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vitaphone e-health solutions U.S. Announces VITA Health Services for Remote Chronic Disease Management

May 3, 2015, 12:10 pm
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Remote Patient Monitoring Improves Quality & Timeliness of Service to Patients with CHF, COPD, Hypertension, Other Chronic Conditions

LAS VEGAS and LOS ANGELES, American Telemedicine Association 2015 Meeting & Tradeshow (PRWEB) May 03, 2015

vitaphone e-health solutions, a full-service telemedicine and mobile health services provider today announced the launch of its new platform, VITA health services for chronic disease management, in the U.S. market. The VITA health services platform enables remote patient monitoring of a variety of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes, COPD, hypertension and other chronic illnesses.

Through a combination of advanced wireless, remote patient monitoring technology, secure software and proven communication processes and techniques delivered through a professionally-staffed Telemedicine Service Center, vitaphone’s VITA health services platform successfully extends health professionals’ reach into their patients’ homes – or wherever the patients may be – to assist in their treatment and ongoing coordinated care.

The announcement was made today from the vitaphone booth (#2428) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, during the 20th Annual ATA International Telemedicine Meeting & Tradeshow (#ATA2015), the premier forum for healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs in telemedicine, telehealth and mHealth.

Chronic Care - A Healthcare System Overwhelmed.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), each year in the United States, 1 out of every 4 deaths (about 610,000 people) is caused by heart disease. The CDC also estimates that 29.1 million people, 9.3% of the U.S. population, have diabetes.

“As the number of people with chronic health issues continues to rise here in the United States, healthcare professionals are being overwhelmed by an ever-increasing number of patients requiring attention and a finite number of hours in the day,” said Brad Tritle, President / CEO of vitaphone USA. “Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) systems, such as VITA health services, benefit doctors and other healthcare professionals by providing the information and analysis tools they need to more efficiently evaluate chronic conditions and prescribe treatment changes, if necessary, with minimal impact on their existing workflow.”

Higher Customer Satisfaction Levels.
Patients using a remote monitoring system as part of their treatment for chronic diseases report having a higher level of satisfaction with their healthcare provider, a better understanding of their condition, and more confidence in managing their condition. They often cite having more interactions, receiving more precise medication therapy, and the added convenience of not having to make transportation arrangements as frequently, as the most common reasons for giving the provider high marks.

Real-Time Data. Managed by Professionals.
Hospitals, home health and other health services providers using the VITA health services platform can rely on vitaphone to monitor patients from their professionally staffed telemedicine service center in Nevada. The intelligent patient monitoring system filters and triages all relevant patient data via exception-based algorithms, and vitaphone staff interactions, on behalf of the providers. Lastly, the VITA health services provider portal will also facilitate real-time access to patient biometrics and answers to patient questionnaires.

To learn more about vitaphone and VITA health services for Remote Chronic Disease Management, visit http://www.vitaphoneus.com. Those attending ATA are also encouraged to visit vitaphone at booth #2428 to learn more.

About vitaphone – Innovative Telemedicine Care Management

vitaphone achieves connected care management with market-ready products and systems that have been tried and tested in care projects. Our solutions and innovative systems enable us to create sustainable models for optimizing processes and therefore increasing health care provider efficiency. vitaphone helps to enhance the care quality, increase patient satisfaction, and facilitate lower costs for health insurance providers. For more information about our company and our products, visit http://www.vitaphone.de/us-en/ Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
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Gulf countries set to create more jobs in 2015, despite oil price fall - GulfTalent Survey

May 4, 2015, 3:02 am
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Most employers in the Gulf expect to increase headcount in 2015, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia leading job creation, and healthcare sector the fastest growing. Salaries across the region are forecast to rise 6.9% this year; Qatar and Oman set to award the highest average pay rises.

Dubai (PRWEB UK) 4 May 2015

Overall employment across the GCC is on the increase in 2015, despite the fall in oil prices, according to the latest edition of the research report “Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf” released today by GulfTalent, the Middle East’s leading online recruitment portal.

Employment growth in 2015

The report found healthcare to be the fastest growing sector across the region, with 82% of employers in the sector increasing their headcount last year and 79% planning to do so in 2015. Key drivers of this growth were found to be massive government investment, the region’s fast-growing population, and regulatory changes in most GCC countries requiring companies to provide health insurance for employees.

Among GCC countries, Qatar is expected to enjoy the highest rate of job creation in 2015. With the uncertainty over the World Cup finally removed and major infrastructure projects getting the go-ahead, 66% of employers in Qatar reported plans to increase headcount.

Impact of the oil price

GulfTalent’s research found that, while the oil price slump had resulted in a slowdown in the oil and gas sector and some cut-backs in Oman and Bahrain, most employers in the region were as yet unaffected by it.

This is consistent with data from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), which reported a 10% increase in projects awarded across the GCC during the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period last year. A significant portion of these were comprised of projects awarded in Qatar.

The governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have this year been drawing on their vast cash reserves to make up for the lower oil revenues in order to meet their planned spending and investments.

Bahrain and Oman have seen a greater impact, due to their lower reserves and higher dependence on the oil revenue. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, the government of Bahrain needs to sell its oil at $125 per barrel to balance its budget, compared with the current price of oil at $66.

Salary increases

Across most of the GCC, private sector salaries are forecast to rise at a similar pace in 2015 compared with the previous year. Qatar is expected to see the highest average pay increase at 8.3%, driven by rising cost of living and the growing need to attract talent for completion of projects. Employers in Oman, under pressure from an increasingly unionized workforce, are forecast to give the second highest average pay rise at 7.2%.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are next, with expected average pay rises of 7.1%, followed by Bahrain at 7.0%. Kuwait is expected to see the lowest average pay rise at 5.0%.

Among sectors, construction is forecast to have the highest average salary increase at 10%, while oil & gas sector is expected to be the lowest at 5.4%.

Challenging recruitment environment

Creating jobs for nationals remains a hot issue across the Gulf. Employers in Saudi Arabia and Oman, under pressure from their governments to meet tough nationalization targets, cited attraction and retention of skilled nationals as their biggest human resource challenge.

On the expatriate front, employers across the region are finding it increasingly challenging to attract professionals from India, traditionally a key source of talent for the Gulf. The growth of the Indian economy is leading to more job opportunities and increasingly attractive salaries at home. According to the International Monetary Fund, India is expected to be the world’s fastest growing major economy in 2015, surpassing China’s growth rate for the first time since 1999.

GulfTalent’s report also found that conflicts across the Middle East had led to an increased supply of talent from the affected countries seeking opportunities in the Gulf. However, employers were often frustrated in their attempts to absorb this talent pool, due to restrictions put in place by most GCC governments on the grant of employment visas to nationals of the affected countries, notably Syria and Egypt.

GulfTalent’s report is based on an online survey of 600 employers and 22,000 professionals, as well as 60 interviews with executives and HR professionals, conducted during the period December 2014 to April 2015. The full version of the report “Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf 2015” is available for download free of charge from the company’s website at: http://www.gulftalent.com.

GulfTalent is the leading online recruitment portal in the Middle East, covering all sectors and job categories. It is used by over 5 million professionals across the region for finding top career opportunities. It is also the primary online recruitment channel for over 6,000 companies, providing them access to both local and expatriate talent. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.
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SurePayroll, Inc., to be Showcased in Upcoming Episode of Innovations Airing via Discovery Channel

May 4, 2015, 4:07 am
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DMG Productions explores the latest breakthroughs in payment processing solutions.

