Oregon's legal dispute with Redwood City-based Oracle Corp. will reach two of the highest names in the tech industry next month when Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Safra Catz are scheduled to give depositions in the case. Catz is scheduled to answer questions under oath on on Aug. 11, the two-year anniversary of when Oracle America sued the state in an effort to collect $23 million owed for work on the Cover Oregon online health insurance website. Ellison is expected to answer questions… Reported by bizjournals 2 hours ago.

When you feel sick, even before you go to the doctor, where do you look for information? Many go to Google or other search engines, but that information isn't always reliable. Besides, it is often downright scary. And how can anyone trust TV advertisements that promise fields of flowers and happiness to anyone who takes the medication, all while a dispassionate voice-over lists terrible side effects.

We are all supposed to be "engaged patients". We are supposed to research our symptoms and diagnoses. But "patient engagement" is one of the most overused and least understood terms in health care discussions today. Everyone talks about the need for it, but few know how to really use patient input. Some doctors welcome an informed patient; others not so much. Some organizations will put one patient on their board or advisory committee and consider patient engagement done.

As someone who has served as a consumer representative on boards that evaluate new treatments, I can tell you that patient engagement is critically important to assessing what really works in terms of treatment and care, and what research is needed to inform decision making.

Yet few opportunities for this exist.

In fact, special interests and those frightened of change, are challenging evidence-based efforts to evaluate health care system innovations and high-cost drug treatments. Instead of fighting these efforts, they should be demanding more of them and insist that patient voices are part of the discussion.

You may have heard that less than 20% of what physicians do has solid medical research to support it. That's kind of astounding when you think about it. Doctors do something because that's the way they were trained to do it, and until new information comes to light, they will continue to do it the same way. Take the treatment for ear infections in kids. Doctors prescribe or parents demand tubes, antibiotics, anything to stop the pain. But good research shows that too many antibiotics have negative outcomes. As a result, treatment for ear infections has changed appropriately over the past several years. Same for tonsillectomies, the third most frequent surgery for children.

Fortunately for patients, there are two places where their voices will be heard and where they can find good, evidence-based information. One is a non-governmental nonprofit program called PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute); the other is a nonprofit called ICER (Institute for Clinical and Economic Review). PCORI was funded in 2010 by the federal government as part of the Affordable Care Act (one of the many aspects of "Obamacare" most don't know about). The Institute's money comes from the government and fees assessed to private insurance and self-insured employer-based plans, but PCORI is completely independent and conducts its business in public. PCORI's mission is "to help people make informed healthcare decisions, and improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, by producing and promoting high-integrity, evidence-based information that comes from research guided by patients, caregivers, and the broader healthcare community." PCORI meetings are public and patients are heavily involved in deciding what research should be done and by whom. PCORI's research has included how to best manage side effects of cancer treatment, how to help people recover from strokes more rapidly, and how to pull specialists together to more effectively treat lung cancer. These research projects were all selected and guided by patient input.

Patient voices are also being sought in the evaluation of drugs for conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, high cholesterol, or psoriasis. Many of these drugs are advertised constantly on TV with little helpful information for patients about which of the side effects is most prevalent or serious, how effective the drug is or how much it costs. ICER provides this information. Seventy percent of ICER's funding comes from nonprofit foundations (70%) with the remaining coming from life science companies and health insurance companies. ICER is "dedicated to improving patient care by providing independent, completely transparent evaluations of how new drugs compare to existing treatments". ICER differs from the FDA by looking at the cost of treatments as well as their effectiveness in two ways - in comparison to no treatment (as the FDA does) and in comparison to existing treatments (as the FDA does not do). This is helpful for patients making their decisions when their insurance does not cover the drug or when deductibles or coinsurance may be very high.

ICER works through three independent review bodies of practicing physicians, methodology experts and patient advocates that meet three times a year in New England, the Midwest and California to look at the evidence for the effectiveness of new treatments or drugs. I was a consumer member of the California panel, CTAF (California Technology Assessment Forum) for many years, so I know how challenging it is to integrate a non-clinical voice in the decision-making. The issues are complex and the information is often incomplete or highly technical. However, patients or consumers can bring a practical focus to the discussion, especially when we try to define terms such as "quality of life" or question the value of a drug that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and extends life by only a few weeks.

PCORI and ICER are great resources for patients and their providers. The reports they issue are more reliable than what any internet search can provide. ICER is the only independent national resource that offers credible information about the real elephant in the room--the cost of a new drug, particularly as it compares to existing drugs for the same condition. And ICER involves patients in making those determinations.

ICER's process first assesses how well a drug works, the side effects it produces, and how it compares to similar drugs and treatments. Only after this analysis does ICER look at cost. Will a medication reduce future costs by keeping you healthier? Does it offer benefits that no other medication on the market can? Or will it lead to escalating and unsustainable costs for you and for the entire health care system to the point where no one will be available to afford the innovative treatment? For example, ICER recently issued a report that concluded that Entresto™ does offer excellent long term value to treat patients with Congestive Heart Failure. Some payers were concerned that the drug was too expensive and so were hesitant to approve it. The ICER report found that its price, when normal discounts were factored in, represented a good value. This report increased the likelihood that patients who might benefit from the drug will have it covered by their insurance.

ICER calculates a fair benchmark price to the manufacturer, the payer, the patient and the overall health system, so that these decisions can be made collaboratively in full view of you, the patient. These decisions have always been made behind closed doors, so the fact that cost is being addressed and discussed openly provides patients with a significant advantage.

Still, when it comes to considering costs, some patient advocacy groups get nervous when the subject comes up. I would not be fair if I did not address some of the key questions many patient advocates worry about, perhaps the biggest one being "will the consideration of cost mean I lose access to a drug or treatment I need?"
1. *Why should cost be considered if a drug can significantly improve my health?* The most important question you should ask is whether or not a treatment or drug actually works for your individual condition. But the cost of that treatment is also important. You may have a very high deductible to pay, and if the treatment is of questionable effectiveness, that cost factor may be very important in your decision making process. Looked at more broadly, it would be irresponsible for a physician to recommend treatments without any assessment of value or the budget impact over the long-term. Is the cost so high that it will strain state health budgets, force cutbacks in other community services or generate unaffordable increases in insurance premiums?1. *How much influence do the drug manufacturers or insurance companies have over decisions made by PCORI and ICER?* PCORI's Board of Directors is selected by the Comptroller General of the United States and is mandated to include at least three patient representatives, along with physicians, researchers, and insurance companies and other payers. ICER's Governance Board has fiduciary responsibility for the overall operations of ICER, and provides important strategic counsel to ICER's leadership team. The Governance Board represent a broad range of stakeholder perspectives, including patient and consumer groups, health plans, manufacturers, and other national leaders in health policy. In fact, two new members were recently elected to ICER's Governance Board - Ellen Andrews, PhD and Frances Visco, JD. Both have extensive experience in patient and consumer advocacy.1. *Don't insurance companies dominate these organizations?* Actually, insurers are not in the majority of decision making of either organization. They are at the table because they have a huge stake in deciding what to pay for, since they must distribute resources fairly to all patients who are members. Researchers and medical personnel are much more heavily represented on these boards and panels, because the complexity of research design is something that even insurance companies don't always understand. And ICER seeks direct input from patients and clinicians on what they feel is important to their care, what outcomes they seek, and what evidence should be assessed. For example, multiple myeloma patient groups told ICER that it was very important to them to have options for oral medication given how often they have to go to clinics for IV administration.1. *If drug prices are questioned, will that stall innovation?* Innovation is essential to improving patient health. We are fortunate to have a drug manufacturing industry that is producing a burgeoning pipeline of new promising drugs for a range of medical conditions. But many of these drugs are landing on the market with hefty price tags that are out of range for many people. There is no point to innovation if no one can afford the new drugs or benefits that they offer.1. *Why do we need a PCORI or ICER anyway?* Most patients would not want to take a drug if they didn't know it worked, yet we do it all the time. The FDA assesses drugs for safety but does not compare one drug to another or look at the cost of a drug. We need organizations that are objective, not dominated by one type of stakeholder or another, and that operate in an open environment where patients can voice their preferences and ask questions.
*Bottom line? *An internet search can get you started when you need information. But as a patient, you need to know that there are places you can trust to give you the whole story. The more organizations like PCORI and ICER that we have, the faster we will get to a place in medicine that gives us information we can depend on.

