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Health Insurance Companies Now Spending $55 Million Vs. Prop 45, Says Consumer Watchdog Campaign

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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, the three big health insurance companies that control California's health insurance market gave another $12 million to their campaign to defeat Proposition 45, which will give California the authority to stop... Reported by PR Newswire 11 hours ago.

Obama's Latest Speech About The Economic "Recovery" Results In Mass Audience Exodus

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Obama's Latest Speech About The Economic Recovery Results In Mass Audience Exodus Yesterday, Obama made a rare campaign trail appearance in Maryland where he spoke in support of Democratic candidate for governor, Anthony Brown, proceeded with his usual bulletin of reading fabricated economic data off the teleprompter in which he highlighted improvements in US unemployment (if not the 46.5 million people on foodstamps or the 93 million Americans out of the labor force), a rebounding housing market (just as the bouncing dead cat is once again dead), the benefits of health insurance (if no mention of the disaster for small businesses that Obamacare now definitively is) a resurgent manufacturing sector (just don't look at this chart) even if he did point out the unfairness of families having "two folks working", and... *a mass audience exodus followed.*

This is how Reuters summarized it:



President Barack Obama made a rare appearance on the campaign trail on Sunday with a rally to support the Democratic candidate for governor in Maryland, *but early departures of crowd members while he spoke underscored his continuing unpopularity.*

 

With approval levels hovering around record lows, Obama has spent most of his campaign-related efforts this year raising money for struggling Democrats, who risk losing control of the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 4 midterm election.



It has gotten so bad, "*most candidates from his party have been wary of appearing with him during their election races because of his sagging popularity,*" according to Reuters.

Here's why: "*A steady stream of people walked out of the auditorium while he spoke, however, and a heckler interrupted his remarks.*"

And then this from the Free Beacon:



Many attendees of an Obama campaign rally headed for the exits shortly after the president began speaking Sunday evening.

 

Speaking at campaign rally in Maryland for Democratic candidate for governor Anthony Brown, *Obama either ignored or didn’t notice the movement of attendees out of the event.*

 

Reports were unclear if attendees left due to unhappiness with President Obama. Disapproval of the president is currently at an all-time high.



And then the eyewitness reports:



Lots of people, at least up front near where journalists are sitting, appear to be leaving this rally now that Obama has started speaking.

— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) October 19, 2014





Steady stream of people leaving Maryland rally continues as Obama speaks. It's noticeable and noisy. They would have waited hours to get in.

— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) October 19, 2014



One thing is clear: people have had enough of both hope and change. Reported by Zero Hedge 11 hours ago.

Same-sex marriage in Arizona: Employers need to update insurance, leave rules

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Same-sex marriage is now legal in Arizona and employers will have to make sure their health insurance, family leave and other policies adhere to the new landscape. Jennifer Thomson, an attorney and workplace legal expert with the law offices of Fennemore Craig PC in Phoenix, said insurance benefits and leave policies are the top areas where employers will have to make sure their manuals and policies keep up with the legalization of gay marriages in the state. "Employers need to take a look at those… Reported by bizjournals 10 hours ago.

Health insurers boost No on 45 funding

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California insurers have pumped more than $12 million over the last five days into a campaign to defeat Proposition 45, an initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot that would regulate health insurance rates. Reported by L.A. Times 10 hours ago.

Personal Accident and Health Insurance in India, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2018

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NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SynopsisThe report provides in depth market analysis, information and insights into the Indian personal accident and health insurance segment, including:• The Indian personal accident and health insurance segment's growth prospects by... Reported by PR Newswire 10 hours ago.

Regular Doctor Visits Help Control Blood Pressure, Study Says

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Having health insurance also associated with better readings Reported by Newsday 9 hours ago.

Connecture, Inc. Files Registration Statement For Proposed Initial Public Offering

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BROOKFIELD, Wis., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Connecture, Inc. (Connecture), a provider of web-based information systems used to create health insurance marketplaces, announced today that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange... Reported by PR Newswire 6 hours ago.

Middletown woman admits she tried to scam health insurance company of $500K

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Donna Dzienisewski submitted more than 100 phony claims in two years Reported by NJ.com 3 hours ago.

Taj Mahal ruling puts other A.C. workers' benefits in danger

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A U.S. bankruptcy judge's decision last week to allow the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City to jettison a traditional defined-benefit pension and company-sponsored health insurance could spell the end of historically solid benefits for low-paid casino workers. Reported by philly.com 23 hours ago.

MediGap Advisors Announces October 22 Health Care Webinar: Your Guide to Medicare’s 2015 Annual Enrollment

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MediGap Advisors is hosting an informative webinar, Your Guide to Medicare’s 2015 Annual Enrollment Period, on October 22, 2014. Topics will include Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and How to take maximum advantage of Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period.

Fort Collins, CO (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

MediGap Advisors will host an interactive educational webinar on October 22, 2014 to inform Medicare recipients of the recent changes to Medicare coverage and how to optimize this year’s Annual Enrollment Period which runs from October 15 through December 7.

Participants will learn how to save on Medicare Part D prescription plan premiums and out-of-pocket costs by comparing plans and ensuring prescription formularies are appropriate for them.

In addition, participants will also be informed of the risks of going without a Medicare supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan and learn how a Medicare Advantage plan can cap their annual out-of-pocket expenses and save them potentially thousands of dollars per year from unexpected medical costs.     

