FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 2009
TAMPA:
WellCare Drug Plans Frozen
Federal regulators on Thursday suspended WellCare Health Plans Inc. from signing up new customers for its Medicare-backed insurance and drug plans, and sternly scolded the company for faults. WellCare is one of the nation's largest administrators of Medicare and Medicaid benefits for the poor and elderly on behalf of government agencies. Yet WellCare was overall the worst performer among all such plans and had the worst record of complaints (three times the national average). Among faults, regulators said WellCare forged enrollment documents and provided misleading or inaccurate data to potential customers. [Source: Tampa Tribune]
More on this topic from Florida Trend:
- Industry Outlook: Healthcare 2009
TALLAHASSEE:
Lawmakers Wary of Gov. Crist's Budget Plan
With the state's economy crashing around him, Gov. Charlie Crist is expected today to roll out a new Florida budget designed to get businesses back on their feet while avoiding big cuts to healthcare and education.
The numbers might not add up in the end, according to legislators. That's because Crist is expected to base his budget on tax-collection estimates that will likely be out of date by mid-March as the economy continues to slide.
[Source: Times/Herald]
»Also: Space Florida funds frozen | House and Senate eye tax breaks differently
ORLANDO:
Survey Finds Condo Bust Worst in 4 Projects
A new survey of 16 downtown Orlando condominium towers, with a combined 3,236 units brought to market since 2001, shows that about one-third of the units remain unsold — with most of those in four relatively recent projects caught in the ongoing real-estate slump. But through December 2008, 11 of the 16 downtown condo projects studied are more than 90% sold out. And the downtown market overall sold $646 million worth of condo units, averaging $295,768 apiece, from 2001 through 2008. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
FORT MYERS:
Officials Pitting Potential Red Sox Sites Against One Another
Lee County officials are adding another step to the process of selecting a Boston Red Sox stadium site. Instead of choosing one site from the nine remaining candidates next week, a county and team selection committee will choose three. The plan will be to negotiate with all three landowners simultaneously to strike the best deal possible. And competition could be stiff, with one of the landowners upgrading a proposal this week before the selection committee has a chance to vote. [Source: Naples Daily News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› USF Program Loses Accreditation
A program at the University of South Florida that trains doctors specializing in high-risk pregnancies has had its accreditation yanked after a review board found the students were overworked and poorly supervised.
› Merrill Lynch's Trips to Ritz-Carlton Rile Critics
Even as it was lining up for $10 billion in government bailout money last fall, financial giant Merrill Lynch & Co. was sending employees on trips to the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Orlando.
Also: South Florida events struggle to hold on to corporate sponsors
› UF Breach Exposes Data on Thousands
A hacker gained access to a University of Florida computer system containing the personal information of more than 97,200 students, faculty and staff.
› Struggling to Live on $275 a Week in Unemployment Aid
The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that claims are coming in at well over 600,000 a week, with close to 5 million people receiving regular benefits. Also: Florida leads nation in increase in use of food stamps
› Greetings from Florida: Why Aren't You Here? The Florida dream isn't dead.
But it is in trouble.
People aren't coming here like they used to. Because Florida is not what it used to be.
Also: Bill aims at discouraging urban sprawl
› Wildfire Season Is Upon Us
The state-run Citizens Property Insurance ended 2008 with $3.1 billion in the bank, an 18% gain over the past year. Also: Drought is fueling west Florida fires
› Attorney General Asks to Shut Down Tidewater Marketing Firm
Consumers who say they were cheated by a Clearwater marketing firm that has distributed hundreds of thousands of vouchers for free gas could get a glimmer of relief today.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Strong Medicine May Be Too Late
President Obama intends his $275 billion homeowner rescue plan to be a lifeline to millions of families struggling to keep their homes and a stabilizing influence on the housing market. The president's bold move injects resources where they are desperately needed — but it may not be bold enough.
› Sen. Nelson Wants Answers on Chinese-Made Drywall
Bill Nelson is asking the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate whether Chinese-manufactured drywall is toxic. The drywall is suspected as the cause of sulfuric gases corroding wires, pipes and air-conditioning components.
› Disney Announces New Executive Assignments
Erin Wallace, who has been the senior vice president of operations at Disney World since August 2006, moves to the new position senior vice president of operations integration/line of business for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
› Cities Aim to Be Environmentally Friendly
In West Volusia, DeLand and Deltona each claim the title of first. DeLand leaders like to point out that they were the first in Volusia County to offer incentives, such as rebates, for those who build and live green.
› Embraer Jet Layoffs Won't Be Local
Embraer's $50 million aircraft manufacturing project in Melbourne will not be derailed as Brazilian jet maker announced it will cut its work force by about 20%.
› Mass Transit May Be Next Move for Congested S. Fla.
South Florida is running out of room to keep adding lanes.
› SantaFe Village Plan Adds 1,473 Residences, Retail
Plans for a 200-acre complex of residences, health care facilities, shops, a hotel and other features on NW 39th Avenue near Interstate 75 have been submitted to Alachua County for permitting. Also: City to invest $1.1 million in Ironwood Golf Course
› Nadel Clients Return Money Given Them
The receiver in the Arthur Nadel securities-fraud case has recovered $120,000 from two clients of Nadel’s hedge funds.
The clients willingly returned the money that had been drawn on a Scoop Capital LLC account. Also: Larry Nardelli guilty of fraud