Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, blames Obamacare-supporting Democrats for the increase of "Washington's control of your private health insurance choices."
Reported by CBS News 11 hours ago.
GOP senator slams Obamacare for rising health care costs
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Health insurance: Hold insurance providers’ feet to the fire
I read the article “State fines Regence, other insurer $750,000 for flawed customer service” [Local News, Aug. 24] with interest. I would have liked to see a larger fine, but it is about time health-insurance companies are held responsible for their actions. After all, these are the same companies that are pulling out of health […]
Reported by Seattle Times 6 hours ago.
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A divisive solution to Obamacare's problems is making a comeback
The deluge of negative news surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare, has been met with a call for change from both sides of the aisle.With healthcare companies moving out of the ACA's exchanges citing falling profits, counties faced with fewer and fewer options for coverage, and even the regulator in charge of Tennessee's exchanges saying the system is "very near collapse," there has been recognition from many politicians that change is needed.
The public option would be a government-backed plan that could enter the public exchanges set up by the ACA to compete with other private insurers in the market. Proponents of the law believe that this would drive down costs for consumers and prevent a situation such as Pinal County, Arizona, where there is projected to be no insurer offering plans through the exchange.
The public option has long been championed by Democratic politicians. It was part of the original Obamacare proposal before being removed to ensure the passage of the bill. A government healthcare option, whether in competition with or replacing private insurance, has been proposed for decades.
In the wake of major health insurance providers Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare all leaving behind a significant majority of their Obamacare exchange business, this has been seen by some on the left as the spark to renew the push for the public option.
"Aetna provides the perfect example of why we need the public option," Adam Greene, co-founder of the liberal Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told Business Insider. "After that we've had the two most powerful Democrats — Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton — come out in support of it, and in many ways it looks like we're on the way to reform."
Both President Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have reignited their calls for a public option to help alleviate issues with the ACA. Democratic politicians in the House of Representatives and Senate have brought up the issue on the campaign trail as well.
Greene's group pushed for the inclusion of the public option in the ACA originally, and with the recent news, he views it as the best chance since 2009 to get the policy back on the table.
"We've been able to open up political space, to open up the window to this change," said Greene. "There's fresh oxygen for a passage of the public option."
Republicans, however, are not as thrilled. Many Republicans have called for Obamacare to be repealed, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Even those that are open to merely adjusting the ACA would most likely be against some form of the public option.
"I mean the question really is, do you want the people that have given you the disaster that is Obamacare even more involved in health insurance," said Jeffrey Anderson, a senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute in an interview with Business Insider last week.
Anderson, however, did acknowledge that it would come down to whichever party gained control of both houses of Congress and the presidency first.
"If it's the Democrats, then we'll probably get the government run public option, if its Republicans, we'll get a repeal and replace," said Anderson.
Like almost everything else in politics there days, however, it appears there will be little movement on the issue until at least after the election in November and the new president, and perhaps more importantly Congress, are installed in January.
*SEE ALSO: For the first time, a county in America has lost all of its Obamacare insurers*
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: EX-UNDERCOVER DEA AGENT: What I did when drug dealers asked me to try the product Reported by Business Insider 21 hours ago.
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Can Clinton save health overhaul from its mounting problems?
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the hourglass running out for his administration, President Barack Obama's health care law is struggling in many parts of the country. Double-digit premium increases and exits by big-name insurers have caused some to wonder whether "Obamacare" will go down as a failed experiment. Premiums are expected to go up sharply in many insurance marketplaces, which offer subsidized private coverage to people lacking access to job-based plans. Administration officials say insurers set prices too low in a bid to gain market share, and the correction is leading to sticker shock. What is more important, most of the 11 million people covered through HealthCare.gov and its state-run counterparts will be cushioned from premium increases by government subsidies that rise with the cost. [...] many customers may have to switch to less comprehensive plans to keep their monthly premiums down. [...] millions of people who buy individual policies outside the government marketplaces get no financial help. Tennessee's insurance commissioner said recently that the individual health insurance market in her state is "very near collapse." [...] Clinton would come with a long list of proposed fixes, from rearranging benefits to introducing a government-sponsored "public option" as an alternative to private insurers. Whether it's fixing a "family glitch" that can prevent dependents from getting subsidized coverage, requiring insurers to cover more routine services outside the annual deductible, or reworking the premium stabilization program for insurers, incremental changes seem to offer a president Clinton her easiest path.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 19 hours ago.
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Someone Using The Email Address Of Trump's Doctor Demanded Money For An Interview
Someone using an email address connected to Harold Bornstein, Donald Trump’s doctor, apparently doesn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to cash in on the GOP presidential nominee’s campaign.
Bornstein wrote a letter in December saying Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” The doctor told NBC News on Friday that he had written the letter in five minutes while a limo waited outside.
A Huffington Post reader pointed out that the letter mentioned a website that wasn’t actually registered until several months after the endorsement of Trump’s health was written, so I sent an email on Saturday afternoon to the Gmail address listed in the letter’s header.
Someone replied from the address a little after 1 a.m. on Sunday, saying he or she wanted money to talk.
“325 per hour in advance,” the person wrote.I asked the person to confirm that they were in fact Trump’s doctor. HuffPost would not pay for an interview, I wrote, but would this person still be willing to answer some questions?
The response was curt: “No.”Was he or she declining to do an interview, or were saying they weren’t Trump’s doctor?
“Yes, no,” the person wrote back.I was still confused, so I phrased the question more directly: “You are Mr. Trump’s doctor and wrote the letter attesting to his health, correct?”
“No interview, senza soldi,” the person wrote back, using an Italian phrase that means “without money.” “Are you Donald Trump’s doctor. Yes or no?” I asked.
“Quanti soldi?” the person wrote back, which means “how much money?” in Italian. A follow-up question was also answered in Italian, and also referenced money. Finally, I asked why the person was writing to me in Italian. I didn’t receive a response.Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the exchange.
Gizmodo reported on Friday that a photo of Bornstein appears to show that he uses Windows XP, an outdated operating system that could make a computer less secure. Not using an up-to-date operating system may violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, according to the outlet.
Jennifer Gunter, an OB/GYN, wrote in HuffPost blog post earlier this month that it was unusual for a doctor to list a Gmail address on a professional letter because the email service is not a secure method of communication.
Both Trump and Hillary Clinton ― the two oldest candidates to face off against each other in a presidential election ― have released limited data about their health. Trump and his surrogates have peddled the suggestion, unsubstantiated by evidence, that Clinton is concealing something about her health.
Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.
Bornstein wrote a letter in December saying Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” The doctor told NBC News on Friday that he had written the letter in five minutes while a limo waited outside.
A Huffington Post reader pointed out that the letter mentioned a website that wasn’t actually registered until several months after the endorsement of Trump’s health was written, so I sent an email on Saturday afternoon to the Gmail address listed in the letter’s header.
Someone replied from the address a little after 1 a.m. on Sunday, saying he or she wanted money to talk.
“325 per hour in advance,” the person wrote.I asked the person to confirm that they were in fact Trump’s doctor. HuffPost would not pay for an interview, I wrote, but would this person still be willing to answer some questions?
The response was curt: “No.”Was he or she declining to do an interview, or were saying they weren’t Trump’s doctor?
“Yes, no,” the person wrote back.I was still confused, so I phrased the question more directly: “You are Mr. Trump’s doctor and wrote the letter attesting to his health, correct?”
“No interview, senza soldi,” the person wrote back, using an Italian phrase that means “without money.” “Are you Donald Trump’s doctor. Yes or no?” I asked.
“Quanti soldi?” the person wrote back, which means “how much money?” in Italian. A follow-up question was also answered in Italian, and also referenced money. Finally, I asked why the person was writing to me in Italian. I didn’t receive a response.Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the exchange.
Gizmodo reported on Friday that a photo of Bornstein appears to show that he uses Windows XP, an outdated operating system that could make a computer less secure. Not using an up-to-date operating system may violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, according to the outlet.
Jennifer Gunter, an OB/GYN, wrote in HuffPost blog post earlier this month that it was unusual for a doctor to list a Gmail address on a professional letter because the email service is not a secure method of communication.
Both Trump and Hillary Clinton ― the two oldest candidates to face off against each other in a presidential election ― have released limited data about their health. Trump and his surrogates have peddled the suggestion, unsubstantiated by evidence, that Clinton is concealing something about her health.
Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.
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Bonum Health Enrolls Benzer Pharmacy Employees Under Bonum Health & Wellness Plan
Reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses and providing discounts.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 29, 2016
Bonum Health is enrolling Benzer Pharmacy employees under the Bonum Health & Wellness Plan.
The company is excited about this wellness plan which is now offered to over 430 employees of Benzer Pharmacy.
Bonum Health & Wellness plan offers discounts on: dental, vision (20-60%) and hearing services. The plan also offers discounts on MRI/CT scans (50-75%), lab testing (10-80%), along with a pharmacy discount card (10-85%). There are discounts available on vitamins and diabetic management.
