How Obamacare Is Ruining Health Insurance
Reported by ajc.com 4 hours ago.
How Obamacare Is Ruining Health Insurance
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Even Treadmill Desks Don't Make Up For Too Much Sitting
By: Laura Geggel
Published: 02/11/2015 10:15 AM EST on LiveScience
Desks that have built-in treadmills may help people walk more at the office, but workers who use the equipment still don't get enough exercise to meet recommendations, a new study finds.
And in fact, treadmill desks pose a number of logical challenges that may be hard for companies to accommodate, ranging from uncooperative supervisors to scheduling problems, the researchers found.
"Treadmill desks aren't an effective replacement for regular exercise, and the benefits of the desks may not justify the cost and other challenges that come with implementing them," the study's lead researcher John Schuna Jr., an assistant professor of exercise and sports science at Oregon State University, said in a statement.
In the study, researchers recruited 41 overweight and obese people with desk jobs at a private health insurance company. The scientists randomly assigned 21 of these people to use shared treadmill desks, and 20 of the people to a control group with regular desks. Those in the treadmill group did not use the treadmill desks at all times, but rather signed up for specific time slots. [Beyond Vegetables and Exercise: 5 Surprising Ways to Be Heart Healthy]
The employees who used the treadmill desks walked about 1,600 more steps than the control group daily, the study found. However, those with treadmill desks did not report any significant weight loss or changes in their body mass index after 12 weeks, according to the study published in the December 2014 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The workers used the treadmills about half of the time they were supposed to, averaging one 45-minute session daily on the equipment, Schuna said.
Still, the machines have gained popularity among workers who sit at their desks all day.
"There's been a societal shift to more sedentary work," and people are not exercising more during their leisure time to make up for this shift, Schuna said. "We were trying to identify ways we could increase physical activity and combat the decline in occupational physical activity we've seen in the past 50 years."
The workers found that it was often difficult to get 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on a treadmill desk several times a week, the amount recommended by public health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On average, the workers in the study walked at about 1.8 miles an hour (2.9 kilometers an hour), a speed that equates to light exercise. There may be some cardiovascular benefits to such light walking, but people need to engage in more intense exercise to reverse the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle, Schuna said.
"One of the challenges with the treadmill desk is that it needs to be [a] lower-intensity activity so employees can still perform their work duties, Schuna said.
The researchers faced several challenges during the study, including recruiting employees. Though the researchers targeted 700 employees at the company, only 10 percent showed an interest. Some people could not participate because they did not receive permission from their supervisors, the researchers said.
The researchers also noted that the workers in the study had to share the treadmill desks, and it was difficult to schedule the time slots to use the equipment. The nature of the employees' work also kept them at their regular desks, even though the company encouraged the use of the treadmills, the researchers said.
More research is needed to find the best way to implement treadmill desks or other exercise interventions into the workplace, Schuna said.
"We need to identify some form of physical activity that can be done simply and at a low cost in an office setting," he said.
Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.· 11 Surprising Things That Can Make Us Gain Weight
· 10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp
· 7 Common Exercise Errors And How to Fix Them
Copyright 2015 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
Published: 02/11/2015 10:15 AM EST on LiveScience
Desks that have built-in treadmills may help people walk more at the office, but workers who use the equipment still don't get enough exercise to meet recommendations, a new study finds.
And in fact, treadmill desks pose a number of logical challenges that may be hard for companies to accommodate, ranging from uncooperative supervisors to scheduling problems, the researchers found.
"Treadmill desks aren't an effective replacement for regular exercise, and the benefits of the desks may not justify the cost and other challenges that come with implementing them," the study's lead researcher John Schuna Jr., an assistant professor of exercise and sports science at Oregon State University, said in a statement.
In the study, researchers recruited 41 overweight and obese people with desk jobs at a private health insurance company. The scientists randomly assigned 21 of these people to use shared treadmill desks, and 20 of the people to a control group with regular desks. Those in the treadmill group did not use the treadmill desks at all times, but rather signed up for specific time slots. [Beyond Vegetables and Exercise: 5 Surprising Ways to Be Heart Healthy]
The employees who used the treadmill desks walked about 1,600 more steps than the control group daily, the study found. However, those with treadmill desks did not report any significant weight loss or changes in their body mass index after 12 weeks, according to the study published in the December 2014 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The workers used the treadmills about half of the time they were supposed to, averaging one 45-minute session daily on the equipment, Schuna said.
Still, the machines have gained popularity among workers who sit at their desks all day.
"There's been a societal shift to more sedentary work," and people are not exercising more during their leisure time to make up for this shift, Schuna said. "We were trying to identify ways we could increase physical activity and combat the decline in occupational physical activity we've seen in the past 50 years."
The workers found that it was often difficult to get 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on a treadmill desk several times a week, the amount recommended by public health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On average, the workers in the study walked at about 1.8 miles an hour (2.9 kilometers an hour), a speed that equates to light exercise. There may be some cardiovascular benefits to such light walking, but people need to engage in more intense exercise to reverse the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle, Schuna said.
"One of the challenges with the treadmill desk is that it needs to be [a] lower-intensity activity so employees can still perform their work duties, Schuna said.
The researchers faced several challenges during the study, including recruiting employees. Though the researchers targeted 700 employees at the company, only 10 percent showed an interest. Some people could not participate because they did not receive permission from their supervisors, the researchers said.
The researchers also noted that the workers in the study had to share the treadmill desks, and it was difficult to schedule the time slots to use the equipment. The nature of the employees' work also kept them at their regular desks, even though the company encouraged the use of the treadmills, the researchers said.
More research is needed to find the best way to implement treadmill desks or other exercise interventions into the workplace, Schuna said.
"We need to identify some form of physical activity that can be done simply and at a low cost in an office setting," he said.
Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.· 11 Surprising Things That Can Make Us Gain Weight
· 10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp
· 7 Common Exercise Errors And How to Fix Them
Copyright 2015 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
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World Of Healthcraft: Obama Administration Partners With Online Gamers To Promote Obamacare
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is partnering with high-profile members of the fast-growing electronic sports and video gaming community as part of the White House's effort to drive Affordable Care Act sign-ups ahead of the enrollment deadline Sunday.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a video Wednesday that features various e-sports personalities, targeted at the American fans of professional video game competitions who have not yet enrolled for health care coverage through a state or federal exchange.
"We're excited to work with eSports and other high-profile members of the video game industry to remind people there are only a few days left to sign up for health insurance coverage," said Kevin Counihan, director and marketplace CEO of the Center for Consumer and Information and Insurance Oversight. "We encourage folks to beat the crowd by visiting the website today and to sign up for quality, affordable health insurance through healthcare.gov by February 15."
The promotional video features Anna Prosser Robinson, a pro-player, commentator and former Miss Oregon; Geoff "iNcontroL" Robinson, a professional Starcraft II player and announcer; announcer Joshua "Clutch" Gray; and pro-player Randal "Ruukil" Holcombe.
"We found out that my husband, who is a pro-gamer, had a blood clot in his leg and needed emergency care," Prosser Robinson says in the video.
Geoff, her husband, adds, "We were insured so I was able to get through it, and I was able to use the health care system to have a full recovery."
Partnering with the White House are the Electronic Sports League and the streaming website Twitch.tv, which is owned by Amazon. Both are promoting Obamacare enrollment on their online channels.
"We're very excited about this initiative so we're going all out with it: we're engaging our main @ESL Twitter account, as well as the accounts of the personalities that were involved in the production of the video and more," ESL's head of communications, Anna Rozwandowicz, said in an email to HuffPost. "Overall, that's several hundred thousands of young people we're hoping to reach with this initiative!"
The White House has attempted to appeal to diverse constituencies to encourage health insurance enrollment. Perhaps most famously, President Barack Obama taped an interview with comedian Zach Galifianakis, for his web-based talk show "Between Two Ferns," to encourage young people to enroll. In the wake of that video's release, the website FunnyOrDie.com, which hosts Galifianakis' show, became the top source of referrals to HealthCare.gov.
A less successful venture was the Obama administration's attempt to partner with the National Football League and other sports organizations in 2013, when the leagues ultimately decided not to get involved.
The share of Americans without health insurance fell below 13 percent by the end of 2014, a steep drop from the 17.1 percent who were uninsured at the end of 2013. A 2014 Gallup poll found that the change, for the most part, resulted from increased coverage through the health reform law's health insurance exchanges and the expansion of Medicaid access. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a video Wednesday that features various e-sports personalities, targeted at the American fans of professional video game competitions who have not yet enrolled for health care coverage through a state or federal exchange.
"We're excited to work with eSports and other high-profile members of the video game industry to remind people there are only a few days left to sign up for health insurance coverage," said Kevin Counihan, director and marketplace CEO of the Center for Consumer and Information and Insurance Oversight. "We encourage folks to beat the crowd by visiting the website today and to sign up for quality, affordable health insurance through healthcare.gov by February 15."
The promotional video features Anna Prosser Robinson, a pro-player, commentator and former Miss Oregon; Geoff "iNcontroL" Robinson, a professional Starcraft II player and announcer; announcer Joshua "Clutch" Gray; and pro-player Randal "Ruukil" Holcombe.
"We found out that my husband, who is a pro-gamer, had a blood clot in his leg and needed emergency care," Prosser Robinson says in the video.
Geoff, her husband, adds, "We were insured so I was able to get through it, and I was able to use the health care system to have a full recovery."
Partnering with the White House are the Electronic Sports League and the streaming website Twitch.tv, which is owned by Amazon. Both are promoting Obamacare enrollment on their online channels.
"We're very excited about this initiative so we're going all out with it: we're engaging our main @ESL Twitter account, as well as the accounts of the personalities that were involved in the production of the video and more," ESL's head of communications, Anna Rozwandowicz, said in an email to HuffPost. "Overall, that's several hundred thousands of young people we're hoping to reach with this initiative!"
The White House has attempted to appeal to diverse constituencies to encourage health insurance enrollment. Perhaps most famously, President Barack Obama taped an interview with comedian Zach Galifianakis, for his web-based talk show "Between Two Ferns," to encourage young people to enroll. In the wake of that video's release, the website FunnyOrDie.com, which hosts Galifianakis' show, became the top source of referrals to HealthCare.gov.
A less successful venture was the Obama administration's attempt to partner with the National Football League and other sports organizations in 2013, when the leagues ultimately decided not to get involved.
The share of Americans without health insurance fell below 13 percent by the end of 2014, a steep drop from the 17.1 percent who were uninsured at the end of 2013. A 2014 Gallup poll found that the change, for the most part, resulted from increased coverage through the health reform law's health insurance exchanges and the expansion of Medicaid access. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
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Balancing campaign and small business on Vitter's agenda
David Vitter, who became chairman last month when the Republican Party took control of the Senate, is the front-runner in this year's race for Louisiana governor. Government regulations, a target of many Republican lawmakers, are one of Vitter's priorities because of the burden he says they place on small business. The health care law's requirement that many businesses offer health insurance to employees and their dependents is among Vitter's concerns. Tax those owners' business earnings at a lower rate than their income from other sources. Because oil and gas companies make up one of Louisiana's biggest industries, Vitter may focus on issues that affect small energy companies, says Karen Kerrigan, president of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. A lot of our traditional business in Louisiana like seafood and the service industry for oil and gas are family businesses," he says, "definitely small businesses.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 2 hours ago.
