CO.DON AG: Capital increase without subscription rights planned

August 30, 2017, 5:16 am

≫ Next: Discovery MSP Validation Solution Achieves $200M in Premium Restorations for Health Plan Clients

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DGAP-News: CO.DON AG / Key word(s): Capital Increase

30.08.2017 / 14:09
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------

*CO.DON AG - Capital increase without subscription rights planned*

Berlin / Teltow, 30 August 2017 - On 30 August 2017 the Executive Board of CO.DON AG, Teltow, voted to increase the company's share capital by up to 10% by issuing new shares from Authorised Capital for subscription in cash. The resolution is still subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board. The share issue will exclude shareholders' subscription rights in accordance with section 186 para. 3 sentence 4 Stock Corporation Act.

Dirk Hessel, CEO of co.don AG: "In July 2017 we obtained EU marketing authorisation for our autologous human pharmaceutical product to treat degenerative and traumatic cartilage defects in the knee, so achieving CO.DON AG's primary strategic objective. This milestone is of crucial importance for our company - the stage is now set: in the multi-million euro market segment to which we now have access we are currently the only authorised cell-based pharmaceutical, and it is likely to stay that way for several years. The additional funds are to be used partly to accelerate the launch of our new EMA-approved product Spherox in other European countries, in order to seize this opportunity to address the market quickly and across the board. We are also planning further ahead: to continue our dynamic growth trend we are looking at markets outside the European economic area. This capital increase will be the first step towards building a modular production facility that can be scaled up at any time."

*About CO.DON AG:* CO.DON AG develops, produces and markets in Germany autologous cell therapies for the minimally invasive repair of cartilage damage in joints following traumatic or degenerative defects. CO.DON condrosphere is a cell therapy product that uses only the patient's own cartilage cells ("autologous chondrocytes"). CO.DON condrosphere has been used for more than 10 years in over 150 clinics to treat more than 11,000 patients. In Germany the statutory health insurance companies have paid for the treatment of knee and hip joints since 2007 and for the treatment of vertebral joints since 2008. In July 2017 the company received EU marketing authorisation for its articular cartilage product, which is to be distributed under the name of Spherox. The shares in CO.DON AG are listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A1K0227). Executive Board: Dirk Hessel (CEO), Ralf M. Jakobs (CFO).

More information can be found at www.ihre-zellzuechter.de or www.codon.de

Investor Relations and Press Contact:
Matthias Meißner, M.A.
Corporate communications / IR / PR
Tel. +49 (0)30 240352330
Fax +49 (0)30 240352309
Email: ir@codon.de
--------------------

30.08.2017 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------

Language: English
Company: CO.DON AG
Warthestraße 21
14513 Teltow
Germany
Phone: 03328 43460
Fax: 03328 434643
E-mail: info@codon.de
Internet: www.codon.de
ISIN: DE000A1K0227
WKN: A1K022
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (General Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange

End of News DGAP News Service Reported by EQS Group 11 hours ago.

↧

Discovery MSP Validation Solution Achieves $200M in Premium Restorations for Health Plan Clients

August 30, 2017, 11:41 am

≫ Next: To Sen. Sanders: We Cannot Begin From A Position Of Compromise – OpEd

≪ Previous: CO.DON AG: Capital increase without subscription rights planned

Milestone reflects accelerating momentum in new client growth

Itasca, IL (PRWEB) August 30, 2017

LaunchPoint division Discovery Health Partners, a provider of payment and revenue integrity solutions for healthcare payers, has restored a record $200M in premium for its health plan clients through its MSP Validation solution. Honored two years in a row as a top 100 finalist in the Chicago Innovation Awards, MSP Validation helps Medicare Advantage plans recoup millions of dollars to their bottom lines by ensuring the accuracy of healthcare premiums paid by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for members with other health insurance.

“We can deliver significant premium restoration in a matter of months, which is continuing to drive strong interest in MSP Validation among health plans,” said Paul Vosters, Discovery president. “Few payment or revenue integrity solutions can boast of such a fast ROI,” he added. Discovery added five new clients in Q2 of 2017, covering in sum 346,000 Medicare Advantage members. New clients include such highly respected health plans as Tufts Health Plan, Geisinger Health Plan, and UCare. More than a dozen new MSP Validation clients have joined the Discovery client roster since the first of the year.