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This is the next in our "Medicaid Works" blog series, which aims to inform the debate over Medicaid's future by providing the latest facts and figures on this essential and popular part of the nation's health care system.Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income families and individuals, including children, parents, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.  Here are ten key facts about how Medicaid helps millions of Americans live healthier, more secure lives:

2. *Medicaid provided quality health coverage for **97 million low-income Americans* *over the course of 2015.  *In any given month, Medicaid served 33 million children, 27 million adults (mostly in low-income working families), 6 million seniors, and 10 million persons with disabilities, according to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates.4. *Medicaid has cut dramatically the number of Americans without health insurance.  *Since the implementation of health reform's major coverage expansions in 2014, Medicaid and the new health marketplaces have helped cut the number of uninsured Americans from 45 million to 29 million, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates.  States that expanded Medicaid have had significantly greater reductions in the share of residents who were uninsured than non-expansion states (see chart).  By 2020, an estimated 13 million more adults will have enrolled in Medicaid and gained access to affordable health coverage due to health reform. 
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2. *Medicaid participation is high. * Some 65.6 percent of low-income adults with children who are eligible for Medicaid are enrolled, according to the Urban Institute, a relatively strong participation rate compared to some other programs.  And evidence so far among states adopting health reform's Medicaid expansion shows substantial increases in overall Medicaid enrollment, which indicates robust participation among expansion-eligible individuals.  In addition, 88.3 percent of eligible children participate in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to the Urban Institute. 4. *Medicaid has **improved access to care* *for millions, including those with chronic conditions.  *A landmark study of Oregon's Medicaid program found that beneficiaries were 40 percent less likely to have suffered a decline in their health in the last six months than similar people without health insurance coverage.  They were also likelier to use preventive care (such as cholesterol screenings), to have a regular clinic where they could receive primary care, and to receive a diagnosis of and treatment for depression and diabetes.6. *Medicaid provides significant financial support to low-income beneficiaries.  *Medicaid lifted 2.6 million people out of poverty in 2010, equating to a 0.7 percentage-point drop in the poverty rate.  The program cut poverty most among adults with disabilities, children, seniors, African Americans, and Hispanics.  Research from Oregon's Medicaid program also shows that beneficiaries were 40 percent less likely to go into medical debt or leave other bills unpaid in order to cover medical expenses, and that Medicaid coverage nearly eliminated catastrophic out-of-pocket medical costs.8. *Medicaid produces long-term educational benefits for kids.  *Children who are eligible for Medicaid do better in school and miss fewer school days due to illness or injury.  They're also likelier to finish high school, attend college, and graduate from college.  Kids who are eligible for Medicaid earn more as adults and experience fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations, research shows.10. *Medicaid is cost-effective.  *Medicaid's costs per beneficiary are substantially lower (see chart) and have been growing more slowly than for private insurance.  Medicaid provides more comprehensive benefits than private insurance at significantly lower out-of-pocket cost to beneficiaries, but its lower payment rates to health care providers and lower administrative costs make the program very efficient. 
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2. *Medicaid gives states flexibility to design their own programs.  *The federal government sets minimum standards, including the categories of people that all states must cover.  Beyond that, states set their own rules, including whom they cover, what benefits they provide, and how they deliver health care services.  As a result, Medicaid eligibility varies substantially from state to state.  Moreover, states have taken advantage of Medicaid's existing flexibility to improve beneficiary health outcomes while lowering costs by changing how health care is delivered.4. *Health reform's Medicaid expansion is saving states money.  *The federal government will pay the entire cost of health care for newly eligible beneficiaries through 2016, and many states that have expanded Medicaid have found that it has produced net savings for their budgets.  States will spend just 1.6 percent more on Medicaid and CHIP with the expansion than they would have without health reform, CBO estimates.  Hospitals in expansion states are treating fewer uninsured patients, and the amount of uncompensated care they are providing is declining steeply.  Meanwhile, hospitals in the states that haven't expanded Medicaid continue to provide large amounts of uncompensated care, and the states are missing the opportunity to leverage billions of dollars in new federal funding through the expansion.6. *Medicaid expansion supports work*.  Charges that health reform discourages poor families from working more don't match reality.  In states that have adopted health reform's Medicaid expansion, poor parents can earn substantially more and retain their Medicaid coverage.  In addition, some states have used their program flexibility to further encourage work overall among Medicaid beneficiaries by offering a set of supportive employment services.

Learn more about how Medicaid improves access to health care, its long-term benefits, and why states should expand Medicaid: www.cbpp.org/medicaid-works

 
This post originally appeared on Off the Charts,the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities'

*More on this Topic*
· Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid

· Medicaid Works: A Critical and Evolving Pillar of U.S. Health Care

· States Are Using Flexibility to Create Successful, Innovative Medicaid Programs

· Medicaid Expansion Producing State Savings and Connecting Vulnerable Groups to Care

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I'm a lifelong democratic socialist and a diehard supporter of Bernie Sanders and the political revolution he's embodied. I have long-standing objections to the Clintons and the way in which they've triangulated the Democratic Party rightward through the years.

But after a brief thought experiment--imagining what it would feel like to wake up on November 9th to the news that Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States--it becomes a no brainer to state that I'll vote for Hillary and do all I can to prevent her being defeated by Trump.

I humbly suggest that my "Bernie or Bust/Never Hillary" friends (of which I have several) try the same thought experiment:

Are you ready? Close your eyes and imagine:

You wake up the day after the elections to discover that Donald Trump will be the next President. Would you feel happy, celebrating that "crooked Hilary" had gotten her cumuppence, and confident that the chaos to be created by President Trump would make it likely that the political revolution is just around the corner?

Or would you be sick to your stomach knowing that a majority of American voters had been overcome by fear and loathing and that the darkest, most racist, misogynist, and xenophobic elements of American society had prevailed? Would you be Googling how to move to Canada or another safe haven?

What would a President Trump mean?

• First, if you care about overturning Citizens United and limiting the ability of billionaires to buy elections, fugettaboutit. Merrick Garland would never get a Senate vote. Trump would nominate Supreme Court Justices in the mold of Justice Scalia who would double down on Citizens United, block voting rights, side with corporate rights against citizens' rights, and possibly overturn Roe v. Wade, sending thousands of women to back alley abortionists. And even if he served for only one term, President Trump is likely to get at two more Supreme Court picks. (Remember, a President serves for four or eight years, but a Supreme Court Justice serves for life.) Whatever other shortcomings she may have, Hillary Clinton would likely appoint liberal Justices like those appointed by Bill Clinton (Stephen Breyer and "The Notorious RBG"--Ruth Bader Ginsburg). With two-three picks, Hillary could reshape the Court in a generally progressive direction for a generation.

• In order to implement his proposal to quickly deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, Trump would need to create a special force of tens of thousands of armed agents to invade workplaces, homes, and schools, and to stop cars and pedestrians to check papers and round up those without proper documentation. America would start to look like a police state.

• Trump would deport Dreamers, immigrants who were brought by their parents to America at a young age and have spent most of their lives in this country going to school and working. Instead of contributing to American society, Dreamers would be forced to hide in the shadows.

• People of the Muslim faith, and/or everyone from countries that had experienced terrorism, would be banned from entering the US. That includes people from friendly Muslim countries like Indonesia, Turkey (a member of Nato), and the United Arab Emirates, as well as people from countries that had experienced terrorism like France, the UK, and Germany. Travel, tourism, and commerce would be harmed, resulting in considerable damage to the economy.

• Vladimir Putin would be drinking champagne. America's NATO allies, particularly those close to Russia, would be uncertain if the US would help defend them. Putin would feel liberated to engage in dangerous foreign adventures.

• The Iran Nuclear Arms Treaty would be torn up. With no restraints, Iran would have the ability to develop a nuclear weapon in about a year, threatening the stability of the Middle East and the security of Israel. There's a good chance that Israel would preemptively bomb Iranian nuclear sites, setting off a regional war.

• Trump would start trade wars with China, Mexico and other countries, likely leading to a severe recession or depression.

• Lacking his own domestic policy, Trump would likely outsource domestic policy to Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. Look forward to a Republican Congress passing and President Trump signing legislation to abolish the Affordable Care Act and throw millions off of health insurance; to cut taxes for the wealthy and balloon the deficit' and to privatize Social Security and Medicare.

• Nothing whatsoever would be done by the United States to combat climate change for at least the next 4 or 8 years. Trump would likely abrogate US commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement, leading other countries to reneg as well.* At the end of a Trump Presidency, the planet would be closer to environmental catastrophe.*

In short, America would become a very dark and dangerous place with the lives of untold millions of real people irreparably damaged. And the country would be farther, not closer, to a political revolution. In fact, it's even possible that the election of President Trump would be the last democratic election in American history.

