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Cigna Plans Top-Ranked in New Jersey, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings

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Cigna Plans Top-Ranked in New Jersey, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings JERSEY CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cigna has top-ranked Health Maintenance Organization/Point of Service (HMO/POS) and Preferred Provider Organization-type (PPO-type) plans in New Jersey. Reported by Business Wire 9 hours ago.

Fifth Planned Parenthood Clinic Closes In Wisconsin

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A fifth Planned Parenthood health center closed in Wisconsin on Thursday due to state budget cuts that directed family planning money away from the provider.

The Fond du Lac clinic did not provide abortion services. It offered birth control, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, pregnancy tests, annual exams and breast cancer screenings to over 1,000 patients a year. A spokesperson for the clinic blamed the closure directly on Gov. Scott Walker (R), whose 2011-2013 budget eliminated over $1 million in state funding to Planned Parenthood clinics.

“It is disheartening that 36 years of essential health care benefiting more than 36,000 women and men in the Fond du Lac community would be stopped by those with a political agenda,” said Tanya Atkinson, the executive director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. “For some of our patients, Planned Parenthood was their only health care provider and a referral source to other community resources providing medical care, health insurance, food assistance and housing support. Knowing the need and value of this care for so many women and families, it is troubling that Governor Walker would eliminate this essential health care.”

Walker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last year, four other Planned Parenthood clinics in Wisconsin were forced to close because they could not pull in enough private money to stay open without state funding. None of those health centers provided abortion services. The state has 22 Planned Parenthood health centers remaining.

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin voted to defund the family planning provider in 2011 because some of its clinics offer abortions, and Walker signed off on the budget shortly after.

"There's a very ugly side to this organization, and I regret that they're going to take such a tiny cut in this budget," said state Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) during negotiations.

Liza Durkin, a patient of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, criticized Walker in a statement on Thursday.

"Governor Walker just doesn’t care about people like me when he takes away affordable health care I rely on," she said. "People who are in between jobs, without insurance or transportation don’t have many health care choices and they value Planned Parenthood. The Governor is turning his back on us." Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.

Cigna Plans Are Again Top-Ranked in Tennessee, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings

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Cigna Plans Are Again Top-Ranked in Tennessee, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cigna Plans Top-Ranked in Tennessee, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings. Reported by Business Wire 8 hours ago.

EC Integrators (ECI) of Australia Joins Riversand Technologies’ Global Partner Network

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Riversand is a worldwide provider of Master Data Management, Product Information Management and data quality solutions

Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 25, 2014

Riversand Technologies, a worldwide provider of Master Data Management (MDM), Product Information Management (PIM) and data quality solutions, today announced that EC Integrators (ECI), an Australia-based systems integrator with specialized expertise in Master Data Management, Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence, has joined Riversand’s Global Partner Network of technology and implementation partners.

"The goal of Riversand’s Global Partner Program, the MDM Watershed Alliance, is to align our partners' strengths in technology, professional services and support with our core competencies in multi-domain MDM and PIM to create high value business solutions for our mutual customers," said Upen Varanasi, CEO of Riversand.

“We value ECI’s technical expertise and their industry knowledge in the Asia-Pacific market,” Varanasi added. “Working with them will help us to further address the master data and product information challenges of our growing customer base in the Asia-Pacific market, maximize ROI with faster implementation times, and increase the overall business value of Riversand’s MDM and PIM solutions for our joint customers.”

EC Integrators has delivered projects to financial, health, insurance, manufacturing, retail, telecommunications and utility companies, as well as government agencies throughout the Asia-Pacific market. “We look forward to accelerating the business value of multidomain MDM and PIM in the Asia-Pacific market through our partnership with Riversand,” said Emy Carr, Managing Director of ECI.