MSP Validation includes the analysis of open MSP records, validation of primacy, ECRS submissions, response monitoring, and premium reconciliation. The solution is typically delivered as an outsourced business process with Discovery experts managing the entire process on behalf of the client. It is often provided as a supplemental offering that complements clients’ existing efforts to help restore more. Clients can also subscribe to the service as cloud-based software to manage the MSP process in-house, with their own staff. Many choose to take over ongoing maintenance after Discovery manages the initial restoration effort.

About Discovery Health Partners

Discovery Health Partners, a division of LaunchPoint, offers payment and revenue integrity solutions that help health payers improve revenue, avoid costs, and enhance the member experience. We offer a unique combination of deep healthcare expertise and analytics-powered technology solutions to help our clients improve operational efficiency, achieve financial integrity, and generate measurable results. More information is available at http://www.discoveryhealthpartners.com.

# # # Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.

↧

To Sen. Sanders: We Cannot Begin From A Position Of Compromise – OpEd

August 30, 2017, 12:30 pm

≫ Next: Trump Administration Wants to Stabilize Health Markets but Won’t Say How

≪ Previous: Discovery MSP Validation Solution Achieves $200M in Premium Restorations for Health Plan Clients

At the start of the August congressional recess, Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he will introduce a senate bill this September “to expand Medicare to cover all Americans.” Since the election, the movement for improved Medicare for all, has been urging Sanders to introduce a companion to John Conyers’ HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, which currently has a record 117 co-sponsors in the House and is considered the gold standard by the movement.

Recent reports are that Sanders’ bill falls far short of HR 676 in fundamental ways. In fact, Sanders’ bill is a multi-payer system not a single payer system. His bill reportedly would allow private insurers to compete with the public system, allow the wealthy to buy their way out of the public system and allow investor-owned health facilities to continue to profit while providing more expensive and lower quality health care.

As a leader in the Democratic Party in the Senate, Sanders is trying to walk the line between listening to the concerns of his constituency, which overwhelmingly favors single payer health care, and protecting his fellow Democrats, whose campaigns are financed by the medical industrial complex. Sanders needs to side with the movement not those who profit from overly expensive US health care.

Today, August 30, Health Over Profit for Everyone steering committee members and supporters sent the letter at the end of this article to Senator Sanders raising specific concerns and urging Senator Sanders to amend his bill before it is introduced.

**There are two realities**

It has become the practice in Washington, DC to offer weak bills, which fail to address the roots of the crises we face, to make them ‘politically feasible’. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an example of this. It was a compromise with the health insurance, pharmaceutical and private hospital industries from the start – an attempt to appease them with public dollars in exchange for greater access to care. The ACA was built on a foundation of private industry even though the priorities of those industries are profit for a few, not health for everyone. That faulty foundation has perpetuated the healthcare crisis – tens of millions without health insurance, tens of millions more who have health insurance but can’t afford health care and poor health outcomes including tens of thousands of deaths each year.

There are two realities that must be considered. The healthcare crisis will not end until a system is put in place that guarantees universal comprehensive and affordable healthcare coverage through National Improved Medicare for All or another form of single payer system such as a national health service. That is what we call the ‘real reality’, and it simply won’t change until there are real changes in policy that solve it. The political reality of what is ‘politically feasible’ is the other reality. This reality will change as people organize and mobilize to demand what they need. Politicians change their positions when they believe it is necessary to maintain their position of power. It is the task of movements to change what is politically feasible.

The movement for National Improved Medicare for All has been working for decades to educate, organize and mobilize the public to change the political reality. And it is working. There is broad public support for Improved Medicare for All and legislation in the House that articulates the demands of the movement. What is needed now is a companion bill in the Senate that is as strong as HR 676. Once that is introduced, activists will work to secure support for it.

Sanders has it backwards. Rather than starting from a position of strong legislation and building support for it, he is starting from a position of weak legislation that he considers to be more politically feasible. By doing so, he is losing the support of the movement that he needs to pass expanded and improved Medicare for all.

