Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, May 9

Insurance law strives to please all sides

By most measures, the insurance bill lawmakers passed Friday is consumer friendly.

But there are a few provisions in the new law that make insurers happy — and some they really don’t like.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/99390.html

 

 

Tax-Funded Storm Model Paints A Grimmer Picture

Even as Gov. Charlie Crist and other politicians seek to lower property insurance rates, other forces are trying to push them higher.

This week, a commission of experts is reviewing the computer catastrophe models that companies use to help set rates, and the worst news so far comes from an unexpected source: a model paid for with taxpayer money.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGB1GDM7H1F.html

 

 

BestWeek: Romney, Dodd Lead White House Contenders in Insurance Contributions

The 19 declared U.S. presidential candidates raised $1.53 million from the insurance sector in the first quarter, with Democrats taking an early lead over their GOP counterparts in the race for industry cash, according to an exclusive story in this week’s issue of BestWeek.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2007/05/04/businesswire20070504005798r1.html

 

 

Dems’ primary may not count

What if Democratic voters turned out for a presidential primary in Florida and their vote didn’t count?

No, this isn’t a Katherine Harris joke.

It’s an option national Democratic leaders are seriously considering as they grapple with Florida’s newly scheduled 2008 presidential primary date, which could upend the national primary process and produce yet another weird Florida election. Consider the scenario:

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/09/State/Dems__primary_may_not.shtml

 

Four steps to fix insurance crisis: Editorial Opinion by Chris Dodd

In the last few years, home and business owners on America’s coasts weathered the worst that nature can offer. And now, many of those who endured are being driven away – not by wind and rain, but by the unbearable cost of insurance.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/09/Opinion/Four_steps_to_fix_ins.shtml

 

Fires, storm combine to cover S. Fla. in smoky haze

Dense smoke shrouded the rush hour in South Florida, an explosion of wildfires in North, Central and Southwest Florida alarmed the governor and — further complicating matters — something resembling an early tropical storm formed offshore.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/100652.html

 

 

Business Briefs STATE

State Farm To Cut Rates

State Farm said Tuesday that it plans to lower auto insurance rates by an average of 16 percent statewide, a response to the expiration of the state’s no-fault auto insurance law Oct. 1. If the Legislature doesn’t extend the law during next month’s special session, the rate reduction would take effect in October, pending approval from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. State Farm’s Florida customers with a two-car household would save, on average, $360 a year without the law, the company said. The savings, though, will vary from customer to customer, depending on the type of coverage, area they live and kind of cars they drive.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBWIN51H1F.html

 

Lawmakers urge Crist to include KidCare in special session

Democratic legislative leaders wrote to Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday urging him to include simplifying KidCare in the list of things lawmakers try to tackle when they return to the Capitol in late June.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/APN/705081697

 

 

Blue Cross, Humana expand Availity’s role

Electronic health record system is rolled out statewide.

Two of Florida’s largest health-insurance companies announced plans this week to jointly create the nation’s first statewide, “multiple payer” system for electronic health records.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. and Humana Inc. said their Internet-based Availity Care Profile had been successfully tested among 400 health-care providers in the Tampa Bay area, and would be deployed statewide.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-availity0907may09,0,7138866.story

 

Universal Touts Federal Notice As Victory For Any, Any, Any

TAMPA – Universal Health Care says federal authorities have invited all three of its Medicare Advantage plans to participate again next year, including the controversial Any, Any, Any plan.

The president of the St. Petersburg-based company mentioned the invitation in a letter mailed Tuesday to thousands of Florida doctors aimed at getting them to accept Universal patients and coverage. The company released both Akshay Desai’s letter to doctors and the “notice of qualification to renew Medicare Advantage” from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBOGBH5H1F.html

 

Buffett Says Berkshire Set for Big Takeovers: Paper

ZURICH (Reuters) – Warren Buffett is confident that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKa.N)(BRKb.N) can conclude several large takeovers soon, Buffett told Swiss newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft in an interview on Wednesday.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-berkshire-takeovers.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Wizard Drops the Curtain

THE Berkshire Hathaway Corporation held its annual shareholders meeting here last weekend, drawing a record 27,000 capitalist faithful from all over the world to worship at the Qwest Center in downtown Omaha. Onstage, the chairman and investor in chief Warren Buffett and his partner and vice chairman, Charles Munger, once again entertained the well-washed and well-heeled masses and educated them in the doctrine of value investing.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/opinion/09dooling.html?pagewanted=print

 

One in three businesses fear terrorist attack: Lloyd’s

LONDON (Reuters) – More than a third of international businesses fear they could become the victims of a terrorist attack, a report by Lloyd’s of London insurance market said on Wednesday.

Some 36 percent of companies surveyed predicted their facilities could be targeted by terrorists in the next five years while nearly half of the companies questioned thought it highly likely their IT infrastructure could come under attack.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/09/AR2007050900986.html

 

Insurers Making Progress At First Anniversary Of Anti-money Laundering Regulation … But Challenges Remain

Ernst & Young today announced the results of its “Anti-Money Laundering Survey for the U.S.-Based Life Insurance Industry.” The survey offers insight into the current state and future plans of insurers with respect to meeting the Department of Treasury’s anti-money laundering (AML) regulations that took effect in May 2006.

The complete article can be found at:  http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_news&id=79214