Topic: Workers' Compensation

The business lobby is pushing controversial measures that failed to get through the Legislature in recent years. ... Related Research: Where We Stand - A Guide to the Florida Chamber's 2013 Business Agenda.

The Florida Medical Association spoke up in favor of drug dispensing by doctors, and disputed figures from the National Council on Compensation Insurance that indicate repackaged drugs dispensed by doctors cost much more than non-repackaged drugs bought at pharmacies.

Tackling drug repackaging costs could lower workers compensation rates by 1.1 percent, states the report released Wednesday by state regulators. ... Related Research: Read the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation's 2012 Workers' Compensation Annual Report.

David Brownell collected $2.7 million after claiming working around rats resulted in respiratory problems. ... Related Research: Nov. 30, 2012 Arrest announcement from CFO Jeff Atwater.

This week the Public Service Commission holds a special agenda meeting on the nuclear cost recovery clause, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. holds a Board of Governors workshop and The Gulf Consortium meets in Sarasota.

The request from the National Council of Compensation Insurance is less than last year's increase, but physician drug repackaging remains an issue. ... Related Research: NCCI release on workers compensation rate increase proposal.

Even though lawmakers exempted workers' compensation insurers from reporting excess profits this year, state regulators are battling one insurer over excess profits earned before the law took effect. ... Related Research: Materials from cases before the Division of Administrative Hearings.

A committee looking to cut the costs of government weighed in on an issue that has fueled a lobbying showdown during the recent legislative session, endorsing a set of changes to the way the state compensates doctors who distributed medicine paid for by workers' compensation insurance. Related research: Information packet from Thursday's Government Efficiency Task Force Subcommittee on Health and Human Services meeting.

Scott pushed hard for HB 119, which maintains the mandatory $10,000 PIP coverage but limits non-emergency care after an auto accident to $2,500 and eliminates fee multipliers for attorneys in PIP cases.

The governor said he vetoed HB 5505, which would have given $1.5 billion in tax credits to insurance companies that pay their taxes early, because it did not go through the formal committee process. It was inserted as part of last-minute budget negotiations.

Here's what passed, what failed and what you need to know about legislation that affects commerce and economic development. Florida business interests were able to pass most of their agenda, but they weren't able to prevent physicians from dispensing repackaged drugs for workers' compensation patients proved futile.

Lawmakers on Friday sent Gov. Rick Scott a conforming bill that would move an office that helps injured workers return to work from the Department of Education to the Department of Financial Services.

The House sends the Senate a package of its workers' compensation priorities including drug repackaging and the elimination of excess profits ban

Sen. Don Gaetz helped pull a contentious workers' compensation overhaul back from the brink of defeat on Tuesday, but another senator promised "nuclear war" if a controversial amendment was removed.