In addition, Bonum Health & Wellness plan offers Teladoc, a convenient service that offers medical advice 24/7/365 over the phone, web, or mobile app.
When using this service, patients can be prescribed non-controlled prescriptions to get symptoms treated right away without the high costs of emergency room or urgent care clinics.
Medical conditions like: cold and flu, bronchitis, respiratory infection, sinus problems, allergies, urinary tract infection, poison ivy, pink eye along with other non-emergency issues are the most commonly treated.
The doctors do not prescribe DEA- controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs which may be harmful or addictive.
Bonum Health & Wellness plan helps businesses reduce health insurance costs as well as reduce sick time for employees. The plan is not just for businesses but also for Individuals and families who can have this plan to help them reduce medical costs at at a very minimal monthly cost.
“Patients can now spend less on healthcare without compromising on quality medical advice. Our benefit package is designed to reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses and give you discounts on the other value added services.” Says Patrick Justin of Bonum Health.
For disclosures and more: http://ow.ly/Zxrwy and http://mwr2221.phecard.com/default.aspx
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ABOUT BONUM HEALTH
Bonum Health is an insurance agency that helps individuals to make insurance decisions easy. We carry a full line of Health, Life and Annuity products. Bonum Health is committed to educating the public about the importance and need for quality insurance. Life is complicated enough, and, we are here to help you find the best, most affordable coverage that fits your lifestyle and needs. Risk is a factor that we all face every day, and you deserve the peace of mind that comes with having the right coverage when the unexpected happens. For more information: http://www.bonumhealth.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BonumHealth
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benzerpharmacy Reported by PRWeb 12 minutes ago.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 29, 2016
Bonum Health is enrolling Benzer Pharmacy employees under the Bonum Health & Wellness Plan.
The company is excited about this wellness plan which is now offered to over 430 employees of Benzer Pharmacy.
Bonum Health & Wellness plan offers discounts on: dental, vision (20-60%) and hearing services. The plan also offers discounts on MRI/CT scans (50-75%), lab testing (10-80%), along with a pharmacy discount card (10-85%). There are discounts available on vitamins and diabetic management.
In addition, Bonum Health & Wellness plan offers Teladoc, a convenient service that offers medical advice 24/7/365 over the phone, web, or mobile app.
When using this service, patients can be prescribed non-controlled prescriptions to get symptoms treated right away without the high costs of emergency room or urgent care clinics.
Medical conditions like: cold and flu, bronchitis, respiratory infection, sinus problems, allergies, urinary tract infection, poison ivy, pink eye along with other non-emergency issues are the most commonly treated.
The doctors do not prescribe DEA- controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs which may be harmful or addictive.
Bonum Health & Wellness plan helps businesses reduce health insurance costs as well as reduce sick time for employees. The plan is not just for businesses but also for Individuals and families who can have this plan to help them reduce medical costs at at a very minimal monthly cost.
“Patients can now spend less on healthcare without compromising on quality medical advice. Our benefit package is designed to reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses and give you discounts on the other value added services.” Says Patrick Justin of Bonum Health.
For disclosures and more: http://ow.ly/Zxrwy and http://mwr2221.phecard.com/default.aspx
###
ABOUT BONUM HEALTH
Bonum Health is an insurance agency that helps individuals to make insurance decisions easy. We carry a full line of Health, Life and Annuity products. Bonum Health is committed to educating the public about the importance and need for quality insurance. Life is complicated enough, and, we are here to help you find the best, most affordable coverage that fits your lifestyle and needs. Risk is a factor that we all face every day, and you deserve the peace of mind that comes with having the right coverage when the unexpected happens. For more information: http://www.bonumhealth.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BonumHealth
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benzerpharmacy Reported by PRWeb 12 minutes ago.
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Clinton could face mounting problem with health overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the hourglass running out for his administration, President Barack Obama's health care law is struggling in many parts of the country. Double-digit premium increases and exits by big-name insurers have caused some to wonder whether "Obamacare" will go down as a failed experiment. Premiums are expected to go up sharply in many insurance marketplaces, which offer subsidized private coverage to people lacking access to job-based plans. Administration officials say insurers set prices too low in a bid to gain market share, and the correction is leading to sticker shock. What is more important, most of the 11 million people covered through HealthCare.gov and its state-run counterparts will be cushioned from premium increases by government subsidies that rise with the cost. [...] many customers may have to switch to less comprehensive plans to keep their monthly premiums down. [...] millions of people who buy individual policies outside the government marketplaces get no financial help. Tennessee's insurance commissioner said recently that the individual health insurance market in her state is "very near collapse." [...] Clinton would come with a long list of proposed fixes, from rearranging benefits to introducing a government-sponsored "public option" as an alternative to private insurers. Whether it's fixing a "family glitch" that can prevent dependents from getting subsidized coverage, requiring insurers to cover more routine services outside the annual deductible, or reworking the premium stabilization program for insurers, incremental changes seem to offer a president Clinton her easiest path.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 1 day ago.
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Lesbian couple in "huge battle" over infertility treatment law
Erin and Marianne Krupa claim the state unfairly prevented them from getting health insurance coverage for infertility treatments
Reported by CBS News 19 hours ago.
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FlexJobs Survey Finds Only 7% of Workers Say They're Most Productive in the Office
Fewer interruptions from colleagues, fewer distractions make home the preferred place for maximum productivity
Boulder, CO (PRWEB) August 29, 2016
In a recent FlexJobs survey of more than 3,000 respondents interested in work flexibility, only 7 percent of workers say the office, during traditional work hours, is their location of choice for optimum productivity on work-related projects. More than half (51 percent) of people reported that their home is their preferred place to work. 8 percent said they would choose a coffee shop, coworking space, library, or other place besides the office and another 8 percent would choose the office but only outside regular hours. 26 percent go to the office during regular hours to complete important work only because it’s not an option to go elsewhere.
According to FlexJobs’ survey, 65 percent of workers think they would be more productive telecommuting than working in a traditional workplace. The top reasons people are, or would be, more productive working at home versus the office include fewer interruptions from colleagues (76 percent), fewer distractions (75 percent), and less frequent meetings (69 percent). It’s estimated that up to six hours a day are lost on work interruptions, wasting 28 billion hours a year.
Other reasons people prefer their home office include a reduction in office politics (68 percent), reduced stress from commuting (67 percent), and a more comfortable office environment (51 percent).
“When the overwhelming majority of workers say that traditional office spaces are not conducive to inspiring their highest levels of productivity, something is clearly broken--certainly with the actual workplace environment, but more importantly with the corporate culture that isn’t addressing this problem,” said Sara Sutton Fell, Founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “Employers who continue to blindly reinforce antiquated ways of working are going to find themselves with lower performing, less engaged, and less happy employees, whereas those who explore more flexible workplace arrangements such as telecommuting and flexible schedule options are taking advantage of a great competitive opportunity for their company.”
Additional key findings of the FlexJobs survey include:
Work Flexibility Benefits Diverse Audiences
Work flexibility appeals to diverse audiences and demographics for a wide variety of reasons.· Respondents represent various demographics: working parents (39 percent), freelancers (26 percent), introverts (21 percent), entrepreneurs (20 percent), and caretakers (16 percent)
· Other notable audiences include traveler/digital nomad (11 percent), disabled or managing a chronic illness (11 percent), student (9 percent), environmentalist (4.4 percent), and military spouse (2 percent)
· Respondents also span generations: Gen Z (1 percent), Millennial/Gen Y (22 percent), Gen X (45 percent), Baby Boomer (27 percent) and the Silent Generation (5%)
· Work flexibility appeals to highly educated and experienced workers. 80 percent of respondents have a college or graduate degree and 32 percent are senior manager level or higher.
· 58 percent of people work because they want to travel, up from 30 percent from 2014. Almost as many people seeking work want to travel as save for retirement (65 percent)
· Other important factors for working include wanting to pay for basic necessities (80 percent), pay off debt (59 percent), have a professional impact in the world (41 percent), contribute to charity (28 percent), and pay for continuing education for themselves (25 percent).
Interest in Work Flexibility is High
Respondents place an extremely high value on work flexibility:· Work flexibility (80 percent) was ranked the most important factor when evaluating a job prospect.