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Obama Targets Big Companies Over Health Care
Obama Targets Big Companies Over Health CareObama Targets Big Companies Over Health Care
Has Been Optimized
President Barack Obama said in an interview on Feb. 10 that larger corporations were trying to diminish his health care law and stated that they should not use the issues of health insurance to fire employees or cut back on hours.
In the interview with online news website BuzzFeed, the President said, “It’s one thing when you’ve got a mom-and-pop store who can’t afford to provide paid sick leave or health insurance or minimum wage to workers but when I hear large corporations that make billions of dollars in profits trying to blame our interest in providing insurance as an excuse for cutting back workers’ wages, shame on them.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, corporations with more than 50 employees than work 30 hours or more a week are required to pay for their workers’ health insurance. In order to avoid this, some companies are telling their staff not to work over 30 hours or have stopping hiring to stay below a staff of 50.
Obama was heavily critical towards the office supplies giant Staples, who reportedly have told their employees not to work over 25 hours a week. In the interview, the President stated, “I haven’t looked at Staples stock lately or what the compensation of the CEO is, but I suspect that they could well afford to treat their workers favorably and give them some basic financial security, and if they can’t, then they should be willing to allow those workers to get the Affordable Care Act without cutting wages.”
It has also been reported that Staples CEO Ronald Sargent grossed $10.8 million last year, while his company made a profit of over $620 million.
After a rough start upon its creation in the fall of 2013, the Affordable Care Act’s website has managed to enroll over 7 million people under its system. The legislation itself, passed in 2010 with no Republican support, is considered the President’s signature piece of work during his time in office.
Sources: the Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Reuters, CNN
Photo Credit: Yahoo! News
Shares:
Combined FB:
Video Piece:
Regular Piece
OV in Depth: Reported by Opposing Views 2 hours ago.
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United States: Data Breach: Time For Plan Sponsors And Fiduciaries To Review Provider And Business Associate Agreements - McGuireWoods LLP
A health insurance company announced today that it has been the victim of a sophisticated cyber-attack and data breach of information of current and former covered persons.
Reported by Mondaq 2 hours ago.
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On the Fence About Getting Covered? There's Still Time to Apply!
By David Castro, Senior Web Editor, NCLR
Navigators work on enrolling Miami residents during our recent ACA enrollment event.
We're down to the final days before the February 15 deadline for enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. Still have questions and concerns about what you need to do? We have answers for you--whether you live in a mixed-immigration-status household, are uncertain about whether or not you can afford health insurance, or have a preexisting condition that previously kept you from getting insured.
There are only a few days left to enroll, so don't delay! Gather the information you need, then visit www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to get covered. You can also go to localhelp.healthcare.gov to find out where you can get free, in-person assistance in your area.
#Miami: #GetCovered for health insurance at our offices today til 3pm. 790 NW 107th Ave Ste 115 @NHCOA @HispanicUnity pic.twitter.com/VIu0FUe23e
— NCLR (@NCLR) February 8, 2015
It's important to note that even if you were denied coverage before, you should still go ahead and submit a new application before February 15. We spoke with enrollees and navigators about this during an enrollment event held last Sunday at the NCLR Florida Regional Office in Miami.
"They should submit an application because their situation may have changed. They may have a new job, their annual income may have increased, or maybe they even lost their job," said Eduardo Pineda, who works with NCLR Affiliate Hispanic Unity of Florida. "All of these situations affect their eligibility, so they should come in and submit an application."
Miami resident Nidia Brenes came to Sunday's enrollment event to do just that. With the individualized help of navigators from the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), she was able to successfully complete her application for health insurance coverage. Brenes said that those applying for coverage "should bring copies of their income tax statements, proof of address, and proof of legal status."
As the February 15 deadline approaches, NHCOA navigator Iliana Mundarain urged people to seek resources to get their questions answered, reminding all that "time is limited." She has seen first-hand how people have benefited from having their concerns answered and getting enrolled.
"We have a lot of people who have subscribed who have very good health insurance that covers the necessities they have [for their health]," she said.
That is why Mundarain offers a clear message for those who haven't yet gotten covered. "Run! Come and do it before February 15!"
Excited to be @NCLR's Miami office for today's #ACA enrollment event! #GetCovered by Feb.15th @HispanicUnity @NHCOA pic.twitter.com/wGJ6jXM8rF
— Janet Murguía (@JMurguia_NCLR) February 8, 2015
The deadline to sign up for health care is this Sunday, February 15. Don't delay! Sign up today!
This was first posted to the NCLR Blog. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.
Navigators work on enrolling Miami residents during our recent ACA enrollment event.
We're down to the final days before the February 15 deadline for enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. Still have questions and concerns about what you need to do? We have answers for you--whether you live in a mixed-immigration-status household, are uncertain about whether or not you can afford health insurance, or have a preexisting condition that previously kept you from getting insured.
There are only a few days left to enroll, so don't delay! Gather the information you need, then visit www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to get covered. You can also go to localhelp.healthcare.gov to find out where you can get free, in-person assistance in your area.
#Miami: #GetCovered for health insurance at our offices today til 3pm. 790 NW 107th Ave Ste 115 @NHCOA @HispanicUnity pic.twitter.com/VIu0FUe23e
— NCLR (@NCLR) February 8, 2015
It's important to note that even if you were denied coverage before, you should still go ahead and submit a new application before February 15. We spoke with enrollees and navigators about this during an enrollment event held last Sunday at the NCLR Florida Regional Office in Miami.
"They should submit an application because their situation may have changed. They may have a new job, their annual income may have increased, or maybe they even lost their job," said Eduardo Pineda, who works with NCLR Affiliate Hispanic Unity of Florida. "All of these situations affect their eligibility, so they should come in and submit an application."
Miami resident Nidia Brenes came to Sunday's enrollment event to do just that. With the individualized help of navigators from the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), she was able to successfully complete her application for health insurance coverage. Brenes said that those applying for coverage "should bring copies of their income tax statements, proof of address, and proof of legal status."
As the February 15 deadline approaches, NHCOA navigator Iliana Mundarain urged people to seek resources to get their questions answered, reminding all that "time is limited." She has seen first-hand how people have benefited from having their concerns answered and getting enrolled.
"We have a lot of people who have subscribed who have very good health insurance that covers the necessities they have [for their health]," she said.
That is why Mundarain offers a clear message for those who haven't yet gotten covered. "Run! Come and do it before February 15!"
Excited to be @NCLR's Miami office for today's #ACA enrollment event! #GetCovered by Feb.15th @HispanicUnity @NHCOA pic.twitter.com/wGJ6jXM8rF
— Janet Murguía (@JMurguia_NCLR) February 8, 2015
The deadline to sign up for health care is this Sunday, February 15. Don't delay! Sign up today!
This was first posted to the NCLR Blog. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.
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Rush Limbaugh Thinks He Knows The Real Reason Jon Stewart Is Leaving 'The Daily Show'
Jon Stewart is leaving "The Daily Show" after more than 15 years, which, according to Rush Limbaugh, is good news because he can no longer destroy the Republican name.
"For 16 years Jon Stewart has blamed everything gone wrong on the Republicans," Limbaugh said Wednesday, later calling him a "liberal" first and a "comedian" second. "Jon Stewart has helped polarize the country by poisoning the Republican brand."
On Tuesday, the Comedy Central host announced on his show that he would be stepping down, explaining that he felt "restless." Limbaugh took this as a sign that Stewart did not want to be a part of what is to come for Democrats in the future.
He went after Stewart for his long-standing support of President Barack Obama, or, as Limbaugh referred to him, the man who "made health insurance unaffordable" and "took smiles off of people's faces."
"Stewart's a funny guy, but he lacks an appreciation of federalism and he lacks an understanding of the harm caused by Obama's cult of personality that also sucked him in," he continued. "Jon Stewart helped grease the tracks for the most destructive presidency in many of our lifetimes."
H/T Mediaite Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.
"For 16 years Jon Stewart has blamed everything gone wrong on the Republicans," Limbaugh said Wednesday, later calling him a "liberal" first and a "comedian" second. "Jon Stewart has helped polarize the country by poisoning the Republican brand."
On Tuesday, the Comedy Central host announced on his show that he would be stepping down, explaining that he felt "restless." Limbaugh took this as a sign that Stewart did not want to be a part of what is to come for Democrats in the future.
He went after Stewart for his long-standing support of President Barack Obama, or, as Limbaugh referred to him, the man who "made health insurance unaffordable" and "took smiles off of people's faces."
"Stewart's a funny guy, but he lacks an appreciation of federalism and he lacks an understanding of the harm caused by Obama's cult of personality that also sucked him in," he continued. "Jon Stewart helped grease the tracks for the most destructive presidency in many of our lifetimes."
H/T Mediaite Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.
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Colorado's uninsured face stiffer penalties in 2015; deadline nears
As 2015 open enrollment ends Sunday, Coloradans without health insurance will face significantly higher penalties this year than they did last year.
Reported by Denver Post 20 hours ago.
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Thousands to Lose Health Insurance Over Residency Questions
The Obama administration is cutting off health-insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act for 200,000 people who haven’t proved that they legal reside in the U.S.
Reported by Wall Street Journal 16 hours ago.
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N.J. Supreme Court Decision Throws Curveball at Employers, Warns Attorney
Ruling upends independent contractor status, says LeClairRyan’s James Anelli
Newark, NJ (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
A recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision may make it tougher for employers to treat workers as independent contractors, potentially increasing their exposure to claims for wage and hour, and other labor-law violations, warns James P. Anelli, a shareholder in the Newark office of the national law firm LeClairRyan.
The closely watched case, Sam Hargrove et al v. Sleepy’s LLC (A-70-12) (072742), involved plaintiffs Sam Hargrove, Andre Hall, and Marco Eusebio who delivered mattresses for Sleepy’s, LLC. The plaintiffs asserted that they were employees of the mattress retailer, but claimed the company caused them to sign Independent Driver Agreements that misclassified them as independent contractors, improperly depriving them of health insurance, deferred compensation benefits, medical or family leave, and other employee benefits in violation of state wage laws.
“The New Jersey Supreme Court determined, for the purposes of New Jersey’s wage laws (and overtime), that the so-called ‘ABC test’ (derived from New Jersey’s Employment Compensation Act) would govern whether an individual is an employee or independent contractor,” says Anelli, whose practice includes the representation of management in employment discrimination and labor litigation.