Personal Advisors Mike Montes and William Sheridan will answer questions and discuss recent changes and current news for those eligible for Medicare. Among these topics include your 2015 choices for Medicare and important aspects to consider when deciding whether to add on plans such as Medicare supplement insurance, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. Sheridan will also ensure participants are aware of important messages you should be receiving from Medicare.

The October 22 webinar will also explain how to navigate signing up for or switching Medicare Advantage plans - Sheridan will explicitly guide participants in this decision making process so those who may want to make changes will know when coverage begins and what their other options may be.

How to Register for MediGap Advisors’ October 22 Medicare Webinar

Free registration for this informative health care reform webinar is available on the MediGap Advisors website, where consumers can register now: http://www.medigapadvisors.com/webinar.php

This is a free event, only for educational purposes; no plan-specific benefits or details will be shared.

MediGap Advisors provides free, immediate access to licensed insurance professionals with expertise in Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement insurance at 1-866-323-1441 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern.

With a large market share, MediGap Advisors and its partners also offer seniors a range of options to reduce their spending for health care and protect their savings so they can maintain independence during retirement. For more information, visit http://www.medigapadvisors.com/member-benefits.htm

MediGap Advisors is a leading health insurance consumer advocate providing seniors with plain-English explanations that make sense of Medicare rules, with education about how to get health care at discounted rates, and with effective strategies to pay less for Medicare supplement insurance. Reported by PRWeb 23 hours ago.

Lucent Health Solutions Completes Acquisition of North America Administrators

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NaviMed Capital Partners with Experienced Management Team to Build New Employer Healthcare Benefits Platform

Nashville, Tennessee (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

Lucent Health Solutions, Inc., in conjunction with NaviMed Capital, a Washington, DC-based healthcare growth capital firm, announced today its acquisition of North America Administrators, LP (NAA).

Lucent Health Solutions is a recently formed company launched by several experienced industry executives to provide employers in the fast-growing self-insured health care market with advanced data-driven services which help improve health outcomes and control costs.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, North America Administrators provides innovative health benefits solutions and superior customer service as one of the leading self-funded health plan administrators serving more than 150 small- and mid-sized employers. Since 1971 NAA has focused on managing medical trend through aggressive risk management techniques and has delivered effective cost control results for its clients.

“Both NAA and Lucent Health Solutions are focused on providing innovative solutions that raise the standard of the client experience” states Daniel Dugan, CEO/President of North America Administrators. “We are pleased to join Lucent Health, as our combined expertise will provide a wider and more cost-effective range of services and products, creating value for all our clients.”

Lucent CEO Brett Rodewald says “We are delighted to add North America Administrators and Danny Dugan to the Lucent Health Solutions platform, in creating an innovative, data-driven healthcare solution for our clients. Our partnership with NaviMed Capital, who have a superb track record as healthcare investors with a focus on policy-driven investing, is a key part of our strategy to deliver what customers truly want from their health plan provider.”

“Lucent’s vision and mission is to deliver the most affordable health plans to the nation’s employers by aggressively utilizing data to manage all of the elements that drive healthcare outcomes and costs,” says Alex Arnet, Chief Commercial Officer of Lucent Health.

Consistent with NaviMed’s focus on supporting experienced management teams building highly differentiated businesses in the fastest growing segments of the healthcare industry, NaviMed sees strong growth opportunities in Lucent Health. Ryan Schwarz, NaviMed Capital Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lucent, says “Leveraging the rapid growth in employer self-funding of health benefits driven by recent regulatory changes in the health insurance market, we see Lucent and its initial acquisition of NAA as a strong starting point to build a national platform in the sector offering a unique set of data-driven solutions to its clients.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Lucent Health Solutions
Lucent Health Solutions is a technology-driven health care risk management company, maximizing the value of data to deliver the most affordable health plans for employers. Based in Nashville, TN, the management team of Lucent Health Solutions brings over 50+ years of experience in the healthcare and transaction processing industries. For more information, please visit http://www.lucent-health.com or call Alex Arnet at 612-940-0141.

About NaviMed Capital
NaviMed Capital is a Washington, DC-based private investment firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. NaviMed partners with talented management teams and entrepreneurs to create value by providing strategic counsel and operational support, while leveraging its deep healthcare expertise, broad firm network, and combined 40+ year heritage of successful investing. NaviMed invests in growth stage companies in healthcare IT, healthcare services, and specialty medical products. NaviMed’s principals have extensive experience investing in businesses in the payors and payments sector of the healthcare industry, including ConnectiCare Holdings, Heritage Health Systems and Primary Health. For more information, please visit http://www.NaviMed.com or call Ryan Schwarz at 202-492-5470. Reported by PRWeb 23 hours ago.

hipaapoliciesandprocedures.com Announces the Launch of the HIPAA Security & Privacy Compliance Toolkit (HSPCT) Containing Dozens of HIPAA Policy Templates

