Quantcast
Channel: Health Insurance Headlines on One News Page [United States]
Viewing all 22794 articles
Browse latest View live

Could 4M N.J. residents lose affordable health care?

0
0
Rep. Tom MacArthur's proposal would allow states to seek waivers from federal health insurance requirements. Reported by NJ.com 23 hours ago.

The Latest: California nurses rally for health care for all

0
0
Hundreds of nurses have rallied in support of a California proposal to create a government-funded health care system that would eliminate health insurance companies. California lawmakers are considering an audacious proposal that would substantially remake the state's health care system by eliminating insurance companies and guaranteeing coverage for everyone. [...] the supporters hope the time is right to persuade lawmakers in California, where Democrats have long been willing to push the boundaries of liberal public policy and are now particularly eager to stand up to the Republican president. Reported by SeattlePI.com 22 hours ago.

Obama's $400,000 Wall Street Speech Is Completely In Character

0
0
The rumors are true: Former President Barack Obama will receive $400,000 to speak at a health care conference organized by the Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

It should not be a surprise. This unseemly and unnecessary cash-in fits a pattern of bad behavior involving the financial sector, one that spans Obama’s entire presidency. That governing failure convinced millions of his onetime supporters that the president and his party were not, in fact, playing for their team, and helped pave the way for President Donald Trump. Obama’s Wall Street payday will confirm for many what they have long suspected: that the Democratic Party is managed by out-of-touch elites who do not understand or care about the concerns of ordinary Americans. It’s hard to fault those who come to this conclusion.

Obama refused to prosecute the rampant fraud behind the 2008 Wall Street collapse, despite inking multibillion-dollar settlement after multibillion-dollar settlement with major firms over misconduct ranging from foreclosure fraud to rigging energy markets to tax evasion. In some cases, big banks even pleaded guilty to felonies, but Obama’s Justice Department allowed actual human bankers to ride into the sunset. Early in his presidency, Obama vowed to spend up to $100 billion to help struggling families avert foreclosure. Instead, the administration converted the relief plan into a slush fund for big banks, as top traders at bailed-out firms were allowed to collect six-figure bonuses on the taxpayers’ dime.

Nothing forced Obama to govern this way. Had he truly believed that prosecuting bankers for obvious criminal fraud would cause an economic collapse, Obama would, presumably, have tried to radically reshape the financial sector. He did not. His administration’s finance-friendly policies damaged the economic recovery and generated a new cohort of Trump voters. As Nate Cohn of The New York Times has demonstrated, nearly one-fourth of Obama’s white working-class supporters in 2012 flipped for Trump in 2016. Racism and misogyny were surely part of Trump’s appeal, but not all two-time Obama voters turned to Trump out of bigotry alone.

It’s easier for Democrats to denounce Trump supporters as morally unworthy individuals than to consider whether governing failures in the Obama era contributed to Trump’s popularity. In the final years of his presidency, Obama made clear that he wanted to be remembered as a great Democratic reformer — a leader who expanded access to health care and embodied the humane, egalitarian side of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. But the disconnect between this progressive vision and his Wall Street record is not trivial. The Obama foreclosure plan hurt families. Refusing to punish financial crime has encouraged more of it. Workers are still digging out from the economic wreckage caused by too-big-to-fail banks in 2008, and those banks are bigger today than they were during the meltdown. Wealth accrues to a tiny population of bank executives and shareholders instead of flowing to households. Society is more unequal, and the prospects for progress depend on a financial sector fraught with unnecessary systemic risk.

This risk is not confined to the Trump presidency. Obama once called economic inequality “the defining challenge of our time,” but Democratic leaders have been steadfastly aligning their own personal fortunes with the very elites the system is rigged to favor. Throughout her 2016 presidential campaign, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was dogged by the millions of dollars in speaking fees she courted from major financial institutions after leaving the State Department. Her primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), mocked a Clinton speech to Goldman Sachs, saying it must have been a “world-shattering” talk “probably written in Shakespearean prose.” She never had a good answer to questions about these talks during debates, and eventually she resorted to invoking the twisted logic of the Supreme Court’s infamous Citizens United decision in an effort to deflect accusations of corruption.

Clinton and her husband were worth over $100 million at the time. But a few million dollars between elites is not considered that big a deal in the Washington social scene. The money is an instrument of influence, rather than wealth ― a way of maintaining status, of exercising informal, unofficial, but very real power. It is a relationship incompatible with small-d democratic principles.

Sanders was not able to derail Clinton’s primary campaign with this critique. And die-hard Democrats will doubtless find ways to excuse or overlook Obama’s decision to follow in Clinton’s buckraking footsteps. Professional Democrats have admired Obama for many reasons despite his financial policy failures, and a few hundred grand will not make them reconsider this judgment. But the Goldman Sachs issue was a serious problem for Clinton during the general election, feeding right-wing narratives that she and her husband were fundamentally corrupt (not to be confused with the fairy tales about her killing Vince Foster and four Americans in Benghazi).

Obama isn’t running for office again, but his sellout sends even uglier signals to the electorate. Clinton had very limited policy power over the financial sector during her time at the State Department. Obama, on the other hand, had plenty. Voters could be forgiven for seeing a president cash out to Wall Street at the end of his term and concluding that maybe he wasn’t immune to those considerations when he was making policy in office.

“Regardless of venue or sponsor, President Obama will be true to his values, his vision, and his record,” Obama spokesman Eric Schultz told HuffPost in a written statement. “He recently accepted an invitation to speak at a health care conference in September, because, as a president who successfully passed health insurance reform, it’s an issue of great importance to him. With regard to this or any speech involving Wall Street sponsors,* *I’d just point out that in 2008, Barack Obama raised more money from Wall Street than any candidate in history ― and still went on to successfully pass and implement the toughest reforms on Wall Street since FDR.”

It is impossible to know what the 2010 Wall Street reform law would have looked like had Obama not received loads of campaign money from the financial sector. Maybe he would have broken up the banks. Maybe he would have reinstated Glass-Steagall. Campaign finance regulations -- which the vast majority of Democratic voters support -- would be unnecessary if political leaders were not influenced by campaign contributions. 

What’s most baffling about Obama’s $400,000 payday is the fact that he doesn’t need the money. He and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, reportedly received $65 million from Penguin Random House for their memoirs. He is an excellent writer who has already written two best-selling books, and he’ll receive a handsome $200,000 pension from the federal government every year for the rest of his life. Several generations of Obamas will be financially secure. His legacy is not nearly as safe.

Sign up for the HuffPost Must Reads newsletter. Each Sunday, we will bring you the best original reporting, long form writing and breaking news from HuffPost and around the web, plus behind-the-scenes looks at how it’s all made. Click here to sign up!

-- 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 19 hours ago.

YPO Innovation Week Launches Across Africa

0
0
* Annual Event Connects Global Leaders of the World's Most Innovative Companies *

*27 April 2017 -* YPO , the world's premier network of chief executives, today announced the launch of Innovation Week across Africa. Through a series of more than 50 events around the world, the second annual YPO Innovation Week will connect 24,000 YPO members in more than 130 countries through a series of events focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.

In four regions throughout Africa, including Ghana, Tanzania, Johannesburg and Durban, YPO will bring together the world's most dynamic innovators for a chance to connect, challenge conventional thinking and gain actionable, applicable insight. YPO Innovation Week is the world's largest and most impactful global innovation initiative, and throughout Africa, the world's most innovative companies will share their inspiration and insights with African leaders.

