News
Medicaid’s court ruling leaves health care providers hanging
Joe Gordy, the head of St. Augustine’s Flagler Hospital, sees the expansion of Medicaid eligibility under last year’s federal health care reform law as a challenge — and an opportunity.
Florida rejects another $1 million federal health insurance reform grant
TALLAHASSEE — Using as ammunition a Florida judge’s ruling this week that the federal health care law is unconstitutional, state officials are wasting no time stepping away from the controversial overhaul.
Officials work against Florida consumers on insurance
By refusing to implement federal health care reform, Gov. Rick Scott and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty are impeding consumer protections that Floridians are entitled to receive.
Ruling against health reforms leaves state, consumers, industry confused over requirements, benefits
TALLAHASSEE — A judge’s decision that the federal health care reform law is unconstitutional is sending insurers, providers and Florida officials, who’d been required to implement it, scrambling to figure out their next moves.
Judge rules health-care law unconstitutional
WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Florida sided Monday with 26 states to declare President Barack Obama’s health-care law unconstitutional, emboldening congressional Republicans who are vowing to repeal what they call “Obamacare” before the Supreme Court weighs in.
Renewed Emphasis on Amendment Opposing Federal Health Care Law
The Florida Senate is again taking steps toward a state constitutional amendment in opposition to the federal Affordable Care Act. The legislature pursued an amendment last year (Amendment 9), but state courts precluded it from appearing on the ballot by finding the ballot summary to be misleading. The Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a resolution by a …
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Six more states join challenge of health care law
TALLAHASSEE — The political sea change marked by the November elections Tuesday pulled six more states into Florida’s lawsuit challenging the national health care legislation, making it one of the biggest tests of federal authority in the country’s history with 26 states now in line.
Editorial: Medical loss ratios
With one of every five Floridians lacking health insurance, the state government should welcome the opportunities presented by the federal health care reform law.
Florida seeking waiver from health care rebate rules
The latest rollout of the federal health care overhaul offers consumers a rebate if their insurers spend too little on actual medical care and too much on administrative costs.
Florida's Incoming House Speaker Wants Health Care Data
TALLAHASSEE | Florida’s incoming House speaker complained about “lack of state executive leadership” Tuesday as he demanded that state agencies better inform lawmakers on their steps to implement President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Insurance agents worry health-care overhaul may shrink their profits
Doctors aren’t the only ones concerned about health-care overhaul. Across the country, insurance agents are worried that the new federal mandates may shut them out of the health-care market. While large insurance companies debated health-care changes, small independent agents were relegated to the sidelines. And they are watching the health-care overhaul unfurl in Washington with …
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Florida will ask to get out of new federal health insurance mandate
Florida will ask the federal government to waive a requirement that insurance companies meet an 80 percent medical loss ratio for individual insurance policies.
Insurance Commissioner McCarty talks health care with President Obama
On the eve of some of the most sweeping health insurance reforms becoming effective, President Barack Obama and members of his administration met with insurance regulators from across the nation including Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty.
OIR, Commissioner McCarty Respond to Healthcare Reforms
The Office of Insurance Regulation recently announced that Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty joined regulators from other states in voting to approve the NAIC’s recommended language for the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) definition under the federal Affordable Care Act. Due to the definition of medical expenses, health insurance agent premiums were not included in the definition of …
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State Supreme Court hears arguments for putting discarded amendments back on ballot
TALLAHASSEE — Lawyers squared off Wednesday before the Florida Supreme Court on challenges to three proposed constitutional amendments that have been kicked off the November ballot.