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hipaapoliciesandprocedures.com offers an incredibly in-depth, professionally developed, high-quality set of HIPAA policy templates available for instant download today. It’s called the HIPAA Security & Privacy Compliance Toolkit (HSPCT), and it’s comes complete with hundreds of HIPAA specific information security and operational specific policies, procedures, forms, checklists, training material, provisioning documents, and so much more.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

hipaapoliciesandprocedures.com offers an incredibly in-depth, professionally developed, high-quality set of HIPAA policy templates available for instant download today. It’s called the HIPAA Security & Privacy Compliance Toolkit (HSPCT), and it’s comes complete with hundreds of HIPAA specific information security and operational specific policies, procedures, forms, checklists, training material, provisioning documents, and so much more. Developed by one of North America’s healthcare and compliance experts, the HIPAA Security & Privacy Compliance Toolkit (HSPCT) includes the following industry leading material for ensuring both Covered Entities and Business Associates are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act:·     HIPAA Information Security Policies and Procedures Manual
·     HIPAA Information Systems Hardening Checklists
·     HIPAA Disaster Recovery Plan
·     HIPAA Handbook & Reference Manual
·     HIPAA Security Awareness Training PowerPoint (PPT) Presentation
·     HIPAA Security Awareness Training Manual & Employee Quiz
·     HIPAA Security Rule & Privacy Rule Checklist & Readiness Assessment
·     HIPAA Risk Assessment Template
·     Essential HIPAA Forms
·     Additional HIPAA Policies and Procedures
·     And much more!

Now’s the time to become compliant with HIPAA, so download the industry leading HIPAA policy templates from the healthcare experts at hipaapoliciesandprocedures.com. The HIPAA Security & Privacy Compliance Toolkit (HSPCT) is absolutely essential for any healthcare organization in today’s information security age. Reported by PRWeb 20 hours ago.

Top 5 Money Management Tips for 30-Somethings

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Top 5 Money Management Tips for 30-Somethings Filed under: Family Money, Personal Finance, Budgeting, Financial Education

*Getty Images*

Your 30s are likely to hold plenty of exciting life changes, such as advancing in your career, getting married and starting a family. As other aspects of your life evolve, your your financial habits should keep pace. Here are five tips to keep in mind.

*1. Aggressively Pay Down Debt*

The longer you hold onto debt, of any kind, the longer you keep yourself in shackles that prevent you from working toward your other financial goals.

In your 20s, it can be hard to pay down debt very aggressively; you're often working an entry-level job, struggling just to pay the bills and find your footing. But now that you've settled into your career and gotten some of the preliminaries out of the way, it's time to clear the stage for the rest of your life.

If you have student loan debt, credit card debt or a car loan you're paying off, throw everything you can at paying those balances down pronto. Every extra month you make payments, you're accruing interest and tying up money you could be spending on other goals. Get debt off your back as soon as possible.

*2. Revisit Your Budget*

You should be reviewing your budget regularly to ensure it's aligned with your priorities. Now's the time to do some serious tweaking to make sure you're budgeting for what matters to you now.

You may have new costs like raising a baby or renovating your first home, while other costs may no longer be relevant.

You may not care as much for eating out or bar-hopping as you used to; perhaps now your favorite weekends might be spent curled up on the couch with your partner or playing with your kids. (Or you might be bar-hopping more than you did at age 22.)

You may start trying out recipes, realize you love cooking and stop relying on takeout to fill you up most nights.

Your budget will only work if you keep it in line with your needs and wants, and when those change, your budget should change with them.

*3. Get Specific About Savings*

In your 20s, you should be working to build an emergency savings fund and putting money aside toward any short-term goals, like saving to buy a car. As you get older, savings goals emerge that are bigger than anything you've saved up for previously -- like getting married, buying a house, starting a family or building your children's college fund.

Goals this big need a specific game plan, so start including a line in your budget for them. Do your best to estimate how much you'll need for each of these things and when you'll need it by. If you can't quite squeeze saving for these goals into your current budget, you may need to cut other budget areas, find a new income stream or postpone the goal (like buying a house) until you can save up more.

*4. Check Your Insurance Coverage*

You have more assets, and you may also have more people financially dependent on you. Make sure you have the coverage you need to protect you and your loved ones should the unexpected happen.

This includes health insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and renter's/homeowner's insurance. You may also want to look into disability insurance, which covers if you get injured or fall ill and are unable to work for an extended period.

*5. Get Serious About Retirement *

As your salary increases over the years, the amount of money you're putting aside toward retirement should also increase. You should be putting away at least 15 percent of your income into accounts like a 401(k) or Roth individual retirement account.

If you receive a raise or move to a new job with a higher salary, bump that percentage up, and consider earmarking any other windfalls for retirement, too. The more money you can put aside now, when you're in your prime and bringing in a steady income, the more secure your retirement will be. Rather than falling prey to lifestyle inflation, use any boosts in income to shore up for the future.

Paula Pant ditched her 9-to-5 job in 2008. She's traveled to 30 countries, owns seven rental units and runs a business from her laptop. Her blog, Afford Anything, is a gathering spot for rebels who want to ditch the cubicle, shatter limits and live life on your own terms -- while also building wealth, security and freedom.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by DailyFinance 20 hours ago.

Viverae Announces New Additions to Senior Leadership Team

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Viverae, a health management company and wellness pioneer, today announced several new appointments to its senior leadership team in support of the company’s continued growth and innovation

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

Viverae, a health management company and wellness pioneer, today announced several new appointments to its senior leadership team in support of the company’s continued growth and innovation, including Jim Trimarco as chief sales officer, Scott Bennett as chief marketing officer, Michelle Brown as vice president of client services and Kirsten Lester as vice president of product management.

The executive appointments come at a time of increasing momentum for Viverae, who recently acquired OneHealth Solutions, Inc., added 115 new contracts in 2014 and was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for the fourth time.