Now briefly reverse the thought experiment. Imagine waking up on November 9 to President Hillary Clinton:

Wouldn't you be at least a little relieved that disaster had been averted? It would hardly be the start of the political revolution. But wouldn't you feel at least a brief flash of pride at America electing its first woman President? There's a good chance of confirming Supreme Court justices who would overturn Citizens United And with the Democratic Party having moved significantly to the left, and embraced the most progressive platform in American history, circumstances, even if Hillary is a political opportunist, she's likely to govern less from the center than Bill Clinton.

If she doesn't, Bernie's political revolution would be there to protest and try to keep her honest. Bernie and other progressive Senators like Elizabeth Warren and Sherrod Brown would be there to object to corporatist policies, and the political revolution would bring tens of thousands of people in the streets.

Are you done with the thought experiment? Now, however disappointed we are that Bernie fell just short, and however angry we may be at the manipulation by the Democratic National Committee, wouldn't waking up to Hillary as President be better than waking up to President Trump?

If so, get your asses to the polls on November 8, hold your nose, if necessary, to vote for Hillary, and bring five of your friends. At the same time, keep participating in the political revolution.

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What if millions of American workers were being denied health insurance, job security and the most basic legal protections, from overtime pay to workers compensation to the right to join a union? What if tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer revenues -- money desperately needed to address everything from crumbling roads to education to health care -- were never making it to local, state and federal treasuries? What if thousands of companies were violating the law with impunity?

That is exactly what is happening in the U.S. today, thanks to a rampant practice known as worker misclassification - illegally labeling workers as independent contractors when in fact they are employees under the law. In some cases it's occurring in plain sight, in others it's more hidden -- but regardless of the circumstances, it is taking an enormous toll on the country.

According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), workers misclassified as independent contractors can be found in nearly every industry, and the phenomenon has grown considerably with the rise of the gig economy. Uber, the ride-hailing company, has become the poster child for worker misclassification, with numerous lawsuits alleging that Uber wrongly classifies its drivers as independent contractors. But Uber is hardly alone - examples of worker misclassification can be found in scores of new sectors, from housecleaners to technical workers.

Workers misclassified as independent contractors are also legion in established sectors of the economy, notably residential construction, in-home caregiving and the port trucking industry. Conditions for these workers have been compared to indentured servitude, and for good reason. Misclassification enables employers to get away with widespread wage theft and a range of other illegal practices.

In a 2015 report, EPI described the advantages to employers of misclassifying workers. "Employers who misclassify avoid paying payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance, are not responsible for providing health insurance, and are able to bypass requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act." If this weren't enough, the report continues, "misclassified workers are ineligible for unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, minimum wage, and overtime, and are forced to pay the full FICA tax and purchase their own health insurance."

How do employers get away with such violations? The answer is complex, involving anemic labor laws, lax enforcement of the protections that do exist and the savvy exploitation of both by companies in key industries. While some businesses misclassify their workers out of ignorance, others do it very deliberately, and have spent millions of dollars defending the practice.

A case in point is the port trucking industry, which was deregulated in the 1980s, leading to a proliferation of companies whose business model was predicated on the use of independent contractors. That model has resulted in a workforce of close to 75,000 truck drivers at ports across the country laboring in mostly abysmal conditions. Among the indignities endured by drivers are such neo-Dickensian schemes as negative paychecks - an inconceivable but well-documented occurrence in which drivers labor full time or more, yet actually owe money to the trucking companies they work for due to paycheck deductions for everything from truck payments to insurance to repairs.

In the last several years, port truck drivers and their labor, community and political allies have begun to successfully challenge misclassification, winning a series of legal victories, particularly in California. Every government agency that's conducted an investigation into the practices of the port trucking industry -- from the United States Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board to the California Labor Commissioner and Economic Development Department -- has determined that port drivers are employees, not independent contractors. The state's labor commissioner alone has issued more than 300 decisions on misclassification of drivers in Southern California, and drivers have prevailed in every decision, winning over $35 million in back pay.

How can these successes be replicated and enhanced to end misclassification? Three strategies stand out:

• Litigation: The successful track record in California has proven that misclassification is vulnerable to sustained litigation. An important factor is whether elected and appointed officials are willing to aggressively pursue or support such litigation - if not, the efforts will yield far less favorable results.

• Policy changes: The enactment of policies that clamp down on misclassification, increase penalties and ban law-breaking companies from operating can have significant impact. However, as with litigation, this strategy depends on the presence of lawmakers willing to take on the issue.

• Worker organizing: In Los Angeles, port truck drivers frustrated with the exploitative conditions in their industry have waged a multi-year campaign to expose the practice of misclassification. That effort, which has included multiple strikes, has been supported by a broad coalition of community groups - a potent combination that has played a crucial role in challenging the trucking industry's "independent contractor" business model.

Taking on misclassification is important not just to workers, but to businesses and taxpayers as well. In the current system, law-abiding companies are forced to compete with low-road operators, creating an uneven playing field. Likewise, the cost to taxpayers in lost revenues from employers that illegally misclassify workers as independent contractors is enormous, cheating government out of resources that could and should be used for the common good.

Reigning in worker misclassification and the abuse of so-called "independent contractors" is one of the more daunting challenges in taking on economic inequality. But any serious plan to address the nation's economic divide must include an aggressive strategy to take on this costly epidemic.

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(Reuters/Mark Kauzlarich)

This post was co-written with Alex Tapscott.

Recently Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her policy initiatives for technology and innovation. She reiterated her support for high-tech education, job creation, and the adoption of a wide range of technologies. What surprised most observers was her call for "public service blockchain applications."

During the announcement she mused: As the first person to have launched a "code sprint" out of the White House and fight to use words like "hacking" on the White House blog, I can tell you that getting words like "blockchain" into an announcement was challenging.

Clinton is on to something big, perhaps bigger than she yet appreciates. The blockchain is the technology behind crypto currencies like Bitcoin, and it is ushering in nothing less than the second era of the Internet. Blockchains establish the rules--in the form of globally distributed computations, heavy duty encryption, and mass collaboration--that ensure the integrity of the data traded among billions of devices without going through a trusted third party. Trust is hard-coded into the platform. It acts as a ledger of accounts, a database, a notary, a sentry, and clearing house, all by consensus, thereby allowing us to exchange things of value directly. No untrustworthy middlemen. That's why we call it the Trust Protocol.

Clinton's announcement and the ensuing public discussion have focused on how blockchains could support one of the presidential hopeful's goals, to "make government smarter and more effective." Indeed, a blockchain for public services could reduce costs, preserve data security, and increase trust, transparency, and accountability in public offices. To be sure, the opportunities are far reaching. As we outline in our new book, Blockchain Revolution, we can create a safer, more open, more inclusive, and more effective platform for serving the public. Perhaps we can even move to a second era of democracy, where politicians are answerable to their citizens, not to big money, and where high levels of civic engagement and public deliberation are the norms, not the exceptions.

Clinton and her team should now describe how the blockchain opportunity goes far beyond making improvements to the government per se.

Almost 25 years ago, during Bill Clinton's term as president and with Al Gore's stewardship, the US government led in the establishment of the internet. It brought about then-unthinkable changes, both good and bad, to the U.S. economy and society.

Today the world is poised to move beyond the internet of information to the internet of value, which could enable the next president to democratize the economy, effect unprecedented breakthroughs in prosperity, and solve many of the nation's most vexing problems. The implications of the first native digital medium for peer-to-peer value exchange are staggering and will drive all four of her strategic technology goals.

First, if Clinton truly wants to "advance America's global leadership" in the technology, then she will need to embrace the internet of value. She acknowledged that government has a role to play. Just as the US Department of Commerce provided leadership in standards, adoption, and proliferation of the internet in the early 1990s, various agencies could lead the development of the internet of value and participate in its governance along with such stakeholders as engineers, venture capitalists, academics, users, civil society groups, and women. Every business, public institution, and individual can both contribute and benefit in profound ways.

If she wants to "build the tech economy on Main Street," then the blockchain can help. It is already disrupting the financial services industry for the better. We expect big changes to the corporation, the pillar of modern capitalism. With this global peer-to-peer platform for credentialing and verifying identity, reputation, and transactional capacity, we will re-engineer deep structures of the firm to originate jobs and support entrepreneurs and innovators in the least advantaged neighborhoods, ultimately for shared value creation.

If Clinton wants to "invest in a world-class digital infrastructure" that supports the internet of things, then investing in the blockchain is fundamental. Billions of connected smart things will be sensing, responding, sharing data, generating and trading their own electricity, protecting our environment, managing our homes, our health, and the portability of our health insurance. This internet of everything will need a Ledger of Everything.