*YPO Innovation Week in Africa*

Africa is a leading innovator in technology, pioneering mobile technology to increase financial access to medical care, and e-learning platforms providing access to quality education. Africa is also sparking innovations in cybersecurity, ecological sustainability, communications and more.

In recognition of how innovation can be employed to overcome many of the continent's challenges, improve lifestyles and grow the economy, YPO Africa is hosting a variety of events with industry leaders, agents of change, technologists and start-up visionaries from a cross-section of African industries, open to YPO members only.

"YPO's global network of young chief executives are interested in, and actively involved with, innovative solutions that can positively impact their businesses," noted YPO Innovation Week Africa Chair and co-CEO of Integ8IT Rob Sussman. "The valuable insight, key connections and respected expertise provided during YPO Innovation Week will leave African leaders inspired, with the tools to infuse innovation in their companies and communities."

*Leading Innovation - Accra, Ghana; 11-13 May 2017*

The first YPO Innovation Week event in Ghana will offer a creative journey by the "Team from Nowhere," a leader in building innovative cultures. This three-day event will be led by CEO, Dr. Nick Udall, former Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on New Models of Leadership, Andy Kitt, a Group Director of Nowhere, and Janet Goldblatt, of Nowhere Africa and YPO Pan Africa Chapter.

*The Making of an Innovator - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; 11 May 2017*

Tanzania will host an impressive line-up of innovators who will discuss the importance of disruption and innovation for business success, as well as reveal what it takes to be a true innovator.  

*Event speakers include:*

· Albany James, Marketing Manager at EasyBuyAfrica.com, a hassle free online retailer
· Forbes 30under30 list 2016, Edwin Bruno, CEO of Smart Codes, a digital services agency
· Rose Funja, MD of Agrinfo, linking smallholders to finance
· Sameer Hirji, Executive Director of Selcom Tanzania, a fintech innovator
· Xavier Helgesen, CEO of Off-Grid Electric, providing affordable, pre-paid solar energy
· Dr. Gordon Carver, Silverleaf Academy, innovating in education
· Award-winner Lilian Makoi, Founder of Jamii Arica Health, micro-health insurance

*Live to Innovate - Johannesburg, South Africa; 11 May 2017*

David Garrison, Chief Navigator of Garrison Growth, adviser to CEOs and former mobile technology pioneer, will discuss Authentically Curious Leadership. David points out that today's workforce is the best educated ever, yet ideas about management are largely based on concepts created for industrial factories in the late 1800s. This session explores what it means to be authentically curious as a leader to leverage members of the organization and get them as involved in success as shareholders and the CEO.

*
The Story Behind Hirsch's Success - Durban, South Africa; 10 May 2017 *

Hirsch's is a household name in South Africa and is a true entrepreneurial success story and family business. Since its inception in 1979, it has grown into a chain of mega appliance and home furnishing stores in KZN, Cape Town and Gauteng. Having reached the R1 billion milestone in 2012, five years later, Hirsch's anticipate achieving R2 billion in turnover by the end of 2017.

Founders Allan and Margaret Hirsch and son, MD and YPO member Richard Hirsch, will share their story.

For more information, on the larger, international events visit the YPO Innovation Week website .

###

*ABOUT YPO*

*The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world.*

YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the world's most influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal, family and community impact.

Today, YPO empowers more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues.

Leadership. Learning. Lifelong. For more information, visit YPO.org .

*Contact:*
YPO
Linda Fisk
Office: +1.972.629.7305 (United States)
Mobile: +1 972 207 4298
press@ypo.org

Note: While the events are member-only, the media is invited to contact YPO to arrange post-event interviews. 

 

--------------------This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Young Presidents’ Organization, Inc. via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2099363 Reported by GlobeNewswire 19 hours ago.

House GOP Health Insurance Bill Gains New Life

0
0
House Republicans are moving closer to agreement on a health-care overhaul but now face the task of persuading centrists in the party to agree to provisions that could raise costs for many people with pre-existing conditions. Reported by Wall Street Journal 18 hours ago.

Fuserashi International Technology Grows Its Workforce by 37%

0
0
Quality automotive parts manufacturer continues to grow in 2017, after adding 27 new associates to its team and expanding their facility footprint.

Valley City, Ohio (PRWEB) April 27, 2017

Automotive parts manufacturer, Fuserashi International Technology (F.I.T. Inc.), continues to expand its workforce for the Fourth third consecutive year. The Valley City company increased its staff by 37% in 2016, adding 27 new associates.

The company has grown largely because its product offerings and volumes have continued to expand significantly. As the first company to move into the Valley City Industrial Parkway 20 years ago, F.I.T. started with a 30,000-sq-ft. building, and has since expanded its space over 500%, now standing at 200,000-sq-ft.

Through offering the highest quality products, F.I.T. has differentiated itself from other manufacturers in the industry. When the company was founded, it focused on one or two products. It has since kept its focus on quality and diversified its product line to include safety parts. Adding to its product line has necessitated building expansions and increased staffing needs.

With an emphasis on creating an unparalleled employee experience, F.I.T. has concentrated on recruiting employees interested in developing quality products and staying with the company long-term. Benefits include a great work-life balance, an open-door policy, opportunities to cross train, and more.

In addition to promoting its company culture, F.I.T. also offers a premier health insurance package, a Simple IRA, paid time off from the first day of work, and education opportunities. Regarding its high retention rate, HR Manager Jennifer Connelly says, “We retain employees by treating them like family, listening to their suggestions, and ensuring that they’re engaged in their work environment.”

In the past year, the company’s HR team directed efforts towards hiring skilled employees specifically for CNC positions and hired 10 employees for these positions. As they continue to grow, they will be searching for skilled machine operators in 2017. Connelly says, “We continue the need to seek candidates for employment, to fill open positions. Along with a great reputation in the community, 25% of our workforce are referrals, which has helped us find employees in the past. With the launch of our updated website, we are hopeful that we can expand our reach to the potential candidates in our community who are seeking a career in manufacturing, and may not currently know that there are great career opportunities available within our organization. ”

Learn more about the benefits of working at F.I.T., https://www.fitinc.net/why-work-at-fit/.

About F.I.T.

Established in February of 1996, F.I.T., Inc. is the first international subsidiary of Fuserashi Co., Ltd. Fuserashi is a Japanese manufacturer of hot and cold formed precision metal products and fasteners, primarily for various vehicle applications, with a tradition of quality, service, and performance. Since opening its doors over 20 years ago, F.I.T. has more than quadrupled its footprint, both in terms of facility size and equipment. With four major plant expansions, substantial employee growth, and an accelerating customer base, F.I.T. continues to innovate in its field. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.

Moderates balk at conservative-backed, revised health bill

0
0
WASHINGTON (AP) — The moribund Republican health care bill received a jolt of life when the conservative House Freedom Caucus endorsed a revised version of the measure. Conservatives embraced the revisions as a way to lower people's health care expenses, but moderates saw them as diminishing coverage because insurers could make policies for their most ill — and expensive — customers too costly for them to afford. Keeping GOP options for quick action alive, the House Rules Committee approved special procedures that could allow a sudden House vote on a health care bill through Saturday, though that seemed unlikely. In a statement, the Freedom Caucus said while the new package "still does not fully repeal Obamacare, we are prepared to support it to keep our promise to the American people to lower health care costs." The legislation does things they oppose, including cutting the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor and providing less generous federal subsidies to help people buy coverage than under Obama's law. In an added boost for the revised bill, a constellation of conservative groups announced support including Club for Growth, Heritage Action and Americans for Prosperity, which is backed by the wealthy Koch brothers. Reported by SeattlePI.com 15 hours ago.