About EC Integrators

EC Integrators (ECI) is a leading Information Management consultancy specializing in implementation in the following areas: Master Data Management, Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing, Data Quality, Data Integration, Data Governance and Enterprise Information Architecture. Founded in 1995, ECI provides immediate value to its clients with proven methodologies and innovative solutions. ECI partners with its clients to provide scalable and cost-effective analytical capabilities using best practices and best of breed products. For more information, please visit http://www.ecintegrators.com

About Riversand Technologies

Riversand Technologies, Inc. is a worldwide provider of Product Information Management (PIM), Master Data Management (MDM) and data quality solutions. Customers include VF Corporation, Bed, Bath & Beyond, PC Connection, Schneider Electric, ESAB, Teva Pharmaceuticals, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil. Riversand's PIM and MDM solutions allow clients to manage accurate, timely and up-to-date information through their supply chains, providing accelerated time-to-market, vendor data on-boarding, product assortment growth and an enhanced cross-channel customer experience. For more information, visit Riversand.com and follow @RiversandMDM on Twitter. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.

Latino Uninsured Rate Plummets, Thanks To Obamacare

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Obamacare is dramatically boosting health insurance among Latinos, a group that has historically suffered the highest uninsurance rate in the U.S.

The uninsured rate among Latinos aged 19 to 64 fell from 36 percent to 23 percent after Obamacare's first enrollment period ended earlier this year, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund. That's a bigger drop than in the U.S. overall, where uninsured rates fell from 20 percent to 15 percent.

The survey, which compared uninsured rates in the summer of 2013 to rates in the spring of 2014, found significant drops among young Latinos, aged 19 to 34, and low-income Latinos, or those earning 138 percent of the federal poverty level (about $32,499 for a family of four).

These numbers are more proof that the Obama Administration's targeted efforts to get Latinos and blacks to sign up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act are working, despite a messy rollout.

But not all the data are so encouraging: In Florida and Texas, two states with huge Latino populations that could most benefit from Obamacare's expanded access to Medicaid, the law's effects are being stymied by the GOP's refusal to expand coverage.

In fact, 20 million Latinos live in states that refused to expand Medicaid under the law. In these states, the uninsured rate of 33 percent barely changed, according to the Commonwealth study. In comparison, the uninsured rate for Latinos living in the states that did expand Medicaid coverage saw the uninsured rate fall to 17 percent from 35 percent.

This trend mirrors what's plaguing poor communities in states that didn't expand Medicaid, where uninsured rates have barely fallen.

"To achieve the law’s goal of near-universal coverage, it will be necessary for all states to expand Medicaid," the Commonwealth report says. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.

Attention NJ Obamacare shoppers: five health insurance companies to choose from in 2015

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About 162,000 New Jerseyans signed up for private insurance using the federally run health exchange, and 140,000 for Medicaid, according to federal officials. Reported by NJ.com 6 hours ago.

Rob Schneider Vents After State Farm Drops Him for 'Anti-Vaxx' Views

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Insurer State Farm has yanked an ad featuring comedian Rob Schneider after critics chided his anti-vaccination views.

Bowing to pressure from a social media campaign, the brand pulled the weeks-old ad earlier this week. The spot featured Schneider exhuming his Richmeister ("making copies") character from Saturday Night Live.

See also: The Most Memorable Brand Wins and Fails of 2013

The following YouTube video criticized State Farm for using Schneider since he's known for charging that vaccinations "cause death or permanent injury." The video argues that as a provider of health insurance, State Farm should drop Schneider. Read more...

More about Advertising, State Farm, Business, Tv, and Family Parenting Reported by Mashable 5 hours ago.

Cigna Plans Are Top-Ranked in Arizona, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings

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Cigna Plans Are Top-Ranked in Arizona, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cigna Plans Are Top-Ranked in Arizona, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings. Reported by Business Wire 6 hours ago.

Senators: Widen Medicaid program for frail seniors

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WASHINGTON (AP) — More than a dozen U.S. senators from both parties are calling on the Obama administration to broaden a Medicaid program for the nation's frailest seniors, calling it a proven alternative to pricier nursing home care as states seek to limit long-term medical costs. The program run by Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor, allows seniors to stay in their own homes and receive coordinated care from a team of doctors, nurses and social workers usually at an independently operated day center. Nursing home care costs on average $75,000 per person a year, not including expenses charged separately to Medicare for medication, emergency services or hospital stays, according to lawmakers. Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Urban Institute, said while patient satisfaction and health outcomes in PACE have been strong, states haven't always been convinced that the program — typically run by smaller, not-for-profit health organizations — saves money. Under a provision of the Affordable Care Act, roughly half the states including Florida, California and New York are contracting with more traditional, managed care companies in hopes of achieving bigger savings on long-term care; instead of states paying doctors or hospitals for each individual service they provide, they pay health insurers a fixed monthly fee for all needed services. Reported by SeattlePI.com 5 hours ago.