· Work-life balance and salary tied as the second most important factor (74 percent), ranked well above other factors such as health insurance (43 percent), company reputation (41 percent), and 401(k)/retirement benefits (31 percent)
· 33 percent have actually left a job because it did not have work flexibility
· 14 percent have considered leaving a job because it did not have work flexibility
· 18 percent are currently looking for a new job because of work flexibility issues
Employer Benefits
Employees report being willing to make bottom-line saving sacrifices in exchange for telecommuting options:· 29 percent of respondents said they would take a 10 percent or 20 percent cut in pay
· 22 percent are willing to forfeit vacation time
· 15 percent said they would give up employer-matching retirement contributions
· 81 percent of respondents also say they would be more loyal to their employers if they had flexible work options
Improved Health
People surveyed believe flexible options would positively impact their health:· 97 percent say a job with flexibility would have a positive impact on their overall quality of life
· 79 percent think it would make them more healthy
· 87 percent think it would lower their stress
Reasons for Wanting Flexible Work
Since 2013, work-life balance (79 percent), family (52 percent), time savings (48 percent) & commute stress (47 percent) have been the top four reported reasons people seek flexible work.· Time savings has outranked cost savings as a factor in seeking flexible work for the past four years
· 72 percent of today’s flexible job seekers have had round-trip commutes over double the national average, which is approximately 50 minutes
· Of those who telecommuted in 2015, 22 percent telecommuted more this year than last year
· Only 3 percent of respondents worry a lot that a flexible work arrangement will hurt their career progression
Types of Flexible Work
The most in-demand type of flexible work arrangement continues to be 100 percent telecommuting (86 percent), but flexible schedule (73 percent), partial telecommuting (49 percent), part-time (48 percent), alternative schedule (48 percent), and freelance (44 percent) are also in demand.
*Demographic breakdown of the 3153 respondents: Ages: 20-29 (12 percent), 30-49 (54 percent), 50-59 (23 percent), 60+ (11 percent); Education: high school degree or equivalent (4 percent), some college but no degree (16 percent), associate or bachelor degree (48 percent), graduate degree (32 percent); Career level: entry-level (10 percent), experienced (58 percent), manager or senior level manager (32 percent).
For more information visit: http://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/survey-workers-most-productive-in-the-office/
To request additional information, please contact Kathy Gardner at kgardner(at)flexjobs(dot)com.
About FlexJobs
FlexJobs is the leading online service for professionals seeking telecommuting, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs. With flexible job listings in over 50 career categories, and opportunities ranging from entry-level to executive and freelance to full-time, FlexJobs offers job seekers a safe, easy, and efficient way to find professional and legitimate flexible job listings. Having helped nearly 2 million people in their job searches, FlexJobs has appeared on CNN and Marketplace Money and in TIME, Forbes, Fortune, and hundreds of other trusted media outlets. FlexJobs' Founder & CEO Sara Sutton Fell has also launched two additional partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, to help provide education and awareness about the viability and benefits of remote working and work flexibility. Sutton Fell is also the creator of The TRaD* Works Forum (*Telecommuting, Remote, & Distributed), dedicated to helping companies leverage the benefits of telecommuting, remote and distributed teams. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.
Boulder, CO (PRWEB) August 29, 2016
In a recent FlexJobs survey of more than 3,000 respondents interested in work flexibility, only 7 percent of workers say the office, during traditional work hours, is their location of choice for optimum productivity on work-related projects. More than half (51 percent) of people reported that their home is their preferred place to work. 8 percent said they would choose a coffee shop, coworking space, library, or other place besides the office and another 8 percent would choose the office but only outside regular hours. 26 percent go to the office during regular hours to complete important work only because it’s not an option to go elsewhere.
According to FlexJobs’ survey, 65 percent of workers think they would be more productive telecommuting than working in a traditional workplace. The top reasons people are, or would be, more productive working at home versus the office include fewer interruptions from colleagues (76 percent), fewer distractions (75 percent), and less frequent meetings (69 percent). It’s estimated that up to six hours a day are lost on work interruptions, wasting 28 billion hours a year.
Other reasons people prefer their home office include a reduction in office politics (68 percent), reduced stress from commuting (67 percent), and a more comfortable office environment (51 percent).
“When the overwhelming majority of workers say that traditional office spaces are not conducive to inspiring their highest levels of productivity, something is clearly broken--certainly with the actual workplace environment, but more importantly with the corporate culture that isn’t addressing this problem,” said Sara Sutton Fell, Founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “Employers who continue to blindly reinforce antiquated ways of working are going to find themselves with lower performing, less engaged, and less happy employees, whereas those who explore more flexible workplace arrangements such as telecommuting and flexible schedule options are taking advantage of a great competitive opportunity for their company.”
Additional key findings of the FlexJobs survey include:
Work Flexibility Benefits Diverse Audiences
Work flexibility appeals to diverse audiences and demographics for a wide variety of reasons.· Respondents represent various demographics: working parents (39 percent), freelancers (26 percent), introverts (21 percent), entrepreneurs (20 percent), and caretakers (16 percent)
· Other notable audiences include traveler/digital nomad (11 percent), disabled or managing a chronic illness (11 percent), student (9 percent), environmentalist (4.4 percent), and military spouse (2 percent)
· Respondents also span generations: Gen Z (1 percent), Millennial/Gen Y (22 percent), Gen X (45 percent), Baby Boomer (27 percent) and the Silent Generation (5%)
· Work flexibility appeals to highly educated and experienced workers. 80 percent of respondents have a college or graduate degree and 32 percent are senior manager level or higher.
· 58 percent of people work because they want to travel, up from 30 percent from 2014. Almost as many people seeking work want to travel as save for retirement (65 percent)
· Other important factors for working include wanting to pay for basic necessities (80 percent), pay off debt (59 percent), have a professional impact in the world (41 percent), contribute to charity (28 percent), and pay for continuing education for themselves (25 percent).
Interest in Work Flexibility is High
Respondents place an extremely high value on work flexibility:· Work flexibility (80 percent) was ranked the most important factor when evaluating a job prospect.
· Work-life balance and salary tied as the second most important factor (74 percent), ranked well above other factors such as health insurance (43 percent), company reputation (41 percent), and 401(k)/retirement benefits (31 percent)
· 33 percent have actually left a job because it did not have work flexibility
· 14 percent have considered leaving a job because it did not have work flexibility
· 18 percent are currently looking for a new job because of work flexibility issues
Employer Benefits
Employees report being willing to make bottom-line saving sacrifices in exchange for telecommuting options:· 29 percent of respondents said they would take a 10 percent or 20 percent cut in pay
· 22 percent are willing to forfeit vacation time
· 15 percent said they would give up employer-matching retirement contributions
· 81 percent of respondents also say they would be more loyal to their employers if they had flexible work options
Improved Health
People surveyed believe flexible options would positively impact their health:· 97 percent say a job with flexibility would have a positive impact on their overall quality of life
· 79 percent think it would make them more healthy
· 87 percent think it would lower their stress
Reasons for Wanting Flexible Work
Since 2013, work-life balance (79 percent), family (52 percent), time savings (48 percent) & commute stress (47 percent) have been the top four reported reasons people seek flexible work.· Time savings has outranked cost savings as a factor in seeking flexible work for the past four years
· 72 percent of today’s flexible job seekers have had round-trip commutes over double the national average, which is approximately 50 minutes
· Of those who telecommuted in 2015, 22 percent telecommuted more this year than last year
· Only 3 percent of respondents worry a lot that a flexible work arrangement will hurt their career progression
Types of Flexible Work
The most in-demand type of flexible work arrangement continues to be 100 percent telecommuting (86 percent), but flexible schedule (73 percent), partial telecommuting (49 percent), part-time (48 percent), alternative schedule (48 percent), and freelance (44 percent) are also in demand.
*Demographic breakdown of the 3153 respondents: Ages: 20-29 (12 percent), 30-49 (54 percent), 50-59 (23 percent), 60+ (11 percent); Education: high school degree or equivalent (4 percent), some college but no degree (16 percent), associate or bachelor degree (48 percent), graduate degree (32 percent); Career level: entry-level (10 percent), experienced (58 percent), manager or senior level manager (32 percent).
For more information visit: http://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/survey-workers-most-productive-in-the-office/
To request additional information, please contact Kathy Gardner at kgardner(at)flexjobs(dot)com.
About FlexJobs
FlexJobs is the leading online service for professionals seeking telecommuting, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs. With flexible job listings in over 50 career categories, and opportunities ranging from entry-level to executive and freelance to full-time, FlexJobs offers job seekers a safe, easy, and efficient way to find professional and legitimate flexible job listings. Having helped nearly 2 million people in their job searches, FlexJobs has appeared on CNN and Marketplace Money and in TIME, Forbes, Fortune, and hundreds of other trusted media outlets. FlexJobs' Founder & CEO Sara Sutton Fell has also launched two additional partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, to help provide education and awareness about the viability and benefits of remote working and work flexibility. Sutton Fell is also the creator of The TRaD* Works Forum (*Telecommuting, Remote, & Distributed), dedicated to helping companies leverage the benefits of telecommuting, remote and distributed teams. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.
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Same-sex couple sues N.J. over fertility health coverage law
A lesbian couple in New Jersey says they were unfairly prevented from getting health insurance coverage for infertility treatments. The married women are now suing over the very specific way the state law defines infertility. Elaine Quijano speaks to the couple about their painful experiences trying to have a child.
Reported by CBS News 18 hours ago.
