Gov. Rick Scott and CFO Jeff Atwater Call for PIP Auto Insurance Reform

“Four Pillars” needed to lower costs: fraud prevention, litigation reform, medical provider reform and accountability

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and legislative leaders identified four issues that must be addressed in order to rein in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance fraud and reduce insurance rates for Florida consumers.

According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the number of Florida drivers has remained stable and the frequency of crashes has declined from 2006 to 2010 while the number of PIP claims opened or recorded increased 28 percent. In addition, the payment on PIP claims increased 66 percent during the same period.

“To tackle this nearly billion dollar hidden tax and keep the cost of living low in our state, Florida must have significant PIP reform,” Governor Scott said. “As I have heard from Floridians, they are fed up with being cheated by scammers who get a payday while innocent citizens get stuck with skyrocketing insurance costs.”

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Florida CFO Atwater, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Freeman and Visa Inc. Collaborate to Launch Statewide Rollout of Financial Football Money Management Video Game to Improve the Financial Literacy of Florida Teenagers

St. Petersburg, FL – October 11, 2011 – Tackling the problem of financial illiteracy among Florida teenagers head-on, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jeff Atwater, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Quarterback Josh Freeman and Visa Inc. today announced the statewide rollout of an effort to improve the money management skills of high school and middle school students. This educational video game and classroom curriculum called Financial Football is free of charge and was developed by Visa Inc.

As part of his financial education initiative, Your Money Matter$, CFO Atwater launched Financial Football today at Northeast High School with help from Josh Freeman and Visa officials. Freeman shared his personal experiences on the importance of money management with students. CFO Atwater and Freeman then rolled up their sleeves and led student teams in a hard-fought, high-energy game of Financial Football.

“Financial Football is a wonderful way to get students interested in personal finances and gives them a financial playbook they can use the rest of their lives. This is a valuable program and a great partnership between my office, Visa and the NFL,” said CFO Atwater. “In today’s challenging economy, it is even more important to find creative ways to educate our youth on how to make sound financial decisions and protect their financial futures.”

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Fallen Firefighters To Be Honored at the Annual Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in Ocala

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater and the Joint Council of Fire and Emergency Service Organizations will host the annual Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service on Friday, Oct. 7, at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. Seven Florida firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty will be honored during this year’s service. The following Florida firefighters will be honored:

Stewart Baker: Winter Garden Fire Department
Jack Barker: Tampa Fire Rescue
Loran Cochran: Hollywood Fire Department
Rufus Harrison: Wetumpka Volunteer Fire Department
Scott Maness: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Beau Sauselein: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Leonard Rubin: Miami Beach Fire Department

“Every time a firefighter responds to a call for help, they knowingly risk their own lives to protect ours,” said CFO Atwater. “We honor their service and the incredible sacrifice that has been made by them and their families; we owe them our deepest gratitude.”

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CFO Atwater Announces State Unclaimed Property Auction


More than 37,000 Items Including Jewelry, Watches, and Rare Coins will be Auctioned

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced that Florida will hold the annual unclaimed property auction on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Ponte Vedra Beach at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa.  The auction, which is open to the public, will feature more than 37,000 individual items, including jewelry, watches and rare coins, with a minimum reserve value in excess of $327,000.

In the first seven months of this year, CFO Atwater’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property has paid 176,000 claims, totaling more than $134 million, including a record $24.7 million in June alone.

“I encourage all Floridians to visit www.FLTreasureHunt.org to see what property they may have waiting,” said CFO Atwater.  “I am especially proud that in these tough economic times, our Bureau of Unclaimed Property has been able to return record amounts through a diligent, proactive, and business-like approach to seeking owners and responding to citizens.”

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Florida Treasury Investment Pool Receives Rating Upgrade from Standard & Poor’s

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Treasury Investment Pool received a rating upgrade from the globally recognized Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, continuing its record of strong ratings for both credit quality and volatility. Standard and Poor’s upgraded the Florida Treasury Investment Pool’s credit quality rating from an ‘Af’ to an ‘A+f’ and affirmed the pool’s ‘S2’ volatility rating. The ratings were released yesterday.