"These outstanding professionals provide the experience and perspective Viverae needs as we continue to execute an aggressive growth strategy in 2015 to deliver performance-based health solutions for both body and mind that engage people to lead healthier lives and help our customers optimize their workforce to drive positive business and healthcare outcomes,” said Michael Nadeau, founder and CEO of Viverae. "We welcome this seasoned group of professionals, and know they will play a pivotal role in our continued growth and success.”

Trimarco is an accomplished health management and wellness consultant with nearly 20 years of sales and consulting leadership experience executing complex corporate sales strategies and sustaining high performance sales teams. As chief sales officer, Trimarco will lead Viverae’s sales team in developing and fostering relationships with health insurance consultants and corporate clients. He previously was Viverae’s senior vice president of sales, and also served as VP of sales for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. where he managed a large sales team focused on key vertical segments.

Bennett joins Viverae as chief marketing officer, and brings over 20 years of senior-level marketing, strategy and operational expertise in various industries. Most recently, he served as principal and chief marketing officer at Customer Centric Solutions, where he helped business leaders to create greater demand for their products and services. His previous executive leadership includes developing successful brand, advertising, and relationship strategies at the American Cancer Society and managing the P&L for a division of Verizon Information Services.

Brown joins Viverae as vice president of client services with over 18 years of executive leadership experience working with Fortune 500 clients across a variety of industry verticals to develop and deliver world-class business solutions, where she excelled at strengthening and developing client partnerships that deliver measureable value. Most recently, she served as vice president, client services at IBEX Global where she led a global business unit responsible for the company’s largest client, AT&T.

As vice president of product management, Lester brings several years of senior level leadership experience in managing products such as mobile applications and enterprise-level software. Most recently, she served in a leadership role at XRS where she created and executed product management strategies as well as created partnership opportunities. Throughout her career, she has been involved in product development initiatives from creation through launch.

About Viverae
Viverae, Inc. is an innovative health management company dedicated to helping people lead healthier lives. The company provides a wellness and health engagement platform that integrates physical and mental health management to help organizations engage their workforce to drive business and healthcare value. Viverae’s solutions combine comprehensive health assessments, employee incentives, coaching and engagement strategies, 24/7 peer support, condition management communities, and proprietary software that promotes healthy behaviors. To learn more, visit viverae.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn. Reported by PRWeb 18 hours ago.

HUFFPOLLSTER: Latest Kansas Senate Survey Shows A Tie

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A new poll finds a tie in the Kansas Senate race. Americans' media habits are polarized, but few live in ideological bubbles. And while pollsters won't cop to 'herding,' most suspect that others do. This is HuffPollster for Tuesday, October 21, 2014.

*NEW POLL FINDS TIE RACE IN KANSAS* - A new Monmouth University Poll finds a tie race for Senate in the unusual contest pitting Republican Sen. Pat Roberts against independent challenger Greg Orman. The Democratic nominee, Chad Taylor, dropped out of the race in September and his name will not appear on the ballot. *The Monmouth poll of just 429 likely voters find 46 percent support for both Roberts and Orman with just 5 percent undecided*. Five polls conducted earlier in October found results ranging between a five point lead for Orman and a five point lead for Roberts. The current estimate produced by HuffPollster's poll tracking model gives a slight but largely meaningless half point edge (44.2 to 43.6 percent as of this writing). The probability of a Roberts win stands, based on this estimate, is exactly 50 percent. [Monmouth, Pollster Kansas senate chart]The poll also gave Democratic challenger Paul Davis a 5 percentage point lead over Republican governor Sam Brownback (50 to 45 percent). That's a slightly better result for the Democrat compared to four other recent surveys that showed either a tie or a slight Brownback advantage, though three surveys in late September gave Davis a narrow advantage. The HuffPollster poll tracking model gives Davis a one point advantage, as of this writing (47.8 to 46.8 percent), but barely better than a 50/50 shot at winning in November. [Pollster Kansas governor chart]

The new statewide election poll is the first conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute this cycle outside of its home state of New Jersey. Monmouth pollster Patrick Murray tells HuffPollster via email that the Kansas survey is the first of a series being conduct over the next two weeks, with new polls in Iowa and Colorado due out later this week. In Kansas, Monmouth used live interviewers to call voters on their landline and mobile phones using a sample drawn from the official list of registered voters in Kansas, a technique more popular among campaign than news media pollsters. In this case, according to Monmouth's report, they weighted their sample on region, age, gender and party registration to match data culled from "registration list information on the pool of voters who participated in recent midterm elections."

Because the Monmouth poll tracked data from the official voter lists, they were able to report both the actual actual registration status of respondents as recorded on the voter file along with the party identification they self-reported on the survey. The differences were biggest for Republicans, indicative of the unique political environment that Republicans face this year in Kansas. The Monmouth sample consisted of 60 percent registered Republicans but just 42 percent reporting they identify with the GOP. [Monmouth, h/t @Nate_Cohn]

*Kentucky Senate* - At the beginning of October, SurveyUSA's Bluegrass Poll caused a minor stir when it showed Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) with a 2-point edge over Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Their most recent survey, released Monday night, continues to find a close race, but this time gives McConnell a 1-point advantage. "If they are both equally successful in mobilizing the vote, she loses," University of Kentucky Political Science professor Steve Voss told the Courier-Journal. Grimes' unfavorability rating also ticked up, putting her underwater for the first time, although she remains more popular than McConnell. [Courier-Journal