Glenview, IL (PRWEB) May 04, 2015

SurePayroll, Inc., announced today that they will be featured in an upcoming episode of Innovations with Ed Begley Jr, airing 3rd QTR 2015, via Discovery Channel. Dates and show times TBA.

In this episode, Innovations will explore SurePayroll, an easy online payroll company that combines industry-leading technology with award-winning customer service. Viewers will learn about the technology behind SurePayroll, and how the service calculates wages, pays employees and automatically pays and files federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically.

“We’re excited to share with viewers how Cloud-based, online payroll has made life easier for small business owners,” said SurePayroll General Manager Andy Roe. “Payroll is certainly part of the huge shift we’re seeing in many industries to online, mobile applications.”

“SurePayroll allows for easy payroll processing,” said Chris Brink, Producer for the series. “People will be amazed by the service’s ability to automatically pay and file payroll taxes within only a couple of minutes.”

About SurePayroll Inc:
SurePayroll is the trusted provider of easy online payroll services to small businesses nationwide. Whether a business has 1, 10, or 100 employees, SurePayroll delivers peace of mind by combining innovative, industry-leading technology and personalized support from an award-winning, U.S.-based customer care team. SurePayroll also provides private-label and co-branded services for accountants and banking partners as well as offering efficient online solutions for managing 401(k) plans, health insurance, workers' compensation, employee screening and more. SurePayroll is a wholly owned subsidiary of Paychex. For more information, please visit http://www.SurePayroll.com.

About Innovations and DMG Productions:
Innovations, hosted by award winning actor Ed Begley, Jr., is an information-based series geared toward educating the public on the latest breakthroughs in all areas of society. Featuring practical solutions and important issues facing consumers and professionals alike, Innovations focuses on cutting-edge advancements in everything from health and wellness to global business, renewable energy, and more.

DMG Productions (responsible for creating the Innovations show) includes personnel specialized in various fields from agriculture to medicine, independent films to regional news and more. Field producers work closely with experts in the field to develop stories. This powerful force enables DMG to consistently produce commercial-free, educational programming that both viewers and networks depend on.

For more information visit: http://www.InnovationsTelevision.com or contact Chris Brink at: (866) 496-4065 x 813 or via email at: Chris(at)InnovationsTelevision(dot)com. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.
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Out of Network Balance Billing Without Being Viewed as Fraud

May 4, 2015, 5:02 am
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Nationally renowned speaker Thomas Force will conduct a training session on Balance Billing requirements for Out-of-Network providers in an informative session on May 5, on behalf of AudioEducator.com. Participants will understand the law regarding balance billing and the proper method for doing so in this live audio conference.

Durham, NC (PRWEB) May 04, 2015

Elisabeth Rosenthal’s article* on “balance billing” and out-of-network provider created a stir and showed the healthcare fraternity as well as patients about to undergo a major healthcare procedure, the downside of balance billing. In definition, balance billing is the practice of a healthcare provider billing a patient for the difference between what the patient's health insurance chooses to reimburse and what the provider chooses to charge. Rosenthal’s article talks about cases where charges from OON providers surprisingly showed up on hospital bills. The practice of “drive by doctoring” is a major area of concern where doctors call up colleagues not in a patient’s network to consult on a procedure. In return the OON doctor charges the retail rate, exorbitantly greater than what government or insurance company would ever pay. Consequently, the provider then tries to collect the amount from the patient.

Bone of Contention

The major concern between providers and payors is how the provider should be paid for treating a patient who is covered by a health plan that doesn't have a contract with the provider. Because of the absence of any Federal law on this issue, healthcare providers are forced to look to state laws to settle who should be responsible for reimbursing the provider under these circumstances and how much should be paid. Unfortunately, the laws addressing these circumstances vary greatly from state to state. Some states even have no particular laws, in such case the health plan will pay nothing, leaving the provider and the patient to fight amongst themselves about how much should be paid. This creates problems for both the provider and the patient—the provider assuming the payment is collectable from the patient, while the patient thinks his or her services would be covered while stuck with a bill that is much higher than the amount the insurer would pay.

To solve this dilemma of balance billing for the out-of-network providers, expert speaker Thomas Force is taking an audio session on Tuesday, May 5 on behalf of AudioEducator.com. Thomas will shed light on effective revenue recovery techniques that will facilitate the out-of-network practitioner to maximize their recovery against health plans while ensuring that their patients pay their fair share of charges. Plus, he will give instructions for revising patient forms, drafting appeals and balance bill letters, and steps necessary in holding the health plan accountable to the law.

Here’s a sneak peek of the topics covered:·     Balance bill: Why OON are required to balance bill?
·     Review of Ingenix and Out-of Network reimbursement
·     Reforming Out-of-Network reimbursement
·     ERISA Preemption—what it’s all about?
·     Problematic Billing
·     Patient Protections Under PPACA: Coverage for Emergency Services
·     Insights on Medicare, TRICARE/CHAMPUS and Balance Billing
·     New York’s Emergency Medical Services and Surprise Bills Law
·     And more!

For more information, visit http://www.audioeducator.com/healthcare-compliance-and-hipaa/balance-billing-requirement-05-05-2015.html

About AudioEducator

AudioEducator, the country’s leading source of business-enhancing information, has been providing knowledge and training to healthcare professionals on trending industry topics for more than a decade. With an esteemed panel of industry experts, it helps professionals get information directly from the veterans and get their queries answered directly. AudioEducator specializes in audio conferences, training webinars, transcripts, DVDs on a wide array of healthcare topics like medical coding, billing, HIPAA compliance, food safety, rehab, pharma & biotech, and more. For more information, check http://www.audioeducator.com

We have enabled a special discount of 10%. Use coupon code SAVE10 to get your discount, Applicable on all purchases. For further query you can call our customer support as mention below.

Sources - *http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/us/drive-by-doctoring-surprise-medical-bills.html?_r=0 Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.
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Rosen: Liberals Should Worry that Supreme Court Will Protect Too Much Liberty

May 4, 2015, 8:27 am
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There was much discussion of "dignity" at the Supreme Court last Tuesday, as the Court heard oral argument in the same-sex marriage case, Obergefell v. Hodges. Some supporters of same-sex marriage found this discussion encouraging. But law professor Jeffrey Rosen, writing at The Atlantic, solemnly warns readers that a decision reached on the basis of "dignity" might be a "dangerous" one for those who champion "progressive legislation." According to Rosen, "the roots of the right to dignity in constitutional text, history, and tradition" are uncertain and a dignity-based decision "may produce far-reaching consequences that [progressives] will later have cause to regret."

It is true that the Court has no business deciding constitutional cases on the basis of concepts that cannot be grounded in constitutional "text, history, [or] tradition." But Rosen's criticism of "dignity" sweeps more broadly--by the end of his article, he is disparaging the judicial protection of a right that is expressly affirmed in the text of the Constitution. Everyone who believes that Americans are entitled to the full measure of freedom that the Constitution guarantees should resist this case for reflexive judicial restraint, which is profoundly hostile to liberty.

