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Scope of FHCF Still Unclear as Session Goes On

Scope of FHCF Still Unclear as Session Goes On

The size of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund in future years continues to be a widely discussed issue in the current legislative session.   We have now reached the halfway point but it is still unclear how this issue will play out. Jack Nicholson of the FHCF advocated a reduction in the FHCF’s size last year […]

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Want Job Creation? A Funny Way of Showing It…

Want Job Creation?  A Funny Way of Showing It…

Job creation has been at the forefront of Florida politics over the last few years.  Governor Rick Scott campaigned on a primary goal of pursuing jobs and creating new employment opportunities for Floridians at a time when the economy was languishing.  Recent unemployment numbers show these results have been successful–  the jobless rate has been […]

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Holding Company Regulation Updates (Part 3 in the Series)

Holding Company Regulation Updates (Part 3 in the Series)

Over the last two days I’ve covered Florida’s existing holding company regulations and proposed changes in the 2013 legislature.  Before wrapping up, this blog mentions other related changes that are part of the pending bills or are contained in companion bills. Additional Proposed Law Changes The bills would add a new section 628.805, Florida Statutes, […]

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Florida Seeks to Revise Holding Company Requirements

Florida Seeks to Revise Holding Company Requirements

 One of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s (“FLOIR”) priorities for the 2013 legislative session is to have the legislature adopt the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ holding company model act.  Florida’s holding company registration requirements have remained largely unchanged for many years and no longer are consistent with requirements being adopted in other jurisdictions […]

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Policymakers Divided on Medicaid Expansion

Policymakers Divided on Medicaid Expansion

Implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act has quickly shaped up to be perhaps the highest profile and most hotly debated issue of the 2013 legislative session.  Governor Rick Scott surprised many when he announced shortly before the session that he supports expanding Medicaid to comply with the Affordable Care Act.  Several Republican policymakers promptly […]

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Medical Malpractice Proposal Advances

Medical Malpractice Proposal Advances

The House of Representatives’ Civil Justice Committee advanced HB 827 by a 9-4 vote.  The bill is intended to moderate medical malpractice costs and provide additional protections for hospitals. One component of HB 827 would protect hospitals against liability for negligence arising from physicans who are independent contractors.  Other aspects of the billl would aid in […]

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Busy Week for Insurance Legislation

Busy Week for Insurance Legislation

Several legislative committees will hear bills this week relating to key insurance issues.  The House Banking and Insurance Subcommittee is expected to consider a bill allowing commercial motor vehicle and personal lines property and casualty insurance policies to be posted to the Internet rather than physically delivered in certain circumstances.  The House committee also is […]

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Editorial Makes Key Points About Citizens Reform

Editorial Makes Key Points About Citizens Reform

The Tallahassee Democrat’s editorial this morning entitled “Controlling Citizens” makes some important points about the current state of the supposed residual market.  The theme of the editorial is that policymakers should make Citizens Property Insurance Corporation an insurer of “last resort” again.  The editorial points out that 23 percent of Florida properties are insured by […]

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Lawmakers Wrestle with Affordable Care Act Implementation

Lawmakers Wrestle with Affordable Care Act Implementation

Most observers would concede that Florida’s insurance code is complicated enough as it stands.  In the health insurance context, it contains numerous requirements governing insurers, their financial requirements and obligations, product offerings and benefits, and other issues.  This year, Florida lawmakers are dealing with an added dimension of complexity–  reconciling the insurance code to the […]

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Legislative Proposals Would Codify Product Certification Process

Legislative Proposals Would Codify Product Certification Process

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued orders last year allowing property and casualty insurers to certify most products’ compliance with the insurance code rather than seeking prior approval of the forms.  The orders are helpful to the Office of Insurance Regulation in reducing some of the workload associated with reviewing the filings.  At the […]

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