Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, January 29
Jan 29, 2009
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News Service of Florida: Bill Would Restore Attorneys Fee Caps in Workers’ Comp
A measure in the Legislature would restore a fee schedule for lawyers in workers compensation cases and go even farther by eliminating the ability of attorneys to collect fees from insurance carriers in some cases.
News Service of Florida: Citizens Doing Better, Auditors Say
Florida’s independent auditor has concluded that Citizens Property Insurance Corp. – the state-created property insurer – has cleaned up many of the problems that led to a scathing audit three years ago.
Lawmakers Ready to Take On State Farm
With the announcement that Florida’s largest private property insurer is pulling out of the market, state lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist say they are ready to take steps to counter State Farm’s move.
State Farm plan has broad impact
State Farm Florida’s unprecedented withdrawal from the property insurance market includes a two-year plan to diminish the disruption to policyholders and keep an agent network in place despite a 37 percent loss of income.
Can other carriers cover the loss of State Farm?
Like a sudden storm, State Farm’s decision to pull out of Florida’s property insurance market arrived much bigger than anticipated, and the state could’ve used more time to get ready.
Local policyholders wary of insurer pullout
She’s heard nightmare stories about other insurance carriers, but after Hurricane Ivan damaged her home in 2004, State Farm was there.
Hunting for insurance after State Farm bombshell
Some Florida residents aren’t waiting for State Farm Florida Insurance to tell them their policies won’t be renewed. They’ve started calling agents and insurers to check if other companies are willing to provide the coverage they’re about to lose from State Farm.
Small, High-End Insurer Courts Coastal Homeowners
As large, mass-market homeowner-insurance companies continue withdrawing from coastal areas because of the hurricane threat, a small, high-end insurer is making a push for the wealthy among these customers.
COLUMN: Sorry, Charlie, State Farm needs to stay
State Farm is bailing out of Florida, and Charlie Crist says good riddance.
I’m not sure the thousands of policyholders about to be thrown into the maw of Charlie’s socialized insurance market will agree.
City of Tallahassee OKs fees in car crashes
The next time you’re a in serious car crash, you could get a bill from the city of Tallahassee.
Miami-Based Builder’s study finds no health peril in drywall
The environmental consulting firm hired by Miami-based Lennar Corp. has concluded there is little doubt that Chinese-manufactured drywall installed during the housing boom is the cause of the corrosion that homeowners say is eating away at the guts of their homes.
25 percent of doctors leave Fla. Medicaid pilot
A Medicaid privatization program former Gov. Jeb Bush touted as a national model for improving patient care while decreasing government costs is floundering as nearly a quarter of the participating doctors have quit over payments and the inability to treat patients as they see fit.
FLORIDA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT: State needs Congress to fix Medicaid funding formula
This is a time of unprecedented challenges for our nation and our economy. But, as President Barack Obama and Congress begin the hard work to craft an economic-recovery program, it is critical that any new economic-stimulus package include a temporary increase in the federal matching rate for Medicaid. It is the best way to be sure we don’t sacrifice our most vulnerable Floridians while we wait for our economy to rebound.
SENATOR POSEY: Helping uninsured kids
I was recently criticized by FLORIDA TODAY’s editorial board for voting against the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, better known as SCHIP.
Stimulus plan has Medicaid funds for Florida, but service might not grow
If the present House version of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package passes Congress, Florida could get $4.25 billion over two years to help serve the medical needs of the state’s poor and uninsured — but the Legislature has made it tough for the money to be used quickly for its intended purpose.
Florida courts dodge budget-cut bullet
State courts won a temporary reprieve during the latest round of budget cuts, but the system is nearing a meltdown as it struggles with more than 4 million new cases a year, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince said Wednesday.
Florida Forever no favorite of local legislators
Suspension on radar, despite Crist veto
Florida’s premier land conservation program went from suspended to reinstated this week, and now could be heading back to suspension.
Regulators Question Need For Immediate Adoption Of ACLI Capital Proposal
State insurance regulators are trying to decide how urgent changing the rules governing life insurers’ capital and surplus really is.
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