At 100 Days, Why Do Most Of Trump's Voters Still Love Him?

0
0
One hundred days in, why do most of his voters still love Trump? It might not be what you think.

A recent poll showed 96% of Trump supporters have no regrets about their votes. As always, it is still a minority of Americans. But after all of the miss-steps, and outright lies of the first 100 days, that leaves many other Americans mystified. Is there anything progressives can do to chip away at his seemingly solid base?

Politics is more like a love affair with the voters than an exercise in convincing some economic theorist’s “rational decision maker” to make calculations about the benefits and negatives of a candidate or leader. People don’t tote up all of the ways a candidate will benefit them or hurt them on lists and weigh the calculation, any more than a lover makes a list of the pros and cons of the subject of his or her affection.

There are some very biological reasons why people fall into “lust.” But falling in love is different.

You don’t fall in love with someone because you have such a high opinion of all his or her personal qualities, or their skills or their brilliant mind or their body. When you fall in love, it is more than anything else because you feel good about yourself in the presence of the other person. It is because your lover makes you feel special, empowered – because he or she pays attention – to you.

The same is true in politics. People become committed to leaders who make them feel good about themselves – who make them feel strong and respected – empowered and cared about.

It’s not about their policy agenda, or their great abilities, or their political skill. All of these might contribute to the feeling we have about our relationship with them, but the feeling itself is the central matter at issue.


People become committed to leaders who make them feel good about themselves – who make them feel strong and respected...

Just like in a love affair, we want to feel that the leader is unconditionally on our side; that he or she really likes us for who we are; that the leader respects us – believes that we’re important, that we matter. We want to feel that the other person empowers us to be more than we would otherwise be.

Competence matters, but it matters in exactly the same way it does in a personal relationship. We want to believe not only that the leader is unconditionally on our side, but that we can trust him or her to have the competency to take care of us – to keep us safe – to actually find a way to be there for us when we need her.

Inspiration functions exactly the same way.

When we say that a leader inspires us, we mean something very specific. The feeling of inspiration has two components. First, the leader makes us feel that we are part of a cause that is bigger than ourselves. But second, he or she also makes us believe that each of us, personally, can play a significant role in achieving that larger goal or mission. In other words, we are not inspired by someone because of his or her qualities. We are inspired because of how he or she makes us feel about ourselves. We are not inspired because we think that the leader is “important,” but because the leader gives us a sense that we are important. The inspirational leader gives us meaning.

Donald Trump courted his base. Before Donald Trump, many of his base voters felt they had been left behind by the global economy – ignored and cast aside by political leaders. Some felt they had been ridiculed as bumpkins or rednecks.

Donald Trump didn’t just make them feel that he cared. He made them feel that they mattered. He gave them a sense of empowerment. Some of it was good old fashion racism. But it was more than that. At his rallies he made his base voters feel good about themselves. He gave them a sense of agency.

Of course, Donald Trump was a great con man. He didn’t really love ordinary working people. He was not unconditionally on their side. He could not be trusted to keep them safe. It’s not too big a stretch to say that he showered his attentions on them, he seduced them, he married them – for their money.

He may come home at night with flowers. He may look them in their eyes and whisper sweet nothings into their ears. But every day he goes out and gallivants around with his true lovers: the billionaires who – like himself – want to con them out of their already shrinking assets.


Donald Trump didn’t just make them feel that he cared. He made them feel that they mattered.

His base voters should have remembered what all of their mothers had told them: don’t marry someone you want to reform. He cheated on them from the first day – the same way he cheated years earlier on the students he defrauded at Trump University.

He proposes eliminating health insurance coverage from 24 million Americans – many of whom voted to support him – so he can give $600 billion in tax breaks to himself and the billionaire elite.

He proposes cutting taxes for big corporations and the wealthy – because he says, it will create jobs for you, “my love.” Of course there is no empirical evidence whatsoever that cutting taxes for the rich creates new jobs, or new tax revenue. In fact, we tried trickle-down economics during the Bush years and it ended producing stagnation and ultimately the Great Recession that cost 8 million jobs. Tax cuts for big corporations and the wealthy have always had only one result: they make the rich, richer – every time.

Trump rails about companies that outsource jobs abroad. But all the while his firm has outsourced the production of clothing and furniture and even steel.

When Donald Trump wants to socialize, he doesn’t go to a VFW hall or the corner tavern – he goes to his exclusive private club at Mar-a-Lago.When Donald Trump selects decision-makers for his cabinet or to staff his White House, he doesn’t turn to those who work to advance the interests of workers or organizes unions that allow ordinary people to bargain together with the boss for better wages and working conditions. He turns to his true loves – millionaires and billionaires.

So why are all of those ordinary voters who fell in love with Trump sticking with him?

For the same reason lovers of all stripes ignore the fatal flaws in the subject of their affections for a long time before they decide to break it off. They are invested. He still comes home and tells them – with enormous sincerity – just how much he loves them – how much they matter.

You can’t really tell someone that his or her spouse is a complete jerk. People have to find out for themselves.

And before long, many Trump supporters – especially those who supported Barack Obama in 2008 or 2012 – will inevitably begin to have second thoughts.

Their ardor will cool. And even if they don’t completely abandon him, they’ll become disillusioned. In fact, many won’t be chomping at the bit to go out to vote for GOP members of Congress who supported his program in 2018.

And in 2018, Democrats and progressives will have something else going for them. All of the vast majority of Americans who never fell in love with Trump will be fired up like never before.

But what about those working-class Trump supporters? What can we do to speed the process of disillusionment along? How can we help them see Trump’s true colors sooner rather than later?

Three things are key:
· We can continuously point out the contradictions between his ardent testimony about how much he cares about ordinary people and his actual actions and policies.· We can offer bold, compelling initiatives that actually do address the interests of ordinary people: more taxes on the rich, not less; a public option that guarantees an affordable health care alternative to all Americans who need it; stronger unions to negotiate higher wages and better working conditions for ordinary workers; breaking up the biggest banks – rather than eliminating the restrictions that are intended to prevent their excesses from once again sinking the economy; a real bold public infrastructure program to create jobs and create value for us all, rather than subsidies for companies who build private infrastructure for themselves.· Most importantly, we must respect and pay attention to the needs and interests of all ordinary Americans – not just the big campaign donors and the coastal elites. Respect is the key. We have to show them everyday that we will do battle for miners’ pensions; that we insist that our society spends as much educating the kids of rural and urban parents as we do educating the kids of families in upscale suburbs; that we are completely devoted to the idea that everyone should have a job that allows them to really contribute to our society and to build an economically secure future for their family – everyone.
If we do those things, we can be confident that by 2018 a portion of those Trump supporters will be “former” Trump supporters – and for many others, the heat of Trump passion will have faded into the cold morning light.

And for some – hell hath no fury like a voter scorned.

