Latest Texas Headlines
All the headlines from our Texas Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Wildfires Rage in Texas and Oklahoma; At Least 4 People Killed in Blazes
Dec 29 2005 // At least three people in Texas and one in Oklahoma have died as the result of wildfires that have plagued the two rain-starved states in recent days. The Dallas Morning News reported that a body of a man was found in...
Texas Fire Marshall Urges Extreme Caution With Fireworks
Dec 29 2005 // The State Fire Marshal is urging Texans to make any celebration that includes the use of fireworks this weekend, a safe one. Extreme drought conditions over much of Texas along with high winds and low humidity has put...
Texas DWC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Return-to-Work Rules
Dec 28 2005 // The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation is accepting public comment on proposed rules. All proposed rules may be viewed on the TDI Web site and public comment on proposed rules can be...
MedAlert Healthcare Systems Indicted for Workers’ Comp Fraud
Dec 27 2005 // A Travis County, Texas, grand jury has indicted MedAlert Healthcare Systems Inc. and its president, Joseph Osei, on workers’ compensation fraud-related charges, according to Texas Mutual Insurance Company. MedAlert...
Governors in Okla. and Texas Respond to Wildfire Threat
Dec 27 2005 // Both Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry are responding to waves of wildfires plaguing their states as a result of the extremely dry conditions there. Henry reminded citizens that a statewide burn ban...
Texas DWC Sets Workers’ Comp Discount and Interest Rates
Dec 27 2005 // The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation has determined that effective Jan. 1, 2006, any interest or discount provided for in the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act will be at the rate...
AFACT Elects New Officers
Dec 27 2005 // Dianne Morris of Austin, Texas, has been elected president of the Association of Fire and Casualty Companies in Texas (AFACT) for 2006-2007. Morris is president of the Association Casualty Insurance Company. She succeeds...
Devlin to Chair Texas Insurance Fraud Committee
Dec 22 2005 // Dennis J. Devlin, regional vice president of the Travelers Property and Casualty Insurance Company, has assumed the chairmanship of the Texas Committee on Insurance Fraud. Devlin replaces Craig Sparks, CEO of Union...
PT and OT Preauthorization Mandatory Under Texas Workers’ Comp System Effective Dec. 1
Dec 22 2005 // House Bill 7 amended Texas Labor Code §413.014 by adding physical therapy and occupational therapy to the list of services requiring preauthorization. The Texas Department of Insurance, with bulletin B-0039-05, notified...
Gilsbar Expands into Texas
Dec 20 2005 // Gilsbar, Inc., a leading health plan administrator, announces the addition of Andy Hillyer as Regional Sales Manager for the Texas region. Hillyer will be responsible for expanding current self-funded group health...
Texas-based CAA Member Agencies to Participate in Big ‘I’ Best Practices Study
Dec 20 2005 // Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts and Bosworth & Associates, two member agencies of Combined Agents of America, have been selected to be a part of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America “Best...
Health Care Networks: A New Approach for Workers’ Compensation in Texas
Dec 19 2005 // House Bill 7 enacted sweeping workers’ compensation reforms. One of those reforms was the establishment of health care provider networks. After receiving much thoughtful input from system participants, I am proud to...
People & Places
Dec 19 2005 // Clarissa A. Preston Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley announced that Clarissa A. Preston has been named deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance Office of Property and Casualty, and Scott...
IIAT SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS
Dec 19 2005 // Independent insurance agents in Texas report improved homeowners insurance coverage and lower premium prices for both homeowners and auto insurance as the year comes to an end. A survey of more than 1,800 member agencies...
A House Divided: Independent Counsel After Frank’s Casing
Dec 19 2005 // If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” “No man can serve two masters.” These two maxims underlie a central tenet of the attorney/client relationship: The client is...
Be Merry and Safe
Dec 19 2005 // Texas and Louisiana landed fairly near the top of a recently released list of the 15 deadliest states/U.S. territories when it comes to impaired driving. And, the two states are among the 13 that have the dubious...
At the same time, the defense lawyer owes complete loyalty to the insured/defendant. The carrier is paying the bill, but
Dec 18 2005 // If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” “No man can serve two masters.” These two maxims underlie a central tenet of the attorney/client relationship: The client is...
People
Dec 18 2005 // Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley announced that Clarissa A. Preston has been named deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance Office of Property and Casualty, and Scott Kipper is now deputy...
Editor’s Note:
Dec 18 2005 // Texas and Louisiana landed fairly near the top of a recently released list of the 15 deadliest states/U.S. territories when it comes to impaired driving. And, the two states are among the 13 that have the dubious...
News Briefs
Dec 18 2005 // Louisiana Gov. Urged to Veto Flooded Vehicles Bill The Property Casualty Insurers Association of Amer-ica called upon Louisiana Gov. Kath-leen Blanco to veto a bill that would require all vehicles that are declared...