Many individuals currently treated as contractors will now be deemed to be employees since they cannot meet all three criteria set forth in the ABC test, he warns. That’s because, unlike other tests that weigh multiple factors to determine a worker’s status, the ABC test uses a rigid analysis under which three criteria must all be met:· (A) Such individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of such service, both under his contract of service and in fact; and
· (B) Such service is either outside the usual course of the business for which said service is performed, or that such service is performed outside of all the places of business of the enterprise for which such service is performed; and
· (C) Such individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business.
“Importantly, unlike other tests, the burden of proof is on the employer to establish under the ABC test that a worker is an independent contractor and not an employee, as all workers are presumed to be employees under this test,” adds Anelli. “Most companies typically fail subsections B and C.”
In particular, Subsection C requires that the individual, if laid off, would have an independently established business on which to fall back. “Even if an individual worker is incorporated, or forms an LLC, he or she may not necessarily meet this test,” Anelli notes.
Massachusetts also follows the ABC test and attorneys for such independent workers now routinely move for summary judgment based on failure to meet subsection B, he adds. It will likely be difficult to meet that standard because some consultants and independent contractors actually work at the alleged employer’s place of business; or they provide services that are part of the course of business for the purported employer.
“An overall re-evaluation of consultants and other contractors on a case-by-case basis is necessary to determine whether they indeed meet this threshold test,” advises Anelli. “This is an important issue as contractors and contingent workers make up one of the fastest-growing areas of the workplace.”
About LeClairRyan
As a trusted advisor, LeClairRyan provides business counsel and client representation in corporate law and litigation. In this role, the firm applies its knowledge, insight and skill to help clients achieve their business objectives while managing and minimizing their legal risks, difficulties and expenses. With offices in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C., the firm has approximately 380 attorneys representing a wide variety of clients throughout the nation. For more information about LeClairRyan, visit http://www.leclairryan.com
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Press Contacts: At Parness & Associates Public Relations, Bill Parness, (732) 290-0121, bparness(at)parnesspr(dot)com, or Marty Gitlin (631) 765-8519, durangitlin(at)optonline(dot)net Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
Newark, NJ (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
A recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision may make it tougher for employers to treat workers as independent contractors, potentially increasing their exposure to claims for wage and hour, and other labor-law violations, warns James P. Anelli, a shareholder in the Newark office of the national law firm LeClairRyan.
The closely watched case, Sam Hargrove et al v. Sleepy’s LLC (A-70-12) (072742), involved plaintiffs Sam Hargrove, Andre Hall, and Marco Eusebio who delivered mattresses for Sleepy’s, LLC. The plaintiffs asserted that they were employees of the mattress retailer, but claimed the company caused them to sign Independent Driver Agreements that misclassified them as independent contractors, improperly depriving them of health insurance, deferred compensation benefits, medical or family leave, and other employee benefits in violation of state wage laws.
“The New Jersey Supreme Court determined, for the purposes of New Jersey’s wage laws (and overtime), that the so-called ‘ABC test’ (derived from New Jersey’s Employment Compensation Act) would govern whether an individual is an employee or independent contractor,” says Anelli, whose practice includes the representation of management in employment discrimination and labor litigation.
Many individuals currently treated as contractors will now be deemed to be employees since they cannot meet all three criteria set forth in the ABC test, he warns. That’s because, unlike other tests that weigh multiple factors to determine a worker’s status, the ABC test uses a rigid analysis under which three criteria must all be met:· (A) Such individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of such service, both under his contract of service and in fact; and
· (B) Such service is either outside the usual course of the business for which said service is performed, or that such service is performed outside of all the places of business of the enterprise for which such service is performed; and
· (C) Such individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business.
“Importantly, unlike other tests, the burden of proof is on the employer to establish under the ABC test that a worker is an independent contractor and not an employee, as all workers are presumed to be employees under this test,” adds Anelli. “Most companies typically fail subsections B and C.”
In particular, Subsection C requires that the individual, if laid off, would have an independently established business on which to fall back. “Even if an individual worker is incorporated, or forms an LLC, he or she may not necessarily meet this test,” Anelli notes.
Massachusetts also follows the ABC test and attorneys for such independent workers now routinely move for summary judgment based on failure to meet subsection B, he adds. It will likely be difficult to meet that standard because some consultants and independent contractors actually work at the alleged employer’s place of business; or they provide services that are part of the course of business for the purported employer.
“An overall re-evaluation of consultants and other contractors on a case-by-case basis is necessary to determine whether they indeed meet this threshold test,” advises Anelli. “This is an important issue as contractors and contingent workers make up one of the fastest-growing areas of the workplace.”
About LeClairRyan
As a trusted advisor, LeClairRyan provides business counsel and client representation in corporate law and litigation. In this role, the firm applies its knowledge, insight and skill to help clients achieve their business objectives while managing and minimizing their legal risks, difficulties and expenses. With offices in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C., the firm has approximately 380 attorneys representing a wide variety of clients throughout the nation. For more information about LeClairRyan, visit http://www.leclairryan.com
#####
Press Contacts: At Parness & Associates Public Relations, Bill Parness, (732) 290-0121, bparness(at)parnesspr(dot)com, or Marty Gitlin (631) 765-8519, durangitlin(at)optonline(dot)net Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
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Seamless Medical Systems Receives Investments from the California HealthCare and The Kresge Foundations
Investment helps Community Health Centers improve healthcare access, efficiency, and affordability for underserved communities
Santa Fe, NM (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
Seamless Medical Systems, Inc., has received a $750,000 investment from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) and The Kresge Foundation as part of their Partnering for Impact initiative. This investment will help support the rollout of Seamless Medical’s Patient Engagement Platform to safety-net health clinics and patients nationally.
“CHCF invested in Seamless Medical Systems because we believe their system can help community health centers improve the patient experience and meet the increasing patient volume resulting from coverage expansion,” said Margaret Laws, director of the CHCF Innovations for the Underserved program. “We’ve spoken to community health centers across the country, and they have all voiced the need for efficiency-improving technologies that automate intake, risk assessment, and surveying – Seamless Medical Systems does all three.” said Laws.
Community health centers around the country serve over 90 million patients annually. There is an urgent need to increase access to care for underserved populations as health insurance coverage expands. Bringing 21st century technology to the waiting room to replace the “quill and parchment” patients currently use will result in shorter wait times, increased access, reduced costs and an enhanced patient experience.
“We are pleased to have been selected as a recipient of the Partnering for Impact initiative, a collaborative effort by California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) and The Kresge Foundation to invest in technology and service companies that help safety-net providers make their resources go further,” said David J. Perez, Founder and CEO of Seamless Medical Systems, “and are confident that our digital registration and check-in solution can help Community Health Centers improve access, efficiency, and affordability of healthcare.”
“The Kresge Foundation looks for investments where there’s opportunity for impact, where it can help attract capital from other sources or buffer the risk in piloting new financing structures”, says Kimberlee Cornett, who directs the foundation’s Social Investment Practice. The Partnering for Impact initiative aims to help community health centers and clinics make their resources go further, increase patient access to care and lower the cost of providing care.
About the California HealthCare Foundation
The California HealthCare Foundation works as a catalyst to fulfill the promise of better healthcare for all Californians. We support ideas and innovations that improve quality, increase efficiency, and lower the costs of care. The CHCF Health Innovation Fund invests in sustainable, scalable business models with the potential to significantly lower the cost of care or improve access to care for underserved populations. Click here for the CHCF Press Release.
About Seamless Medical Systems
Seamless Medical Systems is the creator of the SNAP® Practice Patient Engagement Platform a unique, mobile enterprise patient communications platform. Our platform seamlessly exchanges patient data between EMR and practice management systems, verifies insurance, collects payments and delivers personalized health education and marketing to healthcare consumers, at the point of care and beyond the office setting. For more information, please visit seamlessmedical.com
About The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation is a $3 billion private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grant making and investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development efforts in Detroit. In 2013, the Board of Trustees approved 316 awards totaling $122 million; $128 million was paid out to grantees over the course of the year. In addition, its Social Investment Practice made commitments totaling $17.7 million in 2013. For more information, visit kresge.org. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
Santa Fe, NM (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
Seamless Medical Systems, Inc., has received a $750,000 investment from the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) and The Kresge Foundation as part of their Partnering for Impact initiative. This investment will help support the rollout of Seamless Medical’s Patient Engagement Platform to safety-net health clinics and patients nationally.
“CHCF invested in Seamless Medical Systems because we believe their system can help community health centers improve the patient experience and meet the increasing patient volume resulting from coverage expansion,” said Margaret Laws, director of the CHCF Innovations for the Underserved program. “We’ve spoken to community health centers across the country, and they have all voiced the need for efficiency-improving technologies that automate intake, risk assessment, and surveying – Seamless Medical Systems does all three.” said Laws.
Community health centers around the country serve over 90 million patients annually. There is an urgent need to increase access to care for underserved populations as health insurance coverage expands. Bringing 21st century technology to the waiting room to replace the “quill and parchment” patients currently use will result in shorter wait times, increased access, reduced costs and an enhanced patient experience.
“We are pleased to have been selected as a recipient of the Partnering for Impact initiative, a collaborative effort by California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) and The Kresge Foundation to invest in technology and service companies that help safety-net providers make their resources go further,” said David J. Perez, Founder and CEO of Seamless Medical Systems, “and are confident that our digital registration and check-in solution can help Community Health Centers improve access, efficiency, and affordability of healthcare.”
“The Kresge Foundation looks for investments where there’s opportunity for impact, where it can help attract capital from other sources or buffer the risk in piloting new financing structures”, says Kimberlee Cornett, who directs the foundation’s Social Investment Practice. The Partnering for Impact initiative aims to help community health centers and clinics make their resources go further, increase patient access to care and lower the cost of providing care.
About the California HealthCare Foundation
The California HealthCare Foundation works as a catalyst to fulfill the promise of better healthcare for all Californians. We support ideas and innovations that improve quality, increase efficiency, and lower the costs of care. The CHCF Health Innovation Fund invests in sustainable, scalable business models with the potential to significantly lower the cost of care or improve access to care for underserved populations. Click here for the CHCF Press Release.
About Seamless Medical Systems
Seamless Medical Systems is the creator of the SNAP® Practice Patient Engagement Platform a unique, mobile enterprise patient communications platform. Our platform seamlessly exchanges patient data between EMR and practice management systems, verifies insurance, collects payments and delivers personalized health education and marketing to healthcare consumers, at the point of care and beyond the office setting. For more information, please visit seamlessmedical.com
About The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation is a $3 billion private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grant making and investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development efforts in Detroit. In 2013, the Board of Trustees approved 316 awards totaling $122 million; $128 million was paid out to grantees over the course of the year. In addition, its Social Investment Practice made commitments totaling $17.7 million in 2013. For more information, visit kresge.org. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
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1.39M Floridians are signed up through health insurance marletplaces
With just days left before open enrollment ends on Feb. 15, 1,393,068 people in Florida signed up for coverage through the health insurance marketplaces, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. As of Feb. 6: 661,917 people in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach local area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan. 167,967 in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford local area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan. 149,493 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater…
Reported by bizjournals 9 hours ago.