At first blush, Rosen's case against dignity appears to be informed by originalism--the view that the Constitution has a fixed, determinable meaning that judges must enforce. Thus, Rosen criticizes the use of dignity in constitutional analysis on the grounds that "the kind of liberties that the Framers had in mind... were very different, and far more specific, than the broad right to be free to define your own identity without being demeaned by the state or by fellow citizen." He approvingly cites Justice Scalia's bitter dissent in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the case in which the Court (properly) invalidated a criminal ban on same-sex intimacy, arguing that "[Scalia's] question about why the state's police power to protect public morals--taken for granted from the founding era until the Lawrence case--was suddenly a violation of the Constitution remains valid and unanswered."

But as Rosen's argument proceeds, it becomes apparent that he is less concerned with whether dignity has any legitimate role in constitutional analysis than with whether embracing it as a constitutional value might incline judges to protect more liberty than he prefers. His very first example of legislation that might be endangered by dignity is telling: gun-control laws. As the Supreme Court correctly held in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Second Amendment was designed specifically to protect the individual right to keep bear and arms for the purposes of self-defense. Dignity aside, in order to give effect to the Second Amendment judges must evaluate and, if necessary, set aside gun-control laws.

The suspicion that Rosen's criticism of dignity is calculated to support a broader argument for reflexive judicial restraint in constitutional cases finds further support in Rosen's second example: the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. Per Rosen, "Libertarian groups... argue[d] that the Obamacare healthcare mandate unconstitutionally violated the dignity and autonomy of Americans by forcing them to buy health insurance." But the leading constitutional argument of libertarian groups was not based on an abstract "right to dignity." Rather, it was based on the text of Article I, specifically, the Commerce Clause, which delegates to Congress limited authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Rosen gives the game up, however, when he takes comfort in the fact that "the liberal justices seemed drawn to the idea that marriage is a fundamental right that must be expanded to all citizens on equal terms." Rosen explains: "A decision along those lines... might be easier to confine to cases involving marriage." Not a word about whether the right to marry is in fact protected by the Constitution, properly understood. In the final analysis, it seems Rosen's primary agenda is to confine judicial discretion rather than ascertain the meaning of the Constitution.

Rosen's prioritization of judicial restraint over enforcement of the Constitution's guarantees has intellectual roots that can be traced back to the late 19th century. Progressive jurists (including Louis Brandeis, of whom Rosen is a great admirer) saw reflexive judicial restraint as a means of enabling comprehensive social and economic reforms that the Constitution had been (properly) interpreted to thwart. Later, conservative jurists appalled by the perceived "activism" of the Warren Court would advocate judicial restraint as a means of preventing an overly ambitious judiciary from invalidating regulations of social life.

But these advocates of judicial restraint misunderstood the role of the judiciary in our constitutional republic. The Framers believed that the political branches could not be trusted to stay within constitutional limits and established an independent judiciary to ensure that they did so. The judicial engagement required to keep the political branches in check may be fraught with difficulty, but judges are duty-bound to make a disciplined, reason-guided effort to "say what the law is," keeping in mind that the democratic process is not an end in itself but rather a means to securing individual liberty. To decline this duty would not be an act of judicial modesty but of judicial abdication.

Rosen is correct that the Court should not decide Obergefell v. Hodges--or any case--on the basis of philosophical convictions or policy preferences without any constitutional foundation. But nor should it fail to give practical effect to any constitutional provision in any setting where it properly applies. When judges abdicate, we are left only with the self-restraint of politicians to safeguard our liberty--and experience past and present has shown that this is no restraint at all.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.
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MNsure chief to resign for another job

May 4, 2015, 8:17 am
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MNsure's chief executive is resigning from the health insurance exchange for another job, the Associated Press has learned. Reported by TwinCities.com 6 hours ago.
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How to Promote Breast Cancer Awareness When the Word "Breast" is "Indecent"

May 4, 2015, 10:21 am
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For generations, cancer was never openly talked about. Even 30 years ago, when I was in medical school in Dublin, I wasn't allowed to use the "C-word" with a patient. Likewise today, in my superstitious corner of the Arab world, you would never say the words "breast cancer." Because if you said it, you would surely get it.

After graduating from the Royal College of Surgeons in the late 1980s, I returned home to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to work in a government hospital. It was there, as a young intern, that I came face-to-face with women with advanced breast cancer, the likes of which I'd only ever seen in surgical textbooks of generations gone. It truly horrified me that a woman would let her disease progress to such an advanced state before seeking help. There were many reasons for this: a lack of awareness; a deep abiding fear as to what others might think; and for the most part -- modesty. These women did not want to expose their breasts to a male surgeon. It was these women, and in many cases their sad demise, that impelled me to specialize in the surgical treatment of breast cancer.

Once again I packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and off I went to the United Kingdom to train as a breast surgeon. After eight long years, I returned home, only to discover the need for breast cancer awareness, prevention and treatment to be even greater than when I'd left. I couldn't get the word "breast" put on my medical license (as in "Breast Surgeon"), as it's not a polite word in Arabic, and I even had some breast cancer educational materials confiscated by the post office as "indecent."

Breast cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world accounting for 1-in-4 of all cancers in women worldwide. We also know the more developed a country becomes, the more breast cancer we see. This is especially so in the Arabian Gulf and its pattern is particularly disturbing. In the West, 80 percent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, but in the Middle East, North Africa and Indian Subcontinent, it's at least a decade younger.

The reasons for this are not clear but the implications are these are our young women in their homes, perhaps with a young family; or in the work place, possibly in the peak of their careers when they are diagnosed with breast cancer. As a breast surgeon, these are the young women I see in my clinic every day -- our country's future.

Apart from my work as a breast surgeon, I clearly needed to raise the national consciousness about this disease. So, I started an awareness and education program which I ran in schools and colleges, ladies' clubs and in the work place. I produced (decent) educational videos, in several regional languages, which are for free distribution. All these efforts are to empower women with knowledge about their body and their health so they feel confident enough to go to a specialist if they ever find something wrong.

I also tried to create a real shift in the corporate culture here in the UAE when it comes to breast cancer, encouraging employers to provide their employees with healthcare benefits that include mammographic screening and to help their employees with breast cancer, who are on a very long and difficult treatment path, by being understanding and flexible and not firing them because they are sick.

Until a few years ago, cancer treatment was free at government hospitals for all legal residents of the UAE. This is not the case in Dubai and compulsory health insurance will not be fully implemented until the summer of 2016.

To address some of these local issues, I founded a charity called Brest Friends, whose mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer and to offer support for breast cancer patients by removing such barriers as limited or no health insurance, lack of transportation and childcare, or language and cultural differences. For the last 10 years, we have run the only breast cancer support group in Dubai where survivors meet once a month to learn, socialize and relax together and sometimes just to talk and eat chocolate.

And to complete the circle, Brest Friends recently partnered with the Al Jalila Foundation, a non-governmental organization established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai. Our joint mission is to promote early detection of breast cancer, facilitate medical treatment and, most importantly, set up and fund locally-based research into the epidemiology of breast cancer in our region.

Paradoxically, breast cancer has an inspirational side. This grassroots fight against the disease has taught me it can be combated, it is not always fatal, and that early detection and good medical care surely make a difference. I can honestly say that today I don't see as many advanced cases as I did as a young intern. Local women will come to me now and when I ask "what's the problem" -- they'll say, "Nothing, I just want to be checked."