Finally, if Clinton wants to "promote innovation while protecting privacy," then blockchains will be mission-critical. They may even hold the key to the growing social inequality to which she refers. Through the blockchain, we can go from redistributing wealth to distributing value and opportunity fairly in the first place, from cradle to grave.

We applaud Clinton for slipping the less-than-sonorous word "blockchain" into her announcement on technology. Now she needs to take the next steps.
What an historic opportunity for her to change the tenor of the campaign by outlining a vision for not just a blockchain-enabled government but a new innovation economy and society based in the internet of value.

Don Tapscott and his son Alex Tapscott are authors of the Globe and Mail bestselling book Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business and the World. This piece originally appeared in Quartz.

Follow @dtapscott and @alextapscott on twitter.
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PHILADELPHIA ― Barack Obama has said on many occasions that he wants his presidency to leave the kind of mark on America that Ronald Reagan’s did.

As far back as early 2008, before Obama was even his party’s nominee, he described Reagan as a “transformational” figure ― somebody whose impact on policy and politics endured for many decades. Obama hoped to do the same thing, except by pushing the country in a more liberal direction rather than a more conservative one.

Obama is on his way to achieving that. By any reasonable standard, he has been the most successful Democratic president in a generation, and maybe for longer than that. He has signed into law more pieces of meaningful progressive legislation than any president since Lyndon Johnson ― and he did so without the benefit of Johnson’s huge congressional majorities, and without the stain of something like Vietnam on his legacy.

But Reagan, Johnson, FDR ― they enacted policy changes that outlasted their tenures and, in so doing, they helped change public expectations about what government should or shouldn’t do.

If Obama wants to join the ranks of those lofty predecessors, he must complete one final task. He has to make sure that Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, becomes president ― an effort that begins in earnest when Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night.

To be clear, Obama has already changed America in ways that even many of his supporters don’t fully appreciate.  

The Recovery Act didn’t simply help the country pull out of the Great Recession. It also made key investments, particularly in renewable energy, that could make the country more prosperous ― and less dependent on fossil fuels ― decades from now.

The rescue of General Motors and Chrysler didn’t simply spare the Midwest even worse economic pain. It preserved a vital supply chain and repositioned the auto industry to compete throughout the rest of the 21st century.

The Affordable Care Act didn’t simply make it possible for an additional 20 million people to get health insurance. It also ended insurance company practices that made coverage unavailable to people with serious medical problems ― and created the expectation that nobody should go without insurance because they are too poor to pay for it.

New rules for Wall Street, new limits on power plant emissions ― these and other policy initiatives were full of compromises and design flaws, and in many cases remain unpopular or at least highly controversial. Conservative critics can cite chapter and verse on why these policies have made America a worse place, just as liberal critics made such arguments about Reagan’s changes. But the impact of these policies is impossible to miss. 

How long the impact will last, however, is another question entirely. If Republicans remain in charge of Congress after this election, they will do whatever they can to tear down Obama’s accomplishments. And if Donald Trump is president, he will probably sign most of what the Republican Congress passes. His choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, former leader of the House Republican Study Conference and one of the most conservative vice presidential nominees in recent memory, is a pretty clear sign of that.

No, Republicans wouldn’t be able to reverse all of Obama’s achievements, no matter how hard they might try. The energy economy has changed so much that alternative energy is on secure footing, with the business community committed to its development. Taking health insurance away from millions of Americans would prove politically perilous and likely invite a massive electoral rebuke.

Just look at Kentucky, where Matt Bevin, the newly elected Republican governor, has backed way off from promises to end the state’s participation in Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. That’s a sign of enduring political change.

But if Republicans couldn’t wipe away Obama’s policy changes altogether, they could diminish or undermine many of them. If Trump becomes president and Republicans hold on to Congress, two events that would likely go hand in hand, it’s a safe bet the GOP would slash spending and regulations ― doing serious damage not just to the Affordable Care Act, but also to Obama’s rules on emissions and the financial community.

Republicans might even be willing to endure an immediate electoral backlash for making these changes, just as Democrats sometimes are, because they believe so strongly in what they are doing.

Come November, Obama’s name won’t be on the ballot. But his legacy will be at stake. And Wednesday’s speech represents one of his best chances to defend it.

-- 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 22 hours ago.

Dayton has green-lit a new wellness center in a bid to cut down on its insurance costs. The city approved Wednesday morning a contract with Charlotte-based Helathstat Inc. for up to $5 million over five years. Under the agreement, the city and Healthstat will set up a new wellness center where city of Dayton employees and their families can get some of their health care needs addressed. "I think it's going to be a huge asset to our health insurance program." said Ken Couch, director of human resources… Reported by bizjournals 21 hours ago.

Aspira A Más executive invited to speak on "Affordable Care Act - What to Expect in 2017" at the 3rd annual Latino Tax Professional Association’s National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada., Aug. 9 – 11, 2016.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) July 27, 2016

Demonstrating their commitment to serving the Hispanic communities across the U.S., The IHC Group today announced that Aspira A Más, its Hispanic sales and marketing division, will participate as exhibitor and panel speaker at the 3rd annual Latino Tax Professional Association’s National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada., Aug. 9 – 11, 2016.

Founded in 2008, Latino Tax Professional Association is one of the largest professional organizations, with 12,000 members and over 100,000 users, providing support for Hispanic tax professionals with education, training, certification and networking events.

“We are delighted that Aspira A Más will once again participate in our 2016 National Convention. Our missions are similar in that we both provide community, knowledge, and value-add products, services and opportunities for growth to the Hispanic professionals in the United States who serve the Spanish speaking clients,” said Antonio Martinez, EA and Vice President of Business Development at Latino Tax Professional Association.

Javier Tejeda-Vera, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Aspira A Más, has been invited to be a panelist on August 11th at a seminar entitled 'Affordable Care Act – What to Expect in 2017', where attendees will explore the role tax professionals, certified insurance agents, insurance carriers, the IRS, and the marketplace play under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The panelists will also discuss upcoming changes and challenges that will be faced during the 2017 tax season.

“In our culture, the tax preparer is a professional who is respected and their advice sought out and well taken. They have influence and impact on their clients’ households,” said Tejeda-Vera. “And what a wonderful pairing that is, with our mission to provide education and affordable solutions when it comes to health insurance as it now ties in with the tax penalty. We are thrilled at the opportunity to meet these tax professionals and the chance to ready them with ACA knowledge for the upcoming 2017 Open Enrollment.”

Aspira A Más (“Aspire for More”), a marketing division of IHC Specialty Benefits, which is a member of The IHC Group, is dedicated to serving and creating professional career opportunities for Hispanics along with essential major medical and ancillary health insurance products.

The National Convention, to be held in the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, is expected to host over 2,000 attendees for 3-days of seminars, workshops, networking and new business opportunities all conducted in English and Spanish. Please visit the Aspira A Mas booth at #306 on Aug. 9 – 11, 2016 and also attend the ACA seminar on Aug. 11 in the Spanish Room at 8:00AM or English Room at 10:00AM inside the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.

For more information on Aspira A Más or about the National Convention, please contact Javier Tejeda-Vera at Javier.Tejeda-Vera@ihcgroup.com, or visit us at http://www.AspiraAMas.com and follow on @AspiraAMas on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for latest updates.

About The IHC Group
Independence Holding Company (NYSE: IHC) is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual disability, specialty and supplemental health, pet, and life insurance through its subsidiaries since 1980. The IHC Group (including through its 92% ownership of American Independence Corp. (NASDAQ: AMIC)) owns three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company), a majority of Ebix Health Administration Exchange, Inc., a fully insured third party administrator, and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., which is a technology-driven insurance sales and marketing company that creates value for insurance producers, carriers and consumers (both individuals and small businesses) through a suite of proprietary tools and products (including ACA plans and small group medical stop-loss). All products are placed with highly rated carriers.

About Aspira A Más:
Aspira A Más is a sales and marketing division of Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC) that is dedicated to serving the Hispanic community with a focus on health insurance education as well as providing affordable insurance products. Products are marketed through general agents, online and advisors. Aspira A Más is a part of The IHC Group, whose carriers are rated A- (Excellent) by the AM Best Company, Inc. Learn more about the Aspira A Más opportunity by visiting http://www.AspiraAMas.com, and come join us! Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Anthem has no intention of backing away quietly from its plan to buy rival Cigna in the face of federal opposition, and the company looks ready to play hardball. The health insurer told analysts Wednesday that it is preparing to fight the government's move to block its deal, and the company said its participation in the government's health insurance exchanges — a sore subject for the Obama administration that is trying to stop the acquisition — may be at stake. Federal regulators say the deals would reduce competition and raise prices on the exchanges and in other market segments, like plans offered to large employers. UnitedHealth has already cut its exchange participation to a handful of markets due to steep losses, and others, like Aetna, have also said they are struggling to make money on the exchanges. "To be clear, our board and executive leadership team at Anthem is fully committed to challenging the (Justice Department) decision in court," Swedish told analysts in a call discussing the company's second-quarter financial results. Reported by SeattlePI.com 20 hours ago.