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Ron Paul: The Right Lessons From Obamacare's Meltdown
Submitted by Ron Paul via The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity,The decision of several major insurance companies to cut their losses and withdraw from the Obamacare exchanges, combined with the failure of 70 percent of Obamacare's health insurance “co-ops, ” will *leave one in six Obamacare enrollees with only one health insurance option.* If Obamacare continues on its current track, most of America may resemble Pinal County, Arizona, where* no one can obtain private health insurance.* Those lucky enough to obtain insurance will* face ever-increasing premiums and a declining choice of providers.*
Many Obamacare supporters claimed that the exchanges created a market for health insurance that would allow consumers to benefit from competition. But allowing consumers to pick from a variety of government-controlled health insurance plans is not a true market; instead it is what the great economist Ludwig von Mises called “playing market.”
Unfortunately, if not surprisingly, too many are drawing the wrong lessons from Obamacare’s difficulties. Instead of calling for a repeal of Obamacare and all other government interference in the health care market, many are calling for increased penalties on those who defy Obamacare’s individual mandate in order to force them onto the exchanges. Others are renewing the push for a “public option,” forcing private companies to compete with taxpayer-funded entities and easing the way for the adoption of a Canadian-style single payer system.
Even those working to restore individual control over health care via tax deductions, credits, and expanded health savings accounts still support government intervention in order to provide a “safety net” for the poor. Of course, everyone — including libertarians — shares the goal of creating a safety net. Libertarians just understand that a moral and effective safety net is one voluntarily provided by individuals, religious organizations, and private charities.
Government has no legitimate authority to take money from taxpayers to fund health care or any other type of welfare program. Government-run health care also does not truly serve the interest of those supposedly “benefiting” from the program. Anyone who doubts this should consider how declining reimbursements and increasing bureaucracy is causing more doctors to refuse to treat Medicaid and Medicare patients.
Medicaid patients will face increasing hardships when, not if, the US government's fiscal crisis forces Congress to make spending cuts. When the crisis comes, what is more likely to be cut first: spending benefiting large corporations and big banks that can deploy armies of high-powered lobbyists, or spending benefiting low-income Americans who cannot afford K Street representation?
Contrary to myth, low-income individuals did not go without care in the days before the welfare state. Private, charity-run hospitals staffed by volunteers provided a safety net for those who could not afford health care. Most doctors also willingly provided free or reduced-price care for those who needed it. The large amount of charitable giving and volunteer activity in the United States shows that the American people do not need government's help in providing an effective safety net.
*The problems plaguing the health care system are rooted in the treatment of health care as a "right."* This justifies government intervention in the health care marketplace. This intervention causes increasing prices and declining quality and supply. Ironically,* those who suffer most from government intervention are the very people proponents of these programs claim to want to help*. The first step in restoring a health care system that meets the needs of all people is to start treating health care as a good that can and should only be provided via voluntary actions of free people. Reported by Zero Hedge 13 hours ago.
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McConnell: Federal health care overhaul is 'crashing'
(AP) — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell predicts the federal health care overhaul is likely to undergo changes next year, regardless of who wins the presidency and which party has the upper hand in Congress. McConnell says it has produced higher premiums and "chaos" in the private health insurance market.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 12 hours ago.
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Last chance? Obama administration proposes health law fixes
WASHINGTON (AP) — In one of its last chances to tinker with the president’s signature health care law, the Obama administration is proposing fixes and adjustments for 2018. A draft regulation released Monday would update the health insurance marketplace’s premium stabilization system to reflect concerns that insurers have raised. For consumers, the proposal includes changes […]
Reported by Seattle Times 9 hours ago.
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↧
The government just announced some big changes to try and fix Obamacare
The government is offering some ideas to try and fix the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, amid a series of missteps that have befallen President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement.After being dogged by negative news for the last few weeks — from major insurers pulling out of state exchanges to regulators saying the exchanges are "near collapse"— the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a series of changes Monday to try and correct some of the exchange issues.
CMS, which is the division of the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees the exchanges, proposed tweaks that would make it less risky for insurers in the marketplace to take on sick patients and a number of outreach attempts.
Two of the biggest problems for the exchanges have been the lack of young people signing up for insurance, which helps offset higher costs patients, and generally sicker-than-expected people getting coverage through the exchanges, leading to huge losses for insurers.
Kevin Counihan, the insurance marketplace CEO at the center, said these changes would fix a number of issues with the exchanges.
"These proposed actions and others we have taken over the last six months would help to: support issuers with high-cost enrollees, while updating risk adjustment; strengthen the risk pool; promote additional enrollment; and support issuers in entering the Marketplace or growing their Marketplace business," Counihan wrote in a post summarizing the proposals.
A few of the 14 total proposals include:
1. Using some of the fees from the Federally-funded marketplace for outreach to get more young people to sign up.
2. Strengthening rules for signing up for insurance outside of the open enrollment period to ensure people are not waiting until they are sick to get coverage.
3. Take prescription drug use into account when evaluating the risk profile of potential patients. Previously, this had not been taken into account and insurers argues it prevented them from getting a full picture of possible patients' health status.
4. Requiring insurance companies that offer a bronze plan in an exchange (the lowest level of coverage) to also offer a silver and gold-level plan.
All of these changes serve as attempts to make it more economically sound for insurance companies to be in the market, to get more people into the exchanges (roughly 10% of Americans are still uncovered), and to eliminate loopholes that allow people to game the exchanges.
The exchanges are just part of the ACA, and represent only 6% of health-insurance coverage nationwide. But, as one of the signature parts of the law, their survival is a huge deal to the long-term future of the ACA.
Comments on the proposals close on October 6.
*Check out the full blog post from the CMS on the changes here »*
*SEE ALSO: A divisive solution to Obamacare's problems is making a comeback*
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: This animated map shows how radically a high-speed train system would improve travel in the US Reported by Business Insider 9 hours ago.
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As cost of EpiPen soars, what are the ethics of drug pricing?
Washington D.C., Aug 29, 2016 / 04:02 pm (CNA).- Amidst national outrage over the steep cost hike of a potentially life-saving drug, questions have been raised about the market ethics of drug pricing.
There are “a lot of factors” behind price increases in the prescription drug market, Dr. Jack Hoadley, a health policy analyst and researcher at Georgetown University, told CNA. Thus, it’s hard to attribute the 400 percent rise in cost of the EpiPen to one particular cause, he said.
However, if Mylan – the manufacturer of the EpiPen – was simply “taking advantage of a partial monopoly,” he continued, than one “could raise the question” about the ethics of the cost increases.
The EpiPen is an injection device used on a patient whose allergic reaction has become a medical emergency. Some 3.6 million Americans were prescribed an EpiPen last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In very serious cases, an allergic reaction can become Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition with symptoms including trouble breathing, reduced blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, and itchy skin. Some of the most common reactions of Anaphylaxis are from peanut and shellfish allergies, bee stings, and latex exposure.
These severe allergies require a hospital visit and an immediate injection of epinephrine, the drug in EpiPens.
Since it acquired the EpiPen in 2007, Mylan has been raising the cost of the device. In 2007, two pens cost just over $100, but now they cost over $600, according to the New York Times. EpiPens can only be used once because of a spring-loaded mechanism for dispensing the epinephrine that activates upon injection.
The news of the price hike has led to widespread outcry, with some critics citing Pope Francis, who has spoken out numerous times about the dangers of a free market when it is not governed by Christ-like principles and morals.
Hoadley suggested that if the EpiPen price hike is an example of drug makers taking advantage of very limited competition, at the expense of people who need the drug, ethical questions could be raised.
Different consumers will be affected by the cost hike in different ways, he noted.
For instance, someone without insurance will have to pay the high out-of-pocket costs for the EpiPen. A low-income family whose children are on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program may obtain it for a small co-pay or even for free, and the cost would be passed on to the states or federal government.
For those with private insurance, it would depend on their plan. In the short-term, there only might be a small increase in their co-pay, but a large increase in their premium later on.
In cases where a health plan doesn’t cover an EpiPen, however, patients may be on the hook for most or all of the cost of new pens.
A number of reported upgrades were made to the device over the years, like a retractable needle and better grip for the pen. Many factors go into the cost of drugs, Hoadley explained, like the cost of ingredients, and producing and manufacturing a drug. Still, the cost of the epinephrine dosage in EpiPens has been estimated by experts to be only several dollars.
But market forces can also play a big role in costs, he said, as when a drug company is devoid of real competition and there are no real “market countervailing pressures” for a drug company.
In this particular case of EpiPens, he said, one competitor left the market over “FDA issues.” A competing pen, Auvi-Q is no longer available, and the FDA rejected another generic alternative to the EpiPen, according to the Times.
A generic alternative still exists – Adrenaclick – for a lower cost, Consumer Reports has noted.
Mylan has also pushed for its product to be in public schools as an emergency device. A federal law signed by President Obama in 2013 – which Mylan actively lobbied for – rewarded the states that mandated epinephrine injectors in schools. Mylan’s program EpiPens4Schools provides several free pens per year for qualifying public schools.
