Sources indicate the “rebates” that broker Arthur Gallagher & Co. has recently paid to several employers in Florida may be related to contingent commissions and/or fees paid by managed care firms to the broker. At least three municipalities have received checks, including $1.3 million to the City of Gainesville, over $1 million to Lakeland, and over $100,000 for Alachua County.
The State Attorney General’s office is heading up the investigation, and there are apparently internal inquiries under way at several other public entities. Preliminary indications are that at least one city risk manager has been “asked to resign”, and other moves are likely in the next two weeks.
According to the Attorney General’s release,
“There are indications that insurance brokers have improperly steered business to insurers who pay the brokers the highest fees rather than seeking the best deals for their customers. There are also indications that the companies may have engaged in bid-rigging. The alleged practices could be in violation of Florida’s antitrust laws, Chapter 542, Florida Statutes. Penalties allow fines of $1 million for corporate violations, $100,000 for individuals and for three times the amount lost due to illegal activities.”
Gallagher has responded to the inquiry, claiming that this is due to the actions of a single producer who no longer is associated with the firm. The statement follows:
“During an internal process review, Arthur J. Gallagher discovered an over billing discrepancy that did not follow the terms of the contracts for the City of Gainesville, the City of Lakeland and Alachua County…These discrepancies were isolated incidents handled by one AJG producer who has since been terminated…As soon as these discrepancies came to our attention, the situation was immediately rectified with the over billed amount returned and the appropriate Florida authorities notified.
While it is entirely possible that Gallagher had nothing to do with this matter other than receiving the inappropriate payments, it is indeed troubling that
a. it took Gallagher ten years to uncover this problem
b. no explanation other than a brief “we billed you in error” was provided
c. risk managers appear to be at risk over this
What does this mean for you?
Hopefully, nothing…
Aug
8