Modernize Disability Benefits So People With Disabilities Can Work

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So much of our society has changed over the past 60 years. We have made tremendous progress in technology, medicine, education -- and in the recognition that all people must be treated equally. Why is it, then, that we continue to impose an outdated system on people with disabilities (PwDs) that restricts their ability to work and earn a living?

Our current system was written for another time - back in 1956, when we assumed people with disabilities would live in institutions or with their parents, were denied access to school, and were largely dependent on others throughout their lives. The federal government actually titled one of these programs "Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled." They were set up before basic civil rights laws were passed, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which gave people with disabilities access to public schools and spaces.

Under current law, there are two main benefits programs for providing income support for people with significant disabilities. The first is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) which is a social insurance program designed to replace a portion of a worker's wages should that worker become unable to work due to disability. The second is Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is an entitlement program that is not financed by a dedicated trust and what tends to be people with developmental disabilities who require services and supports to enter and stay in the workforce. They were designed to help people with disabilities injured on the job or facing poverty, as well as for children with significant disabilities, helping their families offset the higher cost of raising them. However well intentioned, they often prevent people from working.

In 2016, SSDI will have a financial shortfall, and this new fiscal cliff provides an urgent and needed opportunity for new thinking. Currently, to get benefits under SSDI or SSI, individuals must meet the disability definition of "the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to last at least 12 months." They can have a job, but the monthly SGA earnings limit to get SSI in 2014 is $1,070 for non-blind individuals and $1,800 for statutorily blind individuals. It is extremely difficult to live off these funds, yet millions of Americans do so because being in these programs gives them access to something far more vital than cash payments - health insurance and other supports through Medicare and Medicaid.

Indeed, polls show that for millions of Americans with disabilities, it's not cash they want. It's the opportunity to work. It's access to a personal care assistant (PCA) to help someone who is quadriplegic get out of bed, dressed and transported to work and to live independently.

Someone who is newly blind or deaf may need cash benefits temporarily while they get training in how to function independently and use assistive technology. They may also need free access to computers that will "talk" to or for them as they read or type at work. But then they will be ready to work and may not need a cash stipend.

For someone with cancer or recovering from a stroke, it may be access to healthcare and flexibility in the workplace to allow him or her to go to doctor's appointments or to telecommute. But today's system is all or nothing, and to get those vital services people with disabilities on SSI/SSDI can't have more than $2000 in liquid assets. This undermines two basic American values -- hard work and savings - and promotes isolation and poverty. It victimizes people with disabilities. It traps people with low expectations, when they would rather pursue their dreams of work, savings, dignity and independence.

Congress is due to vote soon on the bipartisan Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act that presents a part of the solution. It has an impressive 379 cosponsors in the House and 74 in the Senate. If the ABLE Act becomes law, SSI/SSDI recipients who acquired their disabilities at a young age will be able to maintain services while working full-time and/or in better- paying jobs, while building some savings for disability-related expenses that exceed the current outdated limitations. Isn't this what we all should want?

However, while the ABLE Act would be a massive improvement, it would not help the millions of Americans who received their disabilities after the age of 25. And it is still too small for people with more involved disabilities who need a personal care assistant to get dressed and to work. We need to modernize the system and increase the limits placed on income and saving for all working-age people with disabilities receiving SSI/SSDI. This will allow them to build a safety net with their own earnings rather than with government benefits.

While keeping a solid safety net for those who need it, we should enable people with disabilities to work, and have procedures in place to allow them back on SSI or SSDI quickly if they lose their jobs. After all, workplace discrimination still exists and realistically it can take them longer to find new employment. We need to do some short term fixes to deal with the insolvency of SSDI. However, the long terms solution is to stop punishing people with disabilities who dare get jobs and become taxpayers.

