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Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2017

The new deputy commissioner for property and casualty insurance in the Office of Insurance regulation is Susanne Murphy, Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier announced Tuesday. Eric Johnson becomes deputy for life and health insurance, Altmaier said. “Susanne has been an invaluable resource to the office since joining in 2013,” Altmaier said in a written statement. “Over those years, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 1, 2017

Tom Lee announced Wednesday he filed the “Protecting Florida Seniors from Financial Fraud Act,” seeking to safeguard Floridians in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). “Unfortunately, the conduct of a few bad actors, specifically the management of one CCRC in my community, has highlighted the need to increase oversight of these organizations,” the eastern Hillsborough County state senator said […]

Michael MolineFebruary 13, 2017

As the Legislature debates restricting attorney fees in insurance litigation involving assignment-of-benefits agreements, a tort-reform group has identified a way to circumvent that fix. Attorneys could convince policyholders to file suit in their own name. A report, “Restoring Balance in Insurance Litigation,” released Monday by the Florida Justice Reform Institute, discusses that possibility in the […]

Michael MolineFebruary 7, 2017

Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier laid out his office’s solution to the insurance assignment-of-benefits problem to Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet Tuesday, and it includes limiting contractors’ ability to recover attorney fees in litigation against insurance companies. Florida’s one-way attorney fee statute is intended to shield policyholders against legal bills if they want to sue their insurers for failure […]

Michael MolineFebruary 2, 2017

With the Legislature poised to confront major challenges to Florida’s insurance industry and the businesses and consumers who rely on it, the Florida Chamber of Commerce will convene in Miami Thursday to map out possible solutions. On the agenda are mandatory personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage for motorists; abuse of assignment-of-benefits agreements in property insurance; […]

Michael MolineJanuary 11, 2017

The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee held a calm, measured, largely drama-free discussion of assignment of benefits reform Wednesday. Nothing was resolved, but the panel appeared to inch toward a compromise. It may include extending regulation to the home repair contractors but perhaps not changing Florida’s attorney fee statute to discourage abusive lawsuits against insurers. […]

Michael MolineJanuary 4, 2017

A state workers’ compensation advisory panel voted Wednesday to ask the Legislature to consider letting regulators establish a drug formulary in hopes of keeping medical costs under control. The panel also recommended changes to the way Florida’s workers’ compensation system reimburses facilities that treat injured workers, and to tighten the guidelines for authorizing medical care. […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2016

From algebra to Zika, 2016 brought a plethora of material to the Capitol Press Corps. Trying to pick the top state government stories is a subjective pursuit, to say the least, but here are the FloridaPolitics.com picks for the passing year. In (kind of) chronological order: — Kevin McCarty ousted as state Insurance Commissioner, replaced by […]

Michael MolineDecember 9, 2016

The public will suffer irreparable harm unless a state appeal court stays Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, attorneys challenging the increase said in court papers this week. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, “cannot possibly demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on appeal with respect to the trial court’s detailed, well-reasoned […]

Michael MolineNovember 29, 2016

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has appealed a trial court ruling blocking a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, putting that ruling on hold pending review by a state appeals court. The office filed its notice of appeal Monday with the 1st District Court of Appeal. Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers ruled on […]

Tag: David Altmaier
Image via AP.

Personnel note: New deputies appointed at Office of Insurance Regulation

Tom Lee files bill to protect Florida seniors in retirement communities

Report points to problems with AOBs, and a way around one proposed fix

Insurance Office going after one-way attorney fees in AOB fight

Florida Chamber hosting summit in Miami to take on state’s insurance woes

House panel stages civilized discussion of assignment of benefits reform

Panel seeks changes to workers’ comp billing and new drug formulary

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories in 2016

Sunshine Law invoked in arguments over workers’ comp rate increase

Insurance office appeals ruling blocking workers’ comp premium hike