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Anthem: Credit monitoring and identity theft services start Friday for cyber-attack victims
Millions of people affected by the cyber security breach at Anthem Inc. will be able to start enrolling Friday in credit monitoring and identity theft protection services provided through the insurer. That is the latest update in the story about hackers breaching databases at Anthem, the country's second-largest health insurance provider. The company says it will not charge its customers for the identity theft services for a span of two years. Further details, including which identity theft company…
Reported by bizjournals 8 hours ago.
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Rush Of Obamacare Enrollees Expected Before Sunday Deadline
With only a few days remaining in the second-ever Obamacare sign-up season, the White House, insurance companies and enrollment workers expect a big rush as Americans hurry to get health coverage.
“Consumers should consider Feb. 15 as their last opportunity to get coverage,” said Andrew Slavitt, principal deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “Interest in signing up for coverage in the final week of open enrollment is beginning to increase,” he noted.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is the federal agency that oversees enrollment under Obamacare.
In the weeks leading up to the deadline, federal and state officials, the insurance industry and enrollment workers around the country have stepped up their outreach, marketing and assistance activities. They expect a wave of new sign-ups in the final days, as happened when the first Obamacare enrollment period wound down last April. Traffic to HealthCare.gov was 58 percent higher Wednesday than a week before, and calls to the hotline have increased 37 percent, Slavitt said.
“People are going to perk up and people are going to start paying attention close to those deadlines,” said John Gilbert, national field director for Enroll America, a Washington-based nonprofit that organizes sign-up campaigns.
After this Sunday's deadline, the next open enrollment period for private health insurance sold on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges won’t begin until October. Anyone who starts an application prior to the Feb. 15 deadline will have time to complete it, Slavitt said. In addition, people can access the insurance exchanges during the year if their life circumstances change -- if they get married, for instance, or have a baby. Plus, there is no deadline for enrolling in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The second Obamacare sign-up period has gone considerably more smoothly than the first, which launched with a thud in October 2013 amid confusion and near-catastrophic technological failures of HealthCare.gov and the websites of several state-run exchanges. The websites have been running much better this year, and the numbers of enrollees reflects that and the greater public awareness of the Affordable Care Act.
“In every respect, this is working not just as intended but better than intended,” President Barack Obama said at the White House last week. “I want everybody to get on HealthCare.gov. Find out what options are available to you in your state and in your community.”
The president may be overstating the case for his signature program, but round two of Obamacare is going much better from the perspective of those seeking to enroll people. “Certainly, it is much improved from last year,” said Kurt Kossen, vice president for retail markets at Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp., which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Since this year’s sign-up period began on Nov. 15, almost 10 million people have enrolled in private health insurance plans selected via the exchanges. Those include the 37 sites run by the federal government via HealthCare.gov and the 14 operated by states and the District of Columbia, like Covered California and Your Health Idaho. About 3 million of those customers were new to the online marketplaces, and the remainder were individuals with exchange policies last year who had renewed, the Department of Health and Human Services reported last month.
If the last sign-up period is any guide, those numbers could jump after Feb. 15. Forty-seven percent of the 8 million people who enrolled for 2014 coverage did so during the final month of the campaign. Enrollments for 2015 already surged shortly before Dec. 15, which was the final day to choose a plan that would be in place at the beginning of this year.
More than 1,400 enrollment events are scheduled for the final two weeks of the sign-up period, according to HHS. Officials, workers and volunteers are stressing the availability of both health coverage and financial assistance for low- and moderate-income families.People wait at the Baltimore Convention Center to enroll in health coverage this past Saturday. (Photo: Jeffrey Young/The Huffington Post)Enroll America and its partner organizations arranged 1,110 events in 109 cities across 11 states in the three weeks leading up to Feb. 15, Gilbert said. The group’s “Countdown to Get Covered” bus tour will hit Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina in the final days, he said.
Health insurance companies also are gearing up for the deadline. Health Care Service Corp. ramped up its TV advertising in the middle of January, said Kossen. The company’s on-the-ground outreach includes mobile assistance centers across its home territory, like the “Destination Blue” recreational vehicle visiting numerous towns in Texas.
“We’re just starting to see indications of increased activity starting to come in, especially at our community events over the weekend,” Kossen said. “We anticipate seeing increased activity throughout the remainder of the week.”
An enrollment event in Baltimore on Saturday attracted more than 300 people looking for help. Some waited hours at the city’s convention center for an opportunity to sit down with one of 40-some enrollment counselors from HealthCare Access Maryland, which ran the six-hour event.
“It’s been very quiet and it’s been steadily busy,” Kathleen Westcoat, president and CEO of HealthCare Access Maryland, said of this year’s sign-up campaign. “We are seeing more people towards the end of enrollment period trying to enroll.”
The turnaround in Maryland since the last time may be even more striking than the improvements to HealthCare.gov. The Maryland Health Connection website was worse than HealthCare.gov, leading the state to scrap its system and use technology from Access Health CT, Connecticut’s exchange. As of Feb. 4, almost 101,000 people had signed up for private insurance for 2015 on Maryland’s exchange, 20,000 more than the number who enrolled for 2014 coverage.
Baltimore resident Harold Waters, 56, joined those ranks Saturday, when he spent more than two hours at the convention center getting help in choosing a subsidized insurance policy from Kaiser Permanente. The policy will cost Waters $74 a month because of tax credits that reduced its price from $434.
Melinda Jones and Harold Waters attended a health insurance enrollment event at the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday. (Photo: Jeffrey Young/The Huffington Post)Waters has been unemployed and uninsured since he was laid off as a grocery store manager in July. He suffered a minor stroke after that and was fortunate that Kaiser Permanente offered him a deep discount on his medical treatments, charging him only $962 of the more than $3,000 he owed. “I’ll be able to go see a doctor now,” he said.
Without insurance, Waters was afraid to run up medical bills, said his partner, Melinda Jones, 59.
“I have to scream at him to get him to go to the doctor, because he won’t go. ‘I don’t have any insurance. I don’t have any insurance.’ I don’t want to hear it!” Jones said. “If he dies on me, I’m digging him up and killing him again.” Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.
“Consumers should consider Feb. 15 as their last opportunity to get coverage,” said Andrew Slavitt, principal deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “Interest in signing up for coverage in the final week of open enrollment is beginning to increase,” he noted.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is the federal agency that oversees enrollment under Obamacare.
In the weeks leading up to the deadline, federal and state officials, the insurance industry and enrollment workers around the country have stepped up their outreach, marketing and assistance activities. They expect a wave of new sign-ups in the final days, as happened when the first Obamacare enrollment period wound down last April. Traffic to HealthCare.gov was 58 percent higher Wednesday than a week before, and calls to the hotline have increased 37 percent, Slavitt said.
“People are going to perk up and people are going to start paying attention close to those deadlines,” said John Gilbert, national field director for Enroll America, a Washington-based nonprofit that organizes sign-up campaigns.
After this Sunday's deadline, the next open enrollment period for private health insurance sold on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges won’t begin until October. Anyone who starts an application prior to the Feb. 15 deadline will have time to complete it, Slavitt said. In addition, people can access the insurance exchanges during the year if their life circumstances change -- if they get married, for instance, or have a baby. Plus, there is no deadline for enrolling in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The second Obamacare sign-up period has gone considerably more smoothly than the first, which launched with a thud in October 2013 amid confusion and near-catastrophic technological failures of HealthCare.gov and the websites of several state-run exchanges. The websites have been running much better this year, and the numbers of enrollees reflects that and the greater public awareness of the Affordable Care Act.
“In every respect, this is working not just as intended but better than intended,” President Barack Obama said at the White House last week. “I want everybody to get on HealthCare.gov. Find out what options are available to you in your state and in your community.”
The president may be overstating the case for his signature program, but round two of Obamacare is going much better from the perspective of those seeking to enroll people. “Certainly, it is much improved from last year,” said Kurt Kossen, vice president for retail markets at Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp., which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Since this year’s sign-up period began on Nov. 15, almost 10 million people have enrolled in private health insurance plans selected via the exchanges. Those include the 37 sites run by the federal government via HealthCare.gov and the 14 operated by states and the District of Columbia, like Covered California and Your Health Idaho. About 3 million of those customers were new to the online marketplaces, and the remainder were individuals with exchange policies last year who had renewed, the Department of Health and Human Services reported last month.
If the last sign-up period is any guide, those numbers could jump after Feb. 15. Forty-seven percent of the 8 million people who enrolled for 2014 coverage did so during the final month of the campaign. Enrollments for 2015 already surged shortly before Dec. 15, which was the final day to choose a plan that would be in place at the beginning of this year.
More than 1,400 enrollment events are scheduled for the final two weeks of the sign-up period, according to HHS. Officials, workers and volunteers are stressing the availability of both health coverage and financial assistance for low- and moderate-income families.People wait at the Baltimore Convention Center to enroll in health coverage this past Saturday. (Photo: Jeffrey Young/The Huffington Post)Enroll America and its partner organizations arranged 1,110 events in 109 cities across 11 states in the three weeks leading up to Feb. 15, Gilbert said. The group’s “Countdown to Get Covered” bus tour will hit Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina in the final days, he said.
Health insurance companies also are gearing up for the deadline. Health Care Service Corp. ramped up its TV advertising in the middle of January, said Kossen. The company’s on-the-ground outreach includes mobile assistance centers across its home territory, like the “Destination Blue” recreational vehicle visiting numerous towns in Texas.
“We’re just starting to see indications of increased activity starting to come in, especially at our community events over the weekend,” Kossen said. “We anticipate seeing increased activity throughout the remainder of the week.”
An enrollment event in Baltimore on Saturday attracted more than 300 people looking for help. Some waited hours at the city’s convention center for an opportunity to sit down with one of 40-some enrollment counselors from HealthCare Access Maryland, which ran the six-hour event.
“It’s been very quiet and it’s been steadily busy,” Kathleen Westcoat, president and CEO of HealthCare Access Maryland, said of this year’s sign-up campaign. “We are seeing more people towards the end of enrollment period trying to enroll.”
The turnaround in Maryland since the last time may be even more striking than the improvements to HealthCare.gov. The Maryland Health Connection website was worse than HealthCare.gov, leading the state to scrap its system and use technology from Access Health CT, Connecticut’s exchange. As of Feb. 4, almost 101,000 people had signed up for private insurance for 2015 on Maryland’s exchange, 20,000 more than the number who enrolled for 2014 coverage.
Baltimore resident Harold Waters, 56, joined those ranks Saturday, when he spent more than two hours at the convention center getting help in choosing a subsidized insurance policy from Kaiser Permanente. The policy will cost Waters $74 a month because of tax credits that reduced its price from $434.
