Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee approved HB 307 on February 22, 2017 with two amendments that conform the House bill to the Senate companion. The House bill has one committee left. The Senate bill has not yet been heard in committee. As amended, the bill:• Increases the FLAHIGA…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The House frozen formulary bill sponsored by Dr. Massullo passed its first committee on February 22, 2017. The subcommittee adopted a strike all amendment (858783) to the bill, HB 95. The bill has three committees left. The bill prohibits individual or group commercial health policies or HMOs from changing…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On February 22, 2017, the House Health Quality Subcommittee chaired by Dr. Pigman, an emergency room physician, narrowly passed a controversial bill creating a new cause of action for abortions. The bill, HB 19, passed by a vote of 9-7. The Speaker appointed House Majority Leader Rodriguez as…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Senate Bill 334 allows prejudgment interest on economic and noneconomic damages, attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff in any action. The bill passed its first committee on February 21, 2017 with one amendment 841034 that substantially changed the bill’s provisions on prejudgment interest awards on noneconomic and…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Health Policy Committee passed the frozen formulary/continuity of prescription care bill, SB 182, on February 21, 2017 with one amendment. The bill has two committees left. Sen. Mayfield, the bill sponsor, described the bill as a “consumer protection and patient protection bill.” The bill prohibits…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee passed the flood insurance bill (SB 420) on February 21, 2017 with two amendments. The vote count was 8-1 with Sen. Farmer, a trial lawyer, casting the lone “no” vote. The bill has two committees left. The House bill is similar and has…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On February 21, 2017, the Senate Health Policy Committee unanimously approved the direct primary care bill, SB 240 with three amendments. None of the amendments related to insurance. The bill has two committees left. The bill specifies that a direct primary care agreement is not insurance and is not…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 102 prohibits a health insurer or HMO from retroactively denying a claim if the insurer or HMO verified the insured’s eligibility at the time of treatment and provided an authorization number. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on February 21, 2017 without…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On February 21, 2017, SB 262, a bill heavily supported by doctors and the trial bar, that expands the vicarious liability of HMOs and commercial health plans passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee with a vote of 6-3. Interestingly, two of the three “no” votes were cast by…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 404 which exempts workers’ compensation reimbursement allowances and manuals adopted by rule by DFS from legislative rule ratification unanimously passed its first committee on February 21, 2017. The bill was not amended and has two committees left. Under current law the reimbursement allowances and reimbursement manuals approved by…