Robert Creamer is a long-time political organizer and strategist, and author of the book: Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, available on Amazon.com. He is a partner in Democracy Partners. Follow him on Twitter @rbcreamer.type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related... + articlesList=5900b9fbe4b0768c2682e1d2,5900d071e4b081a5c0f9f901,58fe25ace4b00fa7de1659e5,586fdb8fe4b043ad97e33ae8

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.

Mark Farrah Associates Assessed Year-Over-Year Annual Health Insurance Enrollment Trends

0
0
Mark Farrah Associates Assessed Year-Over-Year Annual Health Insurance Enrollment Trends MCMURRAY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mark Farrah Associates analyzed the latest year-over-year enrollment trends, comparing 4th quarter 2015 with 4th quarter 2016 segment membership. Reported by Business Wire 9 hours ago.

Cecile Richards To Ivanka Trump: 'Words Don't Matter. Women Want To See Action.'

0
0
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards has some strong words for Ivanka Trump. 

In an interview with Cosmopolitan published Wednesday, Richards discussed the president’s first 100 days in office and how the country needs to hold the first daughter accountable for her actions (or lack thereof) on women’s issues. 

When asked if Trump has shown any signs of being an ally to women, Richards did not mince words. As one of the highest-ranking women in the White House, Richards said, Trump has a responsibility to the women of the U.S. that she’s now quite literally working for as an employee of the federal government. 

“Her portfolio is women’s issues ― or, it includes all women’s issues. So this is her job,” Richards told Cosmopolitan. “And for the first three months of this administration, women have seen an unrelenting attack on every fundamental right that we’ve achieved, and particularly that we’ve achieved over the last eight years in getting equity and health care access.”

Richards said that when it comes to working in the White House, words don’t matter ― actions do. 

“What women want to see is what’s the action,” Richards said. “And so [Ivanka] has a lot of responsibility now, and she has a responsibility of women all around this country ― you can’t talk about child care or entrepreneurism and take women off of health care benefits, deny their access to Planned Parenthood, deny their access to maternity benefits, charge them more for health insurance coverage.”

“So, that’s a long way of saying not only Ivanka Trump, but everyone who works for this administration, has a decision to make here about whether they’re going to stand on the side of women and allow women to move forward in this country and this economy, or whether they’re going to roll back years of progress,” she added.

Richards also addressed the news that Trump was booed at a recent summit in Germany after defending her father and telling the crowd that he’s “a tremendous champion” for women and families. 

The fact that Trump is the president’s daughter should be “irrelevant” at this point, the Planned Parenthood president said. 

“She actually works for the federal government. She’s now an employee for all of us. She chose that role. So now, if she’s not comfortable standing up for what she believes in for women, then she perhaps needs to think about that,” Richards said.

“This isn’t a personality thing. Millions of women’s lives are at stake, in this country and around the globe,” she continued. “The first act this president took the first day in office was to repeal maternal and child health benefits for women around the world, to end access to HIV and Zika screening for women. Women around the world are going to be impacted by the decisions that this president has already made, and anyone who works for him and takes a job in this government should be held accountable.” 

The Planned Parenthood president added that without advocating for women, Trump can’t keep his promise to boost our economy ― women are half of the population. 

“President Trump was elected saying he wanted to create jobs and rebuild our economy,” she said. “You cannot do that and leave half of the economy behind and so, fundamentally, his promises to the country are at odds with what they are trying to do to roll back women’s access to health care and opportunities to plan their families.”

Head over to Cosmopolitan to read the full interview. type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related... + articlesList=589a14e1e4b0c1284f28b5ec,58ecdfdfe4b0df7e20456221,58751b8fe4b099cdb0ffb855

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.

How the Revised House GOP Health Bill Could Affect Consumers

0
0
House Republicans are trying to pass a health-insurance overhaul bill, and they may have new momentum from a recently negotiated amendment. Here are some questions and answers about the legislation. Reported by Wall Street Journal 4 hours ago.

Trump goes on raging tweetstorm against Democrats over negotiations to avoid a government shutdown

0
0
Trump goes on raging tweetstorm against Democrats over negotiations to avoid a government shutdown President Donald Trump on Thursday took negotiations over the government shutdown to Twitter.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, Trump attacked Democrats over their requests for the spending bill to prevent a government shutdown.

"I promise to rebuild our military and secure our border," Trump tweeted. "Democrats want to shut down the government. Politics!"

The current funding bill for the federal government expires Friday, and if a spending bill is not passed parts of the federal government will shut down.

Trump highlighted one aspect that would be affected in his tweetstorm.

"As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks - Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!" Trump said.

While Republicans hold a majority in both chambers of Congress, Democrats could filibuster a spending bill in the Senate. One of the biggest hangups in the negotiations has come over Obamacare, the law formally known as the Affordable Care Act.

Democrats have expressed a desire to include funding for Obamacare's cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments in the spending bill. The payments to insurance companies offset the cost of offering lower-cost insurance plans to poorer Americans and help stabilize the insurance market.

Currently, funding for the payments comes from the White House, and Trump has threatened to end them. Most health policy experts agree that if these payments were halted, insurers would abandon Obamacare's insurance exchanges, and many Americans would either lose health insurance or see their costs skyrocket.

Amid the uncertainty from the White House over the payments, Democrats have attempted to lock them in as a congressional appropriation.

Trump, in his tweetstorm, called funding the payments "bailing out insurance companies." He echoed tweets from Wednesday and earlier on Thursday.

Republicans have introduced legislation that would extend government funding through next week to provide negotiations more time.

-*Here's Trump's full tweetstorm:*-



I want to help our miners while the Democrats are blocking their healthcare.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017


 



I promise to rebuild our military and secure our border. Democrats want to shut down the government. Politics!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017


 



What's more important? Rebuilding our military - or bailing out insurance companies? Ask the Democrats.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017


 



Democrats jeopardizing the safety of our troops to bail out their donors from insurance companies. It is time to put #AmericaFirst🇺🇸

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017


 



Democrats used to support border security — now they want illegals to pour through our borders.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017


 



As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks - Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2017


 

*SEE ALSO: Trump says he won't 'give billions' to Democrats in Obamacare funding to avoid a government shutdown*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'Just a loose hunch': Watch Alec Baldwin impersonate Trump and Bill O'Reilly on 'SNL' Reported by Business Insider 7 hours ago.

Cegedim: Organic revenue growth continued to pick up in the first quarter of 2017

0
0
 
 

Press Release

Quarterly financial information at March 31, 2017
IFRS - Regulated information - Not audited

*Cegedim: organic revenue growth continued to pick up in the first quarter of 2017*

· The business model transformation continues, in line with Group expectations
· Like-for-like revenues rose 6.9% in Q1 2017
· FY 2017 targets maintained

*Disclaimer: This press release is available in French and in English. In the event of any difference between the two versions, the original French version takes precedence. This press release may contain inside information. It was sent to Cegedim's authorized distributor on April 27, no earlier than 5:45 pm Paris time. The following terms are defined in the Glossary.*

*Conference CALL on April 27, 2017, at 6:15PM CET*
*FR* : +33 1 70 77 09 41 *USA* : +1 855 402 7761 *UK* : +44 (0)20 3367 9461 *No access code required*
*The webcast is available at the following address:* http://bit.ly/2pVsxZY

*Boulogne-Billancourt, France, April 27, 2017 after the market close*

*Cegedim* *, an innovative technology and services company, posted consolidated Q1 2017 revenues of €113.7 million, up 7.1% on a reported basis and 6.9% like-for-like compared with the same period in 2016.*

The business model transformation initiated in fall 2015 is beginning to pay off, as shown by the increase in like-for-like revenue growth to 6.9% in the first quarter of 2017 after a 5.4% rise in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Like-for-like revenue growth at the Health insurance, HR and e-services division continued at almost the same pace as the 13.0% posted in Q4 2016, at 12.5% in Q1 2017. All of the division's activities contributed to the growth.

