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Obamacare Opens Door For Gender Reassignment Surgery

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Devin Payne had gone years without health insurance – having little need and not much money to pay for it.

Then Payne, who had a wife and four children, realized she could no longer live as a man.

In her early 40s, she changed her name, began wearing long skirts and grew out her sandy blond hair. And she started taking female hormones, which caused her breasts to develop and the muscle mass on her 6-foot one-inch frame to shrink.

The next step was gender reassignment surgery. For that, Payne, who is now 44,* *said she needed health coverage. “It is not a simple, easy, magical surgery,” said Payne, a photographer who lives in Palm Springs. “Trying to do this without insurance is a big risk. Things can go wrong … not having the money to pay for it would be awful.” 

Payne learned in the fall that she might qualify for subsidies through the state’s new insurance marketplace, Covered California, because her income fell under the limit of $46,000 a year. She eagerly signed up in March for a Blue Shield plan for about $230 a month, and began making preparations for the surgery that would change her life.*A ‘Pre-existing Condition’*

Among the less-talked-about implications of the Affordable Care Act is the relief it is providing to many transgender people, many of whom are low-income and who have struggled to obtain health coverage.

Getting jobs that offer insurance often has been difficult for transgender people  and the cost of purchasing plans on the private market can be prohibitive*.* Some have been  denied policies altogether after being diagnosed with “gender identity disorder,” often considered a pre-existing condition.

Without insurance, many people were unable to afford the hormones, surgeries and counseling needed to complete their transition. Nor would they have been covered in the event of surgical complications, which can include infections.

“We are still dependent on insurance and the medical community for us to be able to live authentically,” said Aydin Kennedy, coordinator of the transgender health program at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in Los Angeles.

Now, federal law prohibits health insurance companies from discriminating against transgender people, and it bars insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. That makes it possible for more transgender people to purchase private plans. And in states that expanded their Medicaid programs, those with low incomes may get free coverage. 

The federal anti-discrimination regulations have yet to be written, but California insurance regulators have said that companies must treat transgender patients the same as other patients. For example, if plans cover hormones for post-menopausal women, they must also cover them for transgender women. Medicare, the program for the elderly and disabled, lifted its ban on covering sex reassignment surgery earlier this year. 

“The law and policy are on a transgender person’s side for the first time,” said Anand Kalra, program administrator at the Oakland-based Transgender Law Center. 

Conservative and religious groups oppose using government funds for transgender surgeries, questioning whether they are medically necessary, ethical or effective.

“We would oppose sex change operations all together,” said Peter Sprigg, senior fellow at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. “But as a public policy issue, we would feel particularly strongly that taxpayers shouldn’t be asked to pay for it.”

A few obstacles remain for transgender patients. Not many* *doctors specialize in transgender care. And while the law opens the door to insurance coverage, insurers can set conditions and don’t automatically approve payment.  

“Insurance companies are making up their own rules as they go along,” said Kalra of the Transgender Law Center. 

*‘Feeling Complete’*

Growing up in Kansas, Payne remembers trying on her mother’s clothes and dressing as a girl every year for Halloween. She dreamt of having another life after this one, as a girl. But Payne said she mostly suppressed her feelings and tried to live up to the expectations for a male.

“I put it out of my head,” she said. 

She married a woman she met at work and they had four children, now ages 7 to 22. But she never felt comfortable in the traditional role of father and provider.

“I was just horrible at it because it wasn’t who I was,” she said. So Payne became the primary caretaker, playing the “mommy role” as she worked from home doing software development for pharmaceutical companies. 

She felt increasingly anxious, and in late 2012, a therapist helped her to realize that she was meant to live as a woman. Payne said her entire outlook on life changed when she started taking female hormones.

“All my anxiety and all of the bad things that I felt inside were just completely washed away,” she said. 

Payne told her wife, who was upset. She told Payne: I married a man, not a woman -- but she also admitted that she wasn’t entirely surprised. With mixed feelings, Payne’s wife stayed in the marriage, and the family moved from Kansas to California, in part so Payne could be more comfortable living as a transgender woman. They rented a small house in a middle class neighborhood on the outskirts of Palm Springs and sent their children to the public school.

Late last year, Payne’s wife, who had battled alcoholism for years, died of liver disease.

Payne said the children worried how people would react to her transition, but she said they soon realized it wasn’t as big of a deal as they had feared. When Payne brought birthday cupcakes to her 7-year-old daughter’s classroom last year, the children asked if she was a girl or a boy. After Payne told them she was a girl, “they just wanted their cupcakes.”

In California, Payne found transgender friends and became an advocate within the community. “You find out that there is a whole world of people out there,” said Payne, who wears little makeup or jewelry and calls herself a “T-shirt and skirt kind of a girl.”  