**Activists versus legislators**

This is where it is important to recognize the difference between activists and legislators. Activists and legislators have different priorities. Activists work to solve crises. Their dedication is to an issue. Legislators work to maintain their position, whether it is re-election, seats on committees, good standing with other legislators or continued funding from Wall Street or other wealthy interests. Legislators compromise when they believe it is in their personal best interest. Activists can only compromise when it is in the interest of solving the crisis they face.

To win National Improved Medicare for All, activists need to follow the principles outlined in I.C.U.:

The “I” stands for independence. Activists must keep their allegiance to their issue independent of the agenda of legislators and political parties. The goal is to solve the healthcare crisis, and politicians from both major parties will need to be pressured to support Improved Medicare for All. Remember, the movement is going against the interests of the big money industries that finance members of Congress.

The “C” stands for clarity. Legislators will attempt to throw the movement off track by claiming that there are ‘back doors’ to our goal or smaller incremental steps that are more ‘politically feasible’. They will use language that sounds like it is in alignment with the goals of the movement even though the policies they promote are insufficient or opposed to the goals of the movement. This is happening right now in the movement for Improved Medicare for All. Numerous people, who consider themselves to be progressive but who are connected to the Democratic Party, are writing articles to convince single payer supporters to ask for less.

And the “U” stands for uncompromising. Gandhi is quoted as saying that one cannot compromise on fundamentals because it is all give and no take. When it comes to the healthcare crisis, the smallest incremental step is National Improved Medicare for All. That will create the system and the cost savings needed to provide universal comprehensive coverage. Throughout history, every movement for social transformation has been told that it is asking for too much. When the single payer movement is told that it must compromise, that is no different. The movement is demanding a proven solution to the healthcare crisis, and anything less will not work.

The momentum is on the side of the movement for National Improved Medicare for All. Act now to push Sanders to amend his bill so that it matches HR 676. Sign and share the petition tool, and read the letter below to understand the concerns about Sanders’ bill.

*********

Dear Senator Sanders,

For almost fifteen years the movement for National Improved Medicare for All has organized around HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, introduced each session since 2003 by Congressman John Conyers. As you know, HR 676 has 117 co-sponsors so far this year. This legislation is considered by the movement to be the gold standard framework for a universal healthcare system in the United States.

We appreciate your support for Improved Medicare for All and the work that you have done to elevate the national dialogue on Improved Medicare for All. We hope to continue to work with you to make this a reality in the near future.

To that end, we are writing to share our concerns about the legislation that you are planning to introduce. These concerns are based on what we have learned about your legislation without having the benefit of reading a draft of it.

In order to maintain the cohesion and strength of the movement for Improved Medicare for All, the legislation in the senate must be in alignment with HR 676. This is important so that the movement is unified and so that the process begins from a position of asking for what we want and need, rather than starting from a position of compromise. It is the task of the movement to build political support for the legislation in Congress.

*Here is a list of our concerns:*

1. *We oppose the inclusion of copayments and deductibles in an Improved Medicare for All bill.*

As outlined in the recent letter to you from Physicians for a National Health Program, including copayments adds administrative complexity and creates a barrier to care, which leads to delay or avoidance of necessary care. Economic analyses indicate that the administrative and other savings inherent in a well-planned single payer system offset the added expense of eliminating copayments and deductibles. HR 676 does not include copayments. The movement for Improved Medicare for All has coalesced around the elimination of these financial barriers to care.

1. *We support a rapid transition to National Improved Medicare for All.* The Medicare system was implemented within a year of passage without using computers. Unlike when Medicare became law, the United States now has basic infrastructure in place for a national health insurance based on Medicare. We urge you to utilize the timeline in HR 676, which would start the universal system in less than two years, rather than delaying or phasing it in by age group over time. Beginning with a universal system allows savings and cost controls that can be used to provide comprehensive benefits without cost sharing.
2. *We support a single payer healthcare system.* We understand that your legislation will allow employers to continue to provide employee health insurance that duplicates what the national health insurance covers to avoid conflict with the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA). We urge you to include a carve out of ERISA for national health insurance so that the new system is a single payer system. Without doing so, your bill will be a multi-payer system. This is required to achieve administrative simplicity and significant cost savings. HR 676 allows private insurance that does not duplicate the benefits of the system. Employers and unions would be able to provide extra benefits beyond what the system covers.
3. *We support a universal system.* We understand that your legislation will allow health providers to opt out of the national health insurance system. This would create a parallel health system for the wealthy and undermine the quality of the public system. Universal systems are of higher quality than tiered systems because they create a social solidarity in which everyone has an interest in making the system the best it can be. We urge you to reject a tiered healthcare system as healthcare is a human right and should not be based on wealth.
4. *We oppose inclusion of investor-owned health facilities. *Investor-owned health facilities treat health care, which is a necessary public service, as a commodity for profit. These facilities have an incentive to cut corners, under and over treat and charge higher prices. The result is higher cost and lower quality. We urge you to reject profiteering in the healthcare system so that the bottom line is improving the health of our population, not profits for Wall Street.