This blog post is part of a series produced by The Huffington Post and *the one hundred*, in conjunction with the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Each year, *the one hundred* honors 100 Everyday Amazing individuals and groups -- caregivers, researchers, philanthropists, advocates and volunteers from around the globe -- who are celebrating hope and inspiring action in the cancer community. To see all other posts in the series, read here. For more information about *the one hundred*, read here. Do you know someone who's making a difference in the fight against cancer? Read here to nominate them for *the one hundred*.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.
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Why Health Insurers May Be Destined to Follow Blockbuster Into Irrelevance

May 4, 2015, 11:31 am
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Remember Blockbuster?

In its heyday -- which wasn't so long ago -- Blockbuster had 60,000 employees and 9,000 locations. For most Americans, for a minute anyway, it was the place to rent a movie. Then along came Netflix. And Redbox, which operates most of the movie-rental kiosks in convenience and grocery stores.

Before you knew it, Blockbuster was no longer a necessity. All of a sudden, it seemed, we could get the video entertainment we wanted faster and cheaper and, at least with Netflix, without having to leave the comfort of our homes. In 2010, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy, just 25 years after it was founded. By last year, the last of those 9,000 stores had closed.

What will be the next Blockbuster? It very well might be your health insurance company, says Steven Brill, the entrepreneur and journalist whose 26,000-word Time magazine cover story about the absurdly high costs of American health care captured the nation's attention two years ago.

"I see insurance companies as the weak players" in the U.S. health care system, Brill told me in a recent interview. By that he meant that insurers have become increasingly impotent middlemen in the battle to rein in health care costs.

"Aetna is Blockbuster," Brill wrote in his latest book, America's Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System.

He was quoting Ezekiel (Zeke) Emanuel, former health policy advisor in the Obama administration who is now a vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania.

Brill explained that what Emanuel meant "was that just as the video rental giant got overtaken by upheavals in how media is delivered, large insurers such as Aetna are going to be overtaken by changes in the structure and delivery of health care."

As Brill notes, many of those changes were set in motion by the Affordable Care Act, which is making it necessary for doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to work together more collaboratively. Increasingly, Medicare and other payers are reimbursing health care providers based on how well they care for us rather than on how many separate, billable things they do to us.

As a consequence, hospitals are having to operate more efficiently, which is leading to a consolidation in the industry. There were 95 mergers just last year alone. That's 44 percent more than in 2010, the year Congress passed health care reform.

The pace of consolidation among hospitals actually began to pick up in the years leading up to Obamacare. Hospitals started merging partly in response to rapid consolidation among health insurers. In 1985, the year Blockbuster was founded and the year I started my career in health care at a hospital in Tennessee, few people, including me, had ever heard of UnitedHealth. Today, as a result of a long string of acquisitions, UnitedHealth Group is the nation's largest insurer and, according to Fortune, the 14th largest U.S. company of any kind.

Aetna, Cigna, Humana and Anthem, the other big insurers, also bulked up through acquisitions. As they got bigger, they had more leverage with hospitals during annual negotiations that determined how much insurers would pay for medical services.

In self-defense, hospitals began to get bigger themselves. As a consequence, even UnitedHealth is now often forced to pay whatever the big hospital systems demand.

Not only have hospitals in many cases regained the upper hand during reimbursement negotiations, a growing number of them have started operating their own health plans.

"I think it's inevitable that most hospitals and hospital-based health care system will be selling their own insurance," Brill told me.

I agree. It's a "back to the future" phenomenon. The forerunner of today's Blue Cross companies started out as an insurance plan developed by Baylor Hospital in Dallas. And the hospital I worked for in Tennessee back in the '80s had its own HMO for a while. Many hospitals did. Most of them failed, however, because hospital executives didn't know as much as they thought they did about running an insurance company. The hospitals that are getting back into the insurance business today seem confident they won't repeat the mistakes of 30 years ago.

Consolidation among hospitals is creating oligopolies in many markets, but Brill doesn't believe that's necessarily bad, nor is he reflexively against hospitals becoming insurers. The disappearance of insurance companies--at least as we know them today--doesn't worry him. For one thing, today's health insurance company as middleman adds billions of dollars in administrative costs to the system that, theoretically, would go away when Aetna and the other firms go the way of Blockbuster.

The question becomes, 'How well will these oligopolies be regulated?'" Brill says. "How will I know, for example, that they won't skimp on my care?"

Hospitals will have to be regulated in ways they haven't been regulated before, he says. There will need to be standard-of-care regulations. And limits on profit margins.

Brill believes that if those and other regulations can be put in place, quality of care will go up and costs will come down. If they aren't, however, we may be worse off than we are now.

This post was published initially by the Center for Public Integrity. You can find more about Wendell Potter here.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.
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Endangered Species: The Self-Employed Middle Class

May 4, 2015, 11:29 am
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Endangered Species: The Self-Employed Middle Class Submitted by Charles Hugh-Smith of OfTwoMinds blog,

Including the professional class, perhaps 3% of the workforce is truly independent.

*Being self-employed (i.e. owning your own small business that does not require employees) is an integral part of the American Dream.* Many start out dreaming of a corner office in Corporate America, but as they move up the ladder, many become disillusioned by the process and the goal: do I really want to spend my life making big-shots even wealthier?
Bureaucracies (government and corporate) are safe sources of employment, but at a cost: they're often soul-deadening.
Many dream of making a living doing something they actually care about, and that often means striking out on your own, i.e. self-employment.

*This raises an interesting question: how many self-employed people in the U.S. actually earn a middle class income?* Since all the government statistics have a line at $50,000, and $50,000 might support a minimal middle class lifestyle in areas with a low cost of living, let's use $50,000 in annual income as our minimum.

*As you might expect, government agencies count jobs and self-employment in different ways, which makes sorting out the numbers difficult.* The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), for example, counts two types of self-employed, the unincorporated and the incorporated. The unincorporated may have employees, but typically do not, i.e. they are sole proprietors. The incorporated have employees, starting with the owner, as the BLS counts the incorporated self-employed as employees of their own corporation.
The analysts at Docstoc.com assembled a chart that counts only those sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations with no employees, i.e. the self-employed:The State of US Small Businesses.
They came up with a total number of all self-employed that earned at least $1,000 annually of 22.5 million, of which 3 million were partnerships or corporations. These are overwhelmingly professionals such as attorneys, accountants, physicians, consultants, entertainers, etc.
If we subtract the partnerships and corporations, there are 19.4 million sole proprietors.
*For context: there are about 141 million people in the U.S. with some sort of employment according to the BLS:* total nonfarm employment.
But this number includes tens of millions of part-time jobs and self-employed earning very little money. According to the BLS, there are about 121 million full-time jobs and 27.3 million part-time jobs.
*But how many of these jobs are marginal, i.e. earn less than $10,000 a year?* For that, we turn to the IRS data from tax returns (The Social Security Administration also compiles income statistics.)
*I prefer the statistics compiled by tax returns, as these numbers are verifiable and precise.* There is no seasonal adjustment of tax returns; there is an exact known number of tax returns with taxable income, i.e. net income after credits and deductions.
The IRS site Individual Statistical Tables by Size of Adjusted Gross Income offers a wealth of information that can be downloaded into Excel spreadsheets.
I am referring here to Table 1.1, All Returns: Selected Income and Tax Items for tax year 2012, (the most recent data available) and Table 1.4, All Returns: Adjusted Gross Income, Exemptions, Deductions, and Tax Items for tax year 2012.
*If we examine Table 1.1, we find there were about 145 million returns filed, and 93 million had taxable income after credits and deductions.* Roughly 46 million earned less than $20,000: 22 million workers earned less than $10,000, 35 million earned less than $15,000, and 46.5 million earned less than $20,000.
*While 19.4 million sole proprietors is a big number, it turns out most are side businesses that earn relatively little income.* 5.5 million earn less than $5,000 annually, 3.8 million net between $5,000 and $10,000, 5.7 million earn between $10,000 and $25,000, and another 3 million net between $25,000 and $50,000.
*Only 4.48 million self-employed earn $50,000 or more, and 3 million of those are partnerships or corporations, i.e. professionals such as CPAs, attorneys, etc.* That leaves leaves about 1.5 million people who aren't in the professional class (those with advanced degrees and professional licenses and credentials) who earn a middle class living as sole proprietors.
This is roughly 1% of the workforce of 145 million. It turns out *the non-professional self-employed that make enough to maintain a minimally middle class lifestyle are a razor-thin slice of the workforce.*
 