NBPA to fund health insurance for retired players Reported by ESPN 18 hours ago.

Huge Reported by FOX Sports 17 hours ago.

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced Wednesday that its player representatives have voted unanimously to fund health insurance for all retired NBA players with at least three years of service in the league. This program is the first of its kind among North American professional sports. It also exemplifies the NBPA's focus on the health and welfare of its current, retired and future members. Reported by NBA 16 hours ago.

NEW YORK (AP) The National Basketball Players Association's player representatives have voted unanimously to fund health insurance for all retired NBA players with at least three years of service. Reported by FOX Sports 13 hours ago.

President Barack Obama offered a moving vision of optimism for the United States on Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention and made it clear why he believes Hillary Clinton is the person best-suited to carry on his legacy in the White House.

Read the text of Obama’s speech, as prepared for delivery, below:

Hello, America.

Twelve years ago tonight, I addressed this convention for the very first time.

You met my two little girls, Malia and Sasha – now two amazing young women who just fill me with pride.  You fell for my brilliant wife and partner Michelle, who’s made me a better father and a better man; who’s gone on to inspire our nation as First Lady; and who somehow hasn’t aged a day. 

I know the same can’t be said for me.  My girls remind me all the time.  Wow, you’ve changed so much, daddy. 

And it’s true – I was so young that first time in Boston.  Maybe a little nervous addressing such a big crowd.  But I was filled with faith; faith in America – the generous, bighearted, hopeful country that made my story – indeed, all of our stories – possible.

A lot’s happened over the years.  And while this nation has been tested by war and recession and all manner of challenge – I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as your President, to tell you I am even more optimistic about the future of America.

How could I not be – after all we’ve achieved together?

After the worst recession in 80 years, we’ve fought our way back.  We’ve seen deficits come down, 401(k)s recover, an auto industry set new records, unemployment reach eight-year lows, and our businesses create 15 million new jobs.

After a century of trying, we declared that health care in America is not a privilege for a few, but a right for everybody.  After decades of talk, we finally began to wean ourselves off foreign oil, and doubled our production of clean energy.

We brought more of our troops home to their families, and delivered justice to Osama bin Laden.  Through diplomacy, we shut down Iran’s nuclear weapons program, opened up a new chapter with the people of Cuba, and brought nearly 200 nations together around a climate agreement that could save this planet for our kids.

We put policies in place to help students with loans; protect consumers from fraud; and cut veteran homelessness almost in half.  And through countless acts of quiet courage, America learned that love has no limits, and marriage equality is now a reality across the land.

By so many measures, our country is stronger and more prosperous than it was when we started. 

And through every victory and every setback, I’ve insisted that change is never easy, and never quick; that we wouldn’t meet all of our challenges in one term, or one presidency, or even in one lifetime. 

So tonight, I’m here to tell you that yes, we still have more work to do.  More work to do for every American still in need of a good job or a raise, paid leave or a decent retirement; for every child who needs a sturdier ladder out of poverty or a world-class education; for everyone who hasn’t yet felt the progress of these past seven and a half years.  We need to keep making our streets safer and our criminal justice system fairer; our homeland more secure, and our world more peaceful and sustainable for the next generation.  We’re not done perfecting our union, or living up to our founding creed – that all of us are created equal and free in the eyes of God.

That work involves a big choice this November.  Fair to say, this is not your typical election.  It’s not just a choice between parties or policies; the usual debates between left and right.  This is a more fundamental choice – about who we are as a people, and whether we stay true to this great American experiment in self-government.

Look, we Democrats have always had plenty of differences with the Republican Party, and there’s nothing wrong with that; it’s precisely this contest of ideas that pushes our country forward. 

But what we heard in Cleveland last week wasn’t particularly Republican – and it sure wasn’t conservative.  What we heard was a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other, and turn away from the rest of the world.  There were no serious solutions to pressing problems – just the fanning of resentment, and blame, and anger, and hate.

And that is not the America I know. 

The America I know is full of courage, and optimism, and ingenuity.  The America I know is decent and generous.  Sure, we have real anxieties – about paying the bills, protecting our kids, caring for a sick parent.  We get frustrated with political gridlock, worry about racial divisions; are shocked and saddened by the madness of Orlando or Nice.  There are pockets of America that never recovered from factory closures; men who took pride in hard work and providing for their families who now feel forgotten; parents who wonder whether their kids will have the same opportunities we had. 

All that is real.  We’re challenged to do better; to be better.  But as I’ve traveled this country, through all fifty states; as I’ve rejoiced with you and mourned with you, what I’ve also seen, more than anything, is what is right with America.  I see people working hard and starting businesses; people teaching kids and serving our country.  I see engineers inventing stuff, and doctors coming up with new cures.  I see a younger generation full of energy and new ideas, not constrained by what is, ready to seize what ought to be.

Most of all, I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together – black,white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young and old; gay, straight, men, women, folks with disabilities, all pledging allegiance, under the same proud flag, to this big, bold country that we love. 

That’s the America I know.  And there is only one candidate in this race who believes in that future, and has devoted her life to it; a mother and grandmother who’d do anything to help our children thrive; a leader with real plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings, and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American – the next President of the United States, Hillary Clinton.

Now, eight years ago, Hillary and I were rivals for the Democratic nomination.  We battled for a year and a half.  Let me tell you, it was tough, because Hillary’s tough.  Every time I thought I might have that race won, Hillary just came back stronger.

But after it was all over, I asked Hillary to join my team.  She was a little surprised, but ultimately said yes – because she knew that what was at stake was bigger than either of us.  And for four years, I had a front-row seat to her intelligence, her judgment, and her discipline.  I came to realize that her unbelievable work ethic wasn’t for praise or attention – that she was in this for everyone who needs a champion.  I understood that after all these years, she has never forgotten just who she’s fighting for.

Hillary’s still got the tenacity she had as a young woman working at the Children’s Defense Fund, going door to door to ultimately make sure kids with disabilities could get a quality education. 

She’s still got the heart she showed as our First Lady, working with Congress to help push through a Children’s Health Insurance Program that to this day protects millions of kids. 

She’s still seared with the memory of every American she met who lost loved ones on 9/11, which is why, as a Senator from New York, she fought so hard for funding to help first responders; why, as Secretary of State, she sat with me in the Situation Room and forcefully argued in favor of the mission that took out bin Laden.

You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office.  Until you’ve sat at that desk, you don’t know what it’s like to manage a global crisis, or send young people to war.  But Hillary’s been in the room; she’s been part of those decisions.  She knows what’s at stake in the decisions our government makes for the working family, the senior citizen, the small business owner, the soldier, and the veteran.  Even in the middle of crisis, she listens to people, and keeps her cool, and treats everybody with respect.  And no matter how daunting the odds; no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits. 

That’s the Hillary I know.  That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire.  And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America.

And, by the way, in case you were wondering about her judgment, look at her choice of running mate.  Tim Kaine is as good a man, as humble and committed a public servant, as anyone I know.  He will be a great Vice President, and he’ll make Hillary a better President.  Just like my dear friend and brother Joe Biden has made me a better President.

Now, Hillary has real plans to address the concerns she’s heard from you on the campaign trail. She’s got specific ideas to invest in new jobs, to help workers share in their company’s profits, to help put kids in preschool, and put students through college without taking on a ton of debt.  That’s what leaders do. 

And then there’s Donald Trump.  He’s not really a plans guy.  Not really a facts guy, either.  He calls himself a business guy, which is true, but I have to say, I know plenty of businessmen and women who’ve achieved success without leaving a trail of lawsuits, and unpaid workers, and people feeling like they got cheated.

Does anyone really believe that a guy who’s spent his 70 years on this Earth showing no regard for working people is suddenly going to be your champion?  Your voice?  If so, you should vote for him.  But if you’re someone who’s truly concerned about paying your bills, and seeing the economy grow, and creating more opportunity for everybody, then the choice isn’t even close.  If you want someone with a lifelong track record of fighting for higher wages, better benefits, a fairer tax code, a bigger voice for workers, and stronger regulations on Wall Street, then you should vote for Hillary Clinton. 