A second Kentucky poll was also released Monday: the debut effort of Western Kentucky University's Social Science Research Center. The survey, which used live callers to reach landlines and cell phones, found McConnell ahead by 5 among registered voters, with a smaller 3-point edge among likely voters. The poll found that most of Grimes' supporters say they're voting in protest against McConnell, while McConnell's supporters are more likely to say they're voting because they support him.
WKU]

McConnell has led in all of the seven most recent public surveys, save for the previous Bluegrass poll, by margins of between 1 and 8 points. Most of the polling suggests a race that continues to be competitive, but with a clear, abiding edge for the Republican incumbent. HuffPost Pollster's Senate model gives McConnell a 4-point lead and about a 63 percent chance of winning in November. [Kentucky Chart]

*National overview* - The new polls leave our model's overall assessment of the race for Senate essentially unchanged. The poll tracking model continues to give Republicans narrow advantages in enough states to give Republicans a 52 seat majority. Kansas would add a 53rd seat in that scenario regardless of its outcome, since independent Greg Orman has pledged to caucus with the majority party. Nevertheless, these margins remain narrow in many states, well within the range of potential late shifts and polling error, so our model continues to give Republicans a 66 percent chance to win a Senate majority. The Senate contest is leaning Republican but that outcome is far from certain. [HuffPost Senate Forecast]

*PARTISANS' MEDIA HABITS ARE AS POLARIZED AS THEIR POLITICS* - Amy Mitchell, Jeffrey Gottfried, Jocelyn Kiley and Katerina Eva Matsa: "When it comes to getting news about politics and government, liberals and conservatives inhabit different worlds. There is little overlap in the news sources they turn to and trust. And whether discussing politics online or with friends, they are more likely than others to interact with like-minded individuals, according to a new Pew Research Center study…. *The study also suggests that in America today, it is virtually impossible to live in an ideological bubble*. Most Americans rely on an array of outlets – with varying audience profiles – for political news. And many consistent conservatives and liberals hear dissenting political views in their everyday lives. Yet as our major report on political polarization found, those at both the left and right ends of the spectrum, who together comprise about 20% of the public overall, have a greater impact on the political process than do those with more mixed ideological views." Among the study's findings: consistent conservatives watch mainly Fox, while consistent liberals are more likely to use a variety of sources; consistent liberals are more likely to defriend people on Facebook over politics. [Pew Research]

*OBAMA'S APPROVAL RATING REMAINS MOSTLY STEADY AT A NEAR LOW* - Jeffrey M. Jones: "President Barack Obama's job approval rating averaged 41.5% during his 23rd quarter in office, which began on July 20 and ended on Oct. 19. That ranks as one of his lowest quarterly approval ratings to date. The only two that were lower were the 41.2% in his 20th quarter -- after the troubled launch of the health insurance exchanges last fall -- and the 41.0% in his 11th quarter during the negotiations to raise the federal debt limit and its fallout on the U.S. economy….*Typically the president's party's fortunes in the midterms are heavily tied to his popularity*. For example, the Republicans suffered heavy losses in the 2006 midterm elections under Bush, losing majority control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Republicans also performed poorly in the 1974 midterms, just after what would have been Richard Nixon's 23rd quarter in office. He resigned in August just after his 23rd quarter began, with his only job approval rating measured during that quarter at 24%.
In contrast, presidents who were relatively popular in their 23rd quarters -- including Reagan and Clinton -- saw their parties perform better in the midterms." [Gallup]

*FEW AMERICANS VOTING BASED ON HEALTH CARE* - Kaiser Family Foundation: "With the 2014 midterm election less than one month away, the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds the ACA continues to be a second-tier issue on voters’ minds, and many say they are tired of hearing candidates talk about the law. Just over a quarter (27 percent) of registered voters say the health care law will be an “extremely important” issue in their vote and about another third (35 percent) say it will be “very important”. *But when asked to choose the MOST important issue, just 8 percent pick health care*, ranking behind the economy (16 percent) and dissatisfaction with government (12 percent) and similar to other issues like education (10 percent), the situation in Iraq and Syria (9 percent), and immigration (6 percent)....At this point in the election season, slightly more than half (53 percent) of registered voters say they are tired of hearing candidates for Congress talk about the health care law and would prefer they move on to other issues, while 44 percent say they feel it is important for Congressional candidates to continue debating the issue." [KFF]

*POLLSTERS SAY THEY DON'T 'HERD,' BUT SUSPECT OTHERS DO* - Carl Bialik polls the pollsters about ethics: "Earlier this year, my colleague Harry Enten reported on evidence he found suggesting that some pollsters were copying others’ results, revising their numbers to fall into line with those of their peers. I asked our pollsters if any ever do that. All 22 who answered said they don’t….One respondent wasn’t convinced we’d get meaningful results from the question, even though we granted anonymity. *'Um, you think anyone is going to answer this honestly?'* said the pollster, who didn’t want to be named. When we asked the same question about other pollsters, our respondents were more inclined to suspect copying. Of the 14 who answered, eight thought some pollsters adjusted their numbers to match published polls’ results….Sometimes, reporters publish results of polls — then hear from polling organizations that they have recalled the poll, like a faulty car. All but three of the 20 pollsters who responded to our question about it said recalling polls was sometimes appropriate." [538]

*HUFFPOLLSTER VIA EMAIL!* - You can receive this daily update every weekday morning via email! Just click here, enter your email address, and and click "sign up." That's all there is to it (and you can unsubscribe anytime).