“The news of Standard & Poor’s rating upgrade for Florida’s Treasury Investment Pool represents a step in the right direction for Florida’s economic recovery and confirms the continued strength of the investment pool,” said Florida CFO Jeff Atwater, who oversees the Division of Treasury and approves the investment policies. “These improved, strong ratings are a testament to the hard work, talent and dedication to success in our Division of Treasury.”

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CFO Atwater’s Department Recovers Nearly $12 Million in First Half of 2011 for Florida Consumers

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today that the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services and Division of Agent and Agency Services have helped recover nearly $12 million in claim payments, premium refunds, restitution and recoveries this year for Florida consumers.

The Division of Consumer Services is available to answer questions and assist consumers in all lines of insurance—including homeowners, health, auto, life and warranties—handling an average of 20,000 calls a month. The Division of Agent and Agency Services licenses insurance professionals and investigates alleged violations of the Florida Insurance Code—handling an average of 400 cases a month.

“Our purpose is to help our fellow Floridians by providing tools, education and when necessary serving as mediators between them and insurance companies,” said CFO Atwater. “Most situations can be easily resolved; we want consumers to know we are here to assist them when needed.”

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Florida CFO Jeff Atwater’s Eviews Newsletter

Volume 8 Number 27 July 8, 2011

Dear Fellow Floridians:

As the debate over our nation’s debt ceiling continues in Washington, James Baker—former Secretary of the Treasury under Ronald Reagan—brings clarity to the issue in an opinion piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal entitled “How to Deal With the Debt Limit.” In it, he outlines the dire economic consequences of failing to apply a hard cap on spending.

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CFO Jeff Atwater’s Division of Consumer Services Expands Spanish-Speaking Assistance to Unclaimed Property Helpline

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today that he is expanding the availability of Spanish-speaking staff to the Department of Financial Services’ Unclaimed Property Helpline.

The Unclaimed Property Helpline assists Floridians searching for unclaimed cash or property that the state may be holding for them from dormant accounts or abandoned safe deposit boxes. The toll-free helpline, at 1-88-VALUABLE (888-258-2253) or (850) 413-5555, is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is a service provided by the department’s Division of Consumer Services.

“This is one more step in our top goal to enhance the services we provide to all Floridians and will help put dollars back into the pockets of their rightful owners,” said CFO Atwater.

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Florida CFO Atwater’s Department Wins $76 Million Judgment Against Former Aries Insurance Company Owners

TALLAHASSEE—Florida CFO Jeff Atwater announced today that a judgment has been entered against the former owners of Aries Insurance Company, Inc.  for more than $76 million. The insolvency of Aries Insurance Company left approximately 58,000 policyholders and creditors with unpaid claims when it was ordered into receivership in 2002 and two state guaranty funds were triggered to pay those claims. … Continue Reading

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Statement Regarding Additional $30 Million to Promote Florida’s Beaches

TALLAHASSEE—Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that BP has allocated an additional $30 million to help several Northwest Florida counties promote Florida’s beaches following the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill almost a year ago.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater offered the following statement in response to the Governor’s announcement: … Continue Reading

CFO Jeff Atwater Statement Regarding Staged Accident Demonstration and Meeting with Insurance Fraud Tipsters in Tampa

TALLAHASSEE – Florida CFO Jeff Atwater participated in a staged accident demonstration in Tampa today hosted by Allstate and the Tampa Police Department.  The event showcased several types of staged auto accidents used in insurance fraud scams.  Florida currently has three of the top five cities nationally for questionable medical claims associated with staged accidents –Tampa, Miami and Orlando.  CFO Atwater also met with two individuals who recently received rewards from the Division of Insurance Fraud for providing information that directly led to arrests and convictions in two insurance fraud schemes. … Continue Reading