Melinda Jones and Harold Waters attended a health insurance enrollment event at the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday. (Photo: Jeffrey Young/The Huffington Post)Waters has been unemployed and uninsured since he was laid off as a grocery store manager in July. He suffered a minor stroke after that and was fortunate that Kaiser Permanente offered him a deep discount on his medical treatments, charging him only $962 of the more than $3,000 he owed. “I’ll be able to go see a doctor now,” he said.
Without insurance, Waters was afraid to run up medical bills, said his partner, Melinda Jones, 59.
“I have to scream at him to get him to go to the doctor, because he won’t go. ‘I don’t have any insurance. I don’t have any insurance.’ I don’t want to hear it!” Jones said. “If he dies on me, I’m digging him up and killing him again.” Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.
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Frontrunning: February 12
· 'Glimmer of hope' for Ukraine after deal at Minsk peace summit (Reuters)
· Ruble Rebounds, Russian Stocks Surge on Ukraine Cease-Fire Deal (BBG)
· Greek PM Tsipras in Brussels as clock ticks on EU bailout (Reuters)
· Emerging-Market Currencies Rout Not Over for Traders (BBG)
· Little noticed, new Saudi king shapes contours of power (Reuters)
· In Wake of Financial Crisis, Goldman Goes It Alone (WSJ)
· AmEx Is Losing Its Millionaires (BBG)
· Thousands to Lose Health Insurance Over Residency Questions (WSJ)
· Carney Signals Faster U.K. Rate Increases as Economy Strengthens (BBG) ... yes, any minute now
· Benefit of ECB’s Bond Buying: Fiscal Breathing Room (WSJ)
· Chinese Maker of Drone on White House Lawn Sees Sales Doubling (BBG)
· U.S. gunman kills three young Muslims; motive disputed (Reuters)
· Blackstone to Buy Stake in New York Office Portfolio (WSJ)
· Greek Economic Tragedy Sets Scene for Varoufakis on Debt (BBG)
*Bulletin Headline Summary *
WSJ
* President Barack Obama asked Congress for new powers to wage military operations against the Islamic State militant group, kicking off a renewed national debate over the scope of wartime powers that should be afforded to the commander-in-chief. (http://on.wsj.com/1vELile)
* The Obama administration is cutting off health-insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act for 200,000 people who haven't proved they are legally residing in the United States (http://on.wsj.com/1vmaasm)
* Thanks to a consistently soaring dollar, and plunging euro, investment funds focused on currencies had the best month in years in January. (http://on.wsj.com/1KLEVQk)
* Bank of America used its government-backed U.S. banking subsidiary to finance controversial trades that helped hedge funds and other clients avoid taxes. (http://on.wsj.com/1CjrWPw)
* General Electric Co opened the door for its investors to get a seat on the company's board. GE said it would begin allowing groups of shareholders to put forth nominees to the board, provided the candidates' backers own at least 3 percent of GE shares for at least three years. (http://on.wsj.com/1KLF5ah)
* Tesla Motor Inc's CEO predicted brighter days in 2015, but its fourth-quarter loss widened, as deliveries of its luxury electric cars fell short of a reduced forecast due to weather and customers unable to accept deliveries. (http://on.wsj.com/19b2vZn)
* South Korea's antitrust agency said Thursday it is considering an investigation into whether Qualcomm Inc misused its dominant market position, in the latest complication to how the U.S. chip maker licenses or sells its technology to overseas clients. (http://on.wsj.com/19b2CE2)
FT
In its annual supplier responsibility report, iPhone-maker Apple Inc said employees of its suppliers worked more overtime to realise what is the company's most profitable quarter in its history. The company also said that it has drastically reduced the usage of conflict minerals, such as tin and gold, that come from warlord-controlled parts of mineral-rich Africa.
Facebook Inc will launch a social network for cyber security professionals to share information about threats that could lead to potential attacks. The world's largest social network is also teaming up with Yahoo Inc and Pinterest for this project.
If Ukraine goes ahead with its widely expected move to limit private sector creditors - as part of bailout terms laid out by the International Monetary Fund - bond manager Michael Hasenstab is poised to lose the most, as he owns more than $7 billion of Ukrainian debt. Hasenstab is known for his contrarian moves, which have earned him big rewards in the past.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief Sergio Marchionne said that carmakers that are reluctant to merge will be forced to do so as they come under attack from activist investors. "At first many boards will try to defend themselves with lawyers and bankers, but ultimately they will have to come to the table to discuss a merger with either us or other large competitors," said Marchionne.
NYT
* Higher demand in Asia, difficult weather in the major cocoa-producing countries in West Africa and attacks of fungus are contributing to the price increases. (http://nyti.ms/1vm0Zbb)
* The Obama administration accused China of providing illegal export subsidies to critical industries, flexing its muscle on trade as it presses Congress to expand President Obama's authority to secure major trade accords. (http://nyti.ms/1uENt7G)
* Eurozone finance ministers failed to narrow their deep differences with Greece on Wednesday over how to keep the country from running out of money as it tries to revise the terms of its bailout. (http://nyti.ms/17jXixH)
* The White House passed a bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a confrontation with President Obama, who has vowed to veto the measure. (http://nyti.ms/1B0p8LD)
* Jet.com, a soon-to-start online marketplace that aims to loosen Amazon's grip on e-commerce, said it had raised $140 million in a new round of funding. The investment, led by Bain Capital Ventures, values the company at almost $600 million, according to people briefed on the funding round. (http://nyti.ms/1IYeNEl)
* The chief executive of Britain's tax agency was questioned by politicians over leaked documents that describe how HSBC's Swiss private banking arm helped clients, including politicians, rock stars and dealers of illicit diamonds, hide billions of dollars before 2007. (http://nyti.ms/1vG53ZJ)
Canada
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
** Canada launched a flurry of last-minute diplomacy in the lead-up to Thursday's retrial of jailed Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy in Cairo. Staff from the Prime Minister's office called the Egyptian ambassador in to discuss Fahmy's case in Ottawa on Tuesday, and an Egyptian government official said Canada's ambassador to Egypt met with that country's public prosecutor on Wednesday. (http://bit.ly/1zNWWd9)
** Premier Jim Prentice told Albertans on Wednesday that they need to wake up and face a world of low oil prices, as his Finance Minister announced there would be a 9 percent cut to government programs in a budget expected next month. (http://bit.ly/1FBqJXe)
NATIONAL POST
** Walmart Canada, the country's biggest mass merchant will build two new supercentres this fiscal year, bringing its Canadian store total to 396 locations from 394. The company said it will spend about C$340 million ($269 million ) on new building and store renovation projects as it continues to shore up its position as a purveyor of groceries. (http://bit.ly/1CgAZDc)
** More than 3,000 workers at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd represented by Teamsters Canada will strike as early as Sunday morning if a negotiated settlement isn't reached with the railroad before then. The strike would not only cut into the company's earnings but also have the potential to create transportation chaos across the country. (http://bit.ly/1vFtQx8)
** A Muslim woman is asking to be sworn in as a Canadian citizen as soon as possible while wearing a niqab, even as the Harper government considers appealing a court ruling overturning its policy requiring women to remove face coverings while reciting the oath. (http://bit.ly/1AemCSl)
** Rob Ford was ordered to leave a city council meeting Wednesday after he twice refused to apologize for suggesting that staff had deliberately misled councillors about the cost of a promotional trip to Italy. (http://bit.ly/1uI4ygN)
China
CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL
- The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) plans to inspect 26 centrally-administered state-owned enterprises after the Lunar New Year, Wang Qishan, the head of China's anti-corruption watchdog, said during an internal meeting on Wednesday. This would be the first round of disciplinary inspections this year.
- Seventeen companies that will launch initial public offerings (IPOs) in Shanghai and Shenzhen will lock up 1.5 trillion yuan ($240.30 billion) this week, the paper reported, citing estimates from local financial institutions.
SECURITIES TIMES
- The market-oriented registration system for China's IPO market is likely to be launched on June 1, reported the paper, citing a source familiar with the issue.
CHINA DAILY
- To comprehensively promote the rule of law in a nation of 1.3 billion people is equivalent to launching a sweeping and profound revolution, and to promote the rule of law is to further consolidate the Communist Party's leadership, an editorial said.
GLOBAL TIMES
- Various forces in China and the United States should cherish the good momentum created by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama, who plan to meet in September and work to forge a new type of major-power relationship, an editorial said.