And if you’re concerned about who’s going to keep you and your family safe in a dangerous world – well, the choice is even clearer.  Hillary Clinton is respected around the world not just by leaders, but by the people they serve.  She’s worked closely with our intelligence teams, our diplomats, our military. And she has the judgment, the experience, and the temperament to meet the threat from terrorism.  It’s not new to her.  Our troops have pounded ISIL without mercy, taking out leaders, taking back territory.  I know Hillary won’t relent until ISIL is destroyed.  She’ll finish the job – and she’ll do it without resorting to torture, or banning entire religions from entering our country.  She is fit to be the next Commander-in-Chief.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump calls our military a disaster.  Apparently, he doesn’t know the men and women who make up the strongest fighting force the world has ever known.  He suggests America is weak.  He must not hear the billions of men, women, and children, from the Baltics to Burma, who still look to America to be the light of freedom, dignity, and human rights.  He cozies up to Putin, praises Saddam Hussein, and tells the NATO allies that stood by our side after 9/11 that they have to pay up if they want our protection.  Well, America’s promises do not come with a price tag.  We meet our commitments.  And that’s one reason why almost every country on Earth sees America as stronger and more respected today than they did eight years ago.

America is already great.  America is already strong.  And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump. 

In fact, it doesn’t depend on any one person.  And that, in the end, may be the biggest difference in this election – the meaning of our democracy. 

Ronald Reagan called America “a shining city on a hill.”  Donald Trump calls it “a divided crime scene” that only he can fix.  It doesn’t matter to him that illegal immigration and the crime rate are as low as they’ve been in decades, because he’s not offering any real solutions to those issues.  He’s just offering slogans, and he’s offering fear.  He’s betting that if he scares enough people, he might score just enough votes to win this election. 

That is another bet that Donald Trump will lose.  Because he’s selling the American people short.  We are not a fragile or frightful people.  Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order.  We don’t look to be ruled.  Our power comes from those immortal declarations first put to paper right here in Philadelphia all those years ago; We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that together, We, the People, can form a more perfect union. 

That’s who we are.  That’s our birthright – the capacity to shape our own destiny.  That’s what drove patriots to choose revolution over tyranny and our GIs to liberate a continent.  It’s what gave women the courage to reach for the ballot, and marchers to cross a bridge in Selma, and workers to organize and fight for better wages.

America has never been about what one person says he’ll do for us.  It’s always been about what can be achieved by us, together, through the hard, slow, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately enduring work of self-government.

And that’s what Hillary Clinton understands.  She knows that this is a big, diverse country, and that most issues are rarely black and white.  That even when you’re 100 percent right, getting things done requires compromise.  That democracy doesn’t work if we constantly demonize each other.  She knows that for progress to happen, we have to listen to each other, see ourselves in each other, fight for our principles but also fight to find common ground, no matter how elusive that may seem.

Hillary knows we can work through racial divides in this country when we realize the worry black parents feel when their son leaves the house isn’t so different than what a brave cop’s family feels when he puts on the blue and goes to work; that we can honor police and treat every community fairly.  She knows that acknowledging problems that have festered for decades isn’t making race relations worse – it’s creating the possibility for people of good will to join and make things better.

Hillary knows we can insist on a lawful and orderly immigration system while still seeing striving students and their toiling parents as loving families, not criminals or rapists; families that came here for the same reasons our forebears came – to work, and study, and make a better life, in a place where we can talk and worship and love as we please.  She knows their dream is quintessentially American, and the American Dream is something no wall will ever contain.

It can be frustrating, this business of democracy.  Trust me, I know.  Hillary knows, too.  When the other side refuses to compromise, progress can stall.  Supporters can grow impatient, and worry that you’re not trying hard enough; that you’ve maybe sold out.

But I promise you, when we keep at it; when we change enough minds; when we deliver enough votes, then progress does happen.  Just ask the twenty million more people who have health care today.  Just ask the Marine who proudly serves his country without hiding the husband he loves.  Democracy works, but we gotta want it – not just during an election year, but all the days in between. 

So if you agree that there’s too much inequality in our economy, and too much money in our politics, we all need to be as vocal and as organized and as persistent as Bernie Sanders’ supporters have been.  We all need to get out and vote for Democrats up and down the ticket, and then hold them accountable until they get the job done.

If you want more justice in the justice system, then we’ve all got to vote – not just for a President, but for mayors, and sheriffs, and state’s attorneys, and state legislators.  And we’ve got to work with police and protesters until laws and practices are changed.

If you want to fight climate change, we’ve got to engage not only young people on college campuses, but reach out to the coal miner who’s worried about taking care of his family, the single mom worried about gas prices.

If you want to protect our kids and our cops from gun violence, we’ve got to get the vast majority of Americans, including gun owners, who agree on background checks to be just as vocal and determined as the gun lobby that blocks change through every funeral we hold.  That’s how change will happen.

Look, Hillary’s got her share of critics.  She’s been caricatured by the right and by some folks on the left; accused of everything you can imagine – and some things you can’t.  But she knows that’s what happens when you’re under a microscope for 40 years.  She knows she’s made mistakes, just like I have; just like we all do.  That’s what happens when we try.  That’s what happens when you’re the kind of citizen Teddy Roosevelt once described – not the timid souls who criticize from the sidelines, but someone “who is actually in the arena…who strives valiantly; who errs…[but] who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement.”

Hillary Clinton is that woman in the arena.  She’s been there for us – even if we haven’t always noticed.  And if you’re serious about our democracy, you can’t afford to stay home just because she might not align with you on every issue.  You’ve got to get in the arena with her, because democracy isn’t a spectator sport.  America isn’t about “yes he will.”  It’s about “yes we can.”  And we’re going to carry Hillary to victory this fall, because that’s what the moment demands. 

You know, there’s been a lot of talk in this campaign about what America’s lost – people who tell us that our way of life is being undermined by pernicious changes and dark forces beyond our control.  They tell voters there’s a “real America” out there that must be restored.  This isn’t an idea that started with Donald Trump.  It’s been peddled by politicians for a long time – probably from the start of our Republic.

And it’s got me thinking about the story I told you twelve years ago tonight, about my Kansas grandparents and the things they taught me when I was growing up.  They came from the heartland; their ancestors began settling there about 200 years ago.  They were Scotch-Irish mostly, farmers, teachers, ranch hands, pharmacists, oil rig workers.  Hardy, small town folks.  Some were Democrats, but a lot of them were Republicans.  My grandparents explained that they didn’t like show-offs.  They didn’t admire braggarts or bullies.  They didn’t respect mean-spiritedness, or folks who were always looking for shortcuts in life.  Instead, they valued traits like honesty and hard work.  Kindness and courtesy.  Humility; responsibility; helping each other out.

That’s what they believed in.  True things.  Things that last.  The things we try to teach our kids. 

And what my grandparents understood was that these values weren’t limited to Kansas.  They weren’t limited to small towns.  These values could travel to Hawaii; even the other side of the world, where my mother would end up working to help poor women get a better life.  They knew these values weren’t reserved for one race; they could be passed down to a half-Kenyan grandson, or a half-Asian granddaughter; in fact, they were the same values Michelle’s parents, the descendants of slaves, taught their own kids living in a bungalow on the South Side of Chicago.  They knew these values were exactly what drew immigrants here, and they believed that the children of those immigrants were just as American as their own, whether they wore a cowboy hat or a yarmulke; a baseball cap or a hijab.

America has changed over the years.  But these values my grandparents taught me – they haven’t gone anywhere.  They’re as strong as ever; still cherished by people of every party, every race, and every faith.  They live on in each of us.  What makes us American, what makes us patriots, is what’s in here.  That’s what matters.  That’s why we can take the food and music and holidays and styles of other countries, and blend it into something uniquely our own.  That’s why we can attract strivers and entrepreneurs from around the globe to build new factories and create new industries here.  That’s why our military can look the way it does, every shade of humanity, forged into common service.  That’s why anyone who threatens our values, whether fascists or communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end.

That’s America.  Those bonds of affection; that common creed.  We don’t fear the future; we shape it, embrace it, as one people, stronger together than we are on our own.  That’s what Hillary Clinton understands – this fighter, this stateswoman, this mother and grandmother, this public servant, this patriot – that’s the America she’s fighting for.

And that’s why I have confidence, as I leave this stage tonight, that the Democratic Party is in good hands.  My time in thisoffice hasn’t fixed everything; as much as we’ve done, there’s still so much I want to do.  But for all the tough lessons I’ve had to learn; for all the places I’ve fallen short; I’ve told Hillary, and I’ll tell you what’s picked me back up, every single time.

It’s been you.  The American people.