Payne was ready for the surgery. She started calling the approved providers in Blue Shield’s preferred provider network.  But they were booked up for months, or years. She felt she couldn’t wait -- she wanted to do the surgery while her children were on summer vacation so they could go to her parents’ house in Kansas as she recovered. She found an out-of-network doctor in Palo Alto who would do the surgery about a month later.

“The time was right and I wanted to get it done,” she said. 

Her Blue Shield policy said that gender reassignment surgery – which uses existing tissue to construct female genitalia -- could be covered if patients met certain guidelines. For example, she had to be diagnosed with gender identity disorder and have an “expressed desire” to live as a member of the opposite sex. 

By the scheduled date, Blue Shield had authorized the operation but hadn’t determined exactly how much it would pay for an out-of-network provider.  Payne got a cashier’s check for nearly all her savings, $27,000, to pay the doctor, hoping her insurance plan would reimburse most of it. She worried about all the other expenses too, including the hospital stay, lab work and anesthesiology services. 

The day of the surgery at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, Payne said she remembers being wheeled in to the operating room and feeling very calm. When she woke up, with oxygen still attached and wearing her hospital gown, a friend told her that the surgery had gone well, without any immediate complications. [DEL: :DEL]

Later that day, she had just enough energy to type a few words on her Facebook profile: “Feeling complete.”

*Grateful for Coverage*

On a boiling afternoon in early July, about six weeks after the operation, Payne and her friends sat outside on the patio next to a pool. Misters sprayed above them, and Payne’s cat and two dogs wandered beneath their feet. 

Payne said she did suffer a few complications later – some swelling and an infection -- but she recovered with medication and support from friends.

She is still trying to figure out how much she has to pay out-of-pocket for the surgery and hospital stay -- and how much of that her insurance plan will reimburse. Payne said she believes the lab work, pathology, anesthesiology services and follow-up doctor’s visits were all covered. But recently she got a statement saying she was on the hook for $17,000 of the total cost of the surgery.

Payne believes that the government and insurance companies should help cover such operations.  The population of transgender patients who want surgery is small, and she said they are less likely to suffer mental health problems once they have it.

Payne said she will be grateful for whatever coverage she can receive. Her friend Jenny Taylor, who is staying with her during the recovery, has had an even harder time with her insurance. 

An outgoing transgender woman who laughs easily and wears colorful outfits and painted nails, Taylor purchased a policy through the insurance exchange in Tennessee. But she soon learned her doctor wasn’t in the plan’s network and that she had to pay cash for everything, with no hope of reimbursement.

“My insurance, even though I finally got it, was useless,” she said. 

The policy also wouldn’t pay for her hormones. A pharmacist told her the medication was for women – and her identification still listed her as a male. Taylor recently moved to Palm Springs and said she now plans to apply for insurance through Covered California. 

“I was really frustrated,” she said. “We’re just trying to be ourselves, at the end of the day.”

Payne agreed, saying she finally feels like her body matches what she knows to be true – that she is a woman. “It seems more natural,” she said.
Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy research and communication organization not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Reported by Huffington Post 18 minutes ago.

Health Insurance Brokerage Agency Potomac Basin Group Associates Hosts Healthcare Reform Seminar

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Leading full-service insurance agency, Potomac Basin Group Associates, LLC (PBGA), will be hosting a healthcare reform seminar on the latest Affordable Care Act updates for clients and prospects on Thursday, September 18th.

Beltsville, MD (PRWEB) August 26, 2014

Potomac Basin Group Associates, LLC, recently named the 3rd largest brokerage agency in the Washington, D.C. region by The Washington Business Journal, will be hosting a Healthcare Reform Seminar this fall on the “ACA Update and Concerns for HR in 2014 and Beyond."

PBGA’s upcoming 5th client seminar will include two speakers who are both experts in their respective fields. Jill Brooking of the NFP Compliance Department will be giving an update on the Affordable Care Act, and what employers need to be doing now to understand and comply with federal healthcare reform. Melinda Figeley of NFP HR Services will be giving a presentation regarding the top concerns facing HR professionals. The seminar has been approved for three hours of HRCI CE accreditation.

“At Potomac Basin Group, everything we do is focused on providing our clients with the highest level of service,” says John Deem, vice president of business development of PBGA.

Whether a corporation is seeking solutions that improve healthcare costs, increase work productivity or reduce disability claim incidences, PBGA provides employers, brokers and individuals with the solutions and services to set them apart in the marketplace. PBGA clients and prospects can find out more information by emailing pbgaclientserviceteam[at]potomacbasin.com.