*TUESDAY'S 'OUTLIERS'* - Links to the best of news at the intersection of polling, politics and political data:

-A new poll of Latino voters finds them "frustrated with the president and angry with the GOP." [Latino Decisions]

-Nate Cohn says Republicans in the House can afford to alienate Hispanic voters and still win. [NYT]

-The vast majority of uninsured Americans aren't aware that the next ACA open enrollment period is approaching. [NYT]

-Eric McGhee looks at criticism that The Washington Post's election model has too high a level of certainty. [WashPost]

-Andrew Gelman prefers probabilities rounded off to the nearest 10 percent. [AndrewGelman.com]

-The American Association for Public Opinion Research calls for papers for a mini-conference on reassessing today's survey methods. [AAPOR]

-A UNC undergraduate launches an election forecasting website. [Daily Tarheel] Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.

New File & ServeXpress Chief Information Officer Will Lead e-Filing Products and Services Expansion and Development

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As CIO, Craig Steffen to Focus on Innovative Software Development and IT

Irving, Texas (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

File & ServeXpress, the pioneer and national leader of electronic filing and service for the legal and judicial communities, has named Craig Steffen as its Chief Information Officer. Steffen, a global information technology management veteran, previously served as Vice President of Information Technology and Delivery.

Steffen was hired in March 2014 and has led several management initiatives to develop and deliver on File & ServeXpress’ innovative product offerings. With 26 years of information technology experience in the professional services arena, Steffen has set the foundation to enhance the File & ServeXpress platform and augment its e-Filing and e-Service solution.

“Craig is an outstanding strategic leader,” said Mel Yarbrough, CEO of File & ServeXpress. “In a short time, he has made a number of high impact contributions. Craig has led our Information Technology and Delivery project management and process change initiatives while driving the team’s culture with leadership training.”

In his new role as Chief Information Officer, Steffen will continue to have executive leadership responsibilities for IT development and business operations. He will remain focused on the company’s collective goals for exceptional client service and positive and innovative product delivery.

“I am very pleased with our team’s accomplishments and response to change since joining File & ServeXpress,” said Steffen. “We have undergone a reorganization to allow for a more rapid response to our law firms’ and court clients’ needs. The team has succeeded in delivering our e-Filing and e-Service solutions to such jurisdictions as Orange County, Calif., the State of Texas e-File Texas program and major expansions in San Francisco.” He adds, “Now, we are poised to enhance our current solutions as well as deliver new ones. Our focus is on innovation rather than only reacting to market demands.”

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Steffen spent the last 20 years in Jacksonville, Fla. He recently relocated to the Dallas Metroplex, home to File & ServeXpress’ company headquarters. Prior to joining File & ServeXpress, Steffen was a senior vice president for Xerox, where he led Healthcare Enterprise Operations and the Operations Advisory Group, Government Sector for the eight years. Steffen holds bachelor’s degree in Decision Science Statistics and Marketing from Miami University and has advanced training in health insurance and contract law.

About File & ServeXpress
File & ServeXpress, headquartered in Irving, Texas, was formed in 2012 through an acquisition of two of the pioneers of e-Filing and e-Service – CaseFileXpress and File & Serve, a former LexisNexis company. The resulting combination brought together more than 30 years of experience in legal e-Filing and e-Service to form the leader in the industry, offering products that provide access to universally compatible document exchange and management technologies. The company serves all types and sizes of courts, firms, cases and practice areas.

File & ServeXpress brings together an established, comprehensive record of success in working with courts around the country to implement electronic filing. It has existing e-Filing and/or e-Service projects spanning 30 states and the District of Columbia with more than 165,000 registered users and 39,000 law firm clients, representing all of the top 100 law firms in the country.

File & ServeXpress combines exceptional client service and advanced e-Filing and e-Service technology with the management and financial strength of its private investors. File & ServeXpress was formed by the shareholders of MMC Group, LP, Strait Lane Capital and Rosewood Private Investments specifically to acquire File & Serve and CaseFileXpress. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

Dr. April Seifert Joins HealthCare.com To Lead Data Innovation Team

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New senior leader will use company's analytical environment to enrich data and provide useful information for health insurance consumers.

Miami, Florida (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

HealthCare.com, the leading privately owned health insurance comparison tool featuring nearly 180 carriers and more than 90,000 health insurance plans, announced the addition of Dr. April Seifert to its leadership team. Dr. Seifert, who holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, will serve as Data Innovation Lead for the organization, and will focus her efforts on helping consumers make better health insurance decisions.

Dr. Seifert is an expert in the field of data analysis for the healthcare industry, and has spent her career using measurement and analytics to aid the decision-making process for both individuals and employers. Dr. Seifert will be responsible for extracting data values and insight from HealthCare.com’s internal database, and convert complex algorithms into common-sense information to empower individual decision-making when choosing a health insurance plan. She will also analyze external data in the marketplace and provide consumers with information that can help them make the right healthcare decisions.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the HealthCare.com team. One of the greatest pleasures in my work is taking raw data and converting it into usable information that is easy for anyone to understand. Health insurance is extremely complex, but with the right information regarding coverage and care, consumers can make educated choices. I also hope to analyze consumer behavior and teach individuals to use their healthcare more effectively. We have the opportunity to demystify this industry and educate millions of Americans about how health insurance really works before they purchase a plan,” said Dr. Seifert.

