Herald series shows state agency needs an audit

I expect Florida’s programmatic agencies to do their job and explain their actions to the press when needed. After reading the Miami Herald’s series, “Birth & Betrayal,” it is clear that Kenney Shipley, the executive director of Birth-related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), has done neither. She needs to resign.

There is no indication she holds the pain and exhaustion of day-to-day care faced by the Florida parents whose babies’ health was damaged by medical malfeasance at birth. This is at the heart of her mission.

Yes, NICA has amassed $1.5 billion, but it has paid out less than 40 percent of the requests received. I can only imagine the frustration of these families. It was only in 2019 that Shipley allowed for electronic transfers of funds to cover these families’ costs.

Shipley has refused to have a balanced board of directors; like her, it must have a stake in blocking reform — as she did in 2013 when the Legislature attempted to improve the program.

According to the masterfully reported series, the former administrator of NICA (before Shipley), had to sign a non-disclosure agreement; a clear signal the program had skeletons to hide.

This program should be audited and the state should cut funding for publicists, lobbyists, and fund managers. Amounts doctors pay-in should change regularly to reflect the market. Floridians deserve to know costs that are billed to Medicaid, and costs that are assumed by the state program.

The job of this program is to make life somewhat easier for the families caring for those disabled at birth. Let’s hope the next director will be forthcoming with the press, transparent with all financials, and centered on helping Florida’s vulnerable.

– Chris Kirchner,

South Miami

INSURING ROOFS

Re the April 11 story “State Senate passes bill to alter property insurance — especially roof damage claims:” Several years ago I responded to several mailings from People’s Trust Insurance offering me an alternative to Citizens insurance. I jumped at the opportunity.

All went fairly smoothly for a few years, even mostly in resolving my claim after Hurricane

Irma in 2017.

Then I was informed that when I replaced my roof, with the inadequate funds paid me for the claim, I would also be required to replace all of the flat roof areas or face cancellation.

There was nothing wrong with these areas, but that the insurer determined they were old. Having these areas reroofed almost doubled the peak estimate/cost. A year later, my policy was canceled anyway!

It would be nice if Florida’s Legislature insured and protected its constituents’ rights and well-being at least as well as it protects the rights and wellbeing of the insurers.

– Linda Conner,

Miami