On September 27, 2016 the Florida Office of Insurance (OIR) issued an Order for the workers’ compensation rate filing submitted by National Council of Compensation Insurance (NCCI). The requested rate increase of 19.6%, by NCCI, was DISAPPROVED, but a contingent approval to an overall combined average statewide rate increase of 14.5% was recommended. “Approval of […]
Employers with self-insured major medical plans are reminded to report their membership count to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) via the pay.gov website by November 15, 2016, as part of the Affordable Care Act’s (“ACA”) transitional reinsurance fee (the “Fee”). The Fee is assessed on both insured and self-insured group health […]
In late June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reportedly mailed out several hundred thousand notices to employers, dated June 21, 2016, informing them that one or more of their employees have been certified as eligible for a premium subsidy through a federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Employers in states with state-run Marketplaces […]
On April 28, 2016, the Florida Supreme Court issued an opinion in the case of Castellanos vs. Next Door Company, declaring Section 440.34, Florida Statutes, unconstitutional. The anticipated impact of the decision is the elimination of the statutory caps on claimant attorney fees and a return to hourly fees. On June 9, 2016, the […]
Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming August 1, 2016 deadline for paying fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). As background, PCORI was established as part of health care reform to conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatments, procedures […]
Ted R. Ostrander, Jr., AAI, CIC was awarded The Mitchell Stallings Memorial Award, the highest honor the Florida Association of Insurance Agents can bestow upon one of its members, at the 2016 FAIA Convention. This award recognizes the action or voluntary activities of an independent insurance agent, an academician, regulator, association official, or individual with involvement […]
Leesburg, FL (June 20, 2016) — LassiterWare Cares and Vac-Tron Equipment are excited to announce a joint community service project to benefit the students of Beverly Shores Elementary School. Currently, the school’s field is in poor shape, and is not usable for school activities, such as recess, P.E. or Field Days. “At Vac-Tron, it […]
Community Partnerships “Make More Happen” LassiterWare earned the Spring 2016 Safeco Insurance® Make More Happen Award for its community work with Deliver the Difference. And they were the only Florida Agency to be recognized! As a result, Deliver the Difference received a $4,000 donation plus an additional $1,000 that was the outcome of public voting […]
On Monday, May 16, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released final regulations (Final Regulations) under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) governing wellness programs. The ADA rules cover an employer’s requests for health information from employees and the GINA rules cover […]
On April 28th, 2016, the Florida Supreme court issued an opinion in the Castellanos v. Next Door Company case that will have an immediate impact on workers’ compensation insurance rates in Florida. The court has declared the attorney fee schedule, first introduced in 2003, unconstitutional and a violation of due process under both the Florida and United States […]
