Four Great Ways to Save Money on Dental Care as ACA Deadline Nears

January 26, 2016, 12:02 pm

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The Dental Solutions Blog is designed to help Americans improve their overall oral health and save money on their dental care. These four tips from the blog are designed to help those without traditional dental benefits save on their dental care in 2016 and beyond.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (PRWEB) January 26, 2016

As the Jan. 31 deadline approaches to enroll in a health insurance plan on Affordable Care Act exchanges, 40 percent of Americans begin 2016 with no dental insurance.

That’s more than three times higher than those who will start the year without health coverage. There are many reasons people decide to go without dental care insurance, including: high costs, price confusion, fear of dentists and lack of accessibility, but just like health care, neglecting oral health can be painful and expensive.

This is where the Dental Solutions blog is designed to help. Located at edentalsolutions.com/blog, it serves as a dental industry leader in educating Americans on oral-health issues and ways to save on dental care.

“From seniors to college students to our neighbors, friends and family, we all know someone putting off going to the dentist due to the expense,” said Kim Sharbatz, editor-in-chief of the Dental Solutions Blog. “We hope these tips can help everyone save on their dental care and lead them down the road to improving their oral health in 2016 and beyond.”

Four great ways to save money on your dental care:

Discount Dental Plans – These are not insurance plans. They offer discounts from 20 to 50 percent on most dental procedures for a small monthly fee. The only requirement is that you utilize a participating network dentist, similar to most health insurance plans. Among one of the best is the Dental Solutions Discount Plan, which has one of the largest networks in country and some of the best discounts available. One plan includes an entire family unlike its major competitors.

Dental Schools – They often offer free or discounted services to the public.
Students are supervised by licensed dentists and are in their final years of schooling. The downside is speed since students have to carefully check their work and might need several visits to complete a procedure. To find a dental school, visit the American Dental Association or for dental hygiene schools visit the American Hygienists’ Association.

Dental Clinics – Many clinics base prices on your ability to pay or have sliding fees. Most state government websites have detailed list to locate these clinics.

Charitable Organizations – The Give Back a Smile (GBAS) program and Oral Health America are great resources to help get dental care to those in need. Your local United Way is also an excellent resource.

“These tips for saving on your dental care and improving your oral hygiene are not substitutes for proper daily dental care,” Sharbatz said. “Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and visit a dentist at least every six months. If you lack a traditional dental benefit, consider purchasing a discount dental card, like the Dental Solutions card. It can help you or your family save 20 to 50 percent on your dental care for a small monthly fee. There are no limits on use and everyone is accepted.”

About Dental Solutions
Dental Solutions is a discount dental plan that provides discounts of 20 to 50 percent on most dental procedures for you and your household for a small monthly fee. It is a great way for anyone without a traditional dental benefit to save on their dental care including seniors, college students, independent business owners and more. In addition, it hosts the Dental Solutions blog for the general public and its membership. The blog specializes in educating the community about the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene and oral health. It’s a one-stop shop for the latest trends and news on these subjects. Visit edentalsolutions.com for more details.

(1) http://www.nadp.org/Dental_Benefits_Basics/Dental_BB_1.aspx

Source: Dental Solutions Reported by PRWeb 15 hours ago.

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What We Know: Uninsured young adults face bigger fines

January 26, 2016, 12:17 pm

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The price tag for taking a pass on health insurance is going up. Reported by MyNorthwest.com 15 hours ago.

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What Cancer Taught Me About Business

January 26, 2016, 1:02 pm

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About 16 years ago I was lying under a bench press in the basement gym of my parent's home when I felt a lump about the size of a golf ball. I was not the least bit alarmed - lumps are normal when living a very active lifestyle. It wasn't until about six months later when I was in Houston, Texas having a completely unrelated surgery that I found out that little lump was in fact, a tumor and I had a very advanced level of stage three Non-Hodgkin's Disease Lymphoma. My life changed forever with that diagnosis, as did my approach to marketing, relationships, and sales. Below are a few lessons I've learned by joining the 10-year survivor club.
*
When Given the Opportunity, Laugh:* Many of the worst business decisions that I have seen came at juncture where someone could have taken a moment, a breath, and laughed at the situation and tried to regain composure. Often times, business people take themselves and the situations they are involved with too seriously and forget about the reason they went into business. Suddenly the bills pile up, health insurance costs rise and your best-selling product goes off the market. There is nothing funny about any of that. But, there is something funny about life and no matter how tough it gets - if you're reading this - you're still breathing. There is someone who loves you and there is something to laugh about. Take a moment to walk outside breathe in deep and be thankful for the minutes you have been blessed with. Don't let the little things throw off your game, find the humor in that spilled cup of coffee, power outage, or employee fiasco. A little laughter can lighten the mood and re-energize your situation.

*Live in a World of Mutual Admiration:* I have a close friend named Dr. Bruce. He is one of the most fascinating and inspiring people I have ever met. He has traveled the globe; discovered insects that no one ever knew existed, and worked with my childhood hero - Jane Goodall. One day Dr. Bruce and I were talking and I told him how much I appreciate his friendship and how much I respect his work. He responded by complimenting me on a few traits that I carry and then said, "David, I think you and I live in a world of mutual admiration." His statement was very true and it's a world that I have found quite beneficial to live in. In fact, I consider it a lifestyle choice where I choose to find the best qualities in people, expect the best from them and do not expect to get hurt by them. It has resulted in countless relationships that I hold close to my heart and yes, a few heartbreaks. People often tell me that I need to prepare for the worst, or if a business deal goes bad that I should have been more realistic. I choose to ignore that advice and instead believe that most people are great, faithful, and caring. Very seldom am I let down. When I apply this lifestyle choice to business decisions and marketing I have found that my business relationships become deeper longer lasting, and my connections more amicable to introducing me to other folks I may need to network with. I try to tell people what I appreciate about them and I have yet to have offering a compliment come back to haunt me.
*
Be nice, and honest, tomorrow may not come:* I was almost 20 when the first needle that was delivering a toxic dose of chemo pierced the bulging vein on my left hand. It stung and felt like that first treatment would never end - but eventually, it did. The following week my oncologist informed me that that first dose was working well and he suspected I would survive. Until that point, I really did not know. My parents only knew that their youngest son was full of cancer and his and their lives were about to change forever. It was underneath that bag of chemicals that I had time to think about and decide how this experience would affect my life. The decision I made was that I would do my best to always offer value to any relationship I entered into (business or personal) and that since tomorrow may not come, I better work my hardest to make sure today is memorable. I also decided that since the "Big Man in the Sky" was granting me another breath, it would be my responsibility to share the life lessons I learned with those folks willing to listen. Now I apply those lessons to my work life, my speaking career, and my personal life. Always be honest and always be nice, tomorrow might not come and you never know who the person knows that you're about to lie to.