It’s the letter I keep on my wall from a survivor in Ohio who twice almost lost everything to cancer, but urged me to keep fighting for health care reform, even when the battle seemed lost.  Do not quit.

It’s the painting I keep in my private office, a big-eyed, green owl, made by a seven year-old girl who was taken from us in Newtown, given to me by her parents so I wouldn’t forget – a reminder of all the parents who have turned their grief into action.

It’s the small business owner in Colorado who cut most of his own salary so he wouldn’t have to lay off any of his workers in the recession – because, he said, “that wouldn’t have been in the spirit of America.”

It’s the conservative in Texas who said he disagreed with me on everything, but appreciated that, like him, I try to be a good dad.

It’s the courage of the young soldier from Arizona who nearly died on the battlefield in Afghanistan, but who’s learned to speak and walk again – and earlier this year, stepped through the door of the Oval Office on his own power, to salute and shake my hand.

It’s every American who believed we could change this country for the better, so many of you who’d never been involved in politics, who picked up phones, and hit the streets, and used the internet in amazing new ways to make change happen.  You are the best organizers on the planet, and I’m so proud of all the change you’ve made possible.

Time and again, you’ve picked me up.  I hope, sometimes, I picked you up, too.  Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me.  I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me.  Because you’re who I was talking about twelve years ago, when I talked about hope – it’s been you who’ve fueled my dogged faith in our future, even when the odds are great; even when the road is long.  Hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; the audacity of hope!

America, you have vindicated that hope these past eight years.  And now I’m ready to pass the baton and do my part as a private citizen.  This year, in this election, I’m asking you to join me – to reject cynicism, reject fear, to summon what’s best in us; to elect Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States, and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation.

Thank you for this incredible journey.  Let’s keep it going.  God bless the United States of America.

-- 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 12 hours ago.

*Business Wire India*Enhancing customer experience is at the heart of Tata AIA Life Pvt. Ltd.’s (Tata AIA Life) efforts to foster customer satisfaction. With a view to reinforce its belief of ‘Making good happen’ for its customers and to provide the ‘Ease of doing business’ for them, the company has introduced a host of initiatives to improve its customer experience.
 
These initiatives include introduction of a service charter where the customers are promised pre-defined timelines to address proposal processing, service request, payout process, claim processing and grievance redressal. Addressing grievances is an important step in enhancing customer experience; it also provides valuable consumer insights, which can be used to boost customer satisfaction. Keeping this in mind, the company has devised a robust escalation matrix to help the customers manage their policies and connect with senior management of the company effectively in the time of major grievances.
 
The initiatives taken by Tata AIA Life in the area of claim settlement have translated into promising results. The organisation has registered an individual claim settlement ratio of 96.8 percent for FY15-16, which is one of the best in the private life insurance sector in India. This is an improvement from the previous year’s 94.5 percent. The Company has also gone the extra mile to ensure that all the claims received were decided by the end of the financial year, leaving no instance of an outstanding claim.
 
*Amitabh Verma*, *Chief Operating Officer*, Tata AIA Life Insurance, accredited the achievement to the company’s robust processes. He said, “Our focus on ‘Ease of doing business’ and creating value for customers has motivated us to reinvent our services time and again. Our bottom-up approach, armed with technology, helped us understand the needs of our customers and find best possible solution for them.”
 
Another one of Tata AIA Life’s initiatives that has enhanced customer experience is its timely settlement of death claims. As a policy, Tata AIA Life settles all death claims on policies that have been in force for three continuous years within eight working days from receipt of all claim documents. If it is delayed due to any reason, the company pays 6 percent interest per annum on the claim amount.

Tata AIA Life’s prudent risk management policies have ensured that it delivers on its promise to pay claims. Other than timely payment of claims, Tata AIA has also taken various measures to make the process easy and efficient. Claimants can contact Tata AIA, either through its helpline, or through emails letters and web site; or inform the respective branch about their claims. The Tata AIA claims team gets in touch with them to complete the documentation. The claimants can then track their claims online on Tata AIA’s website. In addition to this, regular SMS notifications are sent to the claimant about status of their claims. The company has the claim forms available in 11 regional languages to make the filing more convenient for the customer.
 
Recently the Company launched of two mobile applications– Good Solutions and Good Friend, to simplify the process of buying and selling insurance. The former, Good Solutions, is a pre-sales app equipped with features such as customer goal-setting, solution recommendation and policy. The latter, Good Friend, is a post-sales app with sections for individual advisors; contest & convention updates; renewal & commission details; policy level enquiries; new business details with stages; and multifunction contact options for calls, SMS and e-card (wishing customers).
 
To proactively address queries of the customers about their life insurance needs and to engage with them better, the company has introduced a special engagement programme called *Face to Face*. The customers are invited to their nearest Tata AIA Life branch on a pre-defined date every month through SMS and emails for the programme, which is organised in key branches across the country. The focus of this engagement activity is to update the customers about various services that help them in managing their policies effectively along with updating them about newly launched services. 
 
These robust services that have been set in place by Tata AIA Life have helped the organisation maximise customer satisfaction thereby boosting customer experience for its patrons.
 
*About Tata AIA Life*
 
Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA Life) is a joint venture company, formed by Tata Sons Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA). Tata AIA Life combines Tata’s pre-eminent leadership position in India and AIA’s presence as the largest, independent listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world spanning 18 markets in Asia Pacific.
 
*About Tata  *
 
Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising over 100 independent operating companies. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ‘To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2014-15, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $108.78 billion. These companies collectively employ over 600,000 people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors and shareholders. There are 29 publicly-listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of about $116.41 billion (as on March 31, 2016). Tata companies with significant scale include Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Teleservices, Titan, Tata Communications and Indian Hotels.
 
*About AIA *
 
AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Macau, Brunei, a 97 per cent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, a 49 per cent joint venture in India and a representative office in Myanmar and Cambodia.
 
The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai almost a century ago. It is a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$168 billion as of 30 November 2015.
 
AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia-Pacific, AIA serves the holders of more than 29 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.
 
AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).
 
*DISCLAIMER:*
 

· Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (IRDA of India Regn. No. 110)                                                  

CIN U66010MH2000PLC128403;registered and corporate address: 14^th Floor, Tower A, Peninsula Business Park, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400 013

· For complete details please contact our insurance advisor or visit the nearest branch office of Tata AIA Life or call 1-860-266-9966 (local charges would apply) or write to us at customercare@tataaia.com.
· Visit us at: www.tataaia.com or SMS 'LIFE’ to 58888

 

*BEWARE OF SPURIOUS PHONE CALLS AND FICTITIOUS/FRAUDULENT OFFERS* –

· IRDA or its officials do not involve in activities like sale of any kind of insurance or financial products nor invest premiums
· IRDA does not announce any bonus. Public receiving such phone calls are requested to lodge a police complaint along with details of phone call and number

 
  Reported by Business Wire India 12 hours ago.

Saying their own costs have risen, health insurance companies made their cases to state regulators Wednesday for double-digit rate increases next year for individual policies in Pennsylvania. Reported by philly.com 9 hours ago.

Five Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) member companies Power2Motivate, Fusion Marketing, Corporate Rewards, Ciloyalty, and Solterbeck, and their incentive partners, took home awards for highly successful programs that improved sales and increased employee engagement through reward and recognition.

MINNEAPOLIS (PRWEB) July 28, 2016

Five Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) member companies and their incentive partners took home awards for outstanding successful employee and sales incentive programs designed to help drive business. The 2016 IMA Circle of Excellence Awards were presented at the IMA Annual Summit in Houston, Texas last week.

“This year’s award winners truly show how business improves with well-designed incentive programs that support business objectives,” said Joe Zanone, 2016 Circle of Excellence Awards chair.

Launched in 2000, the IMA Circle of Excellence Awards identify and recognize outstanding examples of successful customer and employee incentive programs designed to help improve business. Both the company and the incentive marketing partner are recognized. The 2016 winners are:

Power2Motivate with Brother International Australia – Consumer Offer/Branding Program/Customer Loyalty
Power2Motivate was asked to provide an “out of this world” idea for Brother International Australia’s key back-to-school high sales period. The Brother $100K Prize Giveaway Program exceeded all goals for sales, participation, engagement and usage. The program, which increased sales by 28 percent over the previous year, was targeted to printer and hardware resellers across Australia. Travel incentives were selected for the top prizes because of the demographics and location of the business owners, who may not vacation often. For each minimum monthly purchase of Brother hardware resellers earned points toward a travel grand prize. Additional points and instant wins were earned through a “Spin to Win” game of chance where resellers earned instant points toward a wide range of rewards.