Prior to joining HealthCare.com, Dr. Seifert led the analytical team supporting the self-insured health plan for Target Corporation. She also held a Lead Healthcare Analyst position at Medica Health Plans and has chaired a measurement committee for Minnesota Community Measurement during her career.

“We are committed to helping consumers lower costs by making better, more informed decisions. We are happy to have Dr. Seifert as part of the growing HealthCare.com team; she is a healthcare industry expert who understands the complexity of health plans, and has the ability to evaluate and convert data into information that is easy to understand and easy to use,” said Jeff Smedsrud, Chief Executive Officer of HealthCare.com.

A resident of Minneapolis, Dr. Seifert holds a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors from North Dakota State University, and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

About HealthCare.com
Since 2006, HealthCare.com, a privately-held technology company, has been committed to improving online healthcare for U.S. consumers making purchasing decisions. Our goal is to help consumers easily research information and compare health insurance quotes from nearly 200 health insurance carriers using interactive tools and an intuitive search interface. We offer trusted recommendations and a comparison shopping experience to simplify decision-making, allowing consumers to find the right health insurance plan that fits their lifestyle. To provide customers a first-rate user experience, our technology uses proprietary algorithms and data to advocate the best and most affordable insurance options. We also offer free online calculators and shopping tools to make healthcare buying easier and more efficient. With over 1 million visitors each month, we partner and integrate with industry-leading health insurance companies to help consumers enroll into plans. All of HealthCare.com’s leading technology, tools and services are free to consumers. For more information, visit http://www.healthcare.com. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

John Kasich Successfully Begins Two-Year Ritual of Self-Flagellation

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At Holy Cross-Immaculata church in Cincinnati, there's a Good Friday tradition called "Praying the Steps," in which parishioners slowly climb the 85 steps up to the church, saying a prayer on each step. It may take a while to get to the top, but that's the entire point of the exercise—the time and effort it takes is a symbol of one's devotion. Keep that in mind for a moment as we talk about that state's governor, John Kasich, and his complicated feelings about the Affordable Care Act.

Yesterday, Governor Kasich went through a ritual that has grown no less absurd for being so familiar. It goes like this: 1) Republican politician accidentally acknowledges that the ACA is the law and repeal efforts are futile (or even that it actually helps people); 2) Conservatives do a collective spit-take; 3) Politician issues apology/clarification, making clear his unshakeable belief that the ACA was vomited out of the very fires of hell and of course he wants to repeal it; 4) Conservatives say, "All right then. Just don't let it happen again."

You may think that this was bad for Kasich, presuming that he will be running for president in 2016 (a possibility, but not a sure thing). In fact, this little episode is no problem at all. It may even help him.

This started when Kasich told the AP, in response to a question about the repeal of the ACA, "That's not gonna happen." The article then quoted him saying, "The opposition to it was really either political or ideological. I don't think that holds water against real flesh and blood, and real improvements in people's lives." After he saw the steam coming out of conservatives' ears—I mean my god, not just saying that the ACA isn't going to be repealed but that it improves people's lives?!?—Kasich protested to the AP that he was talking not about the law in general but just about the expansion of Medicaid, which despite being perhaps the most important part of Obamacare is totally different from Obamacare. "I have favored expanding Medicaid, but I don't really see expanding Medicaid as really connected to Obamacare," Kasich now says, and reiterated his commitment to repeal. Which is like saying, "Sure, I own a Chevy Camaro, but you'd never catch me dead in a car made by GM."

Pathetic and ridiculous? Sure. But this is a performance Kasich was going to have to undertake eventually. He pushed through Medicaid expansion over the objections of the Republican legislature, one of nine Republican governors to do so. His argument was pretty simple: he said there were over 300,000 people in Ohio who would get health insurance, and the federal government would pay for almost all of it, so it was idiotic to pass it  up.

Of course, Kasich knew he was going to have to explain it to GOP primary voters if he decided to run for president. But he could look back at 2012 and take heart. At the outset of that campaign, lots of wise people said there was no way Mitt Romney could get past primary voters who would demand to know why he passed a health care reform that was the model for the ACA. So what did Romney do? First, he made a ridiculous claim, that his health care reform—an individual mandate, an insurance exchange, subsidies for people with low incomes, and generous Medicaid benefits — was nothing at all like the hated Obamacare, because, you know, Obama! Nobody believed him, but once he said it often enough and proclaimed his hatred of Barack Obama and Obamacare loudly enough, they basically gave him a passing grade on the issue.

The point wasn't the substance, it was the ritual itself. The party's conservative base wanted Romney to get down on his knees and, if not exactly beg forgiveness, at least demonstrate that he would never betray them again. He would wash himself in the waters of supplication and self-flagellation, then come out clean—or at least clean enough—on the other side. And so he did.

Kasich knows he has to enact the same ritual, and this is the first step. The point isn't the destination, it's the journey. Kasich will have to pray the steps. And in the end, just as in 2012, the identify of the Republican nominee won't hinge on the question of who fought Obamacare the hardest, so long as everyone claims their loathing for it with equal fervor.  Reported by The American Prospect 15 hours ago.

Newtown, Connecticut Therapy Dog Wins First Nationwide Books & Barks Contest

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Pets Best hosts inaugural contest to recognize therapy dogs in the classroom

BOISE, Idaho (PRWEB) October 21, 2014

Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC, a leading U.S. pet insurance agency based in Boise, Idaho, announced today a Newtown, Connecticut therapy dog has been selected as the winner of the agency’s first Books & Barks contest. Kona, a therapy dog who regularly visits the students of Reed Intermediate School, won the nationwide contest, which was created to recognize and bring awareness to the inspirational work of therapy dogs in classrooms and libraries across the nation.