Cancer was one of the best things that ever happened to me. At 19 years old, I was able to learn lessons that nothing else in life could have taught me. Lucky for me I survived and am still surviving and just hope that the three lessons above help you with your next business pursuit.

-- 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 14 hours ago.

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Low-income NYers benefit most from state health-care market

January 26, 2016, 1:28 pm

≫ Next: Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley talk it out in Des Moines Monday

≪ Previous: What Cancer Taught Me About Business

Low-income New Yorkers are the biggest beneficiaries of the state's health insurance marketplace, according to the latest figures from the state Department of Health. Reported by Newsday 14 hours ago.

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Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley talk it out in Des Moines Monday

January 26, 2016, 8:10 pm

≫ Next: United States: Drug Costs, Risk Adjustment Drive Q2 Health Insurance Rate Increases - Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

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Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton met for a town hall in Des Moines, Iowa Monday night to answer why they are the right choice to be commander-in-chief of the U.S. Here's a recap of what you may have missed from Drake University.

*Clinton plays towards young voters*

CNN moderator Chris Cuomo began his interview session with Clinton, who went third behind Sanders and O'Malley, by reviewing her rather significant week -- she received endorsements from the Des Moines Register and Boston Globe and received glowing praise from president Barack Obama in an exclusive interview with Politico, calling her "wicked smart" and saying she "knows every policy inside out."

But the Des Moines Register endorsement also brought criticism. The editorial said Clinton is "not a perfect candidate" and that she hasn't seemed to learn to admit when she makes a mistake, a point of criticism she told Cuomo was fair. And others know there isn't unified support for Clinton, either. One audience member that spoke to Clinton acknowledged younger Americans' support for Sanders and wanted her to address why they didn't share the same enthusiasm for her.

"There are very different visions, different values, different forces at work," Clinton said. "And you have to have somebody who is a proven, proven fighter. Somebody who has taken them on and won and kept going, and will do that as president. That's why I hope you'll reconsider."

Nonetheless, nothing stood out about Clinton during her time at the town hall more than her confidence, an attribute each candidate exhibited Monday night at Drake University. She delved into Benghazi, Israel, Islamophobia and even the Civil War with more knowledge and wit than Sanders or O'Malley demonstrated all night. It was clear her experience as First Lady, Secretary of State and New York senator have prepared her for -- if elected -- the presidency.

*Sanders pushed to limit by moderator, audience questions*

Cuomo asked the Vermont senator to respond to criticism his "Medicare for All" plan has received: raising taxes.

"The criticism is, to pay for this, what you're really asking for is one of the biggest tax hikes in history," Cuomo said.

Sanders said the criticism was unfair.

"If you are paying now $10,000 a year to a private health insurance company and I say to you, hypothetically, you're going to pay $5,000 more in taxes -- or actually less than that, but you're not going to pay any more private health insurance, are you going to be complaining about the fact that I've saved you $5,000 in your total bills?" he asked.

Cuomo repeated the question.

"But just to be clear, you are going to raise taxes to do this?," Cuomo asked.

"Yes... we will raise taxes, yes, we will," Sanders conceded.

He was also asked by an audience member to address his comfortability in the term "socialist," a term that, according to the audience member, Sanders has sometimes embraced. He responded to this request, too.

"What Democratic Socialism means to me in its essence, is that we cannot continue to have a government dominated by the billionaire class, and a congress that continues to work for the interest of the people on top while ignoring working families," he answered confidently.

"What this campaign is about, and what I believe, is creating a government that works for all of us, not just a handful of people on the top. That's my definition of Democratic Socialism."

But still, many of Sanders' detractors use "democratic socialism" as a point of criticism. Ben Verhassle, a 22-year-old student at Drake University and a Sanders supporter, said he believes the 74-year-old candidate would benefit by finding different words to express the same message.

"If anything in the entire world, he's consistent," he said, "but I think, even in the audience and even me as a Bernie supporter, I would just love to hear him find new verbiage for those issues he's so passionate about."

Sanders' message for a political revolution in America seemed to resonate with the Des Moines audience, and led up to the Democratic candidate lowest in the polls: former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley.

*O'Malley poised, in to win*

O'Malley polled at two percent Monday before the town hall -- 36 points behind Sanders and 50 points behind Clinton. But he made very clear that despite low numbers in the polls, he isn't going away any time soon.

In fact, Cuomo asked O'Malley what he would advise his supporters to do if he didn't receive enough caucus support --15 percent-- and his voters had to switch to Sanders or Clinton.

O'Malley decided not to give a de facto endorsement and held strong, and encouraged his voters to do the same.

"Hold strong at your caucus, because America's looking for a new leader," he said. "America's scanning the horizon. We cannot be this fed up with our gridlocked, dysfunctional national politics and think that a resort to old ideologies or old names is going to move us forward. So I tell my people hold strong."

And while many may count O'Malley out of the race, he answered every question as if he were the frontrunner, including what may have been the toughest question of the night.

"How are you planning to ensure racial equality when your history in office contradicts your current platform to fight structural racism?" one audience member asked.

O'Malley remained calm and painted a picture opposite what the audience member implied -- he said he saved hundreds of lives from overdose deaths, drove down the use of fatal police-involved shootings, restored voting rights to 52,000 people and decriminalized the possession of marijuana.

With six days until the Iowa caucuses, Clinton tops Sanders 52 points to 38 points in the most recent Democratic CNN poll, and O'Malley lags behind at just two points.

Written by Andrew Clark. Reported by Aimee Schnebeck, Gloria Noble and Nola Allinger.

-- 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 7 hours ago.

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United States: Drug Costs, Risk Adjustment Drive Q2 Health Insurance Rate Increases - Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

January 27, 2016, 3:57 am

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The Massachusetts Division of Insurance recently held a two-day hearing on rate changes proposed by Massachusetts health insurance plans to be effective for the second quarter of 2016. Reported by Mondaq 1 day ago.