*Table 1.4, All Returns: Adjusted Gross Income, Exemptions, Deductions, and Tax Items is a treasure trove of telling statistics.* Information junkies will be in hog-heaven as soon as they open the spreadsheet, because these numbers cut through the fog of employment and income.
*As many of you know from previous entries on jobs, work, etc., I am self-employed and have no employees.* I am one of the 1% who earns more than $50,000 annually via self-employment who is not a licensed professional or equivalent. Since I have to file Schedule C tax returns, I am keenly aware of the deductions that are only available to sole proprietors/self-employed taxpayers.
*Only self-employed taxpayers get to deduct half of their healthcare insurance premiums.* You have to earn a fair sum to actually afford the sky-high costs of health insurance. We pay $15,300 per year for stripped-down healthcare coverage, which is more than the annual earnings of the bottom 35 million workers in the nation.
*Only 3.9 million taxpayers took the self-employed health insurance deduction.*That's a pretty good indicator of how many taxpayers are actually living solely on their income, that is, they don't have a spouse who has family healthcare coverage via being an employee for the government or a corporation.
*The number of taxpayers who took the deductible part of self-employment tax was 18.6 million.* This includes everyone with a net income from a business. According to the IRS tax data, 7.39 million taxpayers reported self-employment of $50,000 or more.
This is almost 3 million more people than counted in the infographic, which shows that it takes cross-checking various agency statistics to sort through all the data.
*This means roughly 5% of the workforce is self-employed and earns $50,000 or more annually.*
According to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis (FRED) data shown in The Decline of Self-Employment and Small Business (April 22, 2013), there are 5.5 million incorporated self-employed and 9.2 million unincorporated self-employed.
If we assume most of the incorporated self-employed are professionals, this leaves roughly 1.9 million non-professional self-employed who earn more than $50,000 annually (7.39 million - 5.5 million).
*However you figure it, there are less than 2 million non-professionals making a middle class living via self-employment.* That is roughly 1.5% of the 121 million full-time workers in the nation.
*I confess to being astonished at the tiny number of truly independent self-employed people in the U.S.* Only 3.9 million of us deduct our healthcare insurance, and only 7 million out of 145 million earn $50,000 or more--and on the left and right coasts, $50,000 is not a middle-class income--it is borderline poverty.
If we only counted the self-employed who earn enough to afford a minimally middle class lifestyle in high-cost urban zones such as greater New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, etc., the number declines to an even thinner slice of the workforce--no more than 4 or 5 million, depending on where you draw the line.
*It isn't easy to earn enough to afford a middle class life via self-employment.* Including the professional class, perhaps 3% of the workforce is truly independent. Reported by Zero Hedge 3 hours ago.
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Why Carly Fiorina Won't Survive The GOP Presidential Primary

May 4, 2015, 12:14 pm
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WASHINGTON -- Carly Fiorina is presenting herself as the anti-Hillary Clinton, a Republican businesswoman ideally positioned to take on the Democratic front-runner on women's issues in the general election. But the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, who announced her campaign for president on Monday, has in the past held a series of liberal-to-moderate positions that could threaten to derail her bid for the White House before she even makes it out of the GOP primary.

Fiorina, who is the first woman to lead a Fortune 100 company, ran for Senate in California in 2009 by pledging to revive a shattered U.S. economy. She lost to incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer (D), but not before staking out moderate positions in an effort to appeal to the state's liberal electorate. Although Fiorina does not support marriage equality, she believes that same-sex couples ought to have the same government benefits as heterosexual couples. She also holds a relatively moderate stance on immigration, similar to that of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), by supporting a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants.

But it's Fiorina's record as economic adviser to then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain in 2008 that could really come back to haunt her. Addressing the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis that year, Fiorina touted McCain's cap-and-trade plan, a toxic proposal in today's Republican Party.

"John McCain will create a cap-and-trade system that will encourage the development of alternative energy sources. He will help advance clean coal technology, and nuclear power. And all of this will both create jobs and lower the cost of energy," Fiorina said of the plan, a market-based approach to curb carbon emissions emitted by businesses.

Two years later, in her campaign against liberal environmentalist Boxer, Fiorina abandoned cap-and-trade as a means to curb the harmful effects of climate change. An ad from Fiorina's campaign claimed Boxer's proposal -- which was similar to McCain's --"would take already painful jobless numbers and make them dramatically worse."

While Fiorina hasn't denied the link between human activity and global warming, as many of her fellow Republican presidential contenders have, she recently blamed environmentalists and climate regulations for what she called a "man-made" drought in California.

As McCain's adviser, Fiorina also defended the $700 billion TARP bailout for Wall Street banks in the midst of the 2008 recession. The bailout, the former CEO said in an appearance on Fox News, "was, unfortunately, necessary because credit is tight for hardworking Americans and small businesses."

"So something had to be done to loosen the credit freeze. And, in fact, it appears to be working thus far. While the stock market plummeted today on fears of an economic slowdown or recession, fundamentally, we can see the credit is loosening. That is a bit of good news," she added.

Two years later, again in her Senate campaign, she came out against government bailouts. But the remarks on behalf of McCain could prove especially damaging because they were recorded on video -- an easy medium to use by the campaigns of her conservative rivals, many of whom either opposed or remained silent on TARP.

In 2009, Fiorina praised President-elect Barack Obama for making "very good appointments" to his economic team tasked with resuscitating the U.S. economy, which she described as having a "lot of credibility."

Following the president's election, Fiorina called for "comprehensive immigration reform so that the United States continues to attract entrepreneurs, risk-takers and hardworking people from all over the world." She also later came out in support of the DREAM Act, a legislative proposal offering college-age undocumented immigrants legal status, because, she explained, "I do not believe that we can punish children who through no fault of their own are here trying to live the American dream."

Another bone of contention for conservatives could be Fiorina's remarks on liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. As a Senate candidate in 2009, Fiorina told a group of conservative journalists that she probably would have voted to confirm Sotomayor to the court, explaining that she “does not believe in litmus tests” for judicial nominees. Interestingly, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another potential 2016 contender, also gave Sotomayor his stamp of approval by voting to confirm the justice.

One debate where Fiorina and Clinton once found some agreement is whether health insurance plans should cover prescription birth control. Speaking with reporters at a breakfast in Washington, D.C., in 2008, Fiorina proposed "a real, live example which I've been hearing a lot about from women: There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice." Fiorina has changed her rhetoric since then, telling attendees at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference that women "had plenty of access to birth control both before and after" the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision.

