Happy New Year from PCAHU!

I hope you enjoyed the holidays with your families. I can't believe January is right around the corner. The first half of the PCAHU year has really been quick!

A few things to keep in mind for January:

> January 3: Mixer with NAHU President Mel Schlesinger at Club 10 at the Palm Beach Airport Hilton. Click to register.

> January 4: Lunch meeting with business building seminar "Succeeding in a New Market" with NAHU President Mel Schlesinger. Click to register.

I wish happiness, health, and prosperity to you and your families in 2012.

Beverly

PCAHU is hiring!

We need a web-friendly, organized, and dedicated Executive Director to keep PCAHU humming. This position is compensated and will work closely with Beverly Kingsley, Debbie Hollister, and the rest of the board. For more information, email Beverly.

Tell all your friends about PCAHU

With all the changes in our industry, it's more important than ever to be a part of your industry association. But, you already know that because you are a member of PCAHU. What about all your friends and coworkers?

That's where the contest comes in. For each new member that you bring in between now and the end of December, we'll add one of your business cards to the drawing for a $100 VISA gift card. Two new members equals two business cards in the drawing; 10 new members equals 10 business cards in the drawing!

We'll draw the winner's name at the January 2012 General Meeting. Start recruiting today!

PCAHU/NAHU membership application

Why PCAHU flyer

Questions? Email membership@pcahu.org.

Upcoming Events

January 3: Mixer with NAHU President Mel Schlesinger 6pm at Club 10 at Palm Beach Airport Hilton

January 4: PCAHU Lunch Meeting with "Succeeding in a New Market" seminar with Mel Schlesinger

January 22-25: NAHU Capitol Conference, Washington, DC

New "Express Lane" at meeting check-in

PCAHU is off to a great start this year with more than 60 people at each of our first two meetings. We've noticed that the check-in table has been pretty crowded so we're making a few changes. Starting at the November meeting, there will be two check-in lines: one for credit cards and an Express Lane checks and cash.

If you have any other suggestions for process improvements or ways to make PCAHU more valuable to you, please let Beverly Kingsley, president, or another Board member know.

Thank you!

We had a great turnout to support the toy drive for Children's Place at Home Safe at the November and December meetings. Special thanks to Karyn LeVine for delivering everything!

Check out the pictures here.

News you can use

Whether it's from the Department of Insurance or NAHU, you can find it here. We're always adding new and pertinent articles to the site so be sure to check back often.

Click here to see the latest news.

Make sure you qualify for LPRT!

2012 application deadline is March 31.

Click here for details.

Legislative Update

This week in Tallahassee marked the final round of regular scheduled committee meetings by the Legislature before the official kick off of the 2012 Legislative session on January 10, 2012.

Issues that continue to dominate discussion include redistricting, budget cuts and possible destination resort casino's.

This week Governor Scott released his proposed budget.  The main focus of the Governor will be an increase for K-12 education of almost a billion dollars.  The Governor proposes funding this increase by cutting and reforming hospital Medicaid reimbursements.  According to Governor Scott, 1.8 billion dollars could be saved by standardizing reimbursements.  This will almost certainly pit one of the state's largest interest groups, the hospitals and the hospital association against the Governor and Legislative budget leaders.

It is important to note, Governor Scott at one time owned and ran almost 25 percent of the hospitals in Florida.

In spite of a general unwillingness to address health care reform during the upcoming legislative session, a host of health related bills are being filed by both Democrats and Republicans.  The Florida Kidcare Program, various mandates and physical education in public schools are expected to receive limited debate.

And for those keeping track, the most recent Quinnipiac poll shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a tight race in Florida with Gingrich receiving 35 percent of the voters approval compared to 22 percent for Mitt Romney.

PCAHU Headlines

Debbie Hollister of Hollister Insurance has been hard at work making sure that the local media know all about PCAHU and its members.

Click here to see the press releases that she has sent out so far this year.