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Hope and Change Still Reign in 2016 Election

January 27, 2016, 8:16 am

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President Obama won the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination and the Presidency on his message of hope and change. He did not win as the most experienced candidate, as a one-term Illinois Senator. He did not win on his then youthful looks. And he certainly did not win the Democratic primary on his name recognition of Barack Hussein Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton. In 2008 as we are seeing in 2016, name recognition, looks or experience matter less than hope and change for a better America.
Senator Bernie Sanders looks like he could have played alongside Jack Lemmon in the movie Grumpy Old Men. Hillary Clinton looks poised to meet with world leaders or enter the Blue Room of the White House at any time. This year, looks are not what matters to voters. If looks mattered, GOP contender Donald Trump would be last in polls and Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio would be in a tie for first place.
Looking at the political landscape at this time last year, it appeared that the two highest names recognized, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, would be in a face-off for November, 2016. While anything is possible, it does not seem likely that the two will be squared off in November.
Many Americans are struggling whether trying to put their children through college or putting food on their dinner table. Most Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, assuming they have a paycheck. Despite vast improvements under the Obama administration, the economic picture is not coming up roses for everyone. Unemployment of African Americans is nearly double that of the national average at 9.1 percent in July, 2015 while the national average was 4.6 per cent. Latino unemployment stood at 6.5 per cent. And many working Americans, who faced the 2008 downturn and lay-offs, returned to lesser paying jobs. Some lost all of their savings while searching for their present jobs.
The Affordable Care Act ("ACA") enables millions of Americans to receive health insurance. Many Americans, while insured, still cannot afford health care due to high deductibles. For those individuals who do not qualify for the subsidy and must pay their own health insurance, the insurance rates are not what everyone views as affordable.
For many reasons, the hope and change movement that President Obama ushered in 2008 still resonates with voters, albeit in different ways. Some Millennials who once followed President Obama or were too young to vote for him in 2008, now stand with 74 year old Bernie Sanders. They are hopeful for a better future. Many Independents stand with Bernie Sanders because they want change in our political system. And Donald Trump resonates with those Republicans who hope to "make America great again."
This year just like 2008, authenticity matters. Just as President Obama spoke of his mother and maternal grandparents in 2008, Bernie Sanders was able to come across the same way during the Iowa debate on January 25. He spoke of his father who came to America as a Polish immigrant with no money and died years later with little money. While these things matter less to politicians and policy wonks, many average voters want to see someone who might understand their issues. It's difficult for Hillary Clinton to appear authentic as her life's story has already been watched like an open book. Hillary Clinton comes across as a former Secretary of State ready to be Commander-in-Chief on day one. And from her point of view and a logical one, that should be enough, except if 2016 is 2008 revisited.
In 2016, Americans still have hope. And Americans still want change. And whichever candidate appeals to voters that he or she can change the system to improve life for every man and woman will win.

-- 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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Do-It-Yourselfers Face Penalties Over Their Cut-Rate Health Insurance

January 27, 2016, 8:59 am

≫ Next: iLeads.com Announces the 13th Anniversary of Their Self-Serve Lead Delivery Platform – The LeadsDirect Network

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People sometimes put together policies, such as short-term and critical illness plans, instead of buying more expensive health coverage. But they likely will be penalized under the federal health law. Reported by NPR 19 hours ago.

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iLeads.com Announces the 13th Anniversary of Their Self-Serve Lead Delivery Platform – The LeadsDirect Network

January 27, 2016, 9:05 am

≫ Next: HealthyCT, Connecticut’s Non-Profit Health Insurance CO-OP, Selects QualMetrix, Inc. as Its Healthcare Analytics Partner

≪ Previous: Do-It-Yourselfers Face Penalties Over Their Cut-Rate Health Insurance

Since 2003, the seven-website LeadsDirect Network has been the only discounted self-serve model of its kind that provides unparalleled access to “cherry-picked” leads for the insurance and mortgage lending industries.

(PRWEB) January 27, 2016

Part of iLead.com’s customer acquisition suite, LeadsDirect allows customers to pick, choose and purchase self-serve insurance and mortgage leads 24/7. The seven websites within the network cover life insurance (lifeleadsdirect.com), auto insurance (autoinsuranceleadsdirect.com), homeowners (homeownersleadsdirect.com), health insurance (healthleadsdirect.com) and mortgage leads, (mortgageleadsdirect.com). The LeadsDirect network of sites offers cherry-picked leads that are convenient, easy, and available for immediate download.

“Our LeadsDirect sites are extremely convenient and unique,” remarked Drew Warmington, Managing Partner & CEO of iLeads.com. “Since February 1, 2003, tens of thousands of clients, big and small have purchased leads that have turned new business with absolutely no reps involved. With over 55,000 users and growing, the LeadsDirect Network are the only sites of their kind that has been around this long that allows consumers to pick and choose whatever leads they like, anytime of the day.”

Mr. Warmington stated, “The number of online mortgage and insurance requests has been growing rapidly in the last two years or so. More and more consumers are coming to the Internet for their home loans and insurance needs, so it’s an ideal platform for lead generation and sales conversion. One of the main benefits of LeadsDirect is the ability to match consumers and agents together seamlessly.”

“iLeads.com pioneered the cherry-pick lead system, and it really gives our clients the power of choice,” continued Mr. Warmington. “There are no commitments, no contracts and no minimum daily purchase requirements, so customers can decide for themselves what kind of leads they want and when they want them.”

“With LeadsDirect, you control your lead volume; you can purchase as many as few leads as you want. Within minutes of signing up, you can browse our database, cherry pick leads, and download them directly to your desktop. All of this choice comes at discounts of 30 to 80% off retail, so it couldn’t be easier or more economical to grow your insurance or mortgage business,” finished Mr. Warmington.

About iLeads.com
Celebrating 20 years, iLeads.com was founded in 1996 as an internet-only lead generation company. Since inception, iLeads.com has served over 55,000 clients in the mortgage, insurance, real estate and financial services industries. iLeads.com products include customer acquisition solutions, lead analytics, and custom data services. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.