The above concerns are based on what we know about your legislation at present. We do not know if they are warranted because we have not read the text. Upon reading it, there may be additional concerns.

We hope that you will share the draft text of your legislation with us and address the above concerns before it is introduced. Our support for your Improved Medicare for All legislation will depend upon whether or not it will serve as a companion to HR 676. If it is, we are ready to work in our states to build political support for it. If the above concerns are not addressed, then your bill will not be a single payer Improved Medicare for All bill and we believe it will undermine the movement for HR 676.

We recognize that legislators tend to compromise from the start to build political support for legislation. This has served as a failed strategy because the final legislation is too weak to accomplish its goals. We suggest a different approach of beginning from a position of what is required to solve the healthcare crisis. We have organized for too long to concede from the start on these fundamental principles.

Signed,

Vanessa Beck, Health Over Profit for Everyone Steering Committee

Claudia Chaufan, MD, California Physicians for a National Health Program*

Andy Coates, MD, past president, Physicians for a National Health Program*

Dena Draskovich, Leader of Indivisible Omaha and disabled citizen*

Margaret Flowers, MD, director of Health Over Profit for Everyone

Leslie Hartley Gise MD, Clinical Professor Psychiatry, University of Hawai’i*

Leigh Haynes, People’s Health Movement-USA*

Joseph Q Jarvis MD MSPH, Utah*

Stephen B. Kemble, MD, Physicians for a National Health Program advisory board, past president of Hawaii Medical Association*

Edgar A Lopez MD, FACS, member, Physicians for a National Health Program, Kentuckians for Single Payer*

Ethel Long-Scott, Women’s Economic Agenda Project (WEAP)*

Eric Naumburg, MD, co-chair Maryland chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program*

Carol Paris, MD, president, Physicians for a National Health Program*

George Pauk, MD

Julie Keller Pease, MD, Topsham, Maine

Julia Robinson, MD, People’s Health Movement-USA*

Anne Scheetz, MD, Illinois Single-Payer Coalition, Physicians for a National Health Program and steering committee of Health Over Profit for Everyone*

Mariel Scheinberg, OMS 4, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine*

Lee Stanfield, Health Over Profit for Everyone Steering Committee and Single Payer Tucson NOW*

Bruce Trigg, MD, Public Health and Addiction Consultant

John V. Walsh, MD, California Physicians for a National Health Program*

Robert Zarr, MD, past president, Physicians for a National Health Program*

Kevin Zeese, co-director of Popular Resistance

*For identification purposes only.

This article was published at Health Over Profit. Reported by Eurasia Review 4 hours ago.

↧

Trump Administration Wants to Stabilize Health Markets but Won’t Say How

August 30, 2017, 5:45 pm

≫ Next: Bellone, unions negotiating employee health insurance contributions

≪ Previous: To Sen. Sanders: We Cannot Begin From A Position Of Compromise – OpEd

An administration official refused to say what, if anything, the government would do to encourage people to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Reported by NYTimes.com 23 hours ago.

↧

Bellone, unions negotiating employee health insurance contributions

August 30, 2017, 5:15 pm

≫ Next: India Network Foundation Announces $10,000 Donation Matching to Hurricane Harvey Relief

≪ Previous: Trump Administration Wants to Stabilize Health Markets but Won’t Say How

All Suffolk County workers may have to contribute to health insurance costs for the first time, saving the county about $30 million a year, officials said Wednesday. Reported by Newsday 1 day ago.