CFO Jeff Atwater Offers Post-Storm Tips, Urges Tampa Residents Affected by Tornadoes to Be Watchful for Unlicensed Contractors

TALLAHASSEE—Florida CFO Jeff Atwater is urging Tampa residents whose homes and property were damaged last week by tornadoes to be on the lookout for unlicensed contractors, and to make sure they thoroughly understand all of the details before signing any contract with a contractor. … Continue Reading

Statement Regarding Statewide Drug Strike Force

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today released the following statement commending Governor Scott and Attorney General Bondi for creating the Statewide Drug Strike Force.

“Pill mills have become a widespread epidemic in Florida, and it is going to take a coordinated approach to combat the glorified drug dealers who are taking over our state.  I commend Governor Scott and Attorney General Bondi for creating the Statewide Drug Strike Force, and I am committed to collaborating and providing the expertise of the Division of Insurance Fraud to assist in this crackdown on pill mills.”

Working Together to Fight Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud

This week, I announced the appointment of five law enforcement members to the newly-formed Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force. The Strike Force was created during the 2010 Legislative Session to increase the coordination and effectiveness of programs and initiatives that work to prevent, detect and prosecute Medicaid and public assistance fraud. Read more in eViews.

Sincerely,

Jeff Atwater

Florida CFO

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Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Asks GCCF Claimants to Provide Input on Proposed Methodology

TALLAHASSEE—Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is asking the state’s business community and BP Oil Spill claimants for their suggestions and any concerns regarding the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) and Fund Administrator Ken Feinberg’s proposed methodology for victim compensation.  Last week, Feinberg’s GCCF made public his recommendation on ways to award Final Claim compensation, which would also require claimants to waive any future right to sue BP, the GCCF or other parties involved with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. … Continue Reading

It’s Time to Reduce Government Spending

It’s time for government to take a critical, in-depth look at programs, and I’m going to start with my office. We cannot simply freeze spending, we must cut it, and the best way to do this is to eliminate inefficiencies and get rid of programs that are not worth our taxpayers’ dollars. We owe it to our fellow Floridians.Read more in eViews.

Sincerely,

Jeff Atwater
Florida CFO

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Bringing New Vision and Leadership to Florida

This Wednesday marked a historic time in Florida. It was the first time in a century that an entirely new Cabinet met, and I was honored to be a part of it. Together, we will bring new vision and leadership to Florida. Read more in eViews.

Sincerely,

Jeff Atwaer

Florida CFO

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CFO Jeff Atwater: Fighting Insurance Fraud

As your CFO, I have pledged to fight insurance fraud. The criminals who perpetrate these crimes are costing us billions of dollars a year in increased insurance premiums. I am serious about putting these thieves in jail. Read more in eViews.

Sincerely,

Jeff Atwater

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CFO Jeff Atwater’s E-Views: Share Inauguration Day in The Capitol

This Tuesday, as I took the oath of office, I was humbled by the incredible support and confidence of my family, friends and the citizens of Florida. I am honored that you have entrusted me with this great responsibility, and I will work hard every day to fulfill the duties of this office and serve you. Read more in eViews.

Sincerely,

Jeff Atwater

Florida CFO

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CFO-Elect Jeff Atwater Announces Management Team

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer-elect Jeff Atwater today announced the appointment of his management team, including Robert “Budd” Kneip who will serve as Chief of Staff, PK Jameson as General Counsel, and three deputies who will oversee key areas of the Department of Financial Services. Atwater also announced appointments to his Legislative Affairs and Communications offices.

“In assembling this team, I sought individuals who have been successful entrepreneurs outside of state government as well those who are experienced government innovators,” said CFO-elect Atwater. “This team shares my commitment and vision to increasing transparency and accountability to taxpayers, to fighting fraud and eliminating government waste, and to fostering economic growth and prosperity. I am honored these accomplished individuals are joining me in bringing open and accountable stewardship to the CFO’s office.”

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