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HealthyCT, Connecticut’s Non-Profit Health Insurance CO-OP, Selects QualMetrix, Inc. as Its Healthcare Analytics Partner

January 27, 2016, 10:03 am

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MIRAMAR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HealthyCT has chosen QualMetrix as its healthcare analytics partner. QualMetrix delivers actionable insights to payors, providers and employers to help them reduce cost while enhancing the quality of healthcare for their respective members, patients and employees. A Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan, or CO-OP, HealthyCT is an NCQA- accredited insurer offering a variety of health insurance plans to individuals and businesses in Connecticut. It sells its individu Reported by Business Wire 18 hours ago.

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With the Elections Looming, The Supreme Court Approaches Judgment Day

January 27, 2016, 11:20 am

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[This post was originally published by Truthdig.com]

I know you've heard this before, but this time the future of the Supreme Court really is up for grabs in the coming presidential election. By the time November rolls around, three of the justices--Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy--will be octogenarians. Right behind them, Justice Stephen Breyer will be 78.

Unless Father Time goes on permanent leave or the laws of nature are suspended, all four could resign on short notice, allowing the next occupant of the White House to appoint their successors.

Since the average tenure of justices appointed since 1970 has exceeded 26 years, the next president will have the opportunity to reshape the nation's most powerful judicial body for a generation or more. And with the power to reshape the court will come the power to redefine the meaning and application of the Constitution.

It's not only liberals and progressives like me or folks at watchdog groups like People For the American Way who are fretting about the direction of the court. If anything, conservatives are even more on edge.

At the Federalist Society's annual lawyers convention late last year, according to the Washington Times, seasoned Supreme Court litigator Michael Carvin voiced the angst shared by many on the right in the most dramatic terms, declaring: "If the election goes wrong ... we will all descend into a hellish existence from which we will never emerge."

Carvin's anxiety was echoed by professor Michael Paulsen, a constitutional scholar from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. "Ideology matters," Paulsen told the crowd gathered at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. "Judicial philosophy matters. Sometimes it's literally a matter of life and death who[m] you appoint to the court."

It's easy to understand such concerns. The replacement of even a single justice could swing the tribunal's voting balance on a variety of pivotal legal issues, prompting reconsideration of a host of recent, landmark 5-4 decisions. Since those decisions are a mixed bag, some liberal in outlook and effect and others conservative, both ends of the political spectrum have plenty of skin in the game of remaking the court.

Among the issues and cases most likely to be re-evaluated by a new panel of justices are these five headliners:

*Citizens United v. FEC, and Campaign Finance*

Of the plethora of pro-business rulings handed down since Chief Justice John Roberts assumed office in 2005, none has done more to consolidate the oligarchy's hold on government than the Citizens United decision of January 2010.

In his majority opinion, Justice Kennedy invoked the First Amendment and the legal fiction of corporate personhood to sweep away decades of legislative and judicial precedent that had prohibited corporations and unions from spending their general treasury funds on federal elections. Two months later, invoking the reasoning of Citizens United in the case of SpeechNow.org v. FEC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit approved the formation of super PACs, the so-called "expenditure-only" entities that cannot give money directly to candidates but can independently raise and spend unlimited sums on their behalf.

In 2014, in McCutcheon v. FEC, the Supreme Court struck again by a 5-4 margin, this time in an opinion penned by Roberts, lifting the long-established aggregate limits on the amount of money that wealthy individuals can donate directly to candidates in any given election cycle.

Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have vowed that, if elected, they will place justices on the court committed to reversing Citizens United, McCutcheon and presumably earlier rulings such as Buckley v. Valeo, decided in 1976, to limit the role of money in politics. Their opponents have promised to do exactly the opposite.

*Heller v. District of Columbia, and the Second Amendment*

Prior to Scalia's 5-4 paean to gun rights in 2008's Heller decision, the dominant view expressed both by academics and judges in the few court cases that addressed the issue was that the Second Amendment protected individual gun ownership only in connection with service in antiquated state militias. All that changed, however, with the triumph of Scalia's "originalist" interpretation of the amendment, which asserts that the Founding Fathers intended to secure constitutional protections for the personal right to bear arms.

And while the Heller decision was limited to gun ownership in the nation's capital and other federal venues, the court extended its analysis to the states two years later in McDonald v. Chicago.

Despite being widely panned by Second Amendment experts such as Fordham University's Saul Cornell as a "constitutional scam" based on a sloppy reading of colonial history, Scalia's originalism is now the law of the land, venerated as holy writ by every Republican presidential hopeful.

By contrast, Clinton--and to a lesser extent Sanders--supports such gun control measures as mandatory background checks, assault weapons bans, trigger-lock laws and prohibitions on cross-state, concealed-carry permits.

Sooner or later, the Supreme Court will take up another major firearms case. When it does, depending on who wields the gavel, Heller and McDonald could well be overturned--or be further entrenched in the bedrock of our constitutional law.

*National Federation of Independent Businesses v. Sebelius, and Obamacare*

In what many conservatives regard as a great betrayal, Chief Justice Roberts authored the bitterly divided, 5-4 opinion that upheld the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate in 2012. What's largely been forgotten is that Roberts' opinion was anything but an enthusiastic endorsement of the ACA. The mandate survived, but barely--and not as an exercise of the federal government's constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce, as the Obama administration had urged, but as a function of Congress' authority to levy taxes.

Since then, the ACA has been repeatedly attacked, politically and legally. Last term, in a 6-3 decision (King v. Burwell), again written by Roberts, the court turned away a highly technical suit argued by Michael Carvin that sought to invalidate federal income tax subsidies for low-income purchasers of health insurance in states that have not set up their own marketplace exchanges.

The King decision sent Scalia into a tizzy, prompting him to lambaste the majority's holding as "interpretive jiggery-pokery" for its allegedly shoddy reasoning and as "pure applesauce" for what he argued was an undeserved windfall it bestowed on ACA beneficiaries. The case also sparked widespread calls on the right for Roberts' impeachment.

This term, the ACA faces another Supreme Court test, akin to 2014's Hobby Lobby litigation, in Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Burwell and five related appeals that once more challenge the statute's contraceptive services mandate. The plaintiffs are nonprofit religious organizations that, like Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., argue that the ACA's birth-control insurance provisions violate their rights as employers under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

Given the Hobby Lobby precedent, it's easy to see the current court handing a narrow, 5-4 victory to the Little Sisters. But if we remove Ginsburg from the equation in future ACA lawsuits and replace her with a clone of Thomas or Justice Samuel Alito, the entire structure of Obamacare conceivably could crumble.