Britain
The Times
Millions of council houses would be "given away" to low-paid workers under Tory plans to reward people who come off benefits. (http://thetim.es/1Aoy6RL)
The Conservatives could capture 11 of 15 Liberal Democrat seats in the southwest, according to analysis by a leading pollster, as David Cameron seeks to capitalise on the weakness of his coalition partners. (http://thetim.es/1KNxKFp)
The Guardian
David Cameron stood accused by Ed Miliband of acting as a "dodgy prime minister" after he repeatedly failed in the House of Commons to say whether he had discussed tax avoidance at HSBC Holdings Plc with Stephen Green before appointing him as trade minister in 2011. (http://bit.ly/1EbWk0p)
House prices rose in January at the slowest pace in two years across England and Wales, finds a housing market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (http://bit.ly/1DH8kJz)
The Telegraph
Talks over Greece's debt crisis appeared stuck in limbo on Wednesday, as European finance ministers meeting in Brussels refused to give ground over the terms of the Athens bail-out. (http://bit.ly/1zXGPZp)
Sky faced questions from the City on Wednesday about the heavy price it paid to maintain Premier League superiority over BT Group Plc in a rights auction that beat even the highest inflation predictions. (http://bit.ly/16VsrH1)
Sky News
A Conservative Party treasurer has hit back at a suggestion by Labour leader Ed Miliband that he was involved in "tax avoidance activities". (http://bit.ly/1EbOSlY)
Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, used a speech in London to claim the UK Government's economic policy had failed "categorically and comprehensively" and caused "misery" for some of the UK's most vulnerable people. (http://bit.ly/1CWQBi9)
The Independent
The boss of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has denied allegations that the department failed to act on tax evasion claims linked to HSBC's Swiss subsidiary. (http://ind.pn/1ChuRYN)
The high street fashion chain New Look Eyewear Inc could be ready to rejoin the stock market after an 11-year absence, according to its chief executive. (http://ind.pn/1zVbjLz)
*Fly On The Wall Pre-market Buzz*
ECONOMIC REPORTS
Domestic economic reports scheduled for today include:
Jobless claims for week of Feb. 7 at 8:30--consensus 288K
Retail sales for January at 8:30--consensus down 0.4%
Business inventories for December at 10:00--consensus up 0.2%
EIA natural gas storage change for week of Feb. 6 at 10:30
ANALYST RESEARCH
Upgrades
Ally Financial (ALLY) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein
BGC Partners (BGCP) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette
HubSpot (HUBS) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan
INC Research (INCR) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at RW Baird
Mosaic (MOS) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS
NICE Systems (NICE) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays
TubeMogul (tube) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup
Urban Outfitters (URBN) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman
Willis Group (WSH) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley
Downgrades
Amber Road (AMBR) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at Pacific Crest
Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD) downgraded to Sector Perform at Pacific Crest
Ctrip.com (CTRP) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer
FMC Technologies (FTI) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup
FMC Technologies (FTI) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse
Grifols (GRFS) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley
InterXion (INXN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo
Nanosphere (NSPH) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray
NetApp (NTAP) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Brean Capital
Owens Corning (OC) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at FBR Capital
Owens Corning (OC) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at MKM Partners
Pioneer Natural (PXD) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at SunTrust
Prudential (PRU) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
Tanger Factory (SKT) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Evercore ISI
Tesla (TSLA) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan
Tesoro (TSO) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Fair Value from Buy at CRT Capital
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Canaccord
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at RW Baird
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
Initiations
Albemarle (ALB) resumed with a Neutral at Citigroup
Columbia Pipeline (CPPL) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies
DSW (DSW) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies
H&R Block (HRB) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Oi S.A. (OIBR)reinstated with an Equal Weight at Barclays
Ritchie Bros. (RBA) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital
Vista Outdoor (VSTO) initiated with an Outperform at Imperial Capital
COMPANY NEWS
Petrobras (PBR) said an explosion at a platform kills three workers
FXCM (FXCM) reported retail customer trading volume of $450B in January
JetBlue (JBLU) reported January traffic up 14.3%
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said financials 'better than they appear, not worse'
Total (TOT) said it plans to sell $5B of assets in 2015
zulily (ZU) said Marc Stolzman will no longer serve as CFO and announced a $250M share repurchase over next 24 months
UniCredit (UNCFF) announced plans to sell UCCMB unit to Fortress (FIG)
EARNINGS
Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
Capella Education (CPLA), PBF Logistics (PBFX), PBF Energy (PBF), Nielsen (NLSN), First American (FAF), SPX Corp. (SPW), NorthWestern (NWE), Walker & Dunlop (WD), Quintiles (Q), Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR), Pilgrim's Pride (PPC), Copa Holdings (CPA), Luxoft (LXFT), AGL Resources (GAS), Panera Bread (PNRA), TAL International (TAL), China Distance Education (DL), Agnico-Eagle (AEM), TechTarget (TTGT), The Advisory Board (ABCO), Markel (MKL), Stamps.com (STMP), Student Transportation (STB), Equifax (EFX), NVIDIA (NVDA), Anworth Mortgage (ANH), C&J Energy (CJES), Aerohive (HIVE), NCI, Inc. (NCIT), HubSpot (HUBS), Diodes (DIOD), Zendesk (ZEN), Cray (CRAY), Quidel (QDEL), Corrections Corp. (CXW), Amber Road (AMBR), Catalent (CTLT), Morningstar (MORN), MetLife (MET), Select Comfort (SCSS), Navigators (NAVG), Navigators (NAVG), Cisco (CSCO), Whole Foods (WFM), FireEye (FEYE), Globant (GLOB), Forrester (FORR)
Companies that missed consensus earnings expectations include:
Tesla (TSLA), Bunge (BG), Sigma-Aldrich (SIAL), Time Inc. (TIME), Teck Resources (TCK), Forum Energy (FET), Yamana Gold (AUY), CareTrust REIT (CTRE), HNI Corporation (HNI), ION Geophysical (IO), Hornbeck Offshore (HOS), LivePerson (LPSN), Baidu (BIDU), Cenveo (CVO), zulily (ZU), Tesoro Logistics (TLLP), Tesoro (TSO), Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), Mattersight (MATR), CenturyLink (CTL), Covanta (CVA), NetApp (NTAP), TripAdvisor (TRIP), Insight Enterprises (NSIT), Tucows Inc (TCX), Itron (ITRI)
Companies that matched consensus earnings expectations include:
Himax (HIMX), CYS Investments (CYS), Oceaneering (OII), Applied Materials (AMAT), Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD), Acadia (ACHC), Skechers (SKX)
NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES
eBay (EBAY) plans to send off PayPal with $5B in cash, WSJ reports
Qualcomm (QCOM) under investigation by South Korean competition authorities, FT reports
SEC investigates disclosures tied to Icahn takeover of CVR (CVI), Reuters reports
Google (GOOG) gives Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT) 90 days to fix security flaws, Bloomberg says
SYNDICATE
Achillion (ACHN) 12M share Secondary priced at $10.25
Callon Petroleum (CPE) files $400M mixed securities shelf
Eclipse Resources (ECR) files to sell 62.5M shares of common stock for holders
Ensign Group (ENSG) 2.5M share Secondary priced at $41.00
Harvard Apparatus (HART) files to sell common stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stk
Invitae (NVTA) 6.35M share IPO priced at $16.00
Orion Energy (OESX) intends to offer $15M shares of common stock
Remark Media (MARK) files $50M mixed securities shelf
Threshold Pharmaceuticals (THLD) sells common stock and warrants
Transition Therapeutics (TTHI) files automatic common stock shelf
Vermillion (VRML) files to sell 11.11M shares of common stock for holders Reported by Zero Hedge 7 hours ago.
· Ruble Rebounds, Russian Stocks Surge on Ukraine Cease-Fire Deal (BBG)
· Greek PM Tsipras in Brussels as clock ticks on EU bailout (Reuters)
· Emerging-Market Currencies Rout Not Over for Traders (BBG)
· Little noticed, new Saudi king shapes contours of power (Reuters)
· In Wake of Financial Crisis, Goldman Goes It Alone (WSJ)
· AmEx Is Losing Its Millionaires (BBG)
· Thousands to Lose Health Insurance Over Residency Questions (WSJ)
· Carney Signals Faster U.K. Rate Increases as Economy Strengthens (BBG) ... yes, any minute now
· Benefit of ECB’s Bond Buying: Fiscal Breathing Room (WSJ)
· Chinese Maker of Drone on White House Lawn Sees Sales Doubling (BBG)
· U.S. gunman kills three young Muslims; motive disputed (Reuters)
· Blackstone to Buy Stake in New York Office Portfolio (WSJ)
· Greek Economic Tragedy Sets Scene for Varoufakis on Debt (BBG)
*Bulletin Headline Summary *
WSJ
* President Barack Obama asked Congress for new powers to wage military operations against the Islamic State militant group, kicking off a renewed national debate over the scope of wartime powers that should be afforded to the commander-in-chief. (http://on.wsj.com/1vELile)
* The Obama administration is cutting off health-insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act for 200,000 people who haven't proved they are legally residing in the United States (http://on.wsj.com/1vmaasm)
* Thanks to a consistently soaring dollar, and plunging euro, investment funds focused on currencies had the best month in years in January. (http://on.wsj.com/1KLEVQk)
* Bank of America used its government-backed U.S. banking subsidiary to finance controversial trades that helped hedge funds and other clients avoid taxes. (http://on.wsj.com/1CjrWPw)
* General Electric Co opened the door for its investors to get a seat on the company's board. GE said it would begin allowing groups of shareholders to put forth nominees to the board, provided the candidates' backers own at least 3 percent of GE shares for at least three years. (http://on.wsj.com/1KLF5ah)
* Tesla Motor Inc's CEO predicted brighter days in 2015, but its fourth-quarter loss widened, as deliveries of its luxury electric cars fell short of a reduced forecast due to weather and customers unable to accept deliveries. (http://on.wsj.com/19b2vZn)
* South Korea's antitrust agency said Thursday it is considering an investigation into whether Qualcomm Inc misused its dominant market position, in the latest complication to how the U.S. chip maker licenses or sells its technology to overseas clients. (http://on.wsj.com/19b2CE2)
FT
In its annual supplier responsibility report, iPhone-maker Apple Inc said employees of its suppliers worked more overtime to realise what is the company's most profitable quarter in its history. The company also said that it has drastically reduced the usage of conflict minerals, such as tin and gold, that come from warlord-controlled parts of mineral-rich Africa.
Facebook Inc will launch a social network for cyber security professionals to share information about threats that could lead to potential attacks. The world's largest social network is also teaming up with Yahoo Inc and Pinterest for this project.
If Ukraine goes ahead with its widely expected move to limit private sector creditors - as part of bailout terms laid out by the International Monetary Fund - bond manager Michael Hasenstab is poised to lose the most, as he owns more than $7 billion of Ukrainian debt. Hasenstab is known for his contrarian moves, which have earned him big rewards in the past.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief Sergio Marchionne said that carmakers that are reluctant to merge will be forced to do so as they come under attack from activist investors. "At first many boards will try to defend themselves with lawyers and bankers, but ultimately they will have to come to the table to discuss a merger with either us or other large competitors," said Marchionne.
NYT
* Higher demand in Asia, difficult weather in the major cocoa-producing countries in West Africa and attacks of fungus are contributing to the price increases. (http://nyti.ms/1vm0Zbb)
* The Obama administration accused China of providing illegal export subsidies to critical industries, flexing its muscle on trade as it presses Congress to expand President Obama's authority to secure major trade accords. (http://nyti.ms/1uENt7G)
* Eurozone finance ministers failed to narrow their deep differences with Greece on Wednesday over how to keep the country from running out of money as it tries to revise the terms of its bailout. (http://nyti.ms/17jXixH)
* The White House passed a bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a confrontation with President Obama, who has vowed to veto the measure. (http://nyti.ms/1B0p8LD)
* Jet.com, a soon-to-start online marketplace that aims to loosen Amazon's grip on e-commerce, said it had raised $140 million in a new round of funding. The investment, led by Bain Capital Ventures, values the company at almost $600 million, according to people briefed on the funding round. (http://nyti.ms/1IYeNEl)
* The chief executive of Britain's tax agency was questioned by politicians over leaked documents that describe how HSBC's Swiss private banking arm helped clients, including politicians, rock stars and dealers of illicit diamonds, hide billions of dollars before 2007. (http://nyti.ms/1vG53ZJ)
Canada
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
** Canada launched a flurry of last-minute diplomacy in the lead-up to Thursday's retrial of jailed Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy in Cairo. Staff from the Prime Minister's office called the Egyptian ambassador in to discuss Fahmy's case in Ottawa on Tuesday, and an Egyptian government official said Canada's ambassador to Egypt met with that country's public prosecutor on Wednesday. (http://bit.ly/1zNWWd9)
** Premier Jim Prentice told Albertans on Wednesday that they need to wake up and face a world of low oil prices, as his Finance Minister announced there would be a 9 percent cut to government programs in a budget expected next month. (http://bit.ly/1FBqJXe)
NATIONAL POST
** Walmart Canada, the country's biggest mass merchant will build two new supercentres this fiscal year, bringing its Canadian store total to 396 locations from 394. The company said it will spend about C$340 million ($269 million ) on new building and store renovation projects as it continues to shore up its position as a purveyor of groceries. (http://bit.ly/1CgAZDc)
** More than 3,000 workers at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd represented by Teamsters Canada will strike as early as Sunday morning if a negotiated settlement isn't reached with the railroad before then. The strike would not only cut into the company's earnings but also have the potential to create transportation chaos across the country. (http://bit.ly/1vFtQx8)
** A Muslim woman is asking to be sworn in as a Canadian citizen as soon as possible while wearing a niqab, even as the Harper government considers appealing a court ruling overturning its policy requiring women to remove face coverings while reciting the oath. (http://bit.ly/1AemCSl)
** Rob Ford was ordered to leave a city council meeting Wednesday after he twice refused to apologize for suggesting that staff had deliberately misled councillors about the cost of a promotional trip to Italy. (http://bit.ly/1uI4ygN)
China
CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL
- The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) plans to inspect 26 centrally-administered state-owned enterprises after the Lunar New Year, Wang Qishan, the head of China's anti-corruption watchdog, said during an internal meeting on Wednesday. This would be the first round of disciplinary inspections this year.