Mylan announced last week that it was taking measures to supposedly make it easier for patients to obtain EpiPens. They said they were “doubling eligibility for our patient assistance program,” so that “a family of four making up to $97,200 would pay nothing out of pocket for their EpiPen Auto-Injector.” They also offered a “savings card” to trim costs by almost half for a two-pack of pens for those paying “full list price.”
“We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter,” Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said in a statement.
Then on August 29, amid continuing outcry, the company announced that it would release a generic version of the product – containing the same drug and auto-injection function – for $300 per two-pack, half the price of the name brand version.
It is unclear whether the announcement will be enough to satisfy critics.
However, Hoadley said, Mylan’s cost increase is a “symptom of some of the issues that we’re dealing with” in the larger prescription drug market as a whole, where cost hikes of drugs have been linked by some to companies using “market leverage.”
For instance, Martin Shkreli – former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals – made headlines after Turing increased the cost of its anti-parasite drug Daraprim from $13.50 to $750. Subpoenaed by Congress, he simply told members that he would “invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.”
Reported by CNA 9 hours ago.
There are “a lot of factors” behind price increases in the prescription drug market, Dr. Jack Hoadley, a health policy analyst and researcher at Georgetown University, told CNA. Thus, it’s hard to attribute the 400 percent rise in cost of the EpiPen to one particular cause, he said.
However, if Mylan – the manufacturer of the EpiPen – was simply “taking advantage of a partial monopoly,” he continued, than one “could raise the question” about the ethics of the cost increases.
The EpiPen is an injection device used on a patient whose allergic reaction has become a medical emergency. Some 3.6 million Americans were prescribed an EpiPen last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In very serious cases, an allergic reaction can become Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition with symptoms including trouble breathing, reduced blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, and itchy skin. Some of the most common reactions of Anaphylaxis are from peanut and shellfish allergies, bee stings, and latex exposure.
These severe allergies require a hospital visit and an immediate injection of epinephrine, the drug in EpiPens.
Since it acquired the EpiPen in 2007, Mylan has been raising the cost of the device. In 2007, two pens cost just over $100, but now they cost over $600, according to the New York Times. EpiPens can only be used once because of a spring-loaded mechanism for dispensing the epinephrine that activates upon injection.
The news of the price hike has led to widespread outcry, with some critics citing Pope Francis, who has spoken out numerous times about the dangers of a free market when it is not governed by Christ-like principles and morals.
Hoadley suggested that if the EpiPen price hike is an example of drug makers taking advantage of very limited competition, at the expense of people who need the drug, ethical questions could be raised.
Different consumers will be affected by the cost hike in different ways, he noted.
For instance, someone without insurance will have to pay the high out-of-pocket costs for the EpiPen. A low-income family whose children are on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program may obtain it for a small co-pay or even for free, and the cost would be passed on to the states or federal government.
For those with private insurance, it would depend on their plan. In the short-term, there only might be a small increase in their co-pay, but a large increase in their premium later on.
In cases where a health plan doesn’t cover an EpiPen, however, patients may be on the hook for most or all of the cost of new pens.
A number of reported upgrades were made to the device over the years, like a retractable needle and better grip for the pen. Many factors go into the cost of drugs, Hoadley explained, like the cost of ingredients, and producing and manufacturing a drug. Still, the cost of the epinephrine dosage in EpiPens has been estimated by experts to be only several dollars.
But market forces can also play a big role in costs, he said, as when a drug company is devoid of real competition and there are no real “market countervailing pressures” for a drug company.
In this particular case of EpiPens, he said, one competitor left the market over “FDA issues.” A competing pen, Auvi-Q is no longer available, and the FDA rejected another generic alternative to the EpiPen, according to the Times.
A generic alternative still exists – Adrenaclick – for a lower cost, Consumer Reports has noted.
Mylan has also pushed for its product to be in public schools as an emergency device. A federal law signed by President Obama in 2013 – which Mylan actively lobbied for – rewarded the states that mandated epinephrine injectors in schools. Mylan’s program EpiPens4Schools provides several free pens per year for qualifying public schools.
Mylan announced last week that it was taking measures to supposedly make it easier for patients to obtain EpiPens. They said they were “doubling eligibility for our patient assistance program,” so that “a family of four making up to $97,200 would pay nothing out of pocket for their EpiPen Auto-Injector.” They also offered a “savings card” to trim costs by almost half for a two-pack of pens for those paying “full list price.”
“We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter,” Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said in a statement.
Then on August 29, amid continuing outcry, the company announced that it would release a generic version of the product – containing the same drug and auto-injection function – for $300 per two-pack, half the price of the name brand version.
It is unclear whether the announcement will be enough to satisfy critics.
However, Hoadley said, Mylan’s cost increase is a “symptom of some of the issues that we’re dealing with” in the larger prescription drug market as a whole, where cost hikes of drugs have been linked by some to companies using “market leverage.”
For instance, Martin Shkreli – former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals – made headlines after Turing increased the cost of its anti-parasite drug Daraprim from $13.50 to $750. Subpoenaed by Congress, he simply told members that he would “invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.”
Reported by CNA 9 hours ago.
↧
GOP Senator Has A Strange Idea For Reducing Poverty
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), discussing poverty and unemployment in a radio interview on Monday, proposed a strange solution for low-income single mothers trying to balance employment and child care.
“Let single moms actually work in day care to support each other,” he told WIZM, a Wisconsin radio station. “We have prohibitions against that, providing day care for a facility that has your children in it. I think we need to reduce some of these policies. Let’s work smart, let’s rethink all of these programs, all the laws. Just about everything has got to be rethought.” Johnson was promoting a Milwaukee-based job training program, The Joseph Project, which he helped create. When lauding the program earlier this month, he referenced the recent protests over the fatal police shooting of a young black man in Milwaukee as evidence that the “War on Poverty didn’t work.”
The riots have been “literally decades in the making,” Johnson told the Associated Press. “It’s the fact that well-intentioned programs didn’t work. The war on poverty didn’t work. We didn’t alleviate poverty. We’ve exacerbated it.”
The war on poverty policies, instituted by President Lyndon Johnson, are frequently blamed by GOP lawmakers who argue that government welfare programs breed dependence and think that solutions to poverty should come from the private sector.
The problem with the Wisconsin senator’s suggestion is that child care workers are poorly paid and receive scant benefits.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for child care workers last year was only $9.77 per hour, which amounts to a yearly salary of $20,320.
The Economic Policy Institute studied child care workers nationwide and found that only 15 percent of them receive health insurance from their employer and only 9.6 percent have a pension plan. Nearly 15 percent of them live below the poverty line.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.
“Let single moms actually work in day care to support each other,” he told WIZM, a Wisconsin radio station. “We have prohibitions against that, providing day care for a facility that has your children in it. I think we need to reduce some of these policies. Let’s work smart, let’s rethink all of these programs, all the laws. Just about everything has got to be rethought.” Johnson was promoting a Milwaukee-based job training program, The Joseph Project, which he helped create. When lauding the program earlier this month, he referenced the recent protests over the fatal police shooting of a young black man in Milwaukee as evidence that the “War on Poverty didn’t work.”
The riots have been “literally decades in the making,” Johnson told the Associated Press. “It’s the fact that well-intentioned programs didn’t work. The war on poverty didn’t work. We didn’t alleviate poverty. We’ve exacerbated it.”
The war on poverty policies, instituted by President Lyndon Johnson, are frequently blamed by GOP lawmakers who argue that government welfare programs breed dependence and think that solutions to poverty should come from the private sector.
The problem with the Wisconsin senator’s suggestion is that child care workers are poorly paid and receive scant benefits.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for child care workers last year was only $9.77 per hour, which amounts to a yearly salary of $20,320.
The Economic Policy Institute studied child care workers nationwide and found that only 15 percent of them receive health insurance from their employer and only 9.6 percent have a pension plan. Nearly 15 percent of them live below the poverty line.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.
↧
Health Care is a Right, Not a Business
Financial columnist Megan McArdle recently wrote a column entitled "Healthcare Is a Business, Not a Right." She was responding to a tweet from financial writer Helaine Olen, which she quotes as:
"The health of Americans should not be a profit center. Health care is a right. Full stop."
Health care is a business, says McArdle, although most of us aren't tough-minded enough to admit it. Even if you ask a conservative, she writes, "there is a good chance you'll get a rant about greedy insurers nickel-and-diming hardworking consumers when they're sick."
"Almost everybody feels that there is something fundamentally wrong about making money off someone else's illness," McArdle laments.
It's a straw-man argument. Nobody I know thinks there's something "fundamentally wrong" with doctors or nurses earning a living or pharmacies turning a profit. Doctors, nurses, and corner pharmacists are iconic figures in American folklore.
McArdle misrepresents Olen. Olen's tweet begins with the number "25,"which McArdle omits, meaning it's the 25th in a series of tweets. The full series makes it clear that Olen is talking specifically about health insurance. Olen's "full stop," which McArdle mocks, seems intended to signal the end of her twitter essay.
But then, you can't make a straw man without breaking some straws.