*Obergefell v. Hodges, and Same-Sex Marriage*

If Scalia was sent into orbit by the King case, he positively lost his jurisprudential bearings when Kennedy teamed up with the panel's four liberals to write the majority opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

Raging in dissent, Scalia branded Kennedy's opinion "a naked judicial claim to legislative--indeed, super-legislative--power." Lamenting the end of federalism and states' rights, he charged that a "system of government that makes the People subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy."

As if yielding to paranoid fantasy, he continued: "Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality (whatever that means) were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged rather than expanded by marriage. Ask the nearest hippie." Not quite finished, he added in a boorish footnote: "The Supreme Court of the United States has descended from the disciplined legal reasoning of John Marshall and Joseph Story to the mystical aphorisms of a fortune cookie."

It boggles the mind to think that if Kennedy, Breyer and/or Ginsburg leave the bench before Scalia and are replaced by hard-line conservatives, Scalia's homophobia could command a new majority and wind up toppling marriage equality.

Obergefell represents the greatest formal advance for constitutional and human rights achieved in this country in decades. It literally hangs in the balance.

*The Death Penalty*

Although the court has nibbled away at the periphery of capital punishment in recent years, holding it unconstitutional as applied to juveniles and the mentally ill and overturning Florida's capital sentencing procedures (Hurst v. Florida), it has consistently declined to abolish the death penalty outright.

The rest of the civilized world, however, is turning away from capital punishment, and only six American states conducted executions in 2015. Last term, in Glossip v. Gross, the court passed on yet another opportunity to join the enlightenment.

As I have previously written in this column, Richard Glossip was convicted of a 1997 murder in Oklahoma but may very well be innocent. Technically, the issue before the court in his case was not whether he had committed the homicide, but whether the state's use of a new and highly controversial three-drug cocktail in its lethal injection protocol violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

Alito's majority opinion, joined by the court's other Republican appointees, answered the issue with a ringing endorsement of the protocol, despite the fact that the cocktail had caused prolonged agony in two executions.

While Alito's decision came as no surprise, Breyer's dissent broke serious new ground. Writing for himself and Ginsburg, Breyer declared not only that he would have granted Glossip's petition (which had been filed both for him and several other Oklahoma prisoners facing imminent execution), but that he would have taken another, far bolder step--calling for a re-examination of the death penalty itself. "[R]ather than try to patch up the death penalty's legal wounds one at a time," Breyer reasoned, "I would ask for full briefing on a more basic question: whether the death penalty violates the Constitution."

Breyer's opinion marked the first time since the late Justice Harry Blackmun's dissent, in a case from Texas, that a sitting member of the court has formally taken an abolitionist stance on the death penalty.

As Breyer's dissent illustrates, the future of capital punishment, like the overall direction of the court, is in play. In the meantime, Glossip remains under a sentence of death, although his execution has been stayed pending a review of the Oklahoma protocol by the state's attorney general.

The five cases I've singled out comprise only a sliver of the hot-button issues that may come before a reconstituted Supreme Court dominated by justices appointed by President Obama's successor. No doubt other critical cases also will arrive before the new court, raising questions that touch the most sensitive and intimate aspects of our daily lives--from abortion rights to police brutality, from global warming and immigration to voting rights and government surveillance.

Few of us may be satisfied with the ultimate nominees of the two main parties, and you can count me among the likely disgruntled if anyone but an aging, slightly stoop-shouldered senator from Vermont captures the Democratic nod. But none of us can plausibly argue that the election won't matter, especially when it comes to the future of the Supreme Court and the laws it oversees.

-- 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 16 hours ago.

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6 Ways Hackers Can Monetize Your Life

January 27, 2016, 12:13 pm

≫ Next: Insure Tennessee may have to wait another year

≪ Previous: With the Elections Looming, The Supreme Court Approaches Judgment Day

What is the most valuable thing to a hacker?

Most people would probably assume it's a credit card number. But actually, stolen credit card numbers pale in comparison to the black market value of another type of personal information we all have. (To see the answer, skip down to #1 in the bulletpoints below.)

As more people are targeted by hackers, and a growing number of large-scale corporate and government data breaches expose people's private data to criminals around the world, it's important for everyone to understand the full scope of the risks we face.

After all, for many people, as long as they don't lose money from their bank account or get phony charges on their credit card, they could care less about getting hacked. A hijacked email account, a new card from the bank, a legally mandated corporate data breach notification in the mail - these are all just minor annoyances for the average person. You shrug it off, and move on.

But what actually happens when cybercriminals break into your online accounts, hack your devices or access your personal data? Even if you don't notice any immediate financial loss, does that really mean you're off the hook?

Cybercrime is a multi-billion dollar economy with sophisticated actors and a division of labor that includes malware authors, toolkit developers, hacking crews, forum operators, support services and "mules." There are countless sites in the dark web that offer ways for hackers to buy or sell stolen accounts, hacking tools and other criminal services.

Stolen credit card numbers aren't the only way hackers make money off of our lives. The cybercrime industry is nothing if not innovative and imaginative when it comes to finding ways to turn our personal information into cash.

Just because you haven't seen an immediate and direct consequence from a corporate data breach or reported software vulnerability, it doesn't mean your life isn't being traded online.

Here are six ways hackers monetize your life online:

*Medical Identity:*

What's the most valuable data you have? Forget about stolen credit card numbers. While these will always be a key commodity for hackers, they're not nearly as valuable as your personal health data.

Current estimates peg the black market value of these credentials at well over 10 times the price of stolen card numbers. Why? Because card numbers are easy to change - Social Security numbers, health insurance accounts, Medicare account numbers, these aren't so easy to replace.

There are a variety of online exchanges in the dark web where cybercriminals can buy, sell and trade this type of information, which is a gold mine for identity theft and insurance fraud. And since healthcare companies have one of the worst cybersecurity records of any industry, consumers should expect more data breaches in the future that will expose their information.

*Email & Social Media:*

While stolen health credentials and credit card numbers are clearly linked to fraud, other targets of cybercriminals are less obvious.

