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Guest AuthorJanuary 23, 2017

It’s no secret to lawmakers, business owners and workers throughout the state that Florida’s workers’ compensation system is in need of reform. With the recent unnecessary rate hike in premiums for workers’ comp insurance, the state’s economy will suffer along with the looming potential for job loss. Recent coverage of the workers’ comp system has […]

Michael MolineJanuary 12, 2017

State regulators and an organization that proposes workers’ compensation coverage rates in Florida defended themselves in pleadings to a state appeals court this week, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that they had violated open-government laws. Attorneys for the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, submitted their arguments in a brief filed Wednesday with […]

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 23, 2016

A circuit court judge Wednesday struck down a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates due to begin taking effect next month, ruling that a ratings agency violated the Sunshine Law in preparing its rate proposal. Judge Karen Gievers said the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, failed to open its deliberations to the […]

Staff ReportsOctober 5, 2016

NFIB/Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle on Wednesday criticized workers’ compensation insurers for pushing through a 14.5 percent rate increase this month. Herrle called the increase “massive” and said it would “undoubtedly hurt small businesses by threatening their ability to keep their doors open and employ Floridians.” The National Federation of Independent Business calls itself “the nation’s leading small-business advocacy group,” according […]

Michael MolineAugust 16, 2016

A leading open-government advocate offered strong support Monday for a legal challenge to a proposed workers’ compensation insurance premium increase of nearly 20 percent. “I think he’s got a cause of action,” First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Peterson said of Miami attorney James Fee, who is challenging the rate hike on open-government grounds. Fee filed suit in Miami-Dade […]

Michael MolineAugust 15, 2016

An insurance industry council moved Monday to block a legal challenge to proposed workers’ compensation premium increases of nearly 20 percent, warning that delay would threaten the solvency of Florida’s system for compensating injured workers. The state Office of Insurance Regulation is scheduled to take up the rate hike Tuesday morning in Tallahassee. Delay, the […]

Staff ReportsJuly 28, 2016

The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) business lobby is forming a “Florida Workers’ Compensation Strategic Task Force” after court decisions they said will collectively cost businesses in the hundreds of millions. The task force evolved from a series of “Helping Florida Work” town halls in Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami this summer “to foster ideas and […]

Peter SchorschJuly 10, 2016

Florida’s new insurance commissioner has a rare, meaningful and high-stakes opportunity to earn his chops and establish his credibility for years to come. He can demonstrate he has the mettle to stand up to the insurance industry to the benefit of both consumers and the business community. How often does that happen? Just three months […]

Tag: National Council on Compensation Insurance

Richard Chait: Reform workers’ comp to protect Florida’s businesses and workers

Ratings agency warns in brief against ‘dramatic expansion’ of Sunshine Law

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

Sunshine Law invoked in arguments over workers’ comp rate increase

Judge voids 14.5 percent workers’ comp rate increase

Bill Herrle: Worker’s comp hike hurts small biz

Open government activists back legal challenge to worker’s comp rate increase

Insurance Council counters challenge to big workers’ comp rate hike

AIF forms workers’ comp task force

Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has rare chance to bust Florida workers’ comp cartel