The Healthcare professionals division posted a like-for-like decline of 0.9% in Q1 2017. The transformation plan should have a beneficial impact on division revenues starting in Q4 2017.

The execution of the transformation plan, the development of a complete BPO offering, the switch over to SaaS format and recent R&D efforts will enhance customer loyalty, create closer client relationships, simplify operating processes, and strengthen our offerings and geographic positions. As the business model transformation is well under way, we expect to see the full impact of this transformation in 2018.

Part of this growth was related to the BPO business, and these activities will continue to negatively affect Group profitability in 2017.

* Revenue trends by division *

· First quarter 2017

    *First quarter*
In € millions   2017 2016 Chg. LFL Chg. Reported
Health insurance, HR and e-services   68.6 59.7 +12.5% +14.9%
Healthcare professionals   44.0 45.7 (0.9)% (3.6)%
Activities not allocated   1.1 0.8 +32.8% +32.8%
*Cegedim*   *113.7* *106.2* *+6.9%* *+7.1%*

In the first quarter of 2017, Cegedim posted consolidated Group revenues of €113.7 million, up 7.1% on a reported basis. Excluding an unfavorable currency translation effect of 1.3% and a 1.5% boost from acquisitions, revenues rose 6.9%.

The unfavorable currency translation effect of €1.4 million, or 1.5%, was chiefly due to the €1.5 million negative impact of the pound sterling, which represents 11.1% of revenues.

The €1.6 million positive impact from acquisitions, or 1.5%, was due to the acquisition of Futuramedia in France in November 2016.

In like-for-like terms, the Health Insurance, HR and e-services division's revenues rose by 12.5%, whereas the Healthcare professionals division's revenues fell by 0.9%.

* Analysis of business trends by division *

· Health insurance, HR and e-services

*The division's Q1 2017 revenues came to €68.6 million, up 14.9% on a reported basis. The November 2016* *Futuramedia* *acquisition in France made a positive contribution of 2.6%. Currency effects made a negative contribution of 0.2%. Like-for-like revenues rose 12.5% over the period.*
*The* *Health insurance, HR and e-services* *division represented 60.3% of consolidated Group revenues, compared with 56.2% over the same period a year earlier.*

All of the businesses in this division contributed to growth in the first quarter. More specifically:

· Cegedim Insurance Solutions , with its iGestion BPO offering for health insurance companies and mutual insurers, posted double-digit growth on the back of a ramp-up in contracts signed in 2015 and 2016. It continued to post robust growth in the third party payment flow management activity, and generated slight growth in software and services devoted to the personal protection insurance sector despite the impact of transitioning to SaaS format.
· The start of operations with new clients of the digital data exchange platform, Global Information Services , which includes payment platforms, enabled Cegedim e-business to post double-digit growth .
· The start of operations with numerous clients on the Cegedim SRH SaaS platform for human resources management resulted in double-digit revenue growth over the quarter.

· Healthcare professionals

*The division's Q1 2017 revenues came to €44.0 million, down 3.6% on a reported basis. Currency effects made a negative contribution of 2.7%. The impact of the March 1, 2017, acquisition of* *B.B.M. Systems* *in the UK was negligible. Like-for-like revenues fell 0.9% over the period.*
*The* *Healthcare professionals* *division represented 38.7% of consolidated Group revenues, compared with 43.0% over the same period a year earlier*

The decline in first-quarter 2017 revenues was chiefly attributable to:

·          Clients in certain markets, are increasingly turning to cloud-based and SaaS offerings;

·          In the UK another decline in doctor computerization revenues. On the other hand, the market eagerly welcomed the launch of the first products sold in SaaS format.

·           

·          In France, the market welcomed the new Smart Rx offering for French pharmacists. The order book grew but is unlikely to impact revenues before the end of the year.

· In the US, Pulse's business experienced a clear decline owing to a challenging comparison with the previous year, which will continue through end-June owing to the reorganization that began in July 2016.

This decline was partly offset by:

· Double-digit growth in products and services designed for physical therapists and nurses in France.
· Double-digit growth in the financial lease business, Cegelease .

· Activities not allocated

*The division's Q1 2017 revenues came to €1.1 million, up 32.8% on a reported basis and like for like. There were no currency effects and no acquisitions or divestments.*
*The* *Activities not allocated* *division represented 0.9% of consolidated Group revenues, compared with 0.7% over the same period a year earlier.*

This trend reflects a favorable comparison.

* Highlights *

To the best of the company's knowledge, apart from the items cited below, there were no events or changes after the accounts were closed that would materially alter the Group's financial situation.

· Tessi litigation

On February 10, 2017, Cegedim was ordered to pay €4,636,000 to the Tessi company for failing to meet certain obligations with respect to an asset sale made on July 2, 2007.

Cegedim has decided to appeal this decision.

· Euris litigation

Cegedim, jointly with IMS Health, is being sued by Euris for unfair competition. Cegedim has filed a motion claiming that IMS Health should be the sole defendant.

· Partial interest rate hedging

To hedge part of its exposure to euro interest rate fluctuations arising from its RCF, the Group carried out an interest rate swap on February 17, 2017. Under the zero-premium swap agreement, Cegedim receives the 1-month Euribor rate if it exceeds 0%, receives nothing otherwise, and pays a fixed rate of 0.2680%.

· Acquisition of B.B.M. Systems in the UK

On February 23, 2017, Cegedim acquired UK company B.B.M. Systems through its Alliadis Europe Ltd subsidiary. The deal strengthens the Group's expertise in developing cloud-based products for general practitioners.

B.B.M. Systems had 2016 revenues of around €0.7 million and earned a profit. It contributes to the Group's scope of consolidation from March 1, 2017.

· Changes to Cegedim SA's Board of Directors

In keeping with the wishes of BPIFrance, Ms. Anne-Sophie Hérelle has been appointed to replace Ms. Valérie Raoul-Desprez on the Board of Directors. The permanent representative of BPIFrance, is now Ms. Marie Artaud-Dewitte, Deputy Head of Legal Affairs at Bpifrance Investissements. She replaces Ms. Anne-Sophie Hérelle.

* Significant post-closing transactions and events *

To the best of the company's knowledge, there were no events or changes after the accounts were closed that would materially alter the Group's financial situation.

*
*

* Outlook *

Cegedim continues to reinvent itself in 2017, pursuing innovation and investing in the future by transforming its business model. The business model transformation is well under way, so growth momentum is expected to pick up in Q4 2017 and lead to improving profitability in the future.

Cegedim reiterates its expectations for 2017:

· Like-for-like revenue growth between 4.0% and 6.0%.
· EBITDA in a range of €66.0 million to €72.0 million inclusive.

Cegedim expects to see the full positive impact of its investments, reorganization and transformation in 2018.