↧

India Network Foundation Announces $10,000 Donation Matching to Hurricane Harvey Relief

August 31, 2017, 12:20 am

≫ Next: Executive Medicine of Texas Sees Rise in Concierge Trend

≪ Previous: Bellone, unions negotiating employee health insurance contributions

India Network Foundation, USA to donate $10,000 to support Indian communities affected by hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. In addition, India Network Health Insurance will be helping those stranded visitors, students and scholars impacted by Harvey.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) August 31, 2017

India Network Foundation, a US based non-profit community organization sponsors several projects in India and the United States. One of the major undertakings of the foundation is to provide affordable visitor health insurance for visitors of all ages (0 to 99 years old) and for pre-existing conditions using American Insurance companies. Every year thousands of families take advantage of this plan while inviting parents and grand parents to visit them in the United States.

Today, India Network Foundation is pleased to announce a donation of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) as matching contribution to encourage everyone to contribute to help hurricane stranded students, visitors, and scholars in Harvey's unprecedented damage. India Network is striving to provide direct help to Indian communities affected by hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. Our focus is to help hurricane survivors with basic needs including food, clothing, and shelter.

India Network Foundation is inviting the community at large to donate generously to our 2017 Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund by completing the Harvey donation form on our website. India Network Foundation will match every dollar up to $10,000 contributed to help hurricane Harvey victims. All contributions must be submitted by September 10, 2017. Tax exemption certificates will be provided to all contributors. India Network Foundation is also eligible to receive matching grants from donor's employer.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the flood victims and their families in Houston. Our goal is to help as much as we possibly can. We are asking everyone to help us achieve this goal by donating generously to the community in need.” said Dr. KV Rao, Founder President of India Network Foundation. Anyone wish to contribute can directly donate thorough online donation form setup for Harvey using credit cards.
India Network Foundation will be partnering with Indian organizations in affected areas to make sure that the funds are going to the needy people. India Network is also planning to give donations for other expenses like water damage restoration and repair in the future.

About India Network Foundation

India Network Foundation, established as a US non-profit organization, has been helping the Asian Indian community in North America with programs and grants to academics from India for more than two decades. India Network Foundation sponsors visitor health insurance to tourists, students, temporary workers (H1 visa holders) and their families. All insurance products are administered by India Network Services.

For more information visit India Network Foundation pages.

About India Network Health Insurance

India Network Services is a US based company that administers visitor health insurance to transition residents, tourists, students, temporary workers and their families. Visitor medical plans are offered for all age groups with both fixed coverage, comprehensive coverage and with pre-existing condition coverage. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

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Executive Medicine of Texas Sees Rise in Concierge Trend

August 31, 2017, 12:10 am

≫ Next: Aetna faces lawsuit for outing HIV patients in mailers

≪ Previous: India Network Foundation Announces $10,000 Donation Matching to Hurricane Harvey Relief

Rising costs of health insurance premiums and high deductibles are causing people to rethink their healthcare. But cost doesn't tell the whole story--crowded waiting rooms and long wait times are adding to the frustration.

Southlake, TX (PRWEB) August 31, 2017

Executive Medicine of Texas has seen concierge client growth triple in 2017 as patients look for better options. Concierge medical programs gained popularity over the last ten years in places like Florida and California, where the patient/physician ratio is traditionally high. Now, concierge programs are gaining traction across the country as patients are facing high premiums and excessive deductibles. This means more access for the patient and less headache for the doctor who doesn't spend time and resources chasing after insurance companies for payment.

Executive Medicine of Texas, world renown for its half-day executive physical exam programs, started offering concierge programs to their patients in 2014. "We decided to not just offer concierge, but to redefine what concierge medicine looks like," states Judy Gaman, Director of Business Development. "Each of our plans start with a half-day examination and a detailed plan for better health and wellness. Then follow-up primary care visits, labs, and other testing for the course of a year are also covered. Some plans also include imaging services like MRI and CT at no additional cost."

Since many of their patients travel nationally and internationally, Executive Medicine also includes air medical transfer services through Med Jet Assist. Should a concierge patient be hospitalized due to an accident or illness during travel, they can be transferred to a hospital closer to home or to one of their choosing.