About Potomac Basin Group Associates, LLC:
Established in 1970, today Potomac Basin Group Associates has 50+ assured insurance professionals who serve more than 2,500 employer clients. PBGA is a leader in sharing new ideas and benefits strategies that provide business customers with the most appropriate offerings in employee benefits, property and casualty, retirement, disability, long-term care, voluntary and executive benefits. In addition to business insurance, PBGA offers individual insurance such as home, auto, health and life. To see what Potomac Basin Group Associates can do for you, visit http://www.potomacbasin.com. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.

Women in Business - Sarah Patterson, Delta Dental of Kansas Inc.

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When Sarah Patterson joined United Way of the Plains as a marketing manager in 2004, much of her job was planning the nonprofit’s yearly fall fundraising campaign. That work prepared her, she says, for her current roles as vice president for marketing and communications for Delta Dental of Kansas and its subsidiary, Surency Life and Health Insurance Company. “At United Way, it’s similar to a service-based organization like insurance,” Patterson says. “You’re trying to promote what United… Reported by bizjournals 13 hours ago.

Women in Business: Q&A with Maria Horton, Founder and CEO of EmeSec Inc.

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Educated as a nurse, Maria Horton is a service-disabled veteran retired from the U.S. Navy who became the first Nurse Corps Officer to become a CIO of the National Navy Medical Center (NNMC) with fewer than 5 years of direct technical experience. Her experiences led her to found a successful information assurance and cybersecurity firm, EmeSec, which she has since grown into a respected authority on government security issues. Last year she established a pilot program to hire fellow veterans who may need more specialized work experience to grow in today's economy.

*How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?*
From a young age, I always tried to focus on the big picture and work towards my long-term goals. My first job was working as a waitress for my parents' catering service. That instilled in me the critical importance of customer service and being personable--lessons I carry to this day. Later in my work as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, I was exposed to and worked in a high-pressure environment that forced me to adopt a clarity of thinking and to prioritize next steps. In some instances, I needed to be decisive with next steps while considering alternative options.

*How did your previous employment experience aid your position at EmeSec?*
The best lesson I learned from my time in the Navy was how to anticipate change and adapt appropriately before things escalated. At EmeSec, I approach and analyze strategy in much the same way. What do we need to do now to be healthy in a year? To grow? Digital capabilities and its protection via cybersecurity are ever-changing and organizations need to anticipate evolving threats and simultaneously adjust their strategies for preemption and defense. We emphasize keeping up to date with the latest technical and business issues impacting security such as cloud, mobile and privacy so we can offer our clients best counsel.

*What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at EmeSec?*
A key highlight was winning the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) certification as a third-party assessment organization (3PAO). FedRAMP provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for government cloud products and services. As one of only 27 authorized FedRAMP 3PAOs and one of the few small businesses, EmeSec conducts testing for companies that are cloud service providers undergoing certification. Cloud services and cloud security services are rapidly impacting the federal market and the FedRAMP program provides a baseline for addressing security requirements of both the public and private sectors. The challenge for a 3PAO is to effectively translate requirements and conduct transparent testing that results in good business for the government and a more ingrained security practice for commercial companies bringing the latest technology advancements to government.

A key challenge was gaining that initial access to federal agencies to demonstrate performance. We were able to do so with some commercial partners. Then, small businesses experience inflection points as they grow requiring new skills from their leaders and their staff. These inflection points may differ for every company but the business aspect requires addressing all components from human resources to regulatory compliance to financial support, as well as changes even in the CEO's approach to the work he or she accomplishes on a day-to-day basis.

*Tell us about your time as a female CIO at the NNMC.*
My last assignment for the U.S. Navy was CIO for the NNMC, now known as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I achieved that position despite an unconventional background in nursing. While I was there, I oversaw the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy guidelines and witnessed their impact on security. We also experienced some of the cybersecurity issues leaders see today including the probes, early advanced persistent threats, and technical glitches related to protecting key information. We also had a tight budget with many priorities just as organizations face today. That was more than a decade ago and some of the automated tools we use today were just beginning to be recognized as best practices. Following 9/11, I was able to participate in many of the IT continuity issues and the early considerations of critical infrastructure protection. Those experiences made me believe in the foundation of security first.

The role of CIO was not one that I had considered prior to my assignment. Because of my limited technical background and the fact that I focused on technology from a business perspective, I had to find the means of becoming more technical. Pragmatically, I had to rely on multiple opinions from my staff as well as improve my own knowledge base. I asked and worked with a bright, more junior colleague in what might be considered tutoring on specific technical issues to rapidly come up to speed. Often we would work on critical issues daily and focus on the aspects of the technology that would make or break an implementation, an acquisition or the desired functionality the organization wanted. The lesson I took away was to never underestimate your ability to succeed in a job outside of your initial comfort zone or your ability to add to your technical skill set.