After all, why would a criminal want to buy access to your hacked Twitter account? What's in it for them?

While email and social media certainly aren't the most valuable commodities on the dark web, they still have money-making potential for scammers.

A cybercriminal can use a hacked email or social media account to distribute spam, run scams against the person's contacts and connections, and try to leverage the stolen account to break into other online accounts used by the same person.

*Uber:*

Perhaps equally surprising is the idea that hackers could hijack your Uber account.

However, it's important to remember that any online account which is linked to a payment method - be it credit card, checking account or PayPal - is a worthwhile target for a hacker. By hijacking your Uber account, most likely through a phishing email, they can set up fake drivers and bill you for "ghost rides."

*Airline Miles:*

It probably wouldn't occur to most people that their frequent flyer miles can be hacked. But believe it or not, they can. All a hacker has to do is get access to your frequent flyer account, and they can steal your airline miles, sell them to other criminals or put the whole account up for sale.

*Webcams:*

The camera staring you in the face every time you use your computer can be a fun bounty for criminal hackers.

All they have to do is infect your computer with a remote administration tool (RAT), and they will be able to remotely control and access your webcam.

Known as "ratters," there are a lot of communities and forums on the dark web where these individuals share information, videos and photos of their webcam "slaves," sell or trade them to other hackers, and rent access. One BBC report claimed hackers get $1 per hacked webcam for female victims, and $0.01 for men.

While in many cases, hacked webcams are done purely for the "lulz," they can also be used for extortion, harassment and intimidation.

*Botnets:*

There's another way hackers can monetize access to your computer, and it's similar to the use of webcam RATs - but even more dangerous.

"Botnets" are a collection of infected computers which are remotely controlled by a hacker.

When infected with botnet malware, a cybercriminal is able to capture as much of your sensitive data as he wants - including your personal information, passwords and financial credentials. They can also use the remote connection to sneak in other types of malware such as "ransomware" or "banking Trojans," which your computer will have a harder time detecting. Additionally, they can force your computer to participate in criminal schemes like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on business or government websites, and distributing spam and malware to other users.

A hacker can make money from botnets in several ways, including financial fraud, extortion and by selling access to your computer to other hackers. "Rent-a-bot" services are increasingly popular on the dark web, and can net hackers a pretty penny.

-- 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 16 hours ago.

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Insure Tennessee may have to wait another year

January 27, 2016, 12:27 pm

≫ Next: Six Responses to Bernie Skeptics

≪ Previous: 6 Ways Hackers Can Monetize Your Life

After a brutal defeat at the hands of lawmakers in 2015, Insure Tennessee will most likely be on the legislative back burner for a year. The plan, created last year by Gov. Bill Haslam, would have provided health insurance to at least 200,000 people in the state without costing taxpayers any additional money. However, opponents were successful in their attempts to link the legislation with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), leading the Tennessee General Assembly to defeat it. The legislature may still… Reported by bizjournals 15 hours ago.

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Six Responses to Bernie Skeptics

January 27, 2016, 12:57 pm

≫ Next: Colorado leaders launch campaign against single-payer health proposal

≪ Previous: Insure Tennessee may have to wait another year

1. "He'd never beat Trump or Cruz in a general election."Wrong. According to the latest polls, Bernie is the strongest Democratic candidate in the general election, defeating both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in hypothetical matchups. (The latest RealClear Politics averages of all polls shows Bernie beating Trump by a larger margin than Hillary beats Trump, and Bernie beating Cruz while Hillary loses to Cruz.)

2. "He couldn't get any of his ideas implemented because Congress would reject them."If both house of Congress remain in Republican hands, no Democrat will be able to get much legislation through Congress, and will have to rely instead on executive orders and regulations. But there's a higher likelihood of kicking Republicans out if Bernie's "political revolution" continues to surge around America, bringing with it millions of young people and other voters, and keeping them politically engaged.

3. "America would never elect a socialist."

P-l-e-a-s-e. America's most successful and beloved government programs are social insurance - Social Security and Medicare. A highway is a shared social expenditure, as is the military and public parks and schools. The problem is we now have excessive socialism for the rich (bailouts of Wall Street, subsidies for Big Ag and Big Pharma, monopolization by cable companies and giant health insurers, giant tax-deductible CEO pay packages) - all of which Bernie wants to end or prevent.

4. "His single-payer healthcare proposal would cost so much it would require raising taxes on the middle class."This is a duplicitous argument. Single-payer systems in other rich nations have proven cheaper than private for-profit health insurers because they don't spend huge sums on advertising, marketing, executive pay, and billing. So even if the Sanders single-payer plan did require some higher taxes, Americans would come out way ahead because they'd save far more than that on health insurance.5. "His plan for paying for college with a tax on Wall Street trades would mean colleges would run by government rules."Baloney. Three-quarters of college students today already attend public universities financed largely by state governments, and they're not run by government rules. The real problem is too many young people still can't afford a college education. The move toward free public higher education that began in the 1950s with the G.I. Bill and extended into the 1960s came to an abrupt stop in the 1980s. We must restart it.

6. "He's too old."Untrue. He's in great health. Have you seen how agile and forceful he is as he campaigns around the country? These days, 70s are the new 60s. (He's younger than four of the nine Supreme Court justices.) In any event, the issue isn't age; it's having the right values. FDR was paralyzed." In any event, the issue isn't age; it's having the right values. was paralyzed, and JFK had Addison's Crohn's diseases, but they were great presidents because they fought adamantly for social and economic justice.
ROBERT B. REICH's new book, "Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few," is now out. His film "Inequality for All" is now available on DVD and blu-ray, and on Netflix. Watch the trailer below:

-- 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 15 hours ago.

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Colorado leaders launch campaign against single-payer health proposal

January 27, 2016, 3:11 pm

≫ Next: AccuBiz Provides Insight in Response to New Tax Changes for 2016; Encourages Particular Attention to Cash Flow for Business Owners

≪ Previous: Six Responses to Bernie Skeptics

The campaign to defeat a proposal for a single-payer health insurance system in Colorado is kicking off Thursday with some high-profile leaders. Reported by Denver Post 13 hours ago.