The Group does not expect any significant acquisitions in 2017 and does not disclose earnings projections or estimates.

· Potential impact of Brexit

In 2016, the UK accounted for 12.7% of consolidated Group revenues and 14.8% of consolidated Group EBIT.

Cegedim deals in local currency in the UK, as it does in every country where it is present. Thus Brexit is unlikely to have a material impact on Group EBIT.

With regard to healthcare policy, the Group has not identified any major European programs at work in the UK and expects UK policy to be only marginally affected by Brexit.

· Quarterly statements

Starting in 2017, Cegedim will publish only half-year and full-year results. It will, however, continue to publish revenues quarterly. The next results will be for the period ending June 30, 2017, and will be announced September 21, 2017, after the market closes.

The figures cited above include guidance on Cegedim's future financial performances. This forward-looking information is based on the opinions and assumptions of the Group's senior management at the time this press release is issued and naturally entails risks and uncertainty. For more information on the risks facing Cegedim , please refer to points 2.4, "Risk factors and insurance", and 3.7, "Outlook", of the 2016 Registration Document filed with the AMF on March 29, 2017, under number D.17-0255.  *
June 15, 2017, * at 9:30 am CET

*July 27, 2017,* after market closing

*September 21, 2017,* after market closing

*September 22, 2017,* at 2:30 pm

*October 26, 2017,* after market closing *
* Shareholders' meeting

Q2 2017 revenues

Half-year 2017 earnings

Analyst meeting (SFAF)

Q3 2017 revenues

* Financial calendar *

*April 27, 2017, at 6:15pm* *(Paris time)*
The Group will hold a conference call hosted by Jan Eryk Umiastowski, Cegedim Chief Investment Officer and Head of Investor Relations.
The webcast is available at the following address: http://bit.ly/2pVsxZY

The first quarter 2017 revenue presentation is available at:

The website:   http://www.cegedim.fr/finance/documentation/Pages/presentations.aspx

The Group's financial communications app, Cegedim IR. To download the app, visit: http://www.cegedim.fr/finance/profil/Pages/CegedimIR.aspx
*Contact numbers* *:* *France:* +33 1 70 77 09 41

*United States:* +1 855 402 7761

*UK and others:* +44 (0)20 3367 9461 *No access code required*

* Additional information *

The Audit Committee met on April 26, 2017. The Board of Directors met on April 27, 2017, and reviewed the Q1 2017 revenue figures. Q1 2017 revenue figures have not been audited by the Statutory Auditor.
 

*
*

*Annexe*

* Breakdown of revenue by quarter and division *

· Year 2017

In € thousands   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Health insurance, HR and e-services   68,606 - - - 68,606  
Healthcare professionals   44,045 - - - 44,045  
Activities not allocated   1,054 - - - 1,054  
*Cegedim*   *113,705* *-* *-* *-* *113,705*  

· Year 2016

In € thousands   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Health insurance, HR and e-services   59,728 64,847 60,607 77,143 262,325  
Healthcare professionals   45,687 43,676 41,459 44,404 175,226  
Activities not allocated   793 778 770 954 3,295  
*Cegedim*   *106,208* *109,301* *102,836* *122,501* *440,846*  

* Breakdown of revenue by geographic zone and division *

· As of March 31, 2017

In € thousands   France EMEA excl. France Americas APAC
Health insurance, HR and e-services   96.9% 3.1% - -
Healthcare professionals   60.8% 30.2% 9.0% -
Activities not allocated   99.1% 0.9% - -
*Cegedim* * * *82.9%* *13.6%* *3.5%* *-*

* Breakdown of revenue by currency and division *

· As of March 31, 2017

In € thousands   Euro USD GBP Others
Health insurance, HR and e-services   96.9% 2.1% - 1.0%
Healthcare professionals   64.6% 25.4% 8.9% 1.0%
Activities not allocated   100.0% - - -
*Cegedim* * * *84.4%* *11.1%* *3.5%* *1.0%*
*Activities not allocated:* This division encompasses the activities the Group performs as the parent company of a listed entity, as well as the support it provides to the three operating divisions.

*BPO (Business Process Outsourcing):* BPO is the contracting of non-core business activities and functions to a third-party provider. Cegedim provides BPO services for human resources, Revenue Cycle Management in the US and management services for insurance companies, provident institutions and mutual insurers.

*Business model transformation:* Cegedim decided in fall 2015 to switch all of its offerings over to SaaS format, to develop a complete BPO offering, and to materially increase its R&D efforts. This is reflected in the Group's revamped business model. The change has altered the Group's revenue recognition and negatively affected short-term profitability

*EPS:* Earnings Per Share is a specific financial indicator defined by the Group as the net profit (loss) for the period divided by the weighted average of the number of shares in circulation.

*Operating expenses:* Operating expenses is defined as purchases used, external expenses and payroll costs.

*Revenue at constant exchange rate:* When changes in revenue at constant exchange rate are referred to, it means that the impact of exchange rate fluctuations has been excluded. The term "at constant exchange rate" covers the fluctuation resulting from applying the exchange rates for the preceding period to the current fiscal year, all other factors remaining equal.

*Revenue on a like-for-like basis:* The effect of changes in scope is corrected by restating the sales for the previous period as follows:
· by removing the portion of sales originating in the entity or the rights acquired for a period identical to the period during which they were held to the current period;
· similarly, when an entity is transferred, the sales for the portion in question in the previous period are eliminated.

*Life-for-like data (L-f-l):* At constant scope and exchange rates.

*Internal growth:* Internal growth covers growth resulting from the development of an existing contract, particularly due to an increase in rates and/or the volumes distributed or processed, new contracts, acquisitions of assets allocated to a contract or a specific project.   *External growth:* External growth covers acquisitions during the current fiscal year, as well as those which have had a partial impact on the previous fiscal year, net of sales of entities and/or assets.

*EBIT:* Earnings Before Interest and Taxes. EBIT corresponds to net revenue minus operating expenses (such as salaries, social charges, materials, energy, research, services, external services, advertising, etc.). It is the operating income for the Cegedim Group.

*EBIT before special items:* This is EBIT restated to take account of non-current items, such as losses on tangible and intangible assets, restructuring, etc. It corresponds to the operating income from recurring operations for the Cegedim Group.

*EBITDA:* Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is the term used when amortization or depreciation and revaluations are not taken into account. "D" stands for depreciation of tangible assets (such as buildings, machines or vehicles), while "A" stands for amortization of intangible assets (such as patents, licenses and goodwill). EBITDA is restated to take account of non-current items, such as losses on tangible and intangible assets, restructuring, etc. It corresponds to the gross operating earnings from recurring operations for the Cegedim Group.

*Adjusted EBITDA :*  Consolidated EBITDA adjusted, for 2016, for the €4.0m of negative impact from impairment of receivables in the Healthcare Professional division

*Net Financial Debt:* This represents the Company's net debt (non-current and current financial debt, bank loans, debt restated at amortized cost and interest on loans) net of cash and cash equivalents and excluding revaluation of debt derivatives.

*Free cash flow:* Free cash flow is cash generated, net of the cash part of the following items: (i) changes in working capital requirements, (ii) transactions on equity (changes in capital, dividends paid and received), (iii) capital expenditure net of transfers, (iv) net financial interest paid and (v) taxes paid.

*EBIT margin:* EBIT margin is defined as the ratio of EBIT/revenue.