*What advice would you give to women who are looking to start their own business?*
First, focus. What is your vision for that business? Do you believe in yourself? Build upon that vision and develop the capabilities to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Then, work hard. Realize the work you put into your business serves as a multiplier over the life of the business. Finally, employ individuals that will challenge you and support you as an individual. The challenges will clarify your vision and hone your differentiators. Staff who support you will bring you confidence during the trials and look out for those things that may slide off of your very full plate of activities as a business owner.

*How do you maintain a work/life balance?*
As a single mother of three kids, my family has always remained a priority even while I was on active duty. While two of them are grown now, I still balance my executive responsibilities with my equally important responsibilities as a mother. As for hobbies, perhaps it's because I grew up with brothers, I enjoy playing golf and poker. I enjoy vegetable gardening and I try to "unplug" when on vacation. I am learning now as my business responsibilities grow play is more important than I once thought.

*What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?*
Self-doubt. From an early age, girls have not been encouraged in the fields of math and science. Sometimes, these subtle negative assumptions sink in, and many women tell themselves they cannot succeed in the mathematics or IT fields, let alone in business.

I've had to work very hard to succeed in male-dominated fields like the U.S. military and cybersecurity where there were few females in leadership to emulate. I challenge the young men and women I mentor to shape their own experiences.

*How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?*
I don't like the word "mentor," as it can be associated with cronyism and favoritism. It may also suggest or hint at passivity such as the need for a mentor to open doors so one can be successful in a field or a career. I try to encourage my staff to rely on themselves and use personal initiative to create opportunities. There were times in my career journey where I did not have a positive mentor but rather what I would call a "negative mentor or role model." I chose to take from those experiences what I wouldn't practice or how I would choose not to act if given the opportunity to lead others. Probably as a consequence, I prefer the term "leader" and I think leadership is essential to running a good business. A leader is someone who can motivate, encourage and inspire you through their example.

*Which other female leaders do you admire and why?*
Meg Whitman is currently spearheading the turnaround at HP. Having made her fortune at eBay, she could have retired long since. She joined eBay when it was just a 30 person company with $4 million in revenues, and when she left a decade later it had $8 billion in revenues. She also tried her hand at politics. While she ultimately was not elected as California's governor, her tenacity to run serves as a reminder that success is as much the experience as the accomplishment.

Carly Fiorina is another self-made woman who rose from a management trainee to senior executive at AT&T. She was chosen over the leading internal candidate to be the CEO of HP in 1999. This was the height of the dot-com bubble, and many now believe that she was specifically selected to fail. She then led HP in its acquisition of Compaq to build the largest computer manufacturer in the world--and she survived a proxy fight by Walter Hewlett to do so. Carly exhibits the grit that should inspire women (and men).

*What are your hopes for the future of your company?*
Over the next decade we'll see desktop computers phased out as mobile and cloud solutions permeate all aspects of our lives from household appliances to cars and even the walls within which we live and work. Security will likely transition from a protocol to an expected characteristic within technology while a shift toward situational or contextual privacy will become more of a centerpiece within security practices. My expectation is that EmeSec will continue to grow in both the government and commercial sectors to help safeguard digital information. Reported by Huffington Post 13 hours ago.

Financial Advisors Refer Their Clients to Medicare BackOffice™ for Medicare Advice

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New Support Service Fills Marketplace Void as More Consumers Seek Help Understanding Medicare

Omaha, Neb. (PRWEB) August 26, 2014

As the number of consumers seeking advice on Medicare surges amid rising health care costs, a new service called Medicare BackOffice™ supports financial advisors and insurance agents so they can help their clients navigate Medicare health insurance plans without having to become Medicare experts.

“Financial and insurance professionals risk losing clients if they can’t answer their Medicare questions,” said Brian Hickey, Medicare BackOffice™ vice president. “Medicare BackOffice™ exists to give financial advisors and other professionals who don’t specialize in Medicare a way to serve this growing demand so that they don’t disappoint – and potentially lose – clients who turn to them for help.”

Medicare BackOffice™ is a team of insurance agents who are licensed, contracted and certified in all 50 states to provide Medicare advice and products. While Medicare BackOffice™ agents ultimately work directly with consumers, the company’s initial customers are broker-dealers, financial advisors or other professionals who want to help their clients navigate Medicare while continuing to concentrate on their primary business. Professionals simply register at http://www.medicarebackoffice.com and refer clients.

“Medicare BackOffice’s knowledgeable insurance agents guide consumers to a plan that’s right for the consumers’ individual needs,” Hickey said. “The consumer associates that positive shopping experience – that feeling of being genuinely listened to and helped – with their advisor or agent who referred them. You’ve essentially fortified a foundation of trust that ensures they’ll return when they need help with other financial concerns in retirement.”