In its first year, the Books & Barks contest brought in 9,004 votes cast by the community members of eight finalists from across the U.S. The public was able to vote by visiting the Pets Best website, http://www.petsbest.com, and the company’s Facebook page. As part of the contest, Pets Best awarded $1,000 to Reed Intermediate School and $500 to a pet therapy organization selected by Kona’s owner and handler.

“Pets Best created the Books & Barks contest in an effort to share the stories of therapy dogs that provide ongoing support and love for children in educational settings,” said Dr. Jack Stephens, founder of Pets Best. “Kona’s efforts with Newtown students encompass the meaningful impact that therapy dogs have on children every day. We look forward to hearing more stories about helpful therapy dogs as this contest continues for years to come.”

Sandy Cornell, Kona’s owner and handler, said the 3-year-old Boston terrier has been visiting Reed Intermediate School for more than a year. In 2012, Kona became a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International. Kona received a total of 3,211 online votes during the Books & Barks contest.

“Strangers stop me now and say, ‘I voted for Kona. Thank you for doing what the two of you do.’ It is truly a fantastic feeling,” Cornell said. “Kona’s ability to sense what is needed and who needs it most is beyond my understanding. She is unflappable. While I might be fighting back tears, she is doing what she does best, comforting a child.”

Pets Best awarded Cornell with a $500 donation to any animal-related nonprofit of her choice. Cornell selected Charlotte’s Litter, a program promoting the use of therapy dogs, as the recipient of the donation. Charlotte’s Litter was developed by the parents of Charlotte Bacon, a student at Sandy Hook Elementary School who was tragically killed on Dec. 14, 2012. The program’s goal is to advocate for animal-assisted activities while creating programs that improve access to therapy dogs.

Kona was nominated by Karen King, a fifth-grade teacher at Reed Intermediate School in Newtown, Connecticut. Since 2013, therapy dogs have made weekly visits to the school, some coming from as far away as Boston and parts of New York. Following the successful nomination from Kim, Pets Best awarded her school with $1,000, which will be used to assist therapy dog handlers who frequently visit the school with their dogs.

“Reed Intermediate School plans to divide the $1,000 prize winnings into many different gift cards for the therapy dog handlers who visit the school weekly, at their expense,” King said. “This is our small way of giving back for all that they have given us.”

Pets Best debuted the Books & Barks contest in the summer of 2014, after seeing the positive effects of incorporating therapy dogs into classroom and library programs. The contest brought in more than 150 heartfelt, inspirational entries from all corners of the country. Pets Best plans to host the Books & Barks contest annually, with the next contest scheduled for spring 2015. Follow Pets Best on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed about important contest dates.

For more information about the Books & Barks contest, visit the Pets Best blog.

About Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC
Dr. Jack L. Stephens, founder and director of Pets Best, founded pet insurance in the U.S. in 1981 with a mission to end euthanasia when pet owners couldn’t afford veterinary treatment. Dr. Stephens went on to present the first U.S. pet insurance policy to famous television dog Lassie. Pets Best provides coverage for dogs and cats. Dr. Stephens leads the Pets Best team with his passion for quality pet care and his expert veterinary knowledge. He is always available to answer questions regarding veterinary medicine, pet health and pet insurance. The Pets Best team is a group of pet lovers who strive to deliver quality customer service and value. Visit http://www.petsbest.com for more information.

Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions to groups and individuals for over 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit: http://www.ihcgroup.com. Additional insurance services administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by Prime Insurance Company. Some existing business is underwritten by Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

Pets Best is a proud member of the North America Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Reported by PRWeb 15 hours ago.

Seeing Doctor Twice A Year Helps Keep Blood Pressure Under Control

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*Provided by Maggie Francis, American Heart Association*

People who visited their doctor at least twice a year were 3.2 times more likely to keep their blood pressure under control than those who saw their doctor once a year or less, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.

Having healthcare insurance and getting treated for high cholesterol also increased the likelihood of keeping blood pressure under control.

Ideal blood pressure, measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater on the top (systolic) or 90 mm Hg or greater on the bottom (diastolic) is considered high.

Obese people in the study were also more likely to keep their blood pressure under control, “probably because doctors recognize the need to control risk factors and may be quicker to give them blood pressure medications,” said Brent M. Egan, M.D., study author and professor of medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville and senior medical director of the Care Coordination Institute.

Egan’s data included reports on 37,000 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had their blood pressure checked in 1999-2012.

After controlling for diabetes, health insurance, body mass index, smoking and other factors, Egan found that doctor visits were the strongest predictor of blood pressure control.

Uncontrolled blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke. About 69 percent of people who have a first heart attack, 77 percent who have a first stroke and 74 percent who have congestive heart failure have blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg.

As many as 80 percent of the 78 million adults with high blood pressure know they have the condition. But only 75 percent are treated and only about half have it controlled below 140/90 mm Hg, according to American Heart Association statistics.

The American Heart Association recommends that people with blood pressure readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher make lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthy and engaging in physical activity, and if necessary, take medicine.

The National Institutes of Health, U.S. Army, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state of South Carolina funded the study.

*> Continue reading...*

----- Reported by redOrbit 7 hours ago.
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