"No, don't sputter and tell me that it's obvious, that people need health care," McArdle writes. "People need a lot of things. You'll die without food long before you'll die without healthcare, and yet few people say we need to 'take the profit motive out of farming' ..."
Nobody's sputtering, but the farming analogy is poorly chosen. Food production and health care delivery take place in very different economies. The need for food is consistent, stable, and predictable. The need for healthcare varies dramatically over time. Insurance, whether public and private, spreads risk among larger groups and levels out its potentially devastating cost spikes.
And while farmers provide food, insurers don't provide health care. They're intermediaries. Other health intermediaries include pharmaceutical companies and third-party investors like Bain Capital, who invest in medical providers and then press them to maximize profits. (See "Sick Money.")
The result is a broken economy that works for profiteers but not for "consumers."
Intermediaries make people angry when they exploit the system without adding value. People are outraged over the EpiPen scandal because they know that its manufacturer jacked up prices excessively, which it can do thanks to government-granted patent privileges, and because patients are likely to die as a result.
Similarly, people are outraged over UnitedHealth's profits because they know that UnitedHealth has never cured a sick child or mended a broken arm. But it has denied patients potentially life-saving treatments (yielding only when faced with adverse publicity.)
A thought experiment:
Imagine an America where food costs twice as much as it does in most other developed countries.
Imagine an America where most Americans under the age of 65 get their food from a "food intermediary" chosen by their employer.
Imagine an America where the "food intermediary" can deny people access to lifesaving nourishment.
Imagine an America where corporate food distributors are given special patents on certain types of food - even if they were created at taxpayer expense - and then grossly overcharge starving people, who must either pay the cost or die.
Imagine an America where the out-of-pocket cost of food is rising much faster than inflation.
Imagine an America where a minimum of 45,000 people die each year because of the inefficiencies of our food economy.
Would people across the political spectrum be saying that food is a right that's being corrupted by profit? Absolutely. And they'd be right.
Full stop.
Rights and commerce aren't diametrically opposed, despite what McArdle implies. Want to enjoy the national parks that are every American's birthright? You'll probably take a for-profit airline to get there, and stay in a for-profit hotel once you arrive. Want to exercise your right of free speech? You may take out a full-page ad in a for-profit newspaper. (There is a problem with media consolidation and free speech, but that's a topic for another day.)
Rights and commerce can coexist in a democratic society, as long as commerce doesn't threaten rights. But when they clash, commerce must give way. Since commerce has failed to provide affordable and accessible health care, it must yield to rights.
Here's a cold, quantifiable truth some people would rather not accept: Government does some things better than the private sector. Health care financing happens to be one of them. That's why every other developed nation on earth provides better care to more of its people at lower cost than we do.
McArdle snipes at Great Britain's health system because its guidelines sometimes limit treatment. She doesn't mention that our system does too. But our guidelines are set by highly-paid executives who aren't accountable to the public, and whose economic self-interest lies in restricting care.
McArdle quotes economist Robin Hanson's theory that we finance health care through insurance because we think it's "reciprocal altruism." But if that were true, wouldn't we be more likely to have a public health insurance system, like every other developed nation on earth? I doubt anyone thinks health insurance corporations are "altruistic."
The real reason our system is structured this way is more prosaic. Wages were fixed during World War II, but the agency that administered them exempted fringe benefits. So employers began offering health insurance to attract workers, and our hodge-podge system grew up around this historical anomaly.
That system is a financial and moral failure. The employee portion of employer-based health premiums is skyrocketing, rising 83 percent between 2005 and 2015. The average American family with "good" employer coverage now pays $10,473 per year for health care. One-third of all Americans, including 40 percent of women, have an unmet healthcare need because of cost - even if they have insurance.
The US paid more than twice as much per capita on health care as the average for developed countries, paying nearly twice as much as a share of the economy (despite its many uninsured and under-insured) - with poorer outcomes than comparable countries on standard measurements like life expectancy.
By any objective measure, the US insurance industry has failed to manage either the cost or the quality of health care. Health care is a human right, and private insurers have failed to safeguard it. They had their shot, and they blew it.
McArdle gradually morphs from a defense of "greedy insurers" to the argument that health care cannot be a right because "it has to stop before we run out of wallet." (That distastefully buzzwordy phrase presumably means, "before we run out of money.")
That's another straw man, since virtually no one argues otherwise. Every right is limited by outside constraints. That's why the right to free speech doesn't allow you to shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater.
We all agree that hard choices must be made when resources are limited. Let's see, where do we begin? Profit-taking is driving up healthcare costs at all levels. UnitedHealth's operating earnings were $11 billion last year. Aetna's were $2.7 billion. Big Pharma? Don't even ask.
I'm sure most Americans would agree: If we're going to talk about pulling the plug on Grandma, which is where McArdle is headed, then we sure can't afford these guys. Maybe when they show up for their next big payday, we'll have to explain that we've "run out of wallet" to pay them.
Government's first obligation is to protect rights, not profits. When the Declaration of Independence proclaimed our "unalienable rights" to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," it even put "life" first.
Health care is a right, not a business.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 15 minutes ago.
"The health of Americans should not be a profit center. Health care is a right. Full stop."
Health care is a business, says McArdle, although most of us aren't tough-minded enough to admit it. Even if you ask a conservative, she writes, "there is a good chance you'll get a rant about greedy insurers nickel-and-diming hardworking consumers when they're sick."
"Almost everybody feels that there is something fundamentally wrong about making money off someone else's illness," McArdle laments.
It's a straw-man argument. Nobody I know thinks there's something "fundamentally wrong" with doctors or nurses earning a living or pharmacies turning a profit. Doctors, nurses, and corner pharmacists are iconic figures in American folklore.
McArdle misrepresents Olen. Olen's tweet begins with the number "25,"which McArdle omits, meaning it's the 25th in a series of tweets. The full series makes it clear that Olen is talking specifically about health insurance. Olen's "full stop," which McArdle mocks, seems intended to signal the end of her twitter essay.
But then, you can't make a straw man without breaking some straws.
"No, don't sputter and tell me that it's obvious, that people need health care," McArdle writes. "People need a lot of things. You'll die without food long before you'll die without healthcare, and yet few people say we need to 'take the profit motive out of farming' ..."
Nobody's sputtering, but the farming analogy is poorly chosen. Food production and health care delivery take place in very different economies. The need for food is consistent, stable, and predictable. The need for healthcare varies dramatically over time. Insurance, whether public and private, spreads risk among larger groups and levels out its potentially devastating cost spikes.
And while farmers provide food, insurers don't provide health care. They're intermediaries. Other health intermediaries include pharmaceutical companies and third-party investors like Bain Capital, who invest in medical providers and then press them to maximize profits. (See "Sick Money.")
The result is a broken economy that works for profiteers but not for "consumers."
Intermediaries make people angry when they exploit the system without adding value. People are outraged over the EpiPen scandal because they know that its manufacturer jacked up prices excessively, which it can do thanks to government-granted patent privileges, and because patients are likely to die as a result.
Similarly, people are outraged over UnitedHealth's profits because they know that UnitedHealth has never cured a sick child or mended a broken arm. But it has denied patients potentially life-saving treatments (yielding only when faced with adverse publicity.)
A thought experiment:
Imagine an America where food costs twice as much as it does in most other developed countries.
Imagine an America where most Americans under the age of 65 get their food from a "food intermediary" chosen by their employer.
Imagine an America where the "food intermediary" can deny people access to lifesaving nourishment.
Imagine an America where corporate food distributors are given special patents on certain types of food - even if they were created at taxpayer expense - and then grossly overcharge starving people, who must either pay the cost or die.
Imagine an America where the out-of-pocket cost of food is rising much faster than inflation.
Imagine an America where a minimum of 45,000 people die each year because of the inefficiencies of our food economy.
Would people across the political spectrum be saying that food is a right that's being corrupted by profit? Absolutely. And they'd be right.
Full stop.
Rights and commerce aren't diametrically opposed, despite what McArdle implies. Want to enjoy the national parks that are every American's birthright? You'll probably take a for-profit airline to get there, and stay in a for-profit hotel once you arrive. Want to exercise your right of free speech? You may take out a full-page ad in a for-profit newspaper. (There is a problem with media consolidation and free speech, but that's a topic for another day.)
Rights and commerce can coexist in a democratic society, as long as commerce doesn't threaten rights. But when they clash, commerce must give way. Since commerce has failed to provide affordable and accessible health care, it must yield to rights.
Here's a cold, quantifiable truth some people would rather not accept: Government does some things better than the private sector. Health care financing happens to be one of them. That's why every other developed nation on earth provides better care to more of its people at lower cost than we do.
McArdle snipes at Great Britain's health system because its guidelines sometimes limit treatment. She doesn't mention that our system does too. But our guidelines are set by highly-paid executives who aren't accountable to the public, and whose economic self-interest lies in restricting care.