Fiorina's rocky tenure as CEO will likely also become an issue in the primary. Already on Monday, the morning of her official campaign announcement, a website (carlyfiorina.org) registered by someone other than her campaign mocked her record of mass layoffs at the company with a series of sad emoticons.-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
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Colorado health insurance exchange fixing system without CTO on board

May 4, 2015, 1:15 pm
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State health insurance exchange officials say the overhaul of their online enrollment system is proceeding on track, despite the recent departure of the chief technology officer. Reported by Denver Post 1 hour ago.
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Rosen: Liberals Should Worry That Supreme Court Will Protect Too Much Liberty

May 4, 2015, 6:47 pm
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There was much discussion of "dignity" at the Supreme Court last Tuesday, as the court heard oral argument in the same-sex marriage case Obergefell v. Hodges. Some supporters of same-sex marriage found this discussion encouraging. But law professor Jeffrey Rosen, writing at The Atlantic, solemnly warns readers that a decision reached on the basis of "dignity" might be a "dangerous" one for those who champion "progressive legislation." According to Rosen, "the roots of the right to dignity in constitutional text, history, and tradition" are uncertain, and a dignity-based decision "may produce far-reaching consequences that [progressives] will later have cause to regret."

It is true that the Supreme Court has no business deciding constitutional cases on the basis of concepts that cannot be grounded in constitutional "text, history, [or] tradition." But Rosen's criticism of "dignity" sweeps more broadly: By the end of his article, he is disparaging the judicial protection of a right that is expressly affirmed in the text of the Constitution. Everyone who believes that Americans are entitled to the full measure of freedom that the Constitution guarantees should resist this case for reflexive judicial restraint, which is profoundly hostile to liberty.

At first blush, Rosen's case against dignity appears to be informed by originalism -- the view that the Constitution has a fixed, determinable meaning that judges must enforce. Thus, Rosen criticizes the use of dignity in constitutional analysis on the grounds that "the kind of liberties that the Framers had in mind ... were very different, and far more specific, than the broad right to be free to define your own identity without being demeaned by the state or by fellow citizen." He approvingly cites Justice Antonin Scalia's bitter dissent in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the case in which the Supreme Court (properly) invalidated a criminal ban on same-sex intimacy, arguing that "[Scalia's] question about why the state's police power to protect public morals -- taken for granted from the founding era until the Lawrence case -- was suddenly a violation of the Constitution remains valid and unanswered."

But as Rosen's argument proceeds, it becomes apparent that he is less concerned with whether dignity has any legitimate role in constitutional analysis than with whether embracing it as a constitutional value might incline judges to protect more liberty than he prefers. His very first example of legislation that might be endangered by dignity is telling: gun-control laws. As the Supreme Court correctly held in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Second Amendment was designed specifically to protect the individual right to keep and bear arms for the purposes of self-defense. Dignity aside, in order to give effect to the Second Amendment, judges must evaluate and, if necessary, set aside gun-control laws.

The suspicion that Rosen's criticism of dignity is calculated to support a broader argument for reflexive judicial restraint in constitutional cases finds further support in Rosen's second example: the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. Per Rosen, "Libertarian groups ... argue[d] that the Obamacare healthcare mandate unconstitutionally violated the dignity and autonomy of Americans by forcing them to buy health insurance." But the leading constitutional argument of libertarian groups was not based on an abstract "right to dignity." Rather, it was based on the text of Article I, specifically the Commerce Clause, which delegates to Congress limited authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Rosen gives the game up, however, when he takes comfort in the fact that "the liberal justices seemed drawn to the idea that marriage is a fundamental right that must be expanded to all citizens on equal terms." Rosen explains, "A decision along those lines ... might be easier to confine to cases involving marriage." Not a word about whether the right to marry is in fact protected by the Constitution properly understood. In the final analysis it seems Rosen's primary agenda is to confine judicial discretion rather than ascertain the meaning of the Constitution.

Rosen's prioritization of judicial restraint over enforcement of the Constitution's guarantees has intellectual roots that can be traced back to the late 19th century. Progressive jurists (including Louis Brandeis, of whom Rosen is a great admirer) saw reflexive judicial restraint as a means of enabling comprehensive social and economic reforms that the Constitution had been (properly) interpreted to thwart. Later, conservative jurists appalled by the perceived "activism" of the Warren court would advocate judicial restraint as a means of preventing an overly ambitious judiciary from invalidating regulations of social life.

But these advocates of judicial restraint misunderstood the role of the judiciary in our constitutional republic. The framers believed that the political branches could not be trusted to stay within constitutional limits and established an independent judiciary to ensure that they did so. The judicial engagement required to keep the political branches in check may be fraught with difficulty, but judges are duty-bound to make a disciplined, reason-guided effort to "say what the law is," keeping in mind that the democratic process is not an end in itself but a means to securing individual liberty. To decline this duty would be an act not of judicial modesty but of judicial abdication.

Rosen is correct that the Supreme Court should not decide Obergefell v. Hodges -- or any case -- on the basis of philosophical convictions or policy preferences without any constitutional foundation. But nor should it fail to give practical effect to any constitutional provision in any setting where it properly applies. When judges abdicate, we are left only with the self-restraint of politicians to safeguard our liberty -- and experience past and present has shown that this is no restraint at all.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.
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Hot market for health insurer M&A bodes well for Assurant Health; future of employees still in doubt

May 4, 2015, 4:07 pm
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Milwaukee-based Assurant Health — which will either be sold or closed by its parent company— could be acquired by another insurer but even then, questions would remain about the future of the company’s downtown headquarters and its 1,200 employees. Assurant Inc., New York City, announced April 28 that it has retained Barclays Capital to find a buyer for the health insurance business. If a buyer cannot be found, Assurant Inc. executives said the company will close Assurant Health by the end… Reported by bizjournals 23 hours ago.
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HIPAA Compliant Texting Service from MedXcom now available for Policyholders

May 5, 2015, 12:17 am
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Texting has become a common and integral part of society, so it is no surprise that some physicians text as a way to communicate with patients and other healthcare providers. As always, we urge providers who are doing so to assure medical records are updated after patient interaction.

Woodbridge, NJ (PRWEB) May 05, 2015

Texting has become a common and integral part of society, so it is no surprise that some physicians text as a way to communicate with patients and other healthcare providers. As always, we urge providers who are doing so to assure medical records are updated after patient interaction.

Texting does not come without risk! When providers transmit protected health information (PHI), or even have PHI stored on their mobile devices, they run the risk of violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and becoming subject to hefty fines.

To protect themselves, physicians should ensure that they are not storing unencrypted PHI on mobile devices, or transmitting unencrypted PHI through texts or emails. There are a number of products and services available to help reduce your exposure to HIPAA and other privacy breaches, and they can vary in capability and price.

For our physicians who are texting with patients or with other providers about patients, we have arranged with MedXcom to make their HIPAA compliant secure texting platform free to all of our policyholders.

To take advantage of this free service, please link to their website: http://www.MedX.Com, and click on the Conventus logo on their home page.

Who We Are
Conventus is New Jersey’s leading physician-owned and governed medical professional liability insurance company dedicated to you and your practice. With our in-demand, highly valued services, Conventus protects the reputation, assets, and future of groups in formation and practices of every size. We have a network of resources to help our members maintain the best practice of medicine while managing the emerging business of medicine. http://www.conventusnj.com/ Reported by PRWeb 14 hours ago.
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Buckeye Health Plan Announces New Chief Executive Officer

May 5, 2015, 5:05 am
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Bruce Hill Brings More Than 28 Years of Healthcare Experience to Buckeye

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) May 05, 2015

Buckeye Health Plan (BHP) is pleased to announce Bruce Hill as the new CEO and plan president of Buckeye Health Plan. Hill, known for growing and enhancing health organizations, assumes the position immediately.

