Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate passed the frozen formulary bill, SB 182, on April 27, 2017 with a vote of 37-0. The bill is opposed to by the FIC Health Committee. The Senate bill now goes to the House for consideration. However, the House companion bill, HB 95, is still in committee,…
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant The Legislature is nearing final passage of a measure expediting the expansion and updating of Florida’s newborn screening standards as federal standards change. Expanded and updated screening is vital “so we can intervene earlier in the lives of newborns and improve their quality of health,” said Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Starting on January 1, 2018, SB 102 prohibits health insurers and HMOs from retroactively denying a claim, if at any time, the insurer or HMO verified the eligibility of an insured or subscriber at the time of treatment and provided an authorization number. The bill is opposed by the…
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant The Florida House on April 26 passed 117-0 this year’s omnibus insurance package (HB 359 E1), a compilation of changes to numerous lines of insurance. The package goes to the Senate, which has been developing a somewhat difference package (CS/CS/SB 454).The Senate bill still has one more committee reference, Senate…
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant The Florida House passed 117-0 on April 26 the Department of Financial Services insolvency package (CS/CS/HB 837), with no amendments and no opposition. The package now goes to the Senate, where similar legislation (SB 730) has moved through all of its assigned committees and should go to the floor soon.…
By: Sam Miller, FIC ConsultantHB 1205 Viatical Settlement Contracts — by Stevenson896111 — by Stevenson063463 — by Stevenson The Florida House overwhelmingly approved legislation (HB 1205E1) on April 26 overruling the Florida Supreme Court’s Wells Fargo v. Pruco Life decision and giving life insurers five years, under certain circumstances, to contest STOLI policies. The companion…
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant HB 813 Flood Insurance — by Lee Jr. (L) “This is the bill that makes flood insurance more available to the citizens of the State of Florida,” said Rep. Larry Lee, D-Fort Pearce. Lee, the House bill sponsor, spoke just before the House passed 115-0 the 2017 legislation (CS/CS/HB 813) …
By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant (Information from FIC lobbyist Greenberg Traurig was used in this report) The Florida House April 26 approved 91-26 a package of assignment of benefits reforms, including two-way attorneys fees. This bill (HB 1421) goes to the Florida Senate which has not taken up attorneys fee reform during its AOB deliberations. …
by: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On April 26, 2017, the House unanimously passed HB 911, the omnibus adjuster licensing and regulation bill and sent it to the Senate for consideration. The Senate companion, SB 922, has cleared all its committees and is waiting to be heard on the Senate floor. The House and Senate…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 577, a bill designed to update regulation of discount medical plan organizations (DMPOs) passed the House on April 20, 2017 and was heard by the Senate on April 26, 2017 when it substituted its bill for the House bill. The Senate is expected to vote on HB 577…