Zurich North America Commercial has announced its new, Z-Rx Insurance Solutions, offering 27 healthcare coverages, including professional liability, general liability, security and privacy and management liability products.  Read Story

Queens billing clerk accused of cheating insurers out of $61,500

A medical billing clerk for a Queens, N.Y., physician’s office faces charges of grand larceny and insurance fraud amid accusations she stole $61,500 through filing phony claims.  Read Story

Federal jury issues $19.3 million verdict for Cascade National

A federal jury in Washington state has issued a $19.3 million verdict against three individuals and their company for pocketing millions of dollars owed to financially troubled insurance company Cascade National.   Read Story

Calif. doctor gets prison time for role in $15 million Medicare fraud

An Irvine, Calif., physician was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a $15 million health care fraud scheme targeting senior citizens and those with mental illness.   Read Story

Congressmen urge revisiting COBRA subsidy extension after holiday

With an extension of benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) removed from a comprehensive jobs bill in the U.S. House, future health coverage for the unemployed remains unresolved going into the Memorial Day weekend.  Read Story

National Flood Insurance Program to end as hurricane season begins

Unable to reach consensus on either a short- or long-term extension on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), legislators in Washington, D.C., will let the federal program lapse as of the first day of the hurricane season.  Read Story

Oklahoma legislators seek to reform workers’ compensation system

Four bills to reform workers’ compensation in Oklahoma were sent to the governor, including one that would require legislative approval of judges overseeing benefits for injured workers.  Read Story

Virginia colleges form collaborative for employee benefits

A dozen Virginia colleges have decided there is power in numbers and have formed a collaborative benefits group to control the cost of employee health benefits.  Read Story

Insurer drops appeal of arbitration award involving ex-Pa. judge

Erie Insurance has ended its bid to overturn a $1.2 million arbitration award that is believed to be the basis for corruption charges against former Luzerne County Judge Michael Toole.  Read Story

U.S. Senator calls for federal inquiry into Horizon’s executive pay

While state officials have already scheduled a hearing on the matter, one of New Jersey’s representatives in Congress also wants a closer examination into the compensation package for executives at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Read Story