Fusion Marketing with Sprint – Dealer Distributor Incentive
Participation in the “Sprint Rewards Me” dealer channel incentive program had dwindled to 30 percent since the program’s inception in 2008. In 2014, Fusion Marketing was asked to refresh and rebrand the program, which was re-launched in early 2015. Designed to appeal to Sprint’s primarily millennial dealer demographic the program was designed to make them feel personally rewarded and featured significant promotions throughout the year. Sales reps were able to redeem points for cash, via a re-loadable Visa debit card, and merchandise via third-party integration with a rewards partner. Participation in the revitalized program grew to 78 percent with active, enrolled reps outselling non-enrolled reps three to one. Replacing the outdated technology with new, more sophisticated technology, created many efficiencies, which enhanced the overall success of the program.

Corporate Rewards with Wincanton – Recognition Program
After introducing a new company vision, mission and core values, Wincanton brought in Corporate Rewards to develop and launch a program to engage employees in the new company culture. Historically recognition had been inconsistent and employee surveys highlighted need for change. Corporate Rewards engaged company leaders in defining program goals and involved them in training and communication throughout the development and launch of the online employee engagement system called “Your Recognition”. The new program allowed every employee to send an e-card to an employee who demonstrated one of the company values. A sporting theme incorporated images of sports medals to convey achievements and performance. Senders awarded points to the recipient by selecting bronze, silver or gold level reward. The highly successful program exceeded all goals including over 25 percent more thank you’s sent.

Solterbeck/Sensis –Sales Incentive Program and Employee Incentive Program (2 awards)
Sensis brought in Solterbeck to help boost employee engagement and drive revenue growth across multiple product lines after the company was acquired by a private equity firm. The existing incentive program, which offered 40 rewards, was often maxed out well before year end, thereby not offering the same chance of reward to all sales staff. Sensis was looking for a fresh approach that focused on performance throughout the year. Solterbeck created “Performance First”. Eligible sales team members participate in six different “Sales Sprints”, receive recognition and have their sales commissions calculated for each Sprint. The program offered large travel, medium and small rewards. The sophisticated program relied on three, fully-integrated software solutions that allowed Sensis to provide a single source for all sales and reward activity information in one place. Sensis significantly increased revenue and program participation while greatly reducing costs, and they received many supportive and appreciate comments from sales team members.

Ciloyalty with Bupa Australia – Recognition Program
Bupa, a large health insurance and care-home provider with more than 80,000 employees asked Ciloyalty to help restructure and rebrand its aging “Bupa Sales Academy”. Staff surveys and focus groups identified that personal recognition was more valued than prizes. The new “Bupa Boost” program focused on creating a culture of recognition and providing a morale boost to Bupa’s employees who work hard to look after the health of others. While the Academy focused on revenue goals, the Boost program put customers first by encouraging better outcomes for clients through smart business practices and strong customer service. Depending on their roles employees are rewarded monthly, quarterly and yearly. The Boost Reward Team also runs discretionary programs that complement the monthly and quarterly incentives, creating competitions that fill the gaps identified in the business’ capability or performance. Participation in Bupa Boost far surpassed the Academy with more than double the number of participants.

About the Incentive Marketing Association
The Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) connects members from leading companies across the marketplace to create a unified voice and growth for the incentive industry. IMA is the umbrella organization for the Incentive & Engagement Solution Providers (IESP), Incentive Gift Card Council (IGCC), Incentive Manufacturers & Representatives Alliance (IMRA), Incentive Travel Council (ITC), IMA Europe, and IMA Canada. IMA members have the expertise, leading brands and services to help companies improve their business with recognition, reward and engagement programs. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.

Ranked as one of the best dental offices in Los Angeles by Expertise, ASK Dental Group located in the heart of Westwood Village in West Los Angeles offers services such as preventive, restorative, emergency and Invisalign treatments.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2016

Los Angeles dentist, Dr. Ardeshir S. Khou at ASK Dental Group - Campus Dental Center was recently named and ranked as one of the Best dental offices in Los Angeles by Expertise for 2016.

Dr. Ardy is currently on staff as a Clinical Instructor / Lecturer in the Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences at UCLA School of Dentistry.

He provides a complete range of dental treatments, including general, preventive, restorative, cosmetic and emergency dentistry. He also holds a special permit from the State of California Dental Board, which allows him the ability to provide his patients with oral sedation which in return will reduce dental phobia and anxiety.

His office accepts all PPO insurances and sees a large number of students under UCSHIP also known as the Student Health Insurance Plan. He is known for his calm manners and almost all of his patients arrive at his office by word of mouth.

ASK Dental Group, located in the heart of Westwood Village also offers cosmetic procedures such as Teeth Whitening and Invisalign.

Invisalign also known as clear braces, uses a number of clear aligners to move teeth into an ideal location, therefore enhancing the individual's smile and confidence. Dr. Ardy is an Invisalign Provider in the General Los Angeles area.

ASK Dental Group has a reputation for delivering quality dental care with compassion. This practice's commitment to conservation of tooth structure, preventive dentistry as well as highest quality treatments and affordable care stands out time after time.

To the best reviews from actual patients please visit http://www.askdentalgroup.com

They can also be reached at (310) 443-4000 Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.

"America is already great," President Barack Obama proclaimed to delegates at the Democratic Convention is his speech that highlighted his accomplishments in office, attacked Donald Trump, and enthusiastically endorsed Hillary Clinton to be his successor. The president's speech was brilliantly written and masterfully delivered.

Delegates welcomed the president with thunderous applause, the man who first appeared before them 12 years earlier as an Illinois State Senator. It will be the last time that he addresses delegates as president, and this may have been his best speech. "I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as president, to tell you I am even more optimistic about the future of America," he told delegates.

The president highlighted his achievements in office, including guiding the country out of the worst recession in 80 years, saving the auto industry, creating 15 million new jobs, enacting the Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to millions, the growth of clean energy, a global climate agreement, a nuclear agreement with Iran, the opening of relations with Cuba, and the death of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. He also highlighted his actions on immigration, student loans, consumer protection and marriage equality. "By so many measures, our country is stronger and more prosperous than it was when we started," the president asserted.

"I am here to tell you yes, we have more work to do," the president continued. He pointed to those still in need of jobs or a raise, paid leave, a decent retirement, and to children in poverty, and called for safer streets and a fairer criminal justice system. "That work involves a big choice this November," he said. "This is a more fundamental choice about who we are as a people."

President Obama then said, "But what we heard in Cleveland last week wasn't particularly Republican -- and it sure wasn't conservative. What we heard was a very pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other, and turn from the rest of the world." He continued, "There were no serious solutions to pressing problems -- just the fanning of resentment, and blame, and anger, and hate. And that's not the America I know."

The president then made a strong case for Hillary Clinton, describing her as a leader with plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings, and to give opportunity to more Americans. "That's the Hillary I know. That's the Hillary I've come to admire. And that is why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or woman, not me, not Bill (Clinton), nobody more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America."

President Obama then harshly attacked Trump. "He's not really a plans guy. Not really a facts guy either," he said. "Does anyone really believe that a guy who's spent his 70 years on the earth showing no regard for working people is suddenly going to be your champion?" President Obama then criticized Trump for calling America's military a disaster, for suggesting America is weak, for cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, for praising Iraq's late dictator Saddam Hussein, and telling NATO allies they will have to pay for U.S. protection.

Saying that Trump just offers slogans and fear, he countered that, "America is already strong. And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump." Later, he added, "Our power doesn't come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order. We don't look to be ruled."

President Obama then returned to the spirit, values and character of the American people, "The American Dream is something no wall will ever contain." He said that America is about what we can achieve together, "not about what one person says he'll do for us." Then, acknowledging the "vocal and persistent" supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders, he urged delegates to vote for Democrats up and down the ticket.

Calling Hillary Clinton a fighter, a stateswoman, a patriot, he said, "That's the America she is fighting for." He concluded his speech by saying, "I am asking you to join me--to reject cynicism, to reject fear, to summon what's best in us; to elect Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States, and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation."

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss described Obama's speech on MSNBC as the best endorsement ever given in convention history by an incumbent president for his party's nominee. The president's speech spoke to independent voters and Republicans who are uneasy with Trump. Obama was poised, confident, warm and presidential in his delivery. His speech was a rich tapestry of words and American ideals meant to unite the delegates behind their party's candidate.

All in all, Wednesday was a fabulous day for Democrats, and it may well be an important pivot point for their convention. President Obama now has handed the baton to Hillary Clinton, who joined him on stage following his speech. Clinton will give her acceptance speech Thursday evening, and it very well may will the most important speech of her political career.

-- 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 9 hours ago.