Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, January 5
Jan 5, 2009
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Policyholders of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could face sizable rate increases and lose the option to stay with the state-backed property insurer if a task force’s recommendations are approved.
Florida, insurance leaders seek ways to lessen risk posed by Citizens
Since three hurricane seasons have come and gone without a major storm, many residents might need a reminder that the state is Florida’s biggest property insurer. And that means virtually all Floridians would be on the hook again should future storm seasons not be so gentle.
Citizens Insurance Advisory Panel’s Final Meeting Looms
A final meeting of a task force Tuesday in Tampa will discuss several major changes for customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s largest property insurer.
My Safe Florida Home extends improvements deadline, reinstates grants for hurricane-proofing
About a third of the 40,000 Florida homeowners who qualified for free government money to make hurricane improvements have yet to claim it.
New condo law requires owners to buy insurance policy
Condominium owners in Florida are required to have a new type of insurance policy because of a law that took effect Jan. 1.
Brown & Brown acquires 3 firms
The Daytona Beach-based company announced the purchase Dec. 31 of Baker, Thomsen Associates Insurance Services, of Newport Beach, Calif. On Jan. 2, it announced the purchase of Preferred Insurance Services, LLC of Phoenix.
Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition by Brown & Brown, Inc. of the small business insurance unit of Conner Strong Companies, Inc.
CFO Sink Warns Annuity Fraudsters: Tougher Laws Now on the Books
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s 2008 legislative push to target agents using predatory annuity practices against seniors today results in tougher penalties for fraudsters in Florida.
Medicaid fraud increasing throughout state, but economy forcing cutbacks in investigations
The state’s Medicaid fraud investigators have collected nearly $57 million this year in court judgments, fines and civil penalties as a result of probes to unravel wrongful billing and other fraudulent practices against the government insurance program, according to the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
Fugitives flee South Florida with Medicare millions
Suspects continue to flee to Cuba and elsewhere with millions of taxpayer dollars, trying to evade prosecution for Medicare fraud.
Alcides Garcia, former president of a Hialeah medical equipment company, escaped to Cuba in September just before he was to face trial in a $10.7 million Medicare fraud case, according to the FBI.
180 letters urge leniency for former Pharmed owners in fraud charge…
Buoyed by more than 180 letters of support from community leaders, friends and relatives, Carlos and Jorge de Céspedes are scheduled to face a sentencing hearing starting Monday for tax evasion and fraud in connection with ripping off a hospital for more than $5 million.
Medicare orders Citrus Health Plan to halt enrollment
Medicare officials have ordered Citrus Health Care to stop marketing and enrolling new members because of a “pattern of widespread deficiencies in its administration and operations” brought on, in part, by financial problems. One no-no that Citrus committed: dropping some of the sicker, higher-cost “special needs” members from its plans.
Ailing economy affects hospitals’ health
The president of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association warns that groups she represents are not recession-proof, and that could be very bad for everyone.
On many occasions, Linda Quick is the voice for healthcare in the region. As president of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, she represents more than 100 entities in an area that stretches from Key West to St. Lucie County.
COLUMN: Cut in Medicaid hospice benefit wrong, costly
Starting Monday, state lawmakers meet to find ways to resolve Florida’s looming budget deficit. Difficult choices await as the Legislature searches for ways to cut an estimated $2.3-billion from this year’s budget.
Tampa Lawmaker’s Bill Targets Mental Health
The economy is in recession and the budget outlook is bleak. Could 2009 turn out to be state Rep. Ed Homan’s lucky year anyway?
Florida House Speaker Sansom resigns college job
House Speaker Ray Sansom is resigning his $110,000-a-year job at Northwest Florida State College, he said to open the Legislature’s special session this morning.
Jorge Labarga, who fled his native Cuba as a boy after Fidel Castro seized power, on Friday became the second Cuban-American justice to serve on the Florida Supreme Court.
Crist pledges ‘smart’ cuts to budget
In a stark reminder that Florida’s economic woes didn’t end with the 2008 calendar, state lawmakers return to the Capitol today for their third round of budget cuts in 15 months.
Florida will be First State in Nation to Express Support for Israel’s Right to Self-Defense
House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) announced his sponsorship of a bi-partisan resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Israel and supporting Israel’s right to self-defense from attacks by Hamas. Leader Hasner will be filing the resolution to be heard at the start of the Special Session scheduled to begin on Monday, January 5, 2009. Florida State Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) will be filing a similar resolution in the Florida Senate.
