Cannon spokeswoman Katherine Betta said last week that Cannon's staff
was still reviewing the responses and hadn't decided "what the next step
will be."
OIR communications director Jack McDermott defended his agency's work, adding there was no intent to be "an advocate for the implementation of federal healthcare."
"Virtually all of this information --- whether it is actual review of large group rates, or expanding data systems to collect additional data – would require additional statutory authority or administrative rules," McDermott e-mailed in response to questions.
And recently, OIR decided to slow one of the new law's reforms – by not imposing new profit limits on health insurers beginning Jan. 1.
A new federal "medical loss ratio" requirement would force insurers to spend 80-to-85 percent of the premiums they collect on medical care, with the remainder set aside for overhead including executive salaries and profit. Nearly half the country's insured population are covered by providers that spend more than that on overhead and profit.
Florida's "medical loss ratio" is 65-to-70 percent, and OIR will ask the federal government for a three-year waiver from the tougher standard, said McDermott.
At a recent hearing, most of Florida's main health insurers complained that the new standard would hurt their bottom lines and restrict the Florida insurance market. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty agreed, saying he feared making the change next year would "destabilize" the market and hurt competition.
The move could have a pocketbook implication for Floridians.
The law requires insurers to provide rebates to customers if they exceed the overhead limits in 2011. The feds estimate the rebates could average $164 for individuals in 2012. But if OIR wins the three-year delay, Florida consumers won't be eligible for those checks in 2012.
OIR communications director Jack McDermott defended his agency's work, adding there was no intent to be "an advocate for the implementation of federal healthcare."
"Virtually all of this information --- whether it is actual review of large group rates, or expanding data systems to collect additional data – would require additional statutory authority or administrative rules," McDermott e-mailed in response to questions.
And recently, OIR decided to slow one of the new law's reforms – by not imposing new profit limits on health insurers beginning Jan. 1.
A new federal "medical loss ratio" requirement would force insurers to spend 80-to-85 percent of the premiums they collect on medical care, with the remainder set aside for overhead including executive salaries and profit. Nearly half the country's insured population are covered by providers that spend more than that on overhead and profit.
Florida's "medical loss ratio" is 65-to-70 percent, and OIR will ask the federal government for a three-year waiver from the tougher standard, said McDermott.
At a recent hearing, most of Florida's main health insurers complained that the new standard would hurt their bottom lines and restrict the Florida insurance market. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty agreed, saying he feared making the change next year would "destabilize" the market and hurt competition.
The move could have a pocketbook implication for Floridians.
The law requires insurers to provide rebates to customers if they exceed the overhead limits in 2011. The feds estimate the rebates could average $164 for individuals in 2012. But if OIR wins the three-year delay, Florida consumers won't be eligible for those checks in 2012.
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