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AccuBiz Provides Insight in Response to New Tax Changes for 2016; Encourages Particular Attention to Cash Flow for Business Owners

January 27, 2016, 7:08 pm

≫ Next: Iowa Farmers Want A Voice

≪ Previous: Colorado leaders launch campaign against single-payer health proposal

While it’s too late to make plans that impact the 2015 tax return, Doerhoff suggests some ways to plan ahead for the 2016 tax return season:

Jefferson City, MO (PRWEB) January 27, 2016

Bert Doerhoff CPA, founder of AccuBiz, responds to new income tax rules that impact many people for the tax year 2016. While it’s too late to make plans that impact the 2015 tax return, Doerhoff suggests some ways to plan ahead for the 2016 tax return season:

Affordable Care Act penalties: For 2016, there is an increased penalty for not having health insurance. The penalty is currently $285 per adult, or 2 percent of income above the filing limit for 2015. In 2016, those penalties get much steeper, costing taxpayers $695 or 2.5 percent of income above the filing limit. The maximum family penalty for 2016 is $2,085, up from $975 in 2015.

Tax brackets: Tax brackets go up slightly, rising roughly 0.4 percent.

Head of household standard deduction: Standard deductions remain the same, except for head of household filers, who will see an increase of $500 to $9,300.

Personal exemptions: Personal exemptions for 2016 are increased by $50, so the total amount for a personal exemption is $4,050.

Contribution limits to HSAs increase: The amount that can be contributed to a pre-tax HSA account for medical expenses increase by $100 for families, bringing the total to $6,750. Individual limits remain the same.

The Earned Income Credit increases: There will be a modest increase, with families with three or more children receiving a maximum credit of $6,269, while families with two children receive a maximum of $5,572.

Other changes are here to stay, such as the ability to deduct equipment in full, when there is a purchase up to $500,000 in equipment for a business. Permanent tax rules allow taxpayers to plan ahead for managing their personal and small business taxes. However, Doerhoff cautions taxpayers to carefully determine how much of the equipment cost should be written off.

Cash flow is a key area Doerhoff encourages business owners to pay particular attention to doing tax planning. “Many business owners ignore that part of tax planning. If the business buys $100,000 of equipment this year and deducts the entire cost but only pays $10,000 down things look great. The tax deduction generally saves about 1/3 of the cost of the purchase so all of a sudden the business paid $10,000 cash and saved $33,000 in tax. The problem comes in the future when the business has to show $90,000 in profit to pay off the loan and gets no tax deduction,” he says.

About Bert Doerhoff:

Bert Doerhoff, CPA, works closely with small business owners to minimize income tax and fill the gaps so the owner has more time to work on the customer centered core services. Doerhoff and his team can outsource all functions of an accounting department, from bookkeeping to CFO services. The CPA firm has multiple QuickBooks advisors to help clients maximize the benefits provided by their accounting system. Doerhoff is co-author of Six Steps to Small Business Success available on Amazon. Contact Bert Doerhoff, CPA, by email at bdcpa(at)AccuBiz(dot)net; by phone at (573) 634-4006; or learn more at http://www.AccuBiz.net.

Contact:
Bert Doerhoff, CPA
AccuBiz
1301 Southwest Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO 65109
bdcpa(at)AccuBiz(dot)net
573-634-4006 Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.

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Iowa Farmers Want A Voice

January 27, 2016, 7:26 pm

≫ Next: On Oscar Controversy, Obama Asks: Everyone Getting Fair Shot?

≪ Previous: AccuBiz Provides Insight in Response to New Tax Changes for 2016; Encourages Particular Attention to Cash Flow for Business Owners

An old McCormick tractor sits in the Handsaker's barn during the cold temperatures in Iowa.RADCLIFFE, Iowa- Jacob Handsaker is a 33-year-old, fourth generation farmer who is young enough not to remember the farm crisis of the 1980's, but old enough to wonder why this year's crop of presidential candidates aren't addressing the problems facing young farmers.

"I have no doubt that farming is one of the backbones of America," Handsaker said. "Unfortunately it's a game of money and to get the money you're not going to go after the young farmers."

Jim Handsaker, Jacob's father and a life-long farmer, is more blunt.

"If somebody were going to start farming now, he would have to inherit it, or marry into it," said Jim.

Jacob Handsaker is raising three young children in the same house his great-grandfather raised his grandfather, who raised his father. Handsaker works along side his father, Jim, and his brother. The family raises corn, soybeans and just recently started planting sweet peas into their family-owned fields.

But the Handsakers are facing the same hardships farmers all across the nation are dealing with- the continuing growing cost of farming. The costs associated with daily farm operation in addition to land costs and machinery is adversely affecting young farmers trying to get into the business.

These problems contrast starkly against the economic problems of the 1980's. Starting in 1980, farmers in the Hawkeye state were hit with a 33 percent drop in land value. That resulted in thousands of farmers declaring bankruptcy.

"I was born in '82 so I didn't live or don't remember the farm crisis, but from what I've heard, people are in a lot better position now," said Jacob, the son. "People are a lot smarter and they've learned. And that's great, we need to learn from history as we move forward."

Government regulation, healthcare tax, and the inheritance tax are among the top problems affecting U.S. farmers, the Handsakers said. And it seems as if the politician's are turning their attention to everyone except the farmers.

They argue that only farmers, not politicians, in America know what's best for the agriculture. The younger Handsaker insisted American farmers, no matter where they are, are the best in the world at what they are doing.
A New Holland combine sits in the barn during the winter seasons, until it is time to be used for harvesting.

Father and son point to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its regulations, such as the Clean Water Act, as farmers' biggest problem. Jim, the father, suggested the government should take a step back from regulating the farm industries and listen to what the local farmers have to say. He acknowledged EPA administrators have held many meetings in Iowa but the elder Handsaker said those conversations were a waste of money.

"They never take any of those suggestions," said Jim. "They never try to understand where the farmer is coming from."

Living your life dependent on crops and agriculture can be challenging for some, especially with the high price of land and machinery. Although the price of land in Iowa has fallen in the past year, a study from Iowa State University showed that the farmland values in Iowa are still double the price than what they were 10 years ago. Right now an acre of high-grade land in Iowa is valued at $7,773. In 2005, an acre of high-grade land was as low as $3,511.

The elder Handsaker remembers that when he began farming he could educate his children through college off the profit from 160 acres of land.

Now the problem is, it takes a profit from 160 acres just to pay the premium for health insurance, he said.