About Medicare BackOffice™
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Medicare BackOffice™ is a support service for broker-dealers, independent financial advisors, insurance agents and other professionals, helping their clients find the right Medicare health insurance plan. Professionals simply refer clients to Medicare BackOffice’s team of dedicated insurance agents, who are licensed, contracted and certified in all 50 states to provide Medicare advice and products from insurance carriers that are “A”-rated or better. By making clients’ search for Medicare answers easier and stress-free, Medicare BackOffice™ strengthens the referring professional’s relationship with clients. For more information, visit http://www.medicarebackoffice.com. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

United States: As A Practical Matter, What Does The Supreme Court's Decision In The 'Hobby Lobby' Case Mean To You? More Likely Than Not, Not Much - Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan

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By way of brief background: Generally, unless an exception applies, the ACA requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to offer group health insurance coverage Reported by Mondaq 12 hours ago.

WEDI Releases Unique Health Plan Identifier (HPID) Survey for Industry Participation

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WEDI releases HPID survey for providers, health plans, self-insured plans, vendors and clearinghouses to submit responses to before Sept. 5.

Reston, VA (PRWEB) August 26, 2014

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), the nation’s leading nonprofit authority on the use of health IT to create efficiencies in healthcare information exchange, announced the release of a survey to gather industry information relative to the potential use of the unique Health Plan Identifier (HPID) within electronic transactions adopted under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

As an advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), WEDI brings to attention issues that warrant review and consideration and continually reports industry feedback through a series of periodic surveys. The results of this survey will be evaluated and presented to CMS, the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), and will be shared with the healthcare industry as a whole.

“Information collected from WEDI’s surveys help our nation’s healthcare leaders determine where additional outreach and education is needed and help to shape future recommendations and messaging,” said WEDI President and CEO Devin Jopp, Ed.D. “This particular survey has been designed to evaluate the importance of the continued use of the Health Plan Identifier within healthcare.”

Providers, health plans, self-insured plans, vendors and clearinghouses are invited to participate in this important initiative by accessing the survey here. The final submission deadline is 5 p.m. Central Time Friday September 5, 2014.

This survey is limited to questions on transaction use and does not address aspects of HPID such as enumeration, communication or dissemination of HPIDs.

About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards development organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.wedi.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

India Network Foundation Sponsors Mineral Drinking Water Projects in Three Villages, Andhra Pradesh, India

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India Network sponsored mineral water machinery donation to three villages to bring the mineral water. Recently launched NTR Sujala Sravanti Program provide private and government sponsorship to achieve this goal.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) August 26, 2014

India Network Foundation, a long standing sponsor of visitor health Insurance programs for visitors to the US, announced today sponsorship of mineral water plants in Andhra Pradesh, India; and the distribution of three maps (World, India, and Andhra Pradesh) to all high schools in a district in Andhra Pradesh. These projects were announced by Dr. KV Rao, Founder President, India Network Foundation after his meeting with the West Godavari District Collector Mr. K. Bhaskar recently. India Network Foundation has been helping all levels of educational institutions in several parts of India in the past two decades. India Network welcomes everyone to sponsor a Mineral water project in their chosen village, district or State through India Network.

Recently, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu announced the NTR Sujala Sravanti Program will provide villagers with 20 liters of mineral water at a nominal price of two rupees. Without sponsors, this program will take many years to reach all villages due to lack of funds in the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh. In this context, India Network Foundation on a test basis proposed to sponsor mineral water equipment while the governmental sources would provide water source, electric connection and a minimum room of 15 ft x 20 ft. The three India Network Sponsored projects are expected to get started by October 2, 2014.

Dr. KV Rao Founder President said that many areas in Andhra Pradesh are worse off in the new the state without the revenue base of Hyderabad. Basic necessities such as drinking water are not easily accessible to common people in villages. Main obstacles observed include out dated banking procedures and aged government employees not comfortable with computers are main road blocks for development. However, there are few administrators such as West Godavari District Collector Mr. K. Bhaskar who took great interest to encourage NGO participation in mineral water projects in the district and put pressure on peer officers to move fast.

India Network Foundation, USA is a non-profit organization inviting everyone to sponsor a mineral water project in a village of their choice in rural Andhra Pradesh, India. Under NTR Sujala Sravanti Water Program, sponsor of machinery would enable many villages to realize affordable mineral water plant sooner than waiting till 2019. The machinery cost is dependent on the water capacity requirements of the village. Individual donors are encouraged to contact India Network Foundation office with their village particulars to know the cost of sponsorship.

Project donations made to India Network Foundation are tax-exempt in the United States and these projects will be carried out by a dedicated volunteer team in India. This process will assure full value of your contribution to the development of your beloved village, town, or city in India. Interested members may use the INF Contributions form

About India Network Foundation
India Network Foundation, established as a US non-profit organization, has been helping the Asian Indian community in North America with programs and grants to academics from India for more than two decades and several developmental projects in India. India Network Foundation sponsors visitor health insurance to tourists, students, temporary workers (H1 visa holders) and their families. All insurance products are administered by India Network Services.
For more information visit http://www.indianetwork.org.

