Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Division of Workers’ Compensation (Division) recently released proposed changes (click here) to the administrative rules governing reimbursement disputes between workers’ compensation carriers and health care providers. The proposed changes will be discussed during a rule workshop on May 30, 2018 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm in Tallahassee. …
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 376, the first responder workers’ compensation PTSD bill, passed the Senate on March 3, 2018 and was sent to the House for approval. On March 5, 2018, the House took up SB 374, substituted the Senate bill for the House bill, and then voted on the Senate bill. …
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate first responder workers’ compensation PTSD bill (SB 376) passed the Senate on March 3, 2018 when the Senate was in an unusual Saturday session. The vote was 33-0. The bill was sent to the House for approval. The House bill, HB 227, was heard on the House…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The first responder workers’ compensation PTSD bill (HB 227, SB 376) was heard on the House and Senate floors on March 2, 2018 on special order. Thus, the bill is in good posture to pass this year. The House and Senate bills are identical. Starting October 1, 2018,…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The first responder workers’ compensation PTSD bill (SB 376) will be heard on the Senate floor on March 2, 2018 after clearing the Rules Committee on March 1, 2018 without amendment. The House companion bill, HB 227, has cleared all its assigned committees. Thus, the bill is in good…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The first responder workers’ compensation PTSD bill moved closer to passage this week after committees in each chamber approved the bills. The bill loosens the requirements for first responders to collect workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD when there is no physical injury. On February 26, 2018, the House Governmental…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On February 20, 2018, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved SB 1568 which is designed to allow illegal immigrants hurt on the job to receive workers’ compensation benefits despite their immigration status. The committee adopted a strike all amendment before approving the bill. According to the bill…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously approved SB 1866 during its last meeting on February 20, 2018. The committee adopted a strike all amendment (#647458) to the bill. The strike all amendment authorizes workers’ compensation insureds meeting certain criteria to participate in a qualified shared underwriting result participation…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On February 13, 2018, the House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee passed HB 227 with a strike all amendment (#406419). The bill is now in its last committee. The amended bill loosens the requirements for first responders to collect workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD when there is no…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel SB 900 dealing with insurance coverage for firefighters diagnosed with cancer passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee on February 13, 2018 with one amendment. The Senate bill has two committees left. The House bill, HB 695, is likely dead. It was workshopped in its first subcommittee where a discussion…