"We started receiving requests for concierge programs in late 2013, mostly from patients that moved to Texas from other states," says Mark Anderson, MD. "Once we decided to make concierge medicine part of our offerings, we went to work designing the most comprehensive programs available. And since we service a large number of corporate clients, we often customized plans to meet the needs of their specific executives."

Concierge business has grown over the last three years for Executive Medicine and they report that 2017 has been a record year, already tripling their numbers from 2016. The growth has not only been for executives, but also for their families. The family program was added just over a year ago. There are five programs to chose from: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, Family, and Age Management. Each program has it's unique benefits.

The trend in concierge growth has also been a factor in Executive Medicine of Texas adding another physician to the practice. Elizabeth Cox, MD joined as their first female physician in 2016. The three physicians, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant will be moving into a new building in mid-September as to accommodate the increase in business. They anticipate that the number of patients seeking concierge services will continue to rise over next couple years.

About: Executive Medicine of Texas was founded in 2005 by Drs. Mark Anderson and Walter Gaman. Their focus continues to be on preventative and proactive medicine, helping each patient live a longer and healthier life. Individuals and corporations alike, have benefited from the practice's dedication to wellness and age management. Both physicians are also award-winning authors and co-host the nationally syndicated Staying Young Radio Show. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

↧

Aetna faces lawsuit for outing HIV patients in mailers

August 31, 2017, 4:11 am

≫ Next: HeartFlow Announces Positive Medical Coverage Decisions on Non-Invasive HeartFlow® FFRct Analysis from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

≪ Previous: Executive Medicine of Texas Sees Rise in Concierge Trend

Health insurance company Aetna is facing a class-action lawsuit after the American insurance firm mistakenly revealed the status of thousands of HIV-positive patients in letters sent through the mail. The lawsuit, filed by the Legal Action Center, took issue with the fact mailers sent by Aetna inclu... Reported by Raw Story 13 hours ago.

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HeartFlow Announces Positive Medical Coverage Decisions on Non-Invasive HeartFlow® FFRct Analysis from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

August 31, 2017, 5:04 am

≫ Next: WH Looking to Stabilize Healthcare Markets, Won't Provide Details

≪ Previous: Aetna faces lawsuit for outing HIV patients in mailers

HeartFlow Announces Positive Medical Coverage Decisions on Non-Invasive HeartFlow® FFRct Analysis from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HeartFlow, Inc. today announced that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama have each issued a positive medical policy for the HeartFlow® FFRct Analysis, a first-of-its-kind noninvasive technology that helps clinicians diagnose and treat patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). These three health plans, which provide health insurance for a total of 44 million people, assessed the te Reported by Business Wire 12 hours ago.

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WH Looking to Stabilize Healthcare Markets, Won't Provide Details

August 31, 2017, 6:26 am

≫ Next: John Hickenlooper, Ohio Gov. John Kasich release their bipartisan plan to address health care

≪ Previous: HeartFlow Announces Positive Medical Coverage Decisions on Non-Invasive HeartFlow® FFRct Analysis from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

The Trump administration is looking to stabilize health insurance markets, but won't say how it will do it, The New York Times reported. Reported by Newsmax 10 hours ago.

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John Hickenlooper, Ohio Gov. John Kasich release their bipartisan plan to address health care

August 31, 2017, 8:04 am

≫ Next: EHIC: Free healthcare for British citizens travelling to the EU after Brexit still in doubt

≪ Previous: WH Looking to Stabilize Healthcare Markets, Won't Provide Details

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and his Republican counterpart from Ohio, John Kasich, on Thursday morning released their bipartisan plan to stabilize the individual health insurance market. Reported by Denver Post 9 hours ago.

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EHIC: Free healthcare for British citizens travelling to the EU after Brexit still in doubt

August 31, 2017, 8:24 am

≫ Next: A group of Democratic and Republican governors just released their plan to fix Obamacare

≪ Previous: John Hickenlooper, Ohio Gov. John Kasich release their bipartisan plan to address health care

Whether all Brits will keep the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is still a matter of discussion Reported by Independent 8 hours ago.