- Seventeen companies that will launch initial public offerings (IPOs) in Shanghai and Shenzhen will lock up 1.5 trillion yuan ($240.30 billion) this week, the paper reported, citing estimates from local financial institutions.
SECURITIES TIMES
- The market-oriented registration system for China's IPO market is likely to be launched on June 1, reported the paper, citing a source familiar with the issue.
CHINA DAILY
- To comprehensively promote the rule of law in a nation of 1.3 billion people is equivalent to launching a sweeping and profound revolution, and to promote the rule of law is to further consolidate the Communist Party's leadership, an editorial said.
GLOBAL TIMES
- Various forces in China and the United States should cherish the good momentum created by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama, who plan to meet in September and work to forge a new type of major-power relationship, an editorial said.
Britain
The Times
Millions of council houses would be "given away" to low-paid workers under Tory plans to reward people who come off benefits. (http://thetim.es/1Aoy6RL)
The Conservatives could capture 11 of 15 Liberal Democrat seats in the southwest, according to analysis by a leading pollster, as David Cameron seeks to capitalise on the weakness of his coalition partners. (http://thetim.es/1KNxKFp)
The Guardian
David Cameron stood accused by Ed Miliband of acting as a "dodgy prime minister" after he repeatedly failed in the House of Commons to say whether he had discussed tax avoidance at HSBC Holdings Plc with Stephen Green before appointing him as trade minister in 2011. (http://bit.ly/1EbWk0p)
House prices rose in January at the slowest pace in two years across England and Wales, finds a housing market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. (http://bit.ly/1DH8kJz)
The Telegraph
Talks over Greece's debt crisis appeared stuck in limbo on Wednesday, as European finance ministers meeting in Brussels refused to give ground over the terms of the Athens bail-out. (http://bit.ly/1zXGPZp)
Sky faced questions from the City on Wednesday about the heavy price it paid to maintain Premier League superiority over BT Group Plc in a rights auction that beat even the highest inflation predictions. (http://bit.ly/16VsrH1)
Sky News
A Conservative Party treasurer has hit back at a suggestion by Labour leader Ed Miliband that he was involved in "tax avoidance activities". (http://bit.ly/1EbOSlY)
Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, used a speech in London to claim the UK Government's economic policy had failed "categorically and comprehensively" and caused "misery" for some of the UK's most vulnerable people. (http://bit.ly/1CWQBi9)
The Independent
The boss of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has denied allegations that the department failed to act on tax evasion claims linked to HSBC's Swiss subsidiary. (http://ind.pn/1ChuRYN)
The high street fashion chain New Look Eyewear Inc could be ready to rejoin the stock market after an 11-year absence, according to its chief executive. (http://ind.pn/1zVbjLz)
*Fly On The Wall Pre-market Buzz*
ECONOMIC REPORTS
Domestic economic reports scheduled for today include:
Jobless claims for week of Feb. 7 at 8:30--consensus 288K
Retail sales for January at 8:30--consensus down 0.4%
Business inventories for December at 10:00--consensus up 0.2%
EIA natural gas storage change for week of Feb. 6 at 10:30
ANALYST RESEARCH
Upgrades
Ally Financial (ALLY) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein
BGC Partners (BGCP) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette
HubSpot (HUBS) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan
INC Research (INCR) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at RW Baird
Mosaic (MOS) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS
NICE Systems (NICE) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays
TubeMogul (tube) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup
Urban Outfitters (URBN) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman
Willis Group (WSH) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley
Downgrades
Amber Road (AMBR) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at Pacific Crest
Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD) downgraded to Sector Perform at Pacific Crest
Ctrip.com (CTRP) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer
FMC Technologies (FTI) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup
FMC Technologies (FTI) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse
Grifols (GRFS) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley
InterXion (INXN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo
Nanosphere (NSPH) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray
NetApp (NTAP) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Brean Capital
Owens Corning (OC) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at FBR Capital
Owens Corning (OC) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at MKM Partners
Pioneer Natural (PXD) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at SunTrust
Prudential (PRU) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
Tanger Factory (SKT) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Evercore ISI
Tesla (TSLA) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan
Tesoro (TSO) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Fair Value from Buy at CRT Capital
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Canaccord
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at RW Baird
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray
zulily (ZU) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital
Initiations
Albemarle (ALB) resumed with a Neutral at Citigroup
Columbia Pipeline (CPPL) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies
DSW (DSW) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies
H&R Block (HRB) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Oi S.A. (OIBR)reinstated with an Equal Weight at Barclays
Ritchie Bros. (RBA) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital
Vista Outdoor (VSTO) initiated with an Outperform at Imperial Capital
COMPANY NEWS
Petrobras (PBR) said an explosion at a platform kills three workers
FXCM (FXCM) reported retail customer trading volume of $450B in January
JetBlue (JBLU) reported January traffic up 14.3%
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said financials 'better than they appear, not worse'
Total (TOT) said it plans to sell $5B of assets in 2015
zulily (ZU) said Marc Stolzman will no longer serve as CFO and announced a $250M share repurchase over next 24 months
UniCredit (UNCFF) announced plans to sell UCCMB unit to Fortress (FIG)
EARNINGS
Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
Capella Education (CPLA), PBF Logistics (PBFX), PBF Energy (PBF), Nielsen (NLSN), First American (FAF), SPX Corp. (SPW), NorthWestern (NWE), Walker & Dunlop (WD), Quintiles (Q), Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR), Pilgrim's Pride (PPC), Copa Holdings (CPA), Luxoft (LXFT), AGL Resources (GAS), Panera Bread (PNRA), TAL International (TAL), China Distance Education (DL), Agnico-Eagle (AEM), TechTarget (TTGT), The Advisory Board (ABCO), Markel (MKL), Stamps.com (STMP), Student Transportation (STB), Equifax (EFX), NVIDIA (NVDA), Anworth Mortgage (ANH), C&J Energy (CJES), Aerohive (HIVE), NCI, Inc. (NCIT), HubSpot (HUBS), Diodes (DIOD), Zendesk (ZEN), Cray (CRAY), Quidel (QDEL), Corrections Corp. (CXW), Amber Road (AMBR), Catalent (CTLT), Morningstar (MORN), MetLife (MET), Select Comfort (SCSS), Navigators (NAVG), Navigators (NAVG), Cisco (CSCO), Whole Foods (WFM), FireEye (FEYE), Globant (GLOB), Forrester (FORR)
Companies that missed consensus earnings expectations include:
Tesla (TSLA), Bunge (BG), Sigma-Aldrich (SIAL), Time Inc. (TIME), Teck Resources (TCK), Forum Energy (FET), Yamana Gold (AUY), CareTrust REIT (CTRE), HNI Corporation (HNI), ION Geophysical (IO), Hornbeck Offshore (HOS), LivePerson (LPSN), Baidu (BIDU), Cenveo (CVO), zulily (ZU), Tesoro Logistics (TLLP), Tesoro (TSO), Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), Mattersight (MATR), CenturyLink (CTL), Covanta (CVA), NetApp (NTAP), TripAdvisor (TRIP), Insight Enterprises (NSIT), Tucows Inc (TCX), Itron (ITRI)
Companies that matched consensus earnings expectations include:
Himax (HIMX), CYS Investments (CYS), Oceaneering (OII), Applied Materials (AMAT), Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD), Acadia (ACHC), Skechers (SKX)
NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES
eBay (EBAY) plans to send off PayPal with $5B in cash, WSJ reports
Qualcomm (QCOM) under investigation by South Korean competition authorities, FT reports
SEC investigates disclosures tied to Icahn takeover of CVR (CVI), Reuters reports
Google (GOOG) gives Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT) 90 days to fix security flaws, Bloomberg says
SYNDICATE
Achillion (ACHN) 12M share Secondary priced at $10.25
Callon Petroleum (CPE) files $400M mixed securities shelf
Eclipse Resources (ECR) files to sell 62.5M shares of common stock for holders
Ensign Group (ENSG) 2.5M share Secondary priced at $41.00
Harvard Apparatus (HART) files to sell common stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stk
Invitae (NVTA) 6.35M share IPO priced at $16.00
Orion Energy (OESX) intends to offer $15M shares of common stock
Remark Media (MARK) files $50M mixed securities shelf
Threshold Pharmaceuticals (THLD) sells common stock and warrants
Transition Therapeutics (TTHI) files automatic common stock shelf
Vermillion (VRML) files to sell 11.11M shares of common stock for holders Reported by Zero Hedge 7 hours ago.
↧
CMU, Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network Announce Second Round of Funding for Disruptive Health Technology Institute Projects
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network today announced a second round of funded CMU projects poised to ‘disrupt’ health care by identifying key unmet clinical needs and addressing them with advanced medical technologies. $1.7 million was awarded to projects ranging from managing chronic wound healing to reducing toxic side effects of anticancer drugs.
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network today announced a second round of funded CMU projects poised to ‘disrupt’ health care by identifying key unmet clinical needs and addressing them with advanced medical technologies. $1.7 million was awarded to projects ranging from managing chronic wound healing to reducing toxic side effects of anticancer drugs.
“Carnegie Mellon is at the center of the confluence of data analytics, machine learning, science and engineering. We are leveraging that expertise towards health care applications,” said Alan Russell, Ph.D., director of Carnegie Mellon’s Disruptive Health Technology Institute (DHTI) and Chief Innovation Officer for Allegheny Health Network.
“The DHTI payer-provider-innovator infrastructure that we have created is essential in pushing innovative technology off the bench for deployable solutions,” said Russell. “Involving the payer community and their expertise, at the beginning, in the innovation process is at the heart of helping drive innovation more quickly toward patient care.”
Insurance companies are key stakeholders in the health care industry, but they have not generally participated in proactive research and innovation in order to simultaneously increase the affordability, simplicity, and accessibility of healthcare.
“Highmark Health is uniquely positioned to develop and provide access to technologies and programs that promote more effective and efficient solutions to our members’ healthcare needs,” said David Holmberg, president and CEO of Highmark Health. “The goal when forming DHTI was to establish an industry-leading collaborative effort that allows the payer, innovators, and clinicians to work together to create breakthrough health care solutions that reinforce our mission to deliver health care at the right time, at the right place and at the right cost.”
