Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Sep 16, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Uber-friendly legislation tops Hillsborough politicians’ wish list
The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation will consider five proposed “local bills” that touch on the operations of “transportation network companies,” such as Uber and Lyft, according to an email sent to members Tuesday. Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Adam Putnam issues “agricultural state of emergency” in Miami over fruit fly infestation
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam Putnam has declared an Oriental Fruit Fly infestation in Miami-Dade County as an agricultural emergency, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Ryan Ray reports.
Illegal kickbacks to doctors to cost Broward Health $69.5 million
Federal officials Tuesday revealed the identity of a Fort Lauderdale orthopedic surgeon who blew the whistle on illegal physician kickbacks, complicit hospital administrators and negligent financial oversight at taxpayer-supported Broward Health, leading the public hospital system to pay nearly $70 million to settle charges of healthcare fraud. FloridaBulldog.com’s Dan Christensen reports.
Driven To Deceive: Whistleblowers Reveal Aggressive Insurance Tactics at Dollar Rent A Car
Amid two federal lawsuits and a Florida attorney general investigation, former employees reveal how Dollar Rent A Car’s aggressive sales tactics push agents to mislead, and even frighten, weary travelers. Catherine Dunn reports for International Business Times.
Pee Scams, Kickbacks, Overdoses Plague South Florida Rehabs
Florida’s Delray Beach is home to thousands seeking sobriety – as well as scam artists who prey on addicts and their insurance plans, Cat Ferguson reports via BuzzFeed.
Florida Bar Overturns Text Solicitation Ban on Attorneys
Attorneys can now solicit via text message, according to a recent decision by the Florida Bar, Elaine Silvestrini reports for Insurance Journal.
Maps come in for congressional redistricting challenge
Circuit Judge Terry Lewis will have at least seven proposed maps to sort out as he determines the best way to fix Florida’s congressional district boundaries, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Jim Rosica reports.
Mike Fasano op-ed on Richard Corcoran: “A finer public servant would be hard to find”
In a time when special interests have far too much control over policy and legislation, State Representative Corcoran’s plan to empower his chamber will return the control of that body to those to whom it belongs, writes former legislator Mike Fasano.
Bezos’ space company to build, launch rockets in Florida
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is shipping his space business to Florida. The Associated Press’ Marcia Dunn reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Governor Scott says he won’t stop bear hunt
Florida Governor Rick Scott will not use executive authority to block the state’s first bear-hunting season in more than two decades, despite pleas from animal-rights groups. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via the Palm Beach Post.
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner to Run Unopposed in November
State election officials removed a Reform Party candidate for Mississippi insurance commissioner from the November 3 ballot, saying it was impossible to know whether he had lived in the state long enough to run. The Associated Press’ Emily Wagster Pettus reports for Insurance Journal.
InsuranceNetworking.com’s Jon Leslie notes that the most important implementation of Blockchain technology is the Bitcoin currency, which, due to its high volatility, technological novelty, and current constitutional crisis, carries with it particular risks, as detailed in a Lloyds June 2015 report.
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