The Ticker

Hires Larry Chapman Jr. as deputy commissioner of insurance, where he will be primary liaison with other government entities as well as industry associations and consumer organizations. He’ll also manage public relations and general administration of the Department of Insurance. He joins from Alfa Insurance. 

Barbara Richardson hired as director of Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. She moves from the same post in Nevada. >> Former insurance director Evan Daniels joins financial services law firm Mitchell Sandler in D.C. office. He left his insurance department post in January. 

Names attorney Michael Mayton to Workers Compensation Commission. He is senior partner at Mayton, Newkirk & Jones and has served twice as special chief justice of state Supreme Court. His term is for six years.

Michael Yaworsky named insurance commissioner, replacing David Altmaier, who served from 2017 until the end of 2022. Yaworsky moves from vice chair of Florida Gaming Commission. He was previously legal counsel for Georgia’s insurance commissioner and was chief of staff in Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. >> United Property & Casualty Insurance Company declares insolvency. Being placed in runoff at press time. >> Division of Workers Compensation changes wording of minimum payment rule for reimbursement of ambulatory surgical centers, removing the words “for which there is no dispute as to the medical necessity” from the guidance on carrier denial, rejection or adjustment of payment. It now reads: “Minimum partial payment means payment of all non-disputed charges.” >> Approves NCCI filing revising Rules 2-H-1 and 2-H-2 in Basic Manual rules for subcontractors (04-FL-2022) regarding treatment of exempt officers and others under workers comp coverage. Effective for new and renewal voluntary policies as of March 1, 2023. This is NCCI filing FL-2023-01. 

Reduces many error-tolerance rates in market conduct exams for health, life and P&C, dropping most to 0% or 5%. See Bulletin 2023-001 for full listing of rates. 

Approves 11.9% average decrease in workers comp rates, effective April 1. 

New law, the REAP Act, bans medical professionals from performing gender-transition surgery or prescribing puberty blockers or hormones for the purpose of gender transition. Penalties include revocation of license and stripping of tort claims protections. Statute of limitations for former patients to sue is set at 30 years. REAP also bars insurers and Medicaid from reimbursing payments for these procedures and medications if provided to a minor. The law exempts sexual development disorders, infections, injuries, diseases and problems needing correction from prior gender-transition interventions. It is sixth state to take such action. 

Appoints Scott Kipper as insurance commissioner, replacing Barbara Richardson, who moved to Arizona’s DOI. Nick Stosic, who served as commissioner in interim capacity, continues as deputy commissioner. Kipper has served as the state’s insurance commissioner twice before: 2008-2010 and 2011-2015. He rejoins from the Washington state Office of Insurance, where he was deputy director for operations. >> State Supreme Court upholds DOI’s ban on use of credit information in determining insurance personal lines premium through May 2024. 

New law bans hormone therapy, sterilization and gender-reconstruction surgery for minors, effective July 1. Civil lawsuits and licensure penalties could result. 

Bans gender-transition medication and surgery for minors. Attorney general may, within 20 years of a violation, bring action against a healthcare provider or individual who knowingly violates the law. A civil penalty of $25,000 per violation is mandatory.