Deep digging needed to uncover malpractice reform’s common ground

WASHINGTON - President Obama signaled in his State of the Union address that Democrats and Republicans might find common ground on health care reform with the issue of medical malpractice, but experts remain far apart on how the Congress should tackle the issue.  Read Story

Men, women each say ‘financial pants’ fit them perfectly

Men and women disagree about who “wears the finance pants” when it comes to making financial decisions, a survey shows.  Read Story

Merging of two New York-based insurers leads to ratings, name changes

A merger of two property-casualty insurance companies in New York has led to the revising of ratings for several companies by A.M. Best Co.  Read Story

D.C. insurance office’s $13,000 in credit card purchases questioned

The D.C. Office of the Inspector General is investigating the D.C. Department of Insurance, Banking and Securities’ use of department credits cards to purchase $13,000 in electronics and promotional merchandise.  Read Story

Three indicted for alleged roles in drug ring defrauding Medicaid

Three men – the alleged ringleader, a doctor and a pharmacist -- were indicted today (Feb. 15) for their alleged role in a narcotics ring that defrauded Medicaid and each week distributed black-market prescription pain pills in part of New Jersey.  Read Story

Two ‘failed’ life insurance proposals included in Obama’s budget plan

President Barack Obama’s budget proposal for 2012, released Feb. 14, includes two recycled and “failed” life insurance proposals, according to an industry analyst.  Read Story

Va. agents urged to fight surety bond bill that ‘doesn’t make sense’

An insurance agents’ group in Virginia is asking its members to press the Virginia Senate’s General Laws Committee to vote against an increase in the surety bond rates for state projects that it says “doesn’t make sense.”  Read Story

Selective Insurance logs ‘solid’ year, despite new business decline

Selective Insurance Group had a “solid performance” last year, showing growth over 2009 in part from investment income.  Read Story

Three men convicted of murder, arson, to collect on insurance policies

Three men were convicted in Louisiana for their roles in an insurance fraud scheme, including committing murder to benefit from a fraudulent life insurance policy on the victim.  Read Story

Self-insured plans fear threat of health reform’s ‘harmful provisions’

The self-insurance industry faces “potential threats” if the battle over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) forces it to comply with “harmful provisions,” a trade group says.  Read Story