About India Network Health Insurance
India Network Services, is a US based company that administers visitor health insurance to transition residents, tourists, students, temporary workers and their families. Visitor medical plans are offered for all age groups with both fixed coverage, comprehensive coverage and with pre-existing condition coverage.
For more information visit http://www.kvrao.org. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.

MBS sticks with Highmark for 2015

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Downtown Pittsburgh-based Municipal Benefits Services will keep Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as its exclusive health insurance provider next year for nearly 10,000 members, the agency announced Monday. MBS has a longstanding partnership with Highmark, but Executive Director Michael Boyd said a thorough analysis of regional and national carriers preceded the company’s decision. Sticking with Highmark made the most economic sense for members, he said. “Every nickel and dime matters for our… Reported by bizjournals 9 hours ago.

8 Things Women Couldn't Do On The First Women's Equality Day In 1971 -- And 6 They Still Can't

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In 1971, Congress declared August 26th -- the day in 1920 on which the 19th amendment, which gave American women the right to vote, was certified as law -- Women's Equality Day. Every year since, we've had a designated 24 hours to reflect on how far we've come since women couldn't even cast a vote for President in this country, and how far the country still has to go, when it comes to gender equality.

*8 Things Women Couldn't Do In 1971...*

*1. Get credit cards in their own names.*
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 gave women that right. The law forced credit card companies to issue cards to women without a husband's signature.

*2. Legally get an abortion.*
The seminal Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, which protected a woman's right to choose, didn't happen until 1973.

*3. Access the morning after pill. *
The FDA first approved emergency contraception in 1998, and the morning after pill became available over the counter just last year, in 2013.

*4. Be guaranteed they wouldn't be fired for getting pregnant. *
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 added an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specificyng that employers could not discriminate "on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions."

*5. Marry another woman. *
Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004. Love is love is love.

*6. Fight on the front lines.*
Women were first admitted into military academies in 1976. And in 2013, the military ban on women in combat (tied to a Pentagon rule from 1994) was lifted by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

*7. Take legal action against workplace sexual harassment. *
According to The Week, the first time a court recognized office sexual harassment as grounds for legal action was in 1977.

*8. Decide not to have sex if their husbands wanted to. *
Spousal rape wasn't criminalized in all 50 states until 1993.
In 2014, Beyonce is performing at the VMAs with the word "feminist" emblazoned behind her, but "equality" is still something that feels out of reach for many women.

*6 Things Women Still Can't Do In 2014... *

*1. Receive equal pay for equal work.*
Yes, the gender wage gap still exists. Just ask Joan Halloway.

*2. Name a female president.*
We're still waiting for the first...

*3. Marry another woman in any of the 50 states one chooses to live in.*
Since 1971 the tide of public opinion on marriage equality has turned -- same-sex marriage is now legal in 19 states and Washington, D.C. -- but there are still 31 that ban gay marriage, 28 through constitutional amendments.

*4. Necessarily access an abortion. *
Despite the fact that it is legal for women to terminate their pregnancies in the U.S., states have been enacting more and more restrictions around the procedure and making it harder for clinics to perform it. In July, the Washington Post reported that more than half of Texas' abortion clinics have shut down since newly-restrictive legislation passed last year. And according to NARAL, abortion restrictions disproportionately impact young women and poor women.

*5. Be guaranteed paid maternity leave.*
Pour another one out for American exceptionalism. The United States is the only developed country that does not guarantee new mothers paid leave. (A devastatingly small percentage of U.S. companies -- 16 percent -- offer fully paid maternity leave.)

*6. Be sure their health insurance will cover contraception.*
Despite an Obamacare mandate, demanding that employers that are not religious institutions or houses of worship fully cover birth control, some insurers are refusing to do so. (And of course, the Hobby Lobby case gave some for-profit employers exemption from covering contraception.) Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.

HealthCare.gov CEO Named By Obama Administration

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has picked a Connecticut official to run HealthCare.gov ahead of a second open enrollment season looming as a test of competence for the feds.

Kevin Counihan (KOO-ni-han) leads Access Health CT, a health insurance marketplace seen as a national model.

As CEO of the federal exchange, Counihan's challenge will be far bigger. Connecticut enrolled about 80,000 people, while more than 5 million signed up in the 36 states served by the federal marketplace.

Insurance exchanges offer subsidized private coverage to people who don't have workplace health plans.

The role of federal CEO is new, created by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell to avoid a repeat of last year's technical meltdown. Burwell also named Lori Lodes of the Center for American Progress as communications director. Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.

