| Editorial: Amendment Needed for Insured Drivers
State Rep. John Smithee, chairman of the House Insurance Committee, has stepped up with legislation to protect Texas motorists who file a legitimate claim under their auto policy against losses inflicted by uninsured motorists but face an insurer reluctant to pay. Smithee, R-Amarillo, isn't proposing any radical change in House Bill 2013. In fact, he's just trying to restore the law as it was practiced until late last year. Scheduled for a hearing today before Smithee's committee, the bill is necessary because of a Texas Supreme Court decision on Dec. 22. The Brainard decision, named after one of the plaintiffs, said insurers weren't obligated to pay an uninsured or underinsured motorist's claim until a court had ruled on who was liable and determined the damages. Also, the court said, the insurer was not obliged to pay the legal fees of a policyholder who had to sue to collect.
Agency’s deal with insurance company questioned
Chet Culver and lawmakers are questioning why the Iowa Insurance Division fined an insurance company $750,000, but didnt make public the reasons for the penalty.
Culver is concerned the agreement with Conseco Life Insurance Co. of Carmel, Ind., does not disclose necessary information for consumers, Culver spokesman Brad Anderson said.
The lack of public information in this case is unacceptable to the governor, Anderson said. The governor is looking into this matter and wants to take steps to ensure that future settlements abide by his guiding principles of open government and consumer protection.
Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, said he wants to know how and why confidentiality agreements are reached.
Why arent we seeing exactly what the wrongdoing was? he asked.
RediClinics Debut in Richmond Inside Wal-Mart Supercenters With ...
HOUSTON, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- RediClinic LLC announced today that it is opening nine convenient healthcare clinics in leased space inside Richmond- area Wal-Mart Supercenters. Eight of the clinics are already open and the ninth clinic will open in April. RediClinics are in-store facilities that offer consumers easy access to high-quality, routine healthcare services at affordable prices. "We are delighted to introduce the quality, affordability, and convenience of RediClinic to residents of greater Richmond through Wal-Mart Supercenters," said Web Golinkin, chief executive officer of RediClinic. "In connection with our Richmond launch, we are offering $39 sports and camp physicals and our 7 Vital Tests for Women package for just $15 so everyone can experience how easy and inexpensive healthcare can be." RediClinics are staffed by certified nurse practitioners who work with local physicians to diagnose, treat and prescribe medications for common conditions, such as earaches, strep throat and upper respiratory infections.
Local construction values in skyrocket
The value of construction permits filed during January in Bryan and College Station reached its highest level in at least seven years, according to a Texas economist who has been studying the local economy. The benefits of the $80.3 million worth of building projects - the purchase of construction materials from local vendors, people being put to work in the construction sector locally and economic development surrounding the new buildings - could unfold in the Bryan-College Station economy over the next year, said Karr Ingham, an Amarillo-based economist. "That can be viewed as an ongoing positive economic impact for however long it takes those construction projects to play out," Ingham said. The second highest valuation of building permits was $50.1 million in May 2004, and the local economy showed a monthly average of $29.5 million in building permits last year, Ingham said.
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