It's time to embrace the unique characteristics and talents that people with disabilities bring to workplaces, which benefit employers. As companies like Walgreens, AMC, EY and others have found, employees who have disabilities are extremely productive, highly loyal and less likely to quit. If we find the right jobs for the right people, it will boost companies' bottom line.

Modernization of the full disabilities benefits system would be good for taxpayers, who will not be required to foot the entire bill for a lifetime of dependency; good for businesses who find loyal, reliable, and motivated employees; and good for people with disabilities, who will be happier, healthier, and lead fuller lives when they are able to work. Updating the benefits system and increasing employment among people with disabilities is a win-win-win.

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi is the president of www.RespectAbilityUSA.org, a non-profit organization working to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream. She can be reached at JenniferM@RespectAbilityUSA.org. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

New Data: Millennials Are Better Off with Obamacare

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The Affordable Care Act's supporters and detractors have consistently agreed on one thing: the success or failure of the law hinges on the whether young adults, who tend to be healthier and less expensive to insure, enroll. New data released last week shows that more young people are getting health coverage, and in stunning numbers.

New U.S. Census data released last week shows that the number, and rate of young adults, who lack health insurance has fallen significantly since the Affordable Care Act became law in March 2010. An estimated 3.9 million more 18 to 34 year-olds were insured in 2013 than in 2009.

During that same time period, the rate of uninsured young adults has fallen, too, from 28.1 percent in 2009 to 25.2 percent in 2013. In just one year, -- between 2012 and 2013 -- the number of uninsured 18 to 34 year-olds dropped by over 367,000 people.

The new estimates don't even include over a million young adults who signed up for health plans on their state's Health Insurance Marketplace during Open Enrollment. That's because the Census finished collecting this set of data at the end of 2013.

Open Enrollment started on October 1, 2013, but the vast majority of young adults -- 1.7 million of the 2.2 million -- signed up on state health exchanges after January 1, 2014. That's 78 percent of enrollments that we won't be able to account for until 2014 data gets released next fall.

While we will have to wait for further data to show the Marketplace system's impact on youth insurance rates, the ACA implemented scores of systemic reforms to our health system that could account for more young adults getting covered. Systemic reforms that were in full effect, include: the provision allowing young adults to stay on a parent's health plan until the age of 26, small business tax credits that provide health insurance to small business workers, new coverage options for people with pre-existing conditions, and the elimination of lifetime limits on coverage.

Here at Young Invincibles, we've known for a long time that if you give Millennials options for quality, affordable health insurance, they're going to enroll. Uninsured young adults know that they're just one accident or illness away from a medical and economic catastrophe.

In our outreach efforts across the country, many young adults say they were locked into jobs before the ACA became law -- just to have health insurance. Now that there are many affordable health plan options through the marketplace, it's no surprise that so many young people are signing up. The new U.S. Census data just scratches the surface of the ACA's positive effect on getting more Millennials insured. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.

Riffenburg Speaks on the Impact of the Affordable Care Act in Year One

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Michael Riffenburg, of Riffenburg Insurance Services, was asked to be guest speaker at Virginia College.

Spartanburg, SC (PRWEB) September 25, 2014

Michael Riffenburg, of Riffenburg Insurance Services, recently spoke about the impact of the Affordable Care Act during its first year at Virginia College in Spartanburg, SC. Riffenburg was asked to be a guest speaker for two college classes on Aug. 26.

With his study and firsthand experience with the Affordable Care Act, adjunct professor Alexandra Blackwell knew Riffenburg would be a valuable resource for her students. She asked Riffenburg to speak to her two classes on his experiences and share some of his wisdom.

“The students were very interested in how well the Affordable Care Act worked and who was impacted during its first year,” said Riffenburg. “There were lots of questions and scenarios. These students will be working directly with the ACA in their careers, and I was happy to share some of the knowledge I have gained with them.”

For more information about Riffenburg and his full-service insurance agency, Riffenburg Insurance Services, call 864-585-8649 or visit their website at http://www.riffenburg.com/.

