Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, August 28
Aug 28, 2008
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Insurance claims from Tropical Storm Fay near 17,000
Claims from Tropical Storm Fay keep rolling in for the top five insurers in Florida, with a total so far at 13,795 homeowners claims, 2,127 auto claims and 1,063 flood insurance claims. Flood claims are paid through the National Flood Insurance Program.
DAVID A. SAMPSON: Fay was just the beginning
We are all grateful that Florida dodged a bullet when Tropical Storm Fay did not pick up more speed as it made landfall last week. Yet, Fay still left her mark on the state and citizens, leaving flood water, wind damage and power outages in her path. Floridians and their insurers need to take this time to evaluate if they were prepared for the Sunshine State’s first storm since 2005.
Major companies pulling out of Medicaid Reform
Three companies that together cover 60 percent of the enrollees in “Medicaid Reform” plans have notified the state that they are pulling out of all or most of the project as of Dec. 1 and have asked to be assigned no more members. The actions appear related to a 5 percent reduction in Medicaid payments to the Reform plans scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1.
Medicaid pilot plans are yanked
WellCare to drop HealthEase and Staywelll more than 38,000 in Duval County are affected; Florida officials to meet today; the move could disrupt the state’s reform efforts.
The largest health care provider in the state Medicaid reform program in Duval County will stop providing service Dec. 1, records show.
Heartland Analyst Likes Insurance Broker Brown & Brown
There’s value to be found in this rangebound market in areas like insurance brokerages, North American natural gas as well as some industrials, a fund manager said.
Governor Crist Names Charles Canady to Florida Supreme Court
Governor Charlie Crist today named Charles T. Canady to the Florida Supreme Court. Judge Canady, 54, is Governor Crist’s first appointment to the seven-member high court. Judge Canady will fill the vacancy left by Justice Raoul G. Cantero III, who has served on the Florida Supreme Court since 2002.
ACLU: Crist too late on getting felons’ rights
Gov. Charlie Crist is pushing to restore voting rights to felons more quickly, but the ACLU says it should have been done in December.
Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday ordered his Office of Executive Clemency to close some of the gaps that have prevented felons who have served their time from having their civil rights restored, including the right to vote.
State economist says Florida facing more budget troubles
Think Florida’s budget is bad now? You haven’t seen anything yet.
A top state economist said Wednesday that Gov. Charlie Crist and lawmakers could have to plug a $3.5 billion budget hole next year as Florida’s housing-driven economy continues to sputter.
Supreme Court moves up amendment hearings
The Florida Supreme Court has moved up hearings on challenges to three proposed state constitutional amendments to meet a Sept. 5 ballot deadline. The justices Wednesday agreed to hear the cases two days before that date, when ballots for the Nov. 4 election will be set. Oral arguments previously were to be held three days after the deadline.
Florida DEP secretary queried on pay bonuses
What’s the difference between a bonus and a temporary merit-based increase?
Corps to start draining swollen Lake Okeechobee
With Lake Okeechobee still rising, the Army Corps of Engineers will begin to slowly drain water to protect the levee.
Suddenly, the question is no longer how low Lake Okeechobee will go, but how high.
Vietnam Vet To Face Off Against Fasano
Taylor Beats Skandera In Democratic Primary For State Senate Seat
A Vietnam veteran and businessman from New Port Richey handily won a clash between two political novices on Tuesday night for the chance to unseat one of the state’s most powerful Republican lawmakers.
All-Med Services names new chief
All-Med Services of Florida announced that Ruben Jose King-Shaw Jr., a former Medicare official and former secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, will become its chief executive.
Flipping houses may not be as profitable as it once was, but Laura Harris has a hunch that flipping mobile homes might be the perfect alternative.
A new report indicates that there may be some problems with the current impairment rating methodology in workers’ compensation.
Dinallo Shepherds A Deal To Bolster FGIC
The New York State Insurance Department said yesterday a deal has been struck that insures the solvency of Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (FGIC) and protects the company’s book of municipal bonds.
Consumers face more insurance fraud schemes
A rising number of consumers are dealing with insurance-related fraud schemes on a number of fronts — from drivers who stage low-speed crashes, to unscrupulous agents who pocket premiums, to rings of medical providers who fabricate large volumes of fake injury claims, according to experts.
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