Hill has more than 28 years of healthcare leadership experience from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, from managed care to large health care provider systems. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of HealthPlus of Michigan, a health plan serving the Medicaid, Medicare and commercial markets that experienced significant growth and received top state and national rankings for quality and service.

“I am excited to assume the position of president at Buckeye Health Plan,” said Hill. “What I see at Buckeye are great people that are dedicated to serving Ohioans and strengthening our communities. Buckeye has experienced amazing growth and is positioned for even greater future success. It is an honor to lead the Buckeye Health Plan in transforming the health of our communities, one person at a time.”

“Buckeye Health Plan conducted an extensive search for the right candidate for this position,” says Steve White, senior vice president, Centene Health Plans. “Bruce Hill will be a strong leader who will position Buckeye for continued growth and exciting challenges. Buckeye has grown to include almost 300,000 members since it began providing services in Ohio, and we fully believe Bruce is the right person to provide innovative ways to continue the growth trend while providing quality health care at Buckeye.”

Hill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Masters of Health Services Administration, both from the University of Michigan. He is an Executive Leadership Fellow with the Northwestern University/AHIP program.

Buckeye Health Plan’s former CEO and president, Steve White, has accepted a new role as senior vice president of Health Plans with Buckeye’s parent group, Centene Corporation. In this role, White has oversight of six state health plans, including Buckeye Health Plan.

About Buckeye Health Plan
Buckeye Health Plan is a managed care plan that has been providing services in Ohio since 2004. Buckeye is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services. Information regarding Buckeye Health Plan is available via the Internet at http://www.buckeyehealthplan.com. Buckeye can be followed on Twitter as Buckeye_Health.

About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long Term Care (LTC), in addition to other state-sponsored/hybrid programs and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services. More information regarding Centene is available at http://www.centene.com. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.
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UnitedHealth Widens Telehealth Coverage To Millions Of Americans

May 5, 2015, 7:47 am
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UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is offering the widest health insurance coverage yet of doctor visits via telemedicine, offering access to three different medical care provider networks that connect physicians and patients via smart phone, tablet or computer. UnitedHealth, the nation’s largest health insurer says 20 million Americans could access telemedicine and receive coverage [...] Reported by Forbes.com 7 hours ago.
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HII Simplifies Health Insurance Purchasing with AgileHealthInsurance.com

May 5, 2015, 7:04 am
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TAMPA, Fla., May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIIQ) (HII), a leading developer of affordable health plans, today announced its newest line of business, AgileHealthInsurance.com. AgileHealthInsurance.com is a pioneering website that makes it easy... Reported by PR Newswire 8 hours ago.
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CheckPoint HR Introduces Choice Connect

May 5, 2015, 7:12 am
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This extension of its CheckPoint Choice® private exchange and employee benefit marketplace integrates with any payroll system for unprecedented efficiency and data accuracy.

Edison, New Jersey (PRWEB) May 05, 2015

Employee benefit and human resource innovator CheckPoint HR, Inc. today introduced Choice Connect®, an employee benefit marketplace and private exchange that can integrate with any payroll system for unprecedented efficiency and data accuracy.

“This product extension substantially broadens the market for CheckPoint Choice®, enabling any employer to utilize our robust online enrollment and employee benefit marketplace technology—regardless of their payroll system,” said Jim Pugliese, chief executive officer of CheckPoint HR. “Today’s launch strengthens our competitive outlook and positions CheckPoint HR for rapid growth in the months ahead.”

A connected solution for employee benefits selection, open enrollment self-service, life-event updates, and voluntary product selection, CheckPoint HR’s benefit platform can be configured for an employer’s individual needs. The employer chooses which medical plans, voluntary benefits and lifestyle products to offer and how much the company will contribute. Employees then log in and shop for the benefit package that is right for them.

“Integrating employee benefit and payroll systems enables businesses to improve data accuracy, reduce inconsistencies and eliminate data duplication between the payroll and employee benefit functions,” said Don Cohen, chief technology officer and chief operating offer of CheckPoint HR. “This represents an unprecedented opportunity for companies of all sizes to enjoy the benefits of one synchronized data set for employee benefits, HR and payroll.”

Integration between payroll and employee benefit systems provides a significant advantage because indicative data such as employee name, address, employment status, compensation rates, benefits, dependents and job details are essential to both systems. Events such as new hires, promotions, status changes, and terminations must also be updated and accurately maintained across both systems. When an individual selects a health insurance plan through a private exchange, for example, the employee contribution is automatically deducted from his or her pay through the payroll system.

The private exchange and benefit management platform offers a robust set of features, including:·     Carriers and plans selected by the employer
·     Support for all contribution strategies, including defined contribution
·     Employee self-service
·     All-inclusive pricing

CheckPoint HR is a technology innovator that unifies HR, employee benefits and payroll through one technology-driven program, eliminating unnecessary expenses and empowering clients to manage employee administration at peak efficiency.

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About CheckPoint HR
A total employee benefit and human resource solutions provider, CheckPoint HR empowers businesses of all sizes to save money and administrative resources while offering more choice and flexibility to employees. Our expert employee benefit team offers unrivaled expertise in employee benefit strategy, selection and administration. Our proprietary insurance marketplace, CheckPoint Choice, delivers a full-service private exchange that is affordable and easy to manage. Our technology fully automates the HR and employee benefits process from recruitment through retirement. Collaborating with our employee benefit and human resource experts, CheckPoint’s software developers incorporated key industry best practices into a compliance-aware rules engine that takes the guesswork out of employee benefits and HR. The result is efficiency, accuracy, risk mitigation and significant cost savings. To learn more, visit http://www.checkpointhr.com. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
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Five things Massachusetts needs to do to improve health insurance

May 5, 2015, 8:38 am
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Massachusetts may be doing a good job of insuring its residents, but the cost of health care is still presenting a barrier to many people trying to utilize their coverage or pay their bills, according to a report released on Tuesday. The findings, reported by the Center for Health Information and Analysis and collected by the Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey, show the state is doing a good job insuring its residents — 96 percent of Massachusetts residents were insured, compared to the national… Reported by bizjournals 6 hours ago.
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10 Ways Women's Lives Have Changed For The Better Since 2005

May 5, 2015, 10:23 am
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When it comes to women's equality, we tend to focus on historical victories and present-day battles. We search for answers in the past to solve riddles of the future, often forgetting how lucky we are today.

As The Huffington Post celebrates its 10th anniversary, we've decided to reflect upon the remarkable progress achieved in women's equality since 2005.

*Here are 10 ways American women's lives have changed for the better since 2005:**1. More women have access to higher quality health care.*
The passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 marked impressive gains in women's health. Insurers are now required to cover many "preventive services" particularly important to women, including birth control, mammograms, STI screenings and mental health support. The health care law is the first to protect against discrimination based on sex -- and more recently -- on gender identity. The law even requires most health insurance companies to provide breast pumps for new mothers.

In 2005, women required a prescription from a doctor to purchase emergency contraceptive. In 10 years, availability has progressed from over-the-counter access for women over 18 in 2009 to unrestricted access when the FDA lifted age restrictions in 2013.