About the company:
Riffenburg Insurance Services LLC was founded in 1988 by Michael Riffenburg to provide small group insurance and individual health insurance to the Spartanburg area. The company represents over 50 insurance carriers and can provide the right policies at the best prices.

As an independent agency, they do business with over 50 companies, allowing them to search for the best company at the most competitive rates possible. They can offer assistance with choosing disability insurance, long-term care insurance and whole life insurance policies. When beginning the search for insurance and financial products*, please contact Riffenburg Insurance Services LLC to make the search easier. They have a friendly and knowledgeable staff that can assist in a quest for affordable insurance and financial products*, including 401K Rollovers. For more information, visit their website at http://www.riffenburg.com.

*Securities offered through Cetera Advisor Networks, Member FINRA/SIPC. Riffenburg & Cetera Advisor Networks are not affiliated. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

8 things to know before you buy health insurance

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*8 things to know before you buy health insurance*

Open enrollment season for health insurance is coming up soon. Here are eight things you should know.

-1. Enroll on time-

If you buy insurance on your own, be aware that the open enrollment period is shorter for 2015—from Nov. 15 through Feb. 15. If you miss that deadline, you can’t get insurance for the rest of 2015 unless something major happens, such as having a baby or losing your job. Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug plans will be Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Most employers offer new plans to employees around the same time.

-2. Research plan quality-

Check out our free rankings of health insurance plans, including Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For Medicare plans, you can also get extensive quality information at Medicare.gov.

-3. Don’t auto-renew-

Most plans will auto-renew if you don’t tell them not to. We strongly recommend checking out your options before re-­enrolling. This applies whether you have a choice of plans through an employer, buy on a state marketplace, or opt for a private Medicare Advantage plan. Plans change from year to year; so do your circumstances. You might have developed new health care needs that don’t play well with your provider network, or drug formulary. And in the case of marketplace plans, if you've been getting a premium subsidy your costs may change substantially unless you update your income information and review your options.*Why the cost of health care is so outrageious, and what you can do about it.*-4. Get rid of bad pre-Affordable Care Act plans-

We recently heard from a reader with a plan he bought on his own before the new health law rules took effect. But now his wife is pregnant and his current insurance excludes maternity benefits. He wanted to know where he could get insurance that would cover maternity care, which all plans sold nowadays must do. Alas, the answer was that he can’t until open enrollment starts on Nov. 15. If you have a pre-Affordable Care Act plan, make sure you understand its limitations.

-5. Don’t accept an automatic replacement plan-

If the plan you chose from your state marketplace last year is being discontinued, the government allows the insurer to auto-enroll you in a replacement plan—unless you say otherwise. Check with your marketplace first to see whether you can get a better deal.

-6. Don’t automatically take COBRA-

This program used to be a lifeline if you lost your job, because it let you keep your employer’s health plan for 18 months. But now it’s more of an albatross. That’s because COBRA requires that you pick up the full cost of the plan, which can hit $600 or more per month. Thanks to health care reform, you can almost certainly find equally good insurance for a better price on your state’s marketplace, especially because your lower income will probably qualify you for big tax credits. Carefully compare the two before paying your first COBRA premium. Once you’ve enrolled in COBRA, you can’t switch to a marketplace plan until the next open enrollment period.

-7. Shop around for care-

Obviously you can’t do this for emergencies, and it’s irrelevant for catastrophic situations such as cancer or a heart attack. But for a routine service, such as an MRI, or for things you can plan in advance, such as childbirth, register on your health plan’s website and look for cost estimators. You’re likely to find startling variations in prices for the same service, depending on where you get it.

-8. Master your plan’s rules-

Don’t assume that all plans are designed alike; they’re not, and what you don’t know can cost you. Say you wake up one day with a fever and a sore throat. A trip to your doctor might cost you a $40 co-pay. An urgent care center might set you back $60. An emergency room might cost $1,500. When you get a new plan, spend a few minutes with its standardized Summary of Benefits and Coverage form. It’s not exciting reading, but it can save you big in the long run.

Get health insurance rankings

Click on the image at right for rankings of health insurance plans nationwide. Use the tool to:

· Choose a plan category such as private HMO or PPO, or Medicare HMO or PPO.
· Choose a state.
· Customize your search to compare plans' scores and their performance in measures such as consumer satisfaction and providing preventive services.