Meet Kevin Counihan, The New 'Obamacare CEO'

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Kevin Counihan, who had served as the head of Connecticut's health insurance exchange, on Tuesday was named the first CEO of Healthcare.gov. Counihan's mission: To make sure that the federal insurance exchange, which suffered from crippling management failures last year, runs more effectively in the second year of Obamacare coverage expansion. Also [...] Reported by Forbes.com 7 hours ago.

ACF Insurance Now Offers Blues Cross Blue Shield For All of North Carolina

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ACF Insurance Services, Inc. is certified to assist clients with Affordable Care Act questions and applications which is commonly referred to as ObamaCare.

Raleigh, North Carolina (PRWEB) August 26, 2014

ACF Insurance Services, Inc. is certified to assist clients with Affordable Care Act questions and applications which is commonly referred to as ObamaCare.

With the increasing costs of health care, one simply cannot afford to be without medical insurance. Affordable health insurance is available for self-employed individuals and for those who don't have the option to purchase health insurance through their employer. In today's unpredictable health care environment, locating the correct health insurance is more essential than ever before.

Health insurance needs differ greatly from person to person, so a plan that works for one person may not be the right coverage for another. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina® (BCBSNC), the state's number one health insurance provider, offers health care plans that meet the needs of individuals and families, at an affordable price. As a certified agency to assist with marketplace applicants, ACF Insurance will evaluate one's health insurance needs and match those needs with the right plan.

Dental Plans

Dental plans protect individuals and families. These plans include:·     The freedom to choose any licensed dentist
·     No deductible for preventive services, such as checkups
·     Coverage for basic services (routine fillings and extractions) and major services (crowns, dentures and bridges)*

*Dental plans are not part of the covered health insurance benefits of any Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina plan. Dental plans must be purchased separately.

About ACF Insurance Services, Inc.

ACF Insurance Services, Inc., an independent insurance agency located in North Carolina, works closely with customers to find suitable health insurance policies that meet both their needs and budget. For more information, visit us online at http://www.ACFInsurance.com. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

CEO Named for HealthCare.gov

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CEO Named for HealthCare.gov WASHINGTON—The Obama administration has picked a Connecticut official to run HealthCare.gov ahead of a second open enrollment season looming as a test of competence for the feds.

Kevin Counihan leads Access Health CT, a health insurance marketplace seen as a … Reported by Epoch Times 5 hours ago.

GOP Rep. Mike Coffman's First Television Ad Focuses On Women's Issues

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Rep. Mike Coffman's (R-Colo.) re-election campaign released its first television ad on Tuesday, with a focus on women's issues.

The ad says that, while in Congress, Coffman took on sexual assault in the military, gender discrimination in insurance policies and the Violence Against Women Act in ways that benefited women.

"I am proud that Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier and I were able to pass legislation strengthening protections for victims of sexual assault in the military," Coffman said in a statement on his campaign website.

"When I served in the State Legislature, I worked with members of both parties to ban gender discrimination in health insurance pricing and ensure that women could not be charged more than men," he noted.

Though Coffman touted his record on women's issues in the ad, he has come under fire in the past for his views on women's reproductive rights.

Coffman has changed his position on the issue of "personhood" initiatives, saying in March that he does not support them, even though he did back them in 2010.

According to NARAL Pro-Choice America, such proposals redefine "the word 'personhood' to say that life begins at conception even before doctors say a pregnancy occurs! It thus gives legal rights to a fertilized egg."

Supporters of personhood initiatives in Colorado are now pushing a new amendment to the state constitution. The amendment "would allow prosecutors to bring charges against someone who commits a crime against a fetus," according to The Washington Post.

Coffman's challenger, former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D), has criticized Coffman's previous support of personhood measures.

Coffman also had an embarrassing flub at a debate with Romanoff, where he fumbled before remembering the words "birth control."

The Huffington Post is awaiting a response from the Romanoff campaign on the ad. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.

Will you be able to help your college-age child in a medical emergency?

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*Will you be able to help your college-age child in a medical emergency?*

Early one October morning, Sheri E. Warsh, a mother of three from Highland Park, Ill., stepped out of the shower to a ringing phone. On the other end, her 18-year-old son’s college roommate delivered terrifying news: Her son—270 miles away at the University of Michigan—was being rushed by ambulance to a nearby emergency room with severe, unrelenting chest pain. “I was scared out of my mind, imagining the worst,” Warsh said.

In a panic, she called the ER for details. What she got instead was a total rebuff from the nurse. “She asked me how old my son was, and when I said 18, she told me I had no right to talk to the doctor,” Warsh said.

Think the nurse was wrong to shut out the patient’s mom? She wasn’t. The ER didn’t—and couldn’t—disclose the son’s medical condition due to the privacy rule in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. (Learn about HIPAA authorization.)