*2. Women's representation in Congress is higher than it's ever been.*
On the night of November 5, 2014, North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams became the 100th woman in the 113th Congress -- marking the first time in history that the number of women in Congress reached triple digits. The 2014 midterm elections resulted in the highest number of women serving in Congress ever. Utah Senator Mia Love became the first African American woman Republican elected to Congress.

The number of women in the House and Senate rose from 81 in 2005 to 104 in 2015, an increase from 15.1 percent of seats to an all-time high of 19.4 percent. Despite slow growth in Congress, a decade has done a lot for women at the highest levels of government: Condoleeza Rice became the first woman appointed to Secretary of State in 2005 (succeeded by Hillary Clinton in 2009), and Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2007. And Hillary Clinton just might become president.

*3. The FBI codified a more inclusive definition of rape.*
Unchanged since 1927, the definition of rape in 2005 per the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program was "the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will." The narrow, outdated language produced a lack of uniformity among law enforcement and made countless victims reluctant to report their assaults. As of 2013, the definition acknowledges that men can be raped and the possibility that victims can be coerced into sexual behavior without physical force.

Notably, the new definition recognizes that rape is rape even if the victim doesn't, or can't, say no. The FBI's definition now officially "includes instances in which the victim is incapable of giving consent" for whatever reason.

*4. The Supreme Court struck down the Defense Of Marriage Act, same-sex marriage is legal in 37 states, and the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage seems like it could be on the horizon. *
In 2005, activists and allies were trying to chip away at a 1996 law enacted to prohibit federal recognition of same-sex marriages. In 2013, it finally came tumbling down: In Windsor v. United States, the Supreme Court declared section 3 of the Defense Of Marriage Act unconstitutional. In states where same-sex marriages are recognized, women who marry women now receive the 1,100 protections of marriage formerly denied to them.

As of 2015, 37 states protect the right of same-sex couples to marry. Last week, the Court began considering whether the Constitution guarantees the right of gay and lesbian Americans to marry. If the Justices rule in favor of same-sex couples -- as they are widely expected to -- the decision would overturn state bans on same-sex marriage.

*5. Women's equality in the workplace has improved -- along with our ability to fight for it.*
President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act in 2009, which allows women to file equal pay lawsuits agains their employers up to six months after receiving their last paycheck. Prior to 2007, women had to allege pay discrimination within six months of their first paycheck. By allowing female employers more time to acknowledge sex discrimination, choose to act and build a legal case, the Lilly Ledbetter Act should discourage employers from sneakily underpaying women for the same work.

In 2005, women who were treated poorly by their employer after coming forward about a sexual harassment situation -- or supporting a colleague who did so -- had little ability to take legal action. Today, that sort of treatment is illegal. A 2006 Supreme Court case affirmed that a woman did not need to be explicitly fired after making a sexual harassment claim to legally accuse her employer of retaliating against her. Now, any "adverse employment decision or treatment" that could dissuade women (and men) from bringing or supporting a sexual harassment claim is grounds for legal action.

In March, Ellen Pao sued her former employer, a venture capital firm, for gender discrimination. The LAWSUIT [case] was a national story[, demonstrating to a mass audience that an employer firing an employee for any reason related to her gender is illegal]CUT. The jury ruled in favor of Pao's employer, but the case shed a harsh light on the dark corners of sexism and how it manifests in women's everyday lives.

*6. The entertainment industry finally started to recognize that women are consumers of pop culture, want to see our experiences represented, and are pretty good at tell those stories for ourselves.*
In 2011, "Bridesmaids" passed the Bechdel Test with flying colors and also made a ton of money, reminding the movie mogul boy's club that women want to see really great movies -- and can also write them. In 2009, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Best Director category of the Academy Awards. When it comes to the small screen, women have stepped out from sitcom ensembles throughout the past nine years to stand front and center in critically acclaimed series like "30 Rock,""Parks and Recreation,""Homeland,""Girls,""Orange Is The New Black,""Scandal," Veep""The Minday Project,""The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,""Transparent," Grey's Anatomy" and countless others.

*7. The military lifted its ban on women serving in direct ground combat roles, allowing more women to pursue more units and allowing for the recognition of those who'd long been engaged in combat. *
The U.S. lifted its ban on women serving in combat roles in January of 2013. "The time has come to rescind the direct combat exclusion rule for women and to eliminate all unnecessary gender-based barriers to service,” wrote Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta. The Department of Defense rescinded the 1994 rule in 2013, providing access to 237,000 positions previously closed to women, who make up 15 percent of the U.S. military.

Between two protracted conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, many women were effectively serving in combat in 2005. Today, they receive the recognition and support they deserve.

*8. Young, single women caught up to their male peers in large cities -- and then some.*
As of 2010, young, urban, childless women in their 20s make on average 8 percent more money than men in the same demographic. In New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego, women's lead hovers around 15 percent. Analysts attribute the "reverse pay gap" to education: for every three women earning a college or higher degree, only two men have earned the same qualifications. In cities with knowledge-based industries where education is key, women have fared pretty well since 2005.

Women's influence extends beyond purchasing power -- in 2008 and 2012, women made up 53 percent of the voting bloc -- effectively choosing the president in 2012.

*9. We see more and more women at the top of their fields, actively paving the way for the next generation. *
Today, 51 of the world's top 1000 companies are run by women. The number of female CEOs running a Fortune 1000 company is up from just 29 in 2005. The numbers are rising slowly, but the increased visibility of women in business, tech and media since 2005 had likely made a difference. As Sheryl Sandberg -- herself a bellwether in her field -- says: "You can't be what you can't see."

In April, Loretta Lynch became the first African American woman to serve as a U.S. attorney general. Marissa Mayer and Sheryl Sandberg lead tech companies with considerable cultural influence. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the unofficial badass of the Supreme Court. Shonda Rhimes basically owns television and Hillary Clinton might be the most qualified person to run for president in decades, if not ever. There certainly has been movement for the better since 2005.

*10. Women's voices and experiences are better represented in the media -- especially online -- bringing new weight to the term "lady blog." *
Ten years ago, one would have had to subscribe to an alt-weekly or a feminist print mag like Bust or Bitch to get the type of incisive cultural commentary on women's issues that now fills our Facebook feeds. Jessica and Vanessa Valenti founded Feministing in 2004 to provide a "bold, snarky voice for young feminists in the media." Jezebel launched in 2007. And HuffPost Women launched in 2011. As the number of outlets specializing in this coverage area began to grow, so did the appetite for it.

Women's magazines were never simply the vapid handbooks critics long lamented to them to be, but as new feminist publications drew attention political and cultural issues affecting women -- and social media allowed millions to speak to how these issues impact their lives -- any publication that claimed "women" as a demographic took on a harder edge, and for the better. In 2014 -- after a considerable expansion of its political coverage -- Cosmopolitan announced it would endorse candidates for political office based on their support for women. From Elle to Glamour, traditional "lady mags" are meeting demand for content that covers the breadth of what it means to be a woman.

Here at HuffPost Women, we try to do the same -- elevating women's voices and letting them tell their stories in their own words -- from wearing bikinis to overcoming addiction.

The amplification of women's voices in the last 10 years is critical to the battles of the next 10, 20, 50 and and so on. To all the badass women who made the past decade one for the herstory books, we ***bowdown.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.
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