This article also appeared in the November 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.*Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2006-2014 Consumers Union of U.S.*

*Subscribe now!*
Subscribe to *ConsumerReports.org* for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products.
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Update your feed preferences Reported by Consumer Reports 2 hours ago.

GLAD files discrimination complaint against Wal-Mart over health coverage

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Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders has filed a federal discrimination complaint against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on behalf of a Massachusetts woman who works as an associate in a Swansea Walmart store. GLAD, headquartered in Boston, filed the complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Jacqueline Cote. The complaint, which also was filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, alleges that Wal-Mart denied health insurance to Cote's wife, Diana Smithson,… Reported by bizjournals 54 minutes ago.

Array Health Closes First Round of Institutional Financing to Accelerate Growth

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Funds will help scale Array Health’s plan to power a personalized health insurance experience.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) September 25, 2014

Array Health, the leading provider of private health insurance exchange technology, today announced that it closed a $13 million funding round. Led by Noro-Moseley Partners, the round also included investment from Vocap Investment Partners. Healthcare Growth Partners represented the company in this transaction.

Plans for the new capital include further investment in the company’s technology platform and accelerating growth to meet market demands. The company anticipates supporting its growth initiatives by expanding its product development, sales and marketing teams.

Founded in 2006, Array Health pioneered private exchange technology and ran multi-insurer exchanges in the Pacific Northwest before focusing on powering private exchanges for health plans. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the interest and demand for affordable and consumer-centric health insurance platforms dramatically increased. Analysts predict that by 2018, approximately 40 million people will purchase health insurance through a private exchange thus fundamentally transforming the health insurance landscape.

“Array Health is reinventing the way people purchase health insurance,” said Spence McClelland, Noro-Moseley partner. “The health insurance industry is poised for dramatic change and a shift to the e-commerce experiences consumers have grown accustomed to in other industries. Array Health has proven itself to be an innovator in this field and we believe they have the potential to lead the market.”

“The investments from Noro-Moseley and Vocap Investment Partners validate our success and vision as a company. We are fortunate to have such fantastic partners,” said Array Health CEO Jonathan Rickert. “By leveraging this capital, we can accelerate our growth to meet market demand and create new offerings that align with our vision of powering a more personal health insurance experience.”

About Array Health
Array Health is a leading provider of private insurance exchange technology. Its cloud-based software platform enables health plans of any size to deliver their own branded online exchange—a strategic channel that helps them compete and thrive. It also provides employers a new way to control costs and gives members a better way to buy benefits. Array Health is a privately held company based in Seattle. To learn more, visit: http://www.arrayhealth.com.

About Noro-Moseley Partners
Noro-Moseley Partners (NMP), based in Atlanta, is a venture capital firm that has invested in more than 170 leading early-growth-stage companies in the technology, healthcare and business services industries. The managers of NMP’s current fund, Noro-Moseley Partners VII, have more than 60 years collectively of direct venture investing experience and bring a diverse set of skills to assist entrepreneurs in growing their companies. For more information, visit: http://www.noromoseley.com.

About Vocap Investment Partners
Vocap Investment Partners provides growth capital to technology companies in select high potential verticals, including: Enterprise Software, Marketing/Marketing Automation, Mobile, the Internet of Things, Healthcare IT and E-commerce. For more information, visit: http://www.vocappartners.com.

About Healthcare Growth Partners
Healthcare Growth Partners (HGP) provides investment banking and strategic advisory services with an exclusive focus on health informatics and digital health. Since 2005, HGP has closed over 65 transactions representing over $1 billion in value, including sell-side, buy-side and capital formation. For more information, visit: http://www.hgp.com. Reported by PRWeb 29 minutes ago.

Golden Gate Ferry captains to strike Friday

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According to union officials, increased health insurance costs are the main issue. The captains union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the state Public Employment Relations Board on Wednesday, accusing the district of failing to negotiate fairly. The Golden Gate Labor Coalition contends that the district’s offer of 3 percent raises combined with increases in health insurance premiums will leave workers taking a pay cut. District officials have said that their workers are well paid compared with others with similar jobs in the Bay Area, and that they’re asking them to pay only a slightly larger share of their health insurance costs. Reported by SFGate 1 day ago.