“Once a child turns 18, the child is legally a stranger to you,” said Jane F. Wolk, a trusts and estates attorney practicing in New York and New Jersey, referring to the legal age in almost all states (in a few it's older). “You, as a parent, have no more right to obtain medical information on your legal-age son or daughter than you would to obtain information about a stranger on the street.”  And that is true even if the young-adult child is covered under the parents’ health insurance, and even if the parents are paying the bill. 

*Use our parents' guide to saving for college and send your kid to college free. Also check out the top apps and best everyday products for college students and our picks for laptops and tablets for back to school.*

In this case, Warsh’s son didn’t intend to keep his parents in the dark. In the midst of cardiac-care chaos, he was in too much pain to give authorization. A simple, signed legal document (or two, in some states) would have smoothed the way.

“Nobody is talking about this, even after I went to so many college meetings and orientations,” Warsh said. The irony of her story is that Warsh is an attorney specializing in the practice of trusts and estates as a partner at Levenfeld Pearlstein, a law firm in Chicago. “Now in my practice I have made it my goal to educate parents on what they need to do,” she said.

Moms and dads who still think of themselves as protectors and advisers, even after their children become legal adults, often don’t consider the real-world implications of that milestone birthday. They and their young-adult children need to think about the unthinkable in advance. Three forms—HIPAA authorization, medical power of attorney, and durabe power of attorney—will help facilitate the involvement of a parent or other trusted adult in a medical emergency.

If a student attends college out of state, fill out the forms relevant to the home state and school state to avoid any challenges. If the school has its own form, sign that one too, Warsh said. “When the doctor or medical institution sees it, you want them to be familiar with it and recognize it,” she said.

Once the forms are completed, it’s a good idea to scan and save them so that they are readily available on a smart phone or home computer.

You don’t need a lawyer to do this. Many websites have downloadable forms. But a lawyer’s involvement can be beneficial in certain circumstances, for example, making sure you are using the right form, explaining it, and advocating on your behalf in case something goes wrong.

-*HIPAA authorization*-

A signed HIPAA authorization is like a permission slip. It permits health-care providers to disclose your health information to anyone you specify. A stand-alone HIPAA authorization (not incorporated into another legal document) does not have to be notarized or witnessed. This document alone, signed in advance by her son, would have sufficed for Warsh to get information from the doctors and nurses at the far-away hospital. Young people who want parents to be involved in a medical emergency, but fear disclosure of sensitive information, should not be deterred because HIPAA authorization does not have to be all-encompassing. They can stipulate not to disclose information about sex, drugs, mental health, or other details better kept private.

-Medical power of attorney-

In signing a medical POA—sometimes called a health-care power of attorney or designation of health-care proxy—you appoint an “agent” to make medical decisions on your behalf in case you are incapacitated and cannot make such decisions for yourself. Each state has different laws governing medical POA and, therefore, different legal forms. In many states, the HIPAA authorization is rolled into the medical POA form, as is a living will, which specifies your wishes in case you are incapacitated. Whether the medical POA requires the signature of a witness or notary varies state by state. 

-Durable power of attorney-

As an additional step, young-adult children might consider appointing a durable power of attorney, enabling a parent or other designated agent to take care of business on the student’s behalf. If the student were to become incapacitated or if the student were studying abroad, the durable power of attorney would be able to, for example, sign tax returns, access bank accounts, and pay bills. Durable POA forms vary by state. In some states the medical POA can be included in the durable POA form. “The durable power of attorney is sweeping,” Wolk said. “You do not want to give it to someone who you do not trust.”

—Susan Feinstein

*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*

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    Reported by Consumer Reports 3 hours ago.

Head of Connecticut’s health exchange to lead federal Obamacare marketplace

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By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Tuesday named the head of Connecticut’s state health exchange to oversee the federal marketplace that provides subsidized private health insurance to consumers in 36 states under Obamacare. In a move that administration officials billed as an effort to bring new accountability to the federal operation, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced that Kevin Counihan would oversee federal operations, as well as health insurance […] Reported by Raw Story 5 hours ago.

Transgender woman feels 'complete'

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Devin Payne had gone years without health insurance. Then Obamacare opened the door for her gender reassignment surgery. Reported by CNN.com 5 hours ago.

Connecticut Health Honcho Named Healthcare.gov CEO

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Kevin Counihan, who headed up Connecticut’s successful health insurance exchange, has been named CEO of Healthcare.gov. Reported by msnbc.com 5 hours ago.

Public pays the hospital tab for gun-crime victims

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Public-health insurance programs such as Medicaid paid nearly two-thirds of medical costs for Arizonans who were shot during a violent crime in 2010, a new report shows.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by azcentral.com 4 hours ago.
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