on their mortgages. Tampa Bay Times’ Susan Taylor Martin reports.
Economy, Economy, Economy, as Rick Scott Hosts GOP Presidential Hopefuls
It was his show, his name appeared big, so it was a surprise to no one when Governor Rick Scott blew his own horn Tuesday in front of an audience of mostly Scott’s invited guests, media, party and national leaders at the “Economic Growth Summit” in Orlando. Ed Dean and Kevin Derby report for SunshineStateNews.com.
Texas coastal insurance bill awaits Governor’s signature
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association says in a new annual report that its financial situation has improved significantly since 2011 as a result of changes undertaken in response to objectives laid out in the Texas Insurance Code, Steve Clark reports for The Monitor.
D.C. Circuit Strikes Down “Cascading” Retrocession Excise Taxes
The federal excise tax does not apply to reinsurance or retrocession transactions between foreign insurers, even if the transaction covers U.S. risks, according to a May 26 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Right Street’s Ray Lehmann blogs on Insurance Journal.
Former insurance exec pleads guilty to $10 million in wire fraud
Bonney J. Hebert, 59, of Killington, Vermont, waived her right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to wire fraud and money laundering charges stemming from her theft of more than $10 million from Hartford-based Aetna Life Insurance Company. Alex Vitale reports for WTNH-TV.
Court Order Puts Texas Remote Medical Treatment Rule on Hold
Patients in Texas can continue to receive remote diagnoses and treatment after telemedicine company Teladoc Inc. won a preliminary court order blocking a new state rule requiring doctors to meet patients first. Reuters’ Brendan Pierson reports via Insurance Journal.
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