Eric Holder Signals Support For Marijuana Reform Just As He's Heading Out The Door

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Just as Attorney General Eric Holder prepares to step down from his post, he appears more open than ever to the argument for rescheduling marijuana as a less dangerous, more beneficial drug.

"I think it's certainly a question we need to ask ourselves, whether or not marijuana is as serious of a drug as heroin," Holder said in an interview with Yahoo global news anchor Katie Couric, released on Thursday. "Especially given what we've seen recently with regard to heroin -- the progression of people from using opioids to heroin use, the spread and the destruction that heroin has perpetrated all around our country. And to see by contrast, what the impact is of marijuana use. Now it can be destructive if used in certain ways, but the question of whether or not they should be in the same category is something that we need to ask ourselves and use science as the basis for making that determination."

Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and LSD. Schedule I drugs, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, have a "high potential for abuse" and "no currently accepted medical use."

Yet science clearly indicates otherwise about marijuana. A growing body of research has demonstrated its medical potential. Purified forms of cannabis can be effective at attacking some forms of aggressive cancer. Marijuana use has also been tied to better blood sugar control and may help slow the spread of HIV. Legalization for medical purposes may even lead to lower suicide rates and fewer pain pill overdoses.

The Schedule I classification hinders federal funding for further research into the benefits of cannabis. Columnist Jacob Sullum recently wrote in Forbes that moving marijuana to Schedule III or below could make it easier for university researchers to look into the drug's full potential.

While marijuana use would still be illegal under federal law, recategorizing it could also remove some of the financial burdens that state-licensed marijuana businesses currently face.

A provision of the federal tax code prohibits any business that "consists of trafficking in controlled substances," which include Schedule I and II drugs, from making tax deductions. Because of this, pot shops cannot deduct traditional business expenses like advertising costs, employee payroll, rent and health insurance from their combined federal and state taxes. Dispensary owners face effective tax rates of 50 to 60 percent -- and in some states, those rates soar to 80 percent or higher. The tax rule would no longer apply to pot businesses if marijuana were moved to Schedule III or lower.

To date, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use, while Colorado and Washington remain the only two states to have legalized it for recreational use.

On whether he thinks marijuana should be decriminalized at the federal level, Holder told Couric, "That's for Congress to decide."

"I think we’ve taken a look at the experiments that are going on in Colorado and Washington, and we’re going to see what happens there, and that'll help inform us as to what we want to do on the federal level," Holder added.

"For you, the jury is still out?" Couric asked.

"Yeah," Holder said, "it is."

Holder's statements to Couric on the potential rescheduling of marijuana appear to follow a continuing evolution of his views on the drug. Under the Obama administration, the DEA and several U.S. attorneys have raided hundreds of marijuana dispensaries that were compliant with local laws in states like California and Colorado. But it was Holder who announced in 2013 that the Department of Justice would allow Colorado and Washington to implement their new laws legalizing and regulating the possession, use and sale of marijuana.

More recently, Holder said that the Obama administration would be "more than glad" to work with Congress to re-examine how cannabis is scheduled. He even said in April that he's "cautiously optimistic" about how the historic changes in Colorado and Washington were working out.

"It's refreshing to hear these remarks from the attorney general, especially since the science couldn't be any clearer that marijuana doesn't meet the criteria for being classified as a Schedule I substance," said Tom Angell, chairman of the advocacy group Marijuana Majority, after the Couric interview. "Numerous studies confirm marijuana's medical value, and if the administration is serious about taking an objective look at this issue, rescheduling is very achievable by the time this president leaves office. They can do this administratively without any further action from Congress."

Neill Franklin, a retired police officer turned executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, also praised Holder's comments. He said he hoped the attorney general's successor "will recognize the war on drugs for what it is: the single biggest problem afflicting our criminal justice system and the central civil rights issue of our time." Reported by Huffington Post 22 hours ago.