↧

A group of Democratic and Republican governors just released their plan to fix Obamacare

August 31, 2017, 8:41 am

≫ Next: GROUPAMA - 2017 Half-Year Results - Significant increase in net income at €286 million

≪ Previous: EHIC: Free healthcare for British citizens travelling to the EU after Brexit still in doubt

A group of Democratic and Republican governors just released their plan to fix Obamacare

Eight governors from across the US on Thursday unveiled a plan to fix the Affordable Care Act.

A letter from two Republican governors — John Kasich of Ohio and Brian Sandoval of Nevada — five Democrats, and one independent urged congressional leaders to do everything in their power to help the people currently on the law's individual insurance exchanges and to stabilize the program going forward.

"As Congress considers reforms to strengthen our nation’s health insurance system, we ask you to take immediate steps to make coverage more stable and affordable," the letter said. "The current state of our individual market is unsustainable and we can all agree this is a problem that needs to be fixed."

The letter called on the Trump administration to continue to try to make the law known as Obamacare work by increasing outreach to get people to sign up for plans.

The letter also addressed a few concrete policy steps the governors say should be taken. Here's a quick rundown:

· *Fund cost-sharing reduction payments:* CSR payments help to offset the cost to insurers for offering poorer Americans plans with low out-of-pocket costs. These payments have been the subject of a lawsuit under the Obama administration. Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut them off. The letter urged them to be funded for two years.
· *Create a fund to help states address rising premiums:* The governors said they want Congress to create a $15 billion a year stability fund that would allow states to create programs to bring down premiums for people in the exchange markets. They also suggested offsetting the move by cutting other spending.
· *Exempt insurers from the federal health insurance tax for plans in underserved counties:* The governors' plan would exempt insurers from the federal tax on plans provided to people in counties where there is only one insurer. Such a move would help to encourage insurers to enter rural counties that may be in danger of going without coverage on the exchanges.
· *Allow people in underserved counties to buy into government benefits:* The plan would let people in counties with one insurer on the exchange buy into the Federal Employee Benefit Program. In essence, that would create a so-called public option for underserved counties.
· *Recreate the federal reinsurance program:* That program helped to stem losses by insurers and helped spur their participation in the exchanges. The program was phased out, but the plan would reinstate it.

The plan would also encourage open enrollment and institute other programs to allow states more flexibility in addressing the specific needs of their state.

The proposal comes after Republican attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare — which were roundly criticized by many governors of both parties — fell through at the end of July.

A bipartisan solution is scheduled to be discussed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee in September once Congress returns from its month-long recess.

Here's a full list of signatories:

· John Kasich, R-Ohio
· John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado
· Brian Sandoval, R-Nevada
· Tom Wolf, D-Pennsylvania
· Bill Walker, I-Alaska
· Terry McAuliffe, D-Virginia
· John Bel Edwards, D-Louisiana
· Steve Bullock, D-Montana

*SEE ALSO: One of the biggest fears about the future of Obamacare was just eliminated*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 9 best memes from Trump's first 200 days in office Reported by Business Insider 8 hours ago.

↧

GROUPAMA - 2017 Half-Year Results - Significant increase in net income at €286 million

August 31, 2017, 8:57 am

≫ Next: Bipartisan Governors Ask Congress for Help to Stabilizing Insurance Markets

≪ Previous: A group of Democratic and Republican governors just released their plan to fix Obamacare

· *Premium income of €9.2 billion, up +1.6%*

· Targeted development, particularly with the development of the unit-linked individual savings/pensions business activity and the growth both in group health insurance and group protection insurance premium income
· Growth in property and casualty insurance and in life and health insurance

· *Net income of €286 million, up +€217 million*

· Economic operating income of €154 million
· A non-life combined ratio of 99.7%, despite high weather related losses
· Active transformation of the life insurance portfolio with a share of unit-linked in individual savings reserves of 25%
· Disoposal of holdings in Icade and OTP Bank under good market conditions

· *A Solvency 2 ratio of 326%, up +37 points since 31 December 2016*

· Shareholders' equity of €8.8 billion
· Mutual certificates outstandings of €375 million at 30 June 2017, including €185 million collected in the 1 ^st half of 2017

" The group's operating income is up despite very unfavourable weather related losses, even greater than in the first half of 2016. The group's mutual insurance dynamic and the power of its fundamentals contribute considerably to these strong results." stated Jean-Yves Dagès, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupama SA.

