Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Florida HMO profits fall 31 percent, enrollment rises
Florida HMOs saw combined profits plummet 30.6 percent in 2013 compared to the prior year as statewide enrollment increased. The state’s HMO earned a combined $648 million, down from $933.8 million in 2012, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s latest report. The drop in performance was fairly widespread. Of the 37 HMOs, 25 had a decline in income or a worse loss last year. Read more from South Florida Business Journal.
Tea party favorite wins race to replace Radel
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Curt Clawson is headed to Congress, and he expects to waste no time before getting to work. The 54-year-old Bonita Springs Republican received 66,889 votes, or about 67 percent of the vote, in Tuesday’s special congressional District 19 election. Clawson defeated Cape Coral Democrat April Freeman and Marco Island Libertarian Ray Netherwood. [Source: Naples Daily News]
Half-penny school tax vote goes to Orange ballot
Orange County residents will see only one half-penny sales tax referendum on the ballot this fall, and if voters approve, it would fund school construction. County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to place that education levy on the Aug. 26 ballot, which would pay for "school construction, renovation, technology retrofitting, and land acquisition." But moments later, a majority of commissioners said it was the wrong time to put another half-penny referendum to voters on the Nov. 4 ballot to fund county roads, trails and other infrastructure projects. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Nonprofit institute opens in Tallahassee
Think of the new Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence as a nonprofit chamber offering training never before available in Tallahassee. The nonprofit institute will be supported by dues-paying members utilizing services, donations and sponsorship. The idea is to appeal to and offer attractive tools for 700 to 800 Big Bend-area based nonprofits, ranging from small agencies to multi-million-dollar operations. Offerings include a partnership with the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at FSU. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Grand jury rips DCF for 'deliberately' undercounting deaths
A Miami-Dade grand jury accused state child welfare administrators Tuesday of “intentionally and deliberately” manipulating the investigation of child deaths because of abuse and neglect — making it appear that fewer children were dying across the state. In a 30-page report that explores whether the Department of Children & Families has improved since the shocking 2011 death of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona, grand jurors found much that pleased them. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orlando Health decides against possible merger [Sentinel]
Orlando Health's decision bucks a national trend of mergers of hospital chains. Many are trying to consolidate resources, both to reduce costs and expand market strength to better compete in the Affordable Care Act health-care industry. Also: South Florida hospitals feel the pinch for patient safety problems
› Florida Community Bank parent seeks $150M in IPO [Business Journal]
FCB Financial Holdings, owner of the Weston-based bank, filed a registration with the SEC to hold the stock offering at an unspecified time.
› Scripps merger critics say USC not offering enough cash [Post]
The Scripps Research Institute would receive $15 million a year for 40 years under a contentious proposal to make the lab part of the University of Southern California.
› Tampa police take Holocaust-awareness training [Tribune]
Lessons may be learned that can apply to how officers treat their constituents, no matter their race. Every officer is expected to take it by the middle of next year.
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› Bondi seeks to extend defense of gay-marriage ban [Democrat]
Allen Winsor, solicitor general, states in the motions that Florida has a legitimate interest in intervening in the cases since both challenge the 2008 constitutional amendment that banned gay marriage.
› New law bans e-cigarette sales to minors July 1 [Sentinel]
Gov. Rick Scott this month signed a bill making it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors and for minors to possess them. Florida joins states, including Oklahoma, Kentucky, Connecticut and Delaware, whose governors recently signed similar laws.
› Is DROP meant for the employee or employer? Yes [Democrat]
Bill Cotterell: The Deferred Retirement Option Program is probably the best thing Florida legislators have done for career public employees in the past 20 years — and maybe the most misunderstood thing, too.
› Unemployed won't have to take skills test to get benefits [Sun Sentinel]
The unemployed will no longer have to take a skills test to get benefits in Florida. They also won't have to file for benefits online. Both changes will take effect Tuesday, after Rick Scott signed legislation last week.