Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Telehealth Advisory Council (Council) met for the eleventh time on September 19, 2017 to review and revise its report to the Governor and Legislature. A copy of the meeting materials that include the Council’s revised draft report with recommendations can be found here. The initial draft report…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel DFS has updated the list of insurers participating in insurance villages being held in hurricane impacted communities this week. Insurance villages are coordinated by DFS and give consumers a place to meet face to face with a representative from their insurer to get information and help with the claims…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Rep. Masullo, a physician, filed the “any willing provider” bill for health insurance again for the 2018 Session. He filed the same bill in 2017. Last year’s bill was never heard in any committee. The 2018 bill, HB 143, requires most commercial health insurers and HMOs to accept any…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) held a rule workshop on September 13, 2017 to discuss proposed changes to the 2018-2019 reimbursement contract and the administrative rule relating to the contract, Rule 19-8.010. A red line version of the rule and contract and a summary of the changes are…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Anne Bert, Chief Operating Officer of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF), provided an update on Hurricane Irma claims to the FHCF Advisory Council during their meeting on September 13, 2017. Ms. Bert stated the FHCF has not yet received any requests for reimbursement/Proof of Loss Reports from insurers,…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A second and unfriendly AOB bill emerged in the Senate this week. This bill, SB 256, is not the bill drafted by the OIR and Citizens Property Insurance (Citizens) which is supported by the industry. The OIR and Citizens bill is SB 62. AOB reform is the top, and…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The OIR will likely implement their catastrophe data reporting for Hurricane Irma. In order to prepare for the data call, insurers may want to review the Catastrophe Reporting Form template on the OIR website (http://www.floir.com/Sections/PandC/ProductReview/CatastropheReporting.aspx) to become familiar with it. According to the OIR, it is very similar to…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The OIR issued the following notice to health insurers, managed care entities, and other health entites about early prescription refills as a result of Governor Scott’s Executive Order relating to the State of Emergency due to Hurricane Irma: http://www.floir.com/siteDocuments/Hurricane_Irma_Prescription_Refill_Notification_09052017.pdf
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Last week, Rep. Santiago, vice chair of the House Insurance Committee, filed HB 97 which restructures part of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF). The 2018 bill proposes fewer changes to the FHCF than the 2017 FHCF restructuring bill (which did not pass). Following are some of the highlights…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Sen. Farmer filed a very unfriendly workers’ comp bill on September 5, 2017. SB 258 prohibits attorney fees paid in workers’ comp cases from being included in the insurer’s rate base and used to justify a rate or rate change. This is a major issue for the trial bar…