Of 16 funded DHTI projects this year, seven major initiatives will receive at least $100K, including:· A method of increasing efficacy and reducing side effects of nanotechnology-based anti-cancer drugs. Principal Investigator (PI): Chien Ho, Department of Biological Sciences.
· A microscopic RFID device that reduces the amount of counterfeit drugs from entering the legitimate supply chain. PI: Larry Richard (Rick) Carley, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
· Improved detection techniques of early stage melanoma lesions. PI: Mahadev Satyanarayanan, Computer Science.
· Automated methods to monitor and coach asthma patients using metered dose inhalers, empowering the patient with more control over their disease. PI: Alexander Hauptmann, School of Computer Science.
· A technique for detecting the formation of biofilms on medical implants, which can lead to infection. PI: Jeffrey Weldon, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
· A robotic table to aid in orthopedic surgeries. PI: Eric Meyhofer, National Robotics Engineering Center.
· A cost-effective, sensitive, and easy-to-use palpation tool to improve self-breast cancer screenings. PI: James F. Antaki, Biomedical Engineering.
In November 2013, the DHTI funded its first round of projects ranging from video analytic tools for colonoscopies to a vest-like heart monitor that detects and diagnoses heart problems (http://www.dhti.cmu.edu/dhti/projects.asp).
###
About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon (http://www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon's main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California's Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.
About the Disruptive Health Technology Institute: After a $2.5 million grant from the Heinz Endowments; Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Highmark Health, and Allegheny Health Network have created the Disruptive Health Technology Institute (DHTI), a multi-year $11 million initiative aimed at increasing the affordability, simplicity, and accessibility of healthcare. DHTI operates under the College of Engineering’s Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES), and provides an environment where healthcare innovations can be clinically tested and rapidly delivered to patients. CMU researchers are leading the development of engineering, science, biomedical, and healthcare delivery technologies with new institute colleagues. DHTI is currently focusing on accessibility of medical diagnostics, behavior change, chronic disease management, data mining, improved endoscopy, improved diagnostic ultrasound, and infection prevention. DHTI funds projects that can impact a large population, provide substantial healthcare savings, and have likely success in improving patient safety and quality of life.
About Highmark Health: Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people nationwide and serves nearly 39 million Americans in more than 40 states, is the third largest integrated health care delivery and financing network in the nation. Highmark Health is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 5.2 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware as well as dental insurance, vision care and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses that include United Concordia Companies, HM Insurance Group, Davis Vision and Visionworks. Allegheny Health Network is the parent company of an integrated delivery network that includes eight hospitals, a community-based network of physician organizations, and a group purchasing organization, ambulatory surgery centers, and health and wellness pavilions in western Pennsylvania. HM Health Solutions focuses on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, please visit http://www.highmarkhealth.org.
Contacts:
Daniel Tkacik, CMU
412-268-1187
dtkacik(at)andrew.cmu(dot)edu
Lynn Seay, Highmark Health
412.544.2771
lynn.seay(at)highmarkhealth(dot)org
Dan Laurent, AHN
412-330-4430
dlaurent(at)wpahs(dot)org Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network today announced a second round of funded CMU projects poised to ‘disrupt’ health care by identifying key unmet clinical needs and addressing them with advanced medical technologies. $1.7 million was awarded to projects ranging from managing chronic wound healing to reducing toxic side effects of anticancer drugs.
“Carnegie Mellon is at the center of the confluence of data analytics, machine learning, science and engineering. We are leveraging that expertise towards health care applications,” said Alan Russell, Ph.D., director of Carnegie Mellon’s Disruptive Health Technology Institute (DHTI) and Chief Innovation Officer for Allegheny Health Network.
“The DHTI payer-provider-innovator infrastructure that we have created is essential in pushing innovative technology off the bench for deployable solutions,” said Russell. “Involving the payer community and their expertise, at the beginning, in the innovation process is at the heart of helping drive innovation more quickly toward patient care.”
Insurance companies are key stakeholders in the health care industry, but they have not generally participated in proactive research and innovation in order to simultaneously increase the affordability, simplicity, and accessibility of healthcare.
“Highmark Health is uniquely positioned to develop and provide access to technologies and programs that promote more effective and efficient solutions to our members’ healthcare needs,” said David Holmberg, president and CEO of Highmark Health. “The goal when forming DHTI was to establish an industry-leading collaborative effort that allows the payer, innovators, and clinicians to work together to create breakthrough health care solutions that reinforce our mission to deliver health care at the right time, at the right place and at the right cost.”
Of 16 funded DHTI projects this year, seven major initiatives will receive at least $100K, including:· A method of increasing efficacy and reducing side effects of nanotechnology-based anti-cancer drugs. Principal Investigator (PI): Chien Ho, Department of Biological Sciences.
· A microscopic RFID device that reduces the amount of counterfeit drugs from entering the legitimate supply chain. PI: Larry Richard (Rick) Carley, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
· Improved detection techniques of early stage melanoma lesions. PI: Mahadev Satyanarayanan, Computer Science.
· Automated methods to monitor and coach asthma patients using metered dose inhalers, empowering the patient with more control over their disease. PI: Alexander Hauptmann, School of Computer Science.
· A technique for detecting the formation of biofilms on medical implants, which can lead to infection. PI: Jeffrey Weldon, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
· A robotic table to aid in orthopedic surgeries. PI: Eric Meyhofer, National Robotics Engineering Center.
· A cost-effective, sensitive, and easy-to-use palpation tool to improve self-breast cancer screenings. PI: James F. Antaki, Biomedical Engineering.
In November 2013, the DHTI funded its first round of projects ranging from video analytic tools for colonoscopies to a vest-like heart monitor that detects and diagnoses heart problems (http://www.dhti.cmu.edu/dhti/projects.asp).
###
About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon (http://www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon's main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California's Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.
About the Disruptive Health Technology Institute: After a $2.5 million grant from the Heinz Endowments; Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Highmark Health, and Allegheny Health Network have created the Disruptive Health Technology Institute (DHTI), a multi-year $11 million initiative aimed at increasing the affordability, simplicity, and accessibility of healthcare. DHTI operates under the College of Engineering’s Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES), and provides an environment where healthcare innovations can be clinically tested and rapidly delivered to patients. CMU researchers are leading the development of engineering, science, biomedical, and healthcare delivery technologies with new institute colleagues. DHTI is currently focusing on accessibility of medical diagnostics, behavior change, chronic disease management, data mining, improved endoscopy, improved diagnostic ultrasound, and infection prevention. DHTI funds projects that can impact a large population, provide substantial healthcare savings, and have likely success in improving patient safety and quality of life.
About Highmark Health: Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people nationwide and serves nearly 39 million Americans in more than 40 states, is the third largest integrated health care delivery and financing network in the nation. Highmark Health is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 5.2 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware as well as dental insurance, vision care and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses that include United Concordia Companies, HM Insurance Group, Davis Vision and Visionworks. Allegheny Health Network is the parent company of an integrated delivery network that includes eight hospitals, a community-based network of physician organizations, and a group purchasing organization, ambulatory surgery centers, and health and wellness pavilions in western Pennsylvania. HM Health Solutions focuses on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, please visit http://www.highmarkhealth.org.
Contacts:
Daniel Tkacik, CMU
412-268-1187
dtkacik(at)andrew.cmu(dot)edu
Lynn Seay, Highmark Health
412.544.2771
lynn.seay(at)highmarkhealth(dot)org
Dan Laurent, AHN
412-330-4430
dlaurent(at)wpahs(dot)org Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
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You'll pay a lot more to see the doctor with Obamacare
Obamacare enrollees have to shell out a lot more to see the doctor or get medications than their peers with job-based health insurance.
Reported by CNNMoney 7 hours ago.
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WEDI Releases ICD-10 Readiness Survey for Industry Participation
Providers, health plans, vendors and clearinghouses to submit responses for the WEDI ICD-10 Survey before March 6
RESTON, Va. (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), the nation’s leading nonprofit authority on the use of health IT to create efficiencies in healthcare information exchange, announced the release of an ICD-10 readiness survey to determine how well the healthcare industry is progressing towards the Oct. 1, 2015 implementation deadline. The survey results will be evaluated and compiled into a report for the industry.
Providers, health plans, vendors and clearinghouses are invited to participate in this important initiative to help monitor progress as we move closer toward the implementation deadline. The survey is available here. The final submission deadline is March 6, 2015.
“WEDI has been conducting these surveys since 2009, allowing us to gain a broad perspective on the readiness status for different sections of the industry, and to gauge how quickly they are progressing,” says Jim Daley, WEDI past-chair and ICD-10 Workgroup co-chair. “Since the shift to ICD-10 represents such a significant change to the industry, it is imperative that all organizations stay diligently focused and continue the necessary preparations in order to make the conversion in Oct. 2015 as smooth as possible. This survey is an important part of the educational and advisory roles our organization plays within the industry on ICD-10 and other health IT matters – bringing together all industry sectors to deliver a successful transition.”
As an advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), WEDI brings to the attention of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues that it believes warrant review and consideration, and continually reports the results of these periodic ICD-10 readiness surveys to CMS.
WEDI will continue to conduct surveys throughout 2015, and information collected from these surveys will help determine where additional outreach and education is needed.
About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards development organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.wedi.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
RESTON, Va. (PRWEB) February 12, 2015
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), the nation’s leading nonprofit authority on the use of health IT to create efficiencies in healthcare information exchange, announced the release of an ICD-10 readiness survey to determine how well the healthcare industry is progressing towards the Oct. 1, 2015 implementation deadline. The survey results will be evaluated and compiled into a report for the industry.
Providers, health plans, vendors and clearinghouses are invited to participate in this important initiative to help monitor progress as we move closer toward the implementation deadline. The survey is available here. The final submission deadline is March 6, 2015.
“WEDI has been conducting these surveys since 2009, allowing us to gain a broad perspective on the readiness status for different sections of the industry, and to gauge how quickly they are progressing,” says Jim Daley, WEDI past-chair and ICD-10 Workgroup co-chair. “Since the shift to ICD-10 represents such a significant change to the industry, it is imperative that all organizations stay diligently focused and continue the necessary preparations in order to make the conversion in Oct. 2015 as smooth as possible. This survey is an important part of the educational and advisory roles our organization plays within the industry on ICD-10 and other health IT matters – bringing together all industry sectors to deliver a successful transition.”
As an advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), WEDI brings to the attention of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues that it believes warrant review and consideration, and continually reports the results of these periodic ICD-10 readiness surveys to CMS.
WEDI will continue to conduct surveys throughout 2015, and information collected from these surveys will help determine where additional outreach and education is needed.
About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards development organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.wedi.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
↧
You'll pay more to see the doctor with Obamacare
Deductibles, co-payments and drug costs are much higher under Obamacare than for job-based health insurance policies.
Reported by CNNMoney 5 hours ago.
↧
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