According to United States Department of Agriculture, the average yearly salary for a farmer is around $86,000.

Jacob, the son, wants the presidential candidates to realize that the farm community could have an impact on Election Day.

"They might not be the guys that deliver the most money to the candidates, they're not necessarily the group with a lot of money to throw around, but they're definitely a group with a voice," said Jacob.

-- 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 8 hours ago.

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On Oscar Controversy, Obama Asks: Everyone Getting Fair Shot?

January 27, 2016, 11:08 pm

≫ Next: Want to feel better? Move to Hawaii, Alaska

≪ Previous: Iowa Farmers Want A Voice

President Barack Obama has weighed in on the outcry over two straight years of all-white acting nominees for the Academy Awards. Obama says the Oscar debate is an expression of a broader issue: "Are we making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot?" Obama spent part of Wednesday talking to local television stations about ramping up enrollment for health insurance coverage. But the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, KABC, asked Obama about this year's Oscar... Reported by VOA News 5 hours ago.

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Want to feel better? Move to Hawaii, Alaska

January 27, 2016, 11:10 pm

≫ Next: PYA Designated as Preferred Vendor of ALTA Best Practices Services by Conestoga Title Insurance Company

≪ Previous: On Oscar Controversy, Obama Asks: Everyone Getting Fair Shot?

A new report ranking all 50 states based on residents' sense of well-being puts Hawaii at No. 1, followed by Alaska, which held the top spot last year. "Alaska and Hawaii are both beautiful states in their own way but distinctly different," said Dan Witters, research director of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Montana, Colorado and Wyoming rounded out the rest of the top five in the State of American Well-Being: 2015 State Rankings report, compiled from a non-scientific telephone survey of residents across the country. Hawaii hits the mark for Danny Quan, a taxi company owner and driver who said he likes the water and surfs a lot. Across the Pacific Ocean, in Anchorage's expansive and wooded Kincaid Park, Chad Garner was preparing to go geocaching, a game in which players hide items for others to find using GPS coordinates and clues. [...] there was a gap between the number who have health insurance and those who don't have a personal doctor to keep them on a health plan. Kent Terada, a respiratory therapist who works three, 12-hour shifts a week, visits the beach in Honolulu every Monday and Tuesday to surf for a few hours, go for a run and grab a bite to eat. Reported by SeattlePI.com 5 hours ago.

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PYA Designated as Preferred Vendor of ALTA Best Practices Services by Conestoga Title Insurance Company

January 28, 2016, 12:06 am

≫ Next: Poll: Uninsured sit on the sidelines as sign-up season ends

≪ Previous: Want to feel better? Move to Hawaii, Alaska

PYA (Pershing Yoakley & Associates), a national certified public accounting and management consulting firm, has been named a preferred vendor of ALTA Best Practices services by Conestoga Title Insurance Company.

Knoxville, TN (PRWEB) January 28, 2016

National certified public accounting and management consulting firm PYA is now a national “preferred vendor" of ALTA Best Practices services for Conestoga Title Insurance Company (Conestoga Title) agents. This designation represents an agreement between the first Elite Provider of ALTA Best Practices Assessments and Conestoga Title to perform ALTA Best Practices policy and procedure development and evaluation, provide Best Practices implementation assistance, and conduct third-party assessments of ALTA Best Practices compliance for its title agents.

Conestoga Title’s President John Nikolaus said, “Through this relationship, we hope to provide our agents with access to premier resources for demonstrating compliance. As the first Elite Provider of ALTA Best Practices Assessments, PYA is one of the firms at the forefront of providing Best Practices assurance on a national scale.”

A member of the ALTA Best Practices Task Force, PYA provides solutions and services to agents as they navigate a period of enormous change within the title industry. As a preferred vendor of Best Practices services, PYA offers Conestoga Title’s agents access to the industry’s top resources, including PYA’s Best Practices Gap Analysis, Policy & Procedures Development, Best Practices Readiness, and Self-Assessment Tools. In addition, agents receive complimentary education and access to PYA thought leadership content including white papers, webinars, and more.

PYA’s Director of ALTA Best Practices Service Group Matthew Rekers said, “Our firm is committed to providing our title insurance and settlement company clients with dependable and effective services. This association with Conestoga allows us to demonstrate our commitment to Conestoga’s agents. By providing numerous engagement types, Conestoga agents can be confident that PYA will meet or exceed their lenders’ compliance expectations.”

ALTA created its Best Practices Framework to assist title and settlement companies in satisfying their responsibility to manage third-party vendors. ALTA encourages title and settlement companies to seek certification in order to demonstrate to lenders that appropriate measures have been taken to protect consumers’ nonpublic personal information and to gain a competitive advantage when lenders ask for this certification.

About Conestoga Title Insurance Company

Conestoga Title Insurance Company is one of the most trusted names in the title insurance industry, providing the real estate, legal and financial communities with reliable title insurance since 1973. Conestoga’s dedication to quality, along with a focus on excellence, has earned it a Financial Stability Rating® of “A Prime, Unsurpassed” and a Commercial Real Estate Recommendation of “Strongly Recommended” by Demotech, Inc., a leading industry analyst that specializes in rating title companies. Conestoga does not compete with its agents for business. Its focus has always been to support and provide exceptional service to its agent and attorney partners within its geographical footprint. Conestoga is licensed to do business in 14 states and is concentrated on growing its attorney and title agent network in the territories of PA, MD, VA, OH, NJ and DE.

About PYA

For over three decades, Pershing Yoakley & Associates (PYA), a national professional services firm providing management consulting and accounting, has helped its clients navigate and derive value amid complex challenges. In addition to serving the healthcare and financial institutions industries, PYA serves the title industry with a comprehensive list of offerings, including: ALTA Best Practices implementation and assessment; strategic planning; mergers and acquisitions; tax compliance; and regulatory compliance.

PYA’s steadfast commitment to an unwavering client-centric culture has served the firm’s clients well. PYA is ranked 103rd by INSIDE Public Accounting’s “Top 200” Largest Accounting Firms. PYA affiliate companies offer clients world-class data analytics, professional real estate development and advisory resources, self-insured employer health insurance claims audits for Fortune 500 companies, wealth management and retirement plan administration, and business transitions consulting.

PYA is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please visit http://www.pyabestpractices.com/ Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.

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