Health insurance rebates could be coming for some Floridians
The federal government on Thursday denied Florida's request for relief from a provision of the federal health care law that requires insurers spend at least 80 cents of every premium dollar on direct patient care. Consumer groups say it all boils down to this: Large numbers of insured Floridians stand to get some of their premium payments back. About $60 million in rebates could be paid out over three years according to one estimate, with money potentially headed to individual customers of two of the three largest insurance providers in the state: United Healthcare and Humana. [Source: Times/Herald
Florida doesn't share in nation's good unemployment news
The nation's good news in lower unemployment claims on Thursday didn't include Florida, which had an increase in new claims. New unemployment claims fell to their lowest point in more than three years for the week ending Dec. 10, dropping by 19,000 to 366,000, the Labor Department said. But Florida's new unemployment claims climbed by 1,762, due to layoffs in the agriculture, construction, trade, retail and service industries. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Air Force rejects plans for Miami-Dade commercial air show -- again
Reaffirming its initial decision, the Air Force again nixed plans to bring a commercial air show to Homestead — prompting a bitter rebuke from Beacon Council President Frank Nero, whose outfit has long lobbied the Pentagon to greenlight the international event. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley informed Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Thursday that Homestead Air Reserve Base would not host the proposed Miami International Aerospace Show, which the Beacon Council had said would "establish Miami as a player in the aviation industry." [Source: Miami Herald]
More Floridians are taking their toothaches to the ER
More Floridians who go without routine dental care are resorting to hospital emergency rooms when the pain of tooth decay or infection becomes too terrible to bear, costing taxpayers and hospitals nearly $90 million last year. Health experts said too few dentists accept Medicaid patients in Florida, where reimbursement rates are among the lowest in the nation. And in many cases, ER visits only result in treating the pain — not the underlying cause, resulting in a costly cycle of return visits. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Chinese drywall victims' lawsuit settled for up to $1 billion
For thousands of Florida homeowners, a settlement with a German maker of defective Chinese drywall that some say could reach $1 billion closes a long and often painful ordeal.
But for the thousands not covered by the agreement unveiled Thursday, numerous financial, health and other issues remain unresolved.
[Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Fight for Citrus canker payments in South Florida likely to drag on
More than 100,000 South Florida households that lost trees to the fight against citrus canker will have to wait longer for compensation — if they receive it at all.
Homeowners won about $29 million in class-action lawsuits in Broward and Palm Beach counties against the Florida Department of Agriculture, which deployed tree-cutting crews in residential neighborhoods to combat a threat to the state's signature crop.
But the department argues it doesn't have to pay for destroyed trees unless the state Legislature appropriates the money.
› In Boynton, low-income home buyers get land, too
The city's Community Redevelopment Agency has reversed itself and will let buyers of low-income homes also own the land beneath them.
But it'll cost them.
Two non-profit groups are building 21 homes in the 4-1/2 acre Ocean Breeze West, on Seacrest Boulevard north of Boynton Beach Boulevard in the city's "Heart of Boynton" neighborhood.
› Cuban-Americans eye travel limit budget amendment
Luis Damian came to the U.S. from Cuba nearly a decade ago and has never returned, nor does he frequently send money to his relatives on the island.
Still, he can't understand why Cuban-American politicians from South Florida want to roll back the ability of fellow Cuban-Americans to visit and send money to family there.
"Look, I'm going to be frank. The situation is really screwed there," said the Miami chef. "The only ones who are going to be hurt are the Cuban people."
› NASA switches gears on commercial crew agreements
NASA will use Space Act agreements - instead of a formal Request for Proposals leading to a contract - to continue to push its commercial crew program forward.
The change in procedure is the result of uncertain funding, said NASA's Associate Administrator William Gerstenmaier.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Jackson Health System loses another $9 million
For the second month in a row, Jackson Health System lost $9 million in November — losses that executives blamed on Jackson's inability to reach agreements with its two biggest partners, the labor unions and the University of Miami.
"You look at the two big pieces and we're still in the netherworld," said board member Michael Bileca at the Jackson board's monthly committee day on Thursday. Administrators have been negotiating with the unions and UM's medical school for months and have yet to reach agreements.
› Winn-Dixie Foundation grants benefit Florida and four other states
The Winn-Dixie Foundation, the charitable arm of the grocery store chain, announced Thursday it is investing nearly $1.4 million in grants to 116 nonprofit organizations in Florida and four other southeastern states.
The grants will establish partnerships with nonprofits that provide "a broad range of services critical to helping communities flourish and individuals triumph," according to a news release.
› Record sales, profits for Heico Corp.
Niche technology company Heico Corp. reported strong results for the quarter ending Oct. 31 and the full fiscal year Thursday.
The company, which manufactures replacement parts for airplanes as well as components for the space, defense, communications, medical and computer industries, said net sales for the quarter increased 23 percent to a record $208.9 million. For the full year, sales jumped 24 percent over the previous year to another record, nearly $765 million.
› Firefighters keep tradition alive, give bikes to Gainesville area children
Terry McCarthy remembers the excitement of getting his first bike — how shiny the red paint was, how hard he would fall while learning to ride it and then how fast he could make it go as he pedaled through his boyhood adventures in Bradford County. For the 21st consecutive year, McCarthy has led the effort by Gainesville Fire Rescue to help create similar bike memories for another generation.
› Marion Senior Services dining sites shut down for one day
For the first time in recent memory, Marion Senior Services' 12 area congregate dining sites will go dark for a day because the organization has run out of money.
The non-for-profit will shut its congregate facilities' doors on Friday but reopen for its regular schedule on Monday. The Meals on Wheels program will not be affected.
› Education group criticizes Florida's spending restrictions
Duval County Public Schools doesn't receive enough funding to comply with the state's unfunded mandates and provide a high quality education, nor does the state do its part to fund districts adequately, according to a policy paper released today by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.
The policy brief confirms many of the refrains educators have said for years while attempting to make the complicated world of education funding accessible for citizens.