- To view House Resolution 1A, which was adopted January 5, click here.
Full slate awaits freshman lawmakers
When Bill Posey and Suzanne Kosmas start their new jobs in Washington, D.C., this week, they won’t have much time to get settled into their new offices.
Jan. 29: His political profile rises when, on the same day, presidential pick John McCain wins Florida’s Republican primary and voters approve his property tax cut.
Election 2010: Some races to keep eyes on
It’s the fifth day of 2009, which means the 2010 campaign season is well under way. For those who might have allowed their attention to flag after the November elections, here’s a rundown on a few of the local pols and races to watch:
COLUMN: Rubio Is Ready to Roll, but Where?
The never-ending Tallahassee parlor game of “who’s running for what” has created the inevitable www.marcorubio.com. It’s a nice site by the former House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, with a picture of the photogenic Rubio family and opportunities to text message or send a “shout out” to Rubio.
Former President Bush touts son Jeb for top job
Another President Bush?
Perhaps so, says former President George H.W. Bush, who has already seen one son, George W., serve in the Oval Office. The nation’s 41st president said Sunday that he would like to see a second son, Jeb, be president one day.
Miami-Dade applies new state law aimed at cutting taxes inflated by mortgage fraud
In compliance with a new Florida law, the Miami-Dade property appraiser’s office is reexamining tax assessments that may have been inflated by fraudulent home sales.
Mortgage fraud wreaked havoc in South Florida’s housing market over the past several years, contributing to inflated sales prices that may have led to inflated property taxes for innocent homeowners.
End fees for affordable homes, Palm Beach County group urges
A coalition of business and community leaders has proposed a change to state law that would allow cities and counties to waive the fees tacked on to the price of a new home as long as the development is deemed “affordable.”
Reg. Re-org, NFIP, Tax Issues Top Industry 2009 Leg. List
The property-casualty insurance trade groups will be challenging the new Congress to deal with a host of industry issues when it starts work next Tuesday, none more important than the industry’s future regulatory scheme.
Insurance Regulators Discuss Capital, Surplus Relief Request
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) held a meeting Friday to discuss a request from the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) for capital and surplus relief for life insurance companies. First requested by the ACLI in November 2008, the appeal comes during a time of unprecedented national economic challenges.
Perspectives: Congress Closes, Leaving Open Questions About Insurance Reform
Heading into the 111th Congress, there appear to be two certainties when it comes to the ongoing efforts to streamline, rationalize or otherwise strengthen the U.S. regulatory system for insurance.
State Insurance Depts. Watching Their Budgets
With looming deficits, state insurance departments are increasingly watchful of expenditures, according to representatives for several major state insurance departments.
Mandatory Health Plans, Federal Regulation Concern Insurance Industry
Insurers are anxious to see how the new presidential administration and a new Congress will address issues of financial significance to the industry ranging from public health insurance to the state-versus-federal regulation debate.
Insurers Say Fair Value Accounting Was a ‘Powerful Accelerant’ to Credit Crisis
The application of fair value accounting measurements to an inactive, illiquid, and disorderly market for structured credit products helped fuel the worldwide credit crisis, an organization of major insurers and reinsurers told the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Risks grow as drivers drop car insurance
More drivers are letting their car insurance lapse because of the sour economy, putting themselves and others at risk.
Avoid These Global Claims Hotspots, Aon Warns Insurers
With increases in fraud and legal fees spiraling upward, insurance carriers will need to deal with a growing number of claims burdens globally in 2009, executives of insurance broker Aon said, pointing out five claims hotspots in the New Year.
Audit of Louisiana Citizens Says Lack of Board Oversight Hurt Company
The latest look at Louisiana’s state-backed insurance company says lack of board oversight caused a number of problems that hurt the company’s ability to reliably start, authorize, record, process or report transactions.
Feds Want Alabama to Repay $5.7 Million in Disaster Funds
State officials are disputing the federal government’s claim that Alabama should repay $5.7 million it received for disaster preparedness.
Insurance at Issue for Mo. Homeowners Using Wind Turbines, Solar Panels
Problems have arisen with a new Missouri law that was supposed to make it easy for residents powering their own homes to put in wind turbines or solar panels.
Workers’ Comp Assigned Risk Rate to Rise in Minnesota
Minnesota’s Commerce Commissioner has issued a rate order approving a 2.6 percent increase in the overall level of the assigned risk rates for workers’ compensation insurance. The increase is effective April 1, 2009, according to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Insurers Association Inc. (MWCIA).
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