" We are reaping the rewards of our structural efforts, reflected in much higher solvency ratios and the upgrade of our rating into the 'A' category. This first half year also recorded significant financial capital gains, a result of dynamic management of our asset portfolios." added Thierry Martel, Chief Executive Officer of Groupama SA.

Paris, 31 August 2017 - The Group's combined financial statements and the consolidated financial statements of Groupama S.A. for the first half of 2017 were approved by the Board of Directors of Groupama S.A. at the meeting chaired by Jean-Yves Dagès on 31 August 2017. The half-year financial statements underwent a limited review by the statutory auditors.

The Group's combined financial statements include all businesses of the Group as a whole (i.e. the business of the regional mutuals and of the subsidiaries consolidated within Groupama S.A.). The consolidated financial statements of Groupama S.A. include the business activity of all subsidiaries as well as internal reinsurance (nearly 35% of the premium income of the regional mutuals ceded to Groupama SA).

The following analysis covers the combined scope. The figures of the consolidated scope will be disclosed in Groupama S.A.'s 2017 half-year report.

* * * Business focused on profitable growth *

At 30 June 2017, Groupama's combined premium income stood at €9.2 billion, a +1.6% increase from 30 June 2016.

In property and casualty insurance, the Group generated €5.2 billion in premium income at 30 June 2017, up +2.0% compared with 30 June 2016. Premium income for life and health insurance amounted to €3.9 billion at 30 June 2017.

Breakdown of premium income by business at 30 June 2017

Premium income

in millions of euros 30/06/2017 Change

Like-for-like and at constant exchange rates
Property and casualty insurance 5,234 +2.0%
Life and health insurance 3,907 +0.9%
Financial businesses 71 +7.2%
*GROUP TOTAL* *9,212* *+1.6%*

* * * *

· *In France*

Insurance premium income in France at 30 June 2017 amounted to €7.8 billion, up +1.4% compared with 30 June 2016.

In property and casualty insurance, premium income totalled €4,267 million at 30 June 2017 (+1.8%). Insurance for individuals and professionals increased +1.6% over the period to €2,486 million, driven by the growth of home insurance (+2.0% to €801 million), professional risks (+3.2% to €311 million), and motor insurance (+1.3% to €1,149 million). The Group's specialised subsidiaries continued their development, particularly assistance business (+19.2%) and legal protection (+9.8%).

In life and health insurance, premium income amounted to €3,494 million, up +0.8% compared with 30 June 2016. This growth is mainly due to the increase in group insurance (+5.8%), supported by the development of protection insurance (+5.0%) and health insurance (+4.3%). Group premium income for life and capitalisation in France fell -2.1% in a market down -5% at the end of June 2017 (source: FFA). This change is mainly attributable to the decline in individual savings/pensions in euros (-4.5%), while the unit-linked business activity increased +1.4%. Unit-linked outstandings represented 25.0% of individual savings reserves at 30 June 2017 versus 21.8% at 30 June 2016.

· *International*

International premium income amounted to €1.4 billion at 30 June 2017, up 2.5% on a like-for-like basis and with constant exchange rates compared with 30 June 2016.

In property and casualty insurance, premium income was up +2.6% from the previous period, at €967 million at 30 June 2017. This growth is mainly linked to the good performance of agricultural business (+12.4%), particularly in Turkey, home insurance (+2.1%), and motor insurance (+1.6%), mainly in Italy and Hungary.

In life and health insurance, premium income increased by +2.2% to €414 million, driven in particular by the growth in health insurance (+11.8%) and protection insurance (+6.0%). In individual savings/pensions, premium income was stable (+0.2%), thanks to the strong development of unit-linked policies (+38.4%), which offset the decline in policies in euros (-19.8%), in accordance with the group's targeted development strategy.

Breakdown of international premium income at 30 June 2017

Premium income

in millions of euros 30/06/2017 Change

like-for-like and at constant exchange rates
Italy 732 +0.7%
Turkey 220 +3.1%
Hungary 209 +10.4