McArdle quotes economist Robin Hanson's theory that we finance health care through insurance because we think it's "reciprocal altruism." But if that were true, wouldn't we be more likely to have a public health insurance system, like every other developed nation on earth? I doubt anyone thinks health insurance corporations are "altruistic."
The real reason our system is structured this way is more prosaic. Wages were fixed during World War II, but the agency that administered them exempted fringe benefits. So employers began offering health insurance to attract workers, and our hodge-podge system grew up around this historical anomaly.
That system is a financial and moral failure. The employee portion of employer-based health premiums is skyrocketing, rising 83 percent between 2005 and 2015. The average American family with "good" employer coverage now pays $10,473 per year for health care. One-third of all Americans, including 40 percent of women, have an unmet healthcare need because of cost - even if they have insurance.
The US paid more than twice as much per capita on health care as the average for developed countries, paying nearly twice as much as a share of the economy (despite its many uninsured and under-insured) - with poorer outcomes than comparable countries on standard measurements like life expectancy.
By any objective measure, the US insurance industry has failed to manage either the cost or the quality of health care. Health care is a human right, and private insurers have failed to safeguard it. They had their shot, and they blew it.
McArdle gradually morphs from a defense of "greedy insurers" to the argument that health care cannot be a right because "it has to stop before we run out of wallet." (That distastefully buzzwordy phrase presumably means, "before we run out of money.")
That's another straw man, since virtually no one argues otherwise. Every right is limited by outside constraints. That's why the right to free speech doesn't allow you to shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater.
We all agree that hard choices must be made when resources are limited. Let's see, where do we begin? Profit-taking is driving up healthcare costs at all levels. UnitedHealth's operating earnings were $11 billion last year. Aetna's were $2.7 billion. Big Pharma? Don't even ask.
I'm sure most Americans would agree: If we're going to talk about pulling the plug on Grandma, which is where McArdle is headed, then we sure can't afford these guys. Maybe when they show up for their next big payday, we'll have to explain that we've "run out of wallet" to pay them.
Government's first obligation is to protect rights, not profits. When the Declaration of Independence proclaimed our "unalienable rights" to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," it even put "life" first.
Health care is a right, not a business.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 15 minutes ago.
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iPatientCare EHR Ranked 1st for Osteopathic Physicians & Top 10 in Several Categories by Black Book™ in Its Latest Healthcare Industry Rankings for Physician EHR & PM
iPatientCare is glad to announce its selection in top 10 position for various categories Including ‘Single & Solo Physician Practices: All Specialties’ by Black Book™ in its 2016 Rankings Ambulatory / Alternate Site EHR
Woodbridge, NJ (PRWEB) August 30, 2016
iPatientCare, a pioneer in cloud-based ambulatory EHR and Revenue Cycle Management services, proudly announces its achievement of securing top 10 position in multiple categories like Chiropractic, Osteopathic Physicians, Pain Management, Primary Care, Rheumatology, Single & Solo Physician Practices: All Specialties by Black Book™ in its recent survey of Latest Healthcare Industry Rankings for Physician EHR and Practice Management.
Black Book Market Research is the parent group for Black Book Rankings, a full-service healthcare –centric market research and public opinion research company. Black Book Rankings offers complete quantitative and qualitative research services, excelling in the design of customized surveys and research approaches to meet specific client needs in healthcare, pharmaceutics, biomedical devices, managed care, health insurance, and technology.
“iPatientCare takes pride on being selected as market leader for Osteopathic Physicians by Black Book™ Research. We work hard to achieve technological advancement for medical informatics that helps medical systems work better. Ranks we received by Black BookTM demonstrates our organization’s commitment to achieve health information technology that is integrated, interactive, interoperable, and intelligent to provide the best patient outcomes,” said Udayan Mandavia, CEO, iPatientCare.
Being at top position for Osteopathic Physicians iPatientCare also Ranked at 4th position for Single & Solo Physician Practices: All Specialties and Primary Care, 5th Position for Chiropractic and Rheumatology and 6th Position for Pain Management.
More information on the rankings can be found on the Black Book™ website at http://www.blackbookrankings.com/
About iPatientCare:
iPatientCare, Inc. is a privately held medical informatics company based at Woodbridge, New Jersey. The company’s unified product suite includes Electronic Health/Medical Record and integrated Practice Management/Billing System, Patient Portal/PHR, Health Information Exchange (HIE), and Mobile Point-of-Care Solutions for both Ambulatory and Acute/Sub-acute market segments. iPatientCare has been recognized as a preferred MU partner by numerous Regional Extension Centers (REC), hospitals/health systems, and professional academies.
iPatientCare EHR 2014 (2.0) has received 2014 Edition Ambulatory Complete EHR certification by ICSA Labs, an Office of the National Coordinator-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB), in accordance with the applicable eligible professional certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.
The ONC 2014 Edition criteria support both Stage 1 and 2 Meaningful Use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Visit http://www.iPatientCare.com for more information. Reported by PRWeb 11 minutes ago.
Woodbridge, NJ (PRWEB) August 30, 2016
iPatientCare, a pioneer in cloud-based ambulatory EHR and Revenue Cycle Management services, proudly announces its achievement of securing top 10 position in multiple categories like Chiropractic, Osteopathic Physicians, Pain Management, Primary Care, Rheumatology, Single & Solo Physician Practices: All Specialties by Black Book™ in its recent survey of Latest Healthcare Industry Rankings for Physician EHR and Practice Management.
Black Book Market Research is the parent group for Black Book Rankings, a full-service healthcare –centric market research and public opinion research company. Black Book Rankings offers complete quantitative and qualitative research services, excelling in the design of customized surveys and research approaches to meet specific client needs in healthcare, pharmaceutics, biomedical devices, managed care, health insurance, and technology.
“iPatientCare takes pride on being selected as market leader for Osteopathic Physicians by Black Book™ Research. We work hard to achieve technological advancement for medical informatics that helps medical systems work better. Ranks we received by Black BookTM demonstrates our organization’s commitment to achieve health information technology that is integrated, interactive, interoperable, and intelligent to provide the best patient outcomes,” said Udayan Mandavia, CEO, iPatientCare.
Being at top position for Osteopathic Physicians iPatientCare also Ranked at 4th position for Single & Solo Physician Practices: All Specialties and Primary Care, 5th Position for Chiropractic and Rheumatology and 6th Position for Pain Management.
More information on the rankings can be found on the Black Book™ website at http://www.blackbookrankings.com/
About iPatientCare:
iPatientCare, Inc. is a privately held medical informatics company based at Woodbridge, New Jersey. The company’s unified product suite includes Electronic Health/Medical Record and integrated Practice Management/Billing System, Patient Portal/PHR, Health Information Exchange (HIE), and Mobile Point-of-Care Solutions for both Ambulatory and Acute/Sub-acute market segments. iPatientCare has been recognized as a preferred MU partner by numerous Regional Extension Centers (REC), hospitals/health systems, and professional academies.
iPatientCare EHR 2014 (2.0) has received 2014 Edition Ambulatory Complete EHR certification by ICSA Labs, an Office of the National Coordinator-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB), in accordance with the applicable eligible professional certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Full certification details can be found at ONC Certified Health IT Product List.
The ONC 2014 Edition criteria support both Stage 1 and 2 Meaningful Use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Visit http://www.iPatientCare.com for more information. Reported by PRWeb 11 minutes ago.
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Pulse8 Announces Membership with Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Pulse8, the only healthcare analytics company delivering complete visibility into the efficacy of Risk Adjustment and Quality Management programs, is proud to join the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA), a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based membership organization that collaboratively promotes appropriate medication use and develops strategies for measuring and reporting performance information related to medications.
Annapolis, MD (PRWEB) August 30, 2016
PQA is recognized as a leader in the development of medication use and safety measures that are used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and Quality Bonus Payments (QBP) for Medicare Advantage programs. PQA’s measures hold a higher weighting than many of the other 5-Star measures making it imperative that plans effectively manage compliance.
“PQA is excited to welcome Pulse8 as one of our newest members and as a licensee of the PQA measures. We look forward to Pulse8 contributing to our measure development process and engaging with our diverse offerings of meetings, programs, workshops, webinars, and other PQA-lead initiatives. As an authorized licensee, Pulse8 gains access to the most recent, accurate, and proprietary measure details and specifications which are utilized in payor programs such as the Medicare Star Ratings Program and the Quality Rating System” noted Laura Cranston, PQA’s Executive Director.
Pulse8’s integrated suite of Risk, Quality, and Revenue Management tools enable plans to identify and close existing and potential care gaps for HEDIS®, Hybrid HEDIS®, and 5-Star Parts C and D measures that can significantly improve Quality Bonus Payments. By utilizing licensed measure specifications developed by PQA for CMS, Pulse8 can further support at-risk providers and health plans with improved compliance with CMS Part D Star Ratings as well as pharmacy measures included in the Quality Rating System (QRS) measure set for Qualified Health Plans (QHP) in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Pulse8 chose to become a member of PQA because of its commitment to Quality and for the opportunity to have input into the development of measures that impact patient health outcomes. Membership will allow Pulse8 to gather market intelligence through the participation in the development of medication-use measures in areas such as medication safety, medication adherence, and appropriate use of medications. Pulse8 will have the ability to participate in the Stakeholder Advisory Panels (SAPs) and the Measure Development Teams (MDTs).