*EBIT margin* *before special items:* EBIT margin before special items is defined as the ratio of EBIT before special items/revenue.

*Net cash:* Net cash is defined as cash and cash equivalent minus overdraft.

 

*Glossary*

About Cegedim:

Founded in 1969, Cegedim is an innovative technology and services company in the field of digital data flow management for healthcare ecosystems and B2B, and a business software publisher for healthcare and insurance professionals. Cegedim employs more than 4,000 people in 11 countries and generated revenue of €441 million in 2016. Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).
To learn more, please visit: www.cegedim.com
And follow Cegedim on Twitter: @CegedimGroup

 
*
* *Aude Balleydier*
* Cegedim
* Media Relations
and Communications Manager
Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 68 81
aude.balleydier@cegedim.com *
* *Jan Eryk Umiastowski*
*Cegedim*
Chief Investment Officer
and head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 33 36
janeryk.umiastowski@cegedim.com *
* *Anne Pezet*
*PRPA Agency*

 

Media Relations
Tel.: +33 (0)1 46 99 69 69
anne.pezet@prpa.fr

Cegedim_TO_1Q2017
--------------------This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Cegedim SA via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2099875 Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.

Trump finds that CEO-as-president isn't always a natural fit

0
0
Yet 100 days into Trump's presidency, the businessman-as-president has struggled to apply his experience as a real estate and entertainment mogul to the Herculean task of governing the world's most powerful nation. Asked to assess his tenure so far, management experts point to a stream of missteps that run counter to the clarity, discipline and consistency of message typical of the best executives. Blustery speeches have given way to fuzzy policies that have weakened the president's negotiating hand on such complex challenges as revamping taxes and health insurance. Having failed to pass any major legislation, Trump has instead resorted to signing a torrent of executive orders — an impulse more typical of a manager directing subordinates than a president building partnerships. Several of the executive orders are merely requests for studies — on financial regulations, environmental rules and trade policies. [...] in business you're actually better off without it. Trump, of course, needs support from Congress' independently elected lawmakers to pass laws and from foreign leaders to forge global alliances — responsibilities that can be more delicate than negotiating with business partners who stand to profit from cutting a deal. Since becoming president, Trump has retreated from some of his audacious campaign promises. Reported by SeattlePI.com 5 hours ago.

An Insurance CEO Explains The Dangerous Game Trump Is Playing With Obamacare

0
0
President Donald Trump has been threatening to stop making payments to health insurance companies that cover low-income people under Obamacare. Doing so would seriously jeopardize the entire insurance market in ways that could be felt immediately by poor households and the insurers that provide their health benefits.

Although the Trump administration said on Wednesday it wouldn’t cut off these funds ― called cost-sharing reduction payments or CSRs ― immediately, the president still sees them as a cudgel to use against Democrats in Congress. Trump believes the public will blame the party that created Obamacare if he seriously damages the health insurance system, rather than him and his Republican Party.

It’s an enormously complex policy and business issue with the potential for devastating consequences.

The problem dates back three years to a lawsuit House Republicans filed against President Barack Obama’s administration, challenging the legality of the way the federal government paid insurers with low-income customers. Last year, Obama lost that lawsuit and appealed, and the funding remains in jeopardy because Congress hasn’t authorized the spending in the meantime. More than 7 million people ― 58 percent of Obamacare enrollees ― received these subsidies this year.

To help readers better understand what this all means and why it matters, HuffPost interviewed Mario Molina, a physician and the CEO of Molina Healthcare, an insurance company that has more than 1 million customers in nine states with policies from the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. The following is a transcript of that conversation.*This stuff is complicated. Can you to explain to a layperson what these cost-sharing reduction payments are and why they’re important?*

*Molina:* The cost-sharing reductions are payments that are made to health plans to help cover copays and deductibles for low-income patients who get their health insurance through the exchange. And the way it works is that, let’s say you have a $50 copay. Depending on your income, it may be reduced to $15 with the health plan picking up the balance, which then gets paid to the doctor or the provider that you’re seeing.

The plan is paid by the government, and then any money that is not used for copays and deductibles we must then return. So it’s really not a premium payment so much as it is a reimbursement for subsidies that reduce the out-of-pocket costs to the insured individual.

*Why are we talking about this? What’s the problem right now? Why is there a question about whether these payments are going to be made?*

The first issue is that many people with low-to-moderate incomes rely on these to help make their insurance more affordable. One of the things that Americans have complained about is the high cost of the copays and deductibles in this program. So this is designed to help them to be able to access doctors in a way that’s more affordable.

The reason that we’re talking about it and why the funding is in question is that there’s an argument between the administration ― the Obama administration, it started out with ― and the Republicans in Congress as to how it would be paid for. The Obama administration felt that it was built into their budget. Congress thought that it was not. So there’s a fight.

It’s a little bit like if I hired someone to paint my house, and then my wife and I argued about who’s going to write the check: Is it coming out of my account or her account? We still owe the painter the money. He did the work. But we’re arguing about whose bank account this is going to come out of. That’s the issue right now.

So we’re looking for Congress to acknowledge that they’re going to pay for it and to fund the program. Right now, the administration continues to pay for it while this is in dispute.


This could result in millions of Americans losing their insurance coverage this year.
Mario Molina, CEO of Molina Healthcare
*What happens immediately if the administration halts these payments or drops the appeal of the lawsuit that the previous administration lost on this question?*

Many people in the insurance industry believe that if the government doesn’t fund this and doesn’t pay the insurance plans, that they will have breached their contract with the insurance plans, and this could result in millions of Americans losing their insurance coverage this year.

*What are the bigger, longer-term implications for the entire individual health insurance market ― both for the exchanges and people who buy directly ― if these payments go away, starting with 2018’s market?*

The Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated that, without these cost-sharing reductions, premiums will rise by an average of about 20 percent. [Note: The estimate is 19 percent.] So health care will be more expensive in 2018, and many of the insurance companies will drop out because of the uncertainty about the program. Beneficiaries or people seeking insurance could find fewer choices, higher costs ― all because Congress did not fund the program.

*How is your company preparing for these eventualities in this climate of uncertainty for what you may do next year, and are there ways the end of these payments would affect Molina differently from other health insurance companies?*

What we’re doing to prepare for next year is to develop our premium rates. And we really have to look at this two ways. One is if the CSR is funded and one if it is not. The second question is: Do we even stay in the program at all? And if they’re not funded for 2017, I imagine that we’ll drop out of the program altogether.

It affects all companies, some maybe to a greater extent than others, depending on how many of your members are getting these subsidies. For us, it’s over 70 percent. For some companies, it may be as high as 90 percent. So, the greater the percentage of your members who get these subsidies, the bigger the impact it will be on your health plan. And for us, we simply couldn’t sustain the losses. For us, it would be losses of hundreds of millions of dollars without these payments.


Beneficiaries or people seeking insurance could find fewer choices, higher costs ― all because Congress did not fund the program.
Mario Molina, CEO of Molina Healthcare
*At this moment, what is your message to the administration and to the Congress about what they should do and when?*

My advice to the president and to the Congress is that they should fund the CSRs, which they’re currently paying anyway, for 2017 and 2018 to create stability in the individual insurance market. This will allow them time to come up with some rational changes to the Affordable Care Act to make it more sustainable for the long term. What they really need to do, though, is to buy themselves some time and some stability to have a bipartisan debate about what should be done about the insurance market in the United States.