Battle over Proposition 45 a blast from the past

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A quarter century after pushing through a proposition that changed the world of insurance, Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog is again taking on the powerful insurance industry -- this time with a proposal giving the commissioner the authority to regulate health insurance rates. Reported by San Jose Mercury News 22 hours ago.

Harborview as busy as ever, even with more people insured

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With more people obtaining health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, places like Harborview Medical Center are providing much less “charity” (uncompensated) care. The Emergency Department there is as busy as ever, though. Reported by Seattle Times 18 hours ago.

Study: BCBS Health Insurance Companies Continue to Use SERPs as a Core Element of Executive Compensation Packages

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SERPs (Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits) remain a core element of the executive compensation package at most Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans (BCBS), according to a recent study by HR+Survey Solutions (http://www.hrssllc.com), a compensation consulting and research firm.

Reading, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) September 26, 2014

SERPs (Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits) remain a core element of the executive compensation package at most Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans (BCBS), according to a recent study by HR+Survey Solutions (http://www.hrssllc.com), a compensation consulting and research firm.

Based on a review of 24 plans that participated in the study over the last nine years, nearly 80 percent (19 of 24 plans) indicated that SERPs are provided to executives; however, three plans indicated that they have eliminated the use of SERPs and none of the plans instituted a new SERP. Eligibility has remained flat, with seven organizations adding additional executives to the SERP and seven organizations reducing participation.

SERPs can cover just a few of the top executives or extend down into the organization to cover all whose qualified retirement plan is capped by ERISA (about 85 percent of the organizations offering a SERP indicated that it is a Defined Benefit ERISA Make-Up plan); based on the survey sample, the median number of SERP participants is 30.

SERP benefits can be either a lump sum payout at retirement or an annual annuity. The participant can elect how they want the money dispersed. For the CEO, the value of the lump sum can approach $5 to $10 million. These payments continue to garner national media coverage and spur public debate over executive compensation.

The findings are based on the annual Executive Total Potential Remuneration (TPR) Compensation, Benefits and Perquisites Survey, which assesses pay and other benefits for executive positions at a majority of BCBS organizations.

“SERPs are often used to fill in the gap between the qualified plan limits and what top executives would accumulate in their pension if there were no IRS limits. The issue is that the lump sum payments can catch people’s attention, especially if the organization is going through other financial challenges,” says Judy Canavan, managing partner, HR+Survey Solutions.

“In most cases, SERPs are part of the pay package and it would be difficult for Boards to attract top talent if the plans were abolished. However, companies are beginning to rethink these plans due to the risk of having to pay a significant lump sum to a retiring executive irrespective of the financial situation of the company at the time.”

Other Study Highlights    · Over the last nine years the CEO’s median target annual incentive has increased from 60 percent to 85 percent of salary, representing a 40 percent increase in target incentives.
· Median salary rates for the CEO have only increased by 13 percent over that same time period.
· The use of long-term incentives has stayed consistent with about 85 percent of the organizations providing.
· LTI levels for the CEO have increased by only 20 percent over the nine year period.
· CEO target annual incentives are higher for the larger companies (100 percent versus 60 percent at smaller companies).
· LTI targets for CEOs of larger companies are more than 2.5x the target size at smaller companies.

About the Methodology

The 9th annual Executive Total Potential Remuneration Survey* was published by HR+Survey Solutions in August, 2014. A total of 17 BlueCross and/or BlueShield organizations participated, with 38 positions represented. The Executive TPR Survey assesses compensation packages including salary, benefits, executive perks, long and short-term incentives, SERPs, and severance agreements, among other values. If you are interested in participating in the 2015 Executive Total Potential Remuneration Survey, contact Judy Canavan at 866-252-6788 x902 [jcanavan(at)hrssllc(dot)com ].

About HR+Survey Solutions

HR+Survey Solutions conducts annual industry and custom client surveys and provides organizations with expert advisory services focused on compensation plan design and assessment of appropriate compensation levels. Please visit http://www.hrssllc.com for more information.

*This study was conducted by HR+Survey Solutions, with no affiliation or sponsorship by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association or other Blue companies. Reported by PRWeb 15 hours ago.
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