“Being an active member of PQA uniquely positions Pulse8’s team of clinicians and Subject Matter Experts to have direct involvement in measure development and vetting from the ground up. This level of participation allows us to not only help in providing gap identification for current pharmacy quality measures, but also provides us unique insight into the individual measures, allowing us the ability to recommend meaningful solutions to improve performance,” stated Chris Simmons, FNP, Vice President, Clinical Analytics.
About Pulse8
Pulse8 is the only Healthcare Analytics and Technology Company delivering complete visibility into the efficacy of your Risk Adjustment and Quality Management programs. We enable health plans and at-risk providers to achieve the greatest financial impact in the ACA Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid markets. By combining advanced analytic methodologies with extensive health plan experience, Pulse8 has developed a suite of uniquely pragmatic solutions that are revolutionizing risk adjustment and quality. Pulse8’s flexible business intelligence tools offer real-time visibility into member and provider activities so our clients can apply the most cost-effective and appropriate interventions for closing gaps in documentation, coding, and quality. For more company information, please contact Scott Filiault at (732) 570-9095, visit us at http://www.Pulse8.com, or follow us on Twitter @Pulse8News.
About Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Established in 2006, PQA is a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based membership organization that collaboratively promotes appropriate medication use and develops strategies for measuring and reporting performance information related to medications. PQA represents pharmacy providers, pharmacy benefit managers, health plans, academia, consumer advocates, community pharmacies, health technology vendors, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing companies, and other stakeholders interested in improving the quality of the medication-use system. For more information about the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, please visit http://www.PQAalliance.org or contact us at (703) 690-1987. Reported by PRWeb 11 minutes ago.
Annapolis, MD (PRWEB) August 30, 2016
PQA is recognized as a leader in the development of medication use and safety measures that are used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and Quality Bonus Payments (QBP) for Medicare Advantage programs. PQA’s measures hold a higher weighting than many of the other 5-Star measures making it imperative that plans effectively manage compliance.
“PQA is excited to welcome Pulse8 as one of our newest members and as a licensee of the PQA measures. We look forward to Pulse8 contributing to our measure development process and engaging with our diverse offerings of meetings, programs, workshops, webinars, and other PQA-lead initiatives. As an authorized licensee, Pulse8 gains access to the most recent, accurate, and proprietary measure details and specifications which are utilized in payor programs such as the Medicare Star Ratings Program and the Quality Rating System” noted Laura Cranston, PQA’s Executive Director.
Pulse8’s integrated suite of Risk, Quality, and Revenue Management tools enable plans to identify and close existing and potential care gaps for HEDIS®, Hybrid HEDIS®, and 5-Star Parts C and D measures that can significantly improve Quality Bonus Payments. By utilizing licensed measure specifications developed by PQA for CMS, Pulse8 can further support at-risk providers and health plans with improved compliance with CMS Part D Star Ratings as well as pharmacy measures included in the Quality Rating System (QRS) measure set for Qualified Health Plans (QHP) in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Pulse8 chose to become a member of PQA because of its commitment to Quality and for the opportunity to have input into the development of measures that impact patient health outcomes. Membership will allow Pulse8 to gather market intelligence through the participation in the development of medication-use measures in areas such as medication safety, medication adherence, and appropriate use of medications. Pulse8 will have the ability to participate in the Stakeholder Advisory Panels (SAPs) and the Measure Development Teams (MDTs).
“Being an active member of PQA uniquely positions Pulse8’s team of clinicians and Subject Matter Experts to have direct involvement in measure development and vetting from the ground up. This level of participation allows us to not only help in providing gap identification for current pharmacy quality measures, but also provides us unique insight into the individual measures, allowing us the ability to recommend meaningful solutions to improve performance,” stated Chris Simmons, FNP, Vice President, Clinical Analytics.
About Pulse8
Pulse8 is the only Healthcare Analytics and Technology Company delivering complete visibility into the efficacy of your Risk Adjustment and Quality Management programs. We enable health plans and at-risk providers to achieve the greatest financial impact in the ACA Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid markets. By combining advanced analytic methodologies with extensive health plan experience, Pulse8 has developed a suite of uniquely pragmatic solutions that are revolutionizing risk adjustment and quality. Pulse8’s flexible business intelligence tools offer real-time visibility into member and provider activities so our clients can apply the most cost-effective and appropriate interventions for closing gaps in documentation, coding, and quality. For more company information, please contact Scott Filiault at (732) 570-9095, visit us at http://www.Pulse8.com, or follow us on Twitter @Pulse8News.
About Pharmacy Quality Alliance
Established in 2006, PQA is a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based membership organization that collaboratively promotes appropriate medication use and develops strategies for measuring and reporting performance information related to medications. PQA represents pharmacy providers, pharmacy benefit managers, health plans, academia, consumer advocates, community pharmacies, health technology vendors, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing companies, and other stakeholders interested in improving the quality of the medication-use system. For more information about the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, please visit http://www.PQAalliance.org or contact us at (703) 690-1987. Reported by PRWeb 11 minutes ago.
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Rumors of Head Lice Being Transmitters of Zika Arise Among South Florida Parents, Lice Troopers Clears the Air
In light of recent concerns about Zika, Miami head lice removal company dispels myths about link between the two conditions
Miami, Florida (PRWEB) August 30, 2016
With all the recent buzz about the Zika virus in South Florida, it is natural that misinformation has surfaced. Rumors of lice carrying and transmitting the Zika virus have left local parents in a frenzy, and with good reason.
Most parents understand head lice to be blood-sucking parasites that very quickly and easily spread from host to host and are most common in school-aged children. While the insects do feed on human blood, according to the CDC they are not known to carry diseases, let alone transmit them.
Lice Troopers, a South Florida head lice removal service, wants to assure parents that a lice infestation is harmless and a persistent pest at most. “Within the last few weeks we’ve received multiple calls from panicked parents worried their kids might be subject to contracting Zika because there was a lice outbreak at their school or camp. We explain to them what we know about head lice and what we’ve learned about the Zika virus and reassure them there is no known correlation,” Arie Harel, CEO of Lice Troopers, explains.
The company has been in the head lice removal business for nearly three decades and is considered the expert on the tiny parasites. “We’ve become more than a lice treatment service, we’re a resource for parents, teachers, and the community in general when it comes to these bugs,” says Harel. Lice Troopers recently launched their Live Chat feature on their website, which they encourage people to use to contact them with any questions regarding head lice and treatments. They also offer a line of all-natural lice prevention and treatment products to help families combat the pests and infestations.
For more information, visit http://www.licetroopers.com or call 800.403.5423.
Lice Troopers is the all-natural, guaranteed head lice removal service that manually treats and removes head lice safely and discreetly in child-friendly treatment centers, or other chosen location. Providing safe solutions for frantic families, the Lice Troopers team has successfully treated thousands of families with pediatrician-recommended services that may be reimbursed by many major health insurance carriers, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts. Reported by PRWeb 11 minutes ago.
Miami, Florida (PRWEB) August 30, 2016
With all the recent buzz about the Zika virus in South Florida, it is natural that misinformation has surfaced. Rumors of lice carrying and transmitting the Zika virus have left local parents in a frenzy, and with good reason.
Most parents understand head lice to be blood-sucking parasites that very quickly and easily spread from host to host and are most common in school-aged children. While the insects do feed on human blood, according to the CDC they are not known to carry diseases, let alone transmit them.
Lice Troopers, a South Florida head lice removal service, wants to assure parents that a lice infestation is harmless and a persistent pest at most. “Within the last few weeks we’ve received multiple calls from panicked parents worried their kids might be subject to contracting Zika because there was a lice outbreak at their school or camp. We explain to them what we know about head lice and what we’ve learned about the Zika virus and reassure them there is no known correlation,” Arie Harel, CEO of Lice Troopers, explains.
The company has been in the head lice removal business for nearly three decades and is considered the expert on the tiny parasites. “We’ve become more than a lice treatment service, we’re a resource for parents, teachers, and the community in general when it comes to these bugs,” says Harel. Lice Troopers recently launched their Live Chat feature on their website, which they encourage people to use to contact them with any questions regarding head lice and treatments. They also offer a line of all-natural lice prevention and treatment products to help families combat the pests and infestations.
For more information, visit http://www.licetroopers.com or call 800.403.5423.
Lice Troopers is the all-natural, guaranteed head lice removal service that manually treats and removes head lice safely and discreetly in child-friendly treatment centers, or other chosen location. Providing safe solutions for frantic families, the Lice Troopers team has successfully treated thousands of families with pediatrician-recommended services that may be reimbursed by many major health insurance carriers, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts. Reported by PRWeb 11 minutes ago.
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