*What happens next, and what will you be looking for in the very near term, in the coming weeks or couple of months?*

*Molina:* In the coming weeks, I think the most important priority is to fund these cost-sharing reductions to make sure that people who rely on them continue to have access to health insurance.

Longer term, I think that the country needs to address the high cost of health care, which is what drives the high cost of insurance. We often hear that the ACA and the individual market is failing. It’s not. And if the funding continues, I think that it will do well in 2017 and 2018. But Congress needs to ensure that the funding is there.

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

* Politics hurt too much? Sign up for HuffPost Hill, a humorous evening roundup featuring scoops from HuffPost’s reporting team and juicy miscellanea from around the web.*

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

Here's what doctors think about the updated Obamacare replacement plan

0
0
Here's what doctors think about the updated Obamacare replacement plan It looks like House Republicans' Obamacare replacement plan is getting another shot. 

On Wednesday, the conservative House Freedom Caucus came on board with the latest version of the American Health Care Act, the bill that aims to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The group originally did not support the bill. 

The bill now includes a new addition, called the MacArthur amendment. The amendment would allow states to receive waivers to avoid some of the regulations set up under the ACA.

When the original AHCA debuted, more than half a dozen doctors' organizations, hospital groups, and patient advocacy groups expressed their concerns with the bill. Now, with the new amendment, some organizations are speaking out again. 

*SEE ALSO: Trump just scored a big win with the conservatives who killed his healthcare bill*

*DON'T MISS: Republicans have a new plan to repeal Obamacare — and it may bring them closer to passing 'Trumpcare'*

-American Medical Association — "Nothing in the MacArthur amendment remedies the shortcomings of the underlying bill."-

The biggest group of doctors in the US doubled down on its opposition to the AHCA. 

"We are deeply concerned that the AHCA would result in millions of Americans losing their current health insurance coverage. Nothing in the MacArthur amendment remedies the shortcomings of the underlying bill," the AMA said in a letter to Congress on Thursday.

The organization previously said it wouldn't support the bill's plans to roll back Medicaid expansion or the repeal of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which helps fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Regarding the new amendment, the AMA's concerns centered around individuals who have preexisting conditions, who might find their healthcare coverage unaffordable. 

Here's the full letter.-American Nurses Association — "The new bill is an even further departure from our principles."-

The American Nurses Association originally opposed the bill, in part because of the rollback on Medicaid expansion and the defunding of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. 

"In its current form, the bill changes Medicaid to a per capita cap funding model, eliminates the Prevention and Public Health Fund, restricts millions of women from access to critical health services, and repeals income based subsidies that millions of people rely on. These changes in no way will improve care for the American people," the organization wrote in a letter March letter.

The group's president tweeted on Thursday, calling the bill "worse than before." 

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/857619718764716033
The new bill is an even further departure from our principles; endangers consumer protections put into place by the ACA #ProtectOurCare pic.twitter.com/UXB94Gdlps

 -American College of Physicians — "We continue to urge that Congress move away from the fundamentally flawed and harmful policies that would result from the American Health Care Act."-

The organization, which represents 148,000 internal-medicine physicians and medical students, sent another letter in opposition to the bill.

The College strongly believes in the first, do no harm principle," the organization wrote in a letter Monday. "Therefore, we continue to urge that Congress move away from the fundamentally flawed and harmful policies that would result from the American Health Care Act and from the changes under consideration—including the proposed 'Limited Waiver' amendment—that would make the bill even worse for patients."

When the AHCA was originally released, the ACP had worried that those with preexisting conditions, while still technically covered, may not be able to afford coverage under the AHCA.

"We urge you to oppose the American Health Care Act because it would weaken key gains in coverage and consumer protections and lead to fewer people having access to affordable coverage," Dr. Nitin Damle, the ACP president, wrote in a letter to Congress at the time.

 
See the rest of the story at Business Insider Reported by Business Insider 3 hours ago.

Covered California premiums could soar if feds stop enforcing ACA

0
0
Premiums for health plans sold on Covered California, the insurance exchange created under the Affordable Care Act, could spike nearly 50 percent if the federal government stops enforcing two of the law’s key provisions that have been put in question under Pres. Trump, according to a new analysis by Covered California and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The projected increase would apply to all health plans in California’s individual insurance market, which includes 1.3 million people who buy plans through Covered California as well as 1.1 million people who buy plans directly from insurers outside of the exchange. The analysis, released Thursday, found that if the federal government stops enforcing the individual mandate to buy insurance and halts the payment of cost-sharing subsidies — a $7 billion stream of money that currently goes to insurers to lower co-pays and deductibles for poor Americans — premiums on the state exchange would rise between 28 percent and 49 percent in 2018. The study also found that up to 350,000 Californians would no longer buy insurance if the federal government stopped enforcing the two provisions. Enforcement of the individual mandate, which requires people to buy health insurance or face a tax penalty, has been loosened. Insurance companies, which in California face a May 1 deadline to notify regulators about their plans and rates for 2018, need more long-term assurance that the payments will continue, said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. Molina went a step further Thursday, saying in a letter to congressional leaders that the company would immediately exit all state health insurance exchanges if the subsidies are not funded. Reported by SFGate 3 hours ago.

Retailers and insurers get taxed more, tech less

0
0
Retailers, utilities, health insurance companies have relatively high tax bills for those reasons, while technology companies, pharmaceuticals makers and energy companies can make a lot more money in other countries. Prescription drug distributor AmerisourceBergen is also entirely U.S.-based, and it had a tax rate that topped 50 percent over that period, but Gilead Sciences, a biotech drug manufacturer that gets a lot of revenue from other countries, paid less than half that much. JPMorgan calculates that most corporations pay a rate closer to 20 percent because of a wide variety of tax credits, tax reduction strategies, and those lower taxes on earnings from outside the U.S. The Trump administration is proposing cutting the top corporate tax rate to 15 percent, and it wants a "territorial" system where only profits made in the U.S. are taxed. Because of the higher tax rates in the U.S., companies are motivated to say as much of their income is made outside the country as possible. If those companies pay a one-time tax on all of those earnings and then don't have to pay U.S. taxes on the money they make overseas in the future, they could invest in their businesses by buying more equipment, return money to investors by buying more stock and paying bigger dividends, or acquiring other companies. Reported by SeattlePI.com 2 hours ago.

eHealth, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2017 Results

0
0
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH), the nation’s first and largest private health insurance exchange, announced today its financial results for the first quarter of 2017. Scott Flanders, chief executive officer of eHealth stated, "Our first quarter results demonstrate the significant revenue and earnings generation potential of our Medicare business as well the operating and financial leverage inherent in our individual and family plan business, which continues Reported by Business Wire 2 hours ago.

Medical Professionals, Health Plans and Business Leaders Issue Statement Regarding Cost Sharing Reduction Payments for Health Care Consumers

0
0
Medical Professionals, Health Plans and Business Leaders Issue Statement Regarding Cost Sharing Reduction Payments for Health Care Consumers WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--America’s Health Insurance Plans, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Benefits Council, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federation of American Hospitals, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce together issued the following statement in response to recent remarks made by Congressional leaders and the Administration on cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments, which go for the direct benefit of health car Reported by Business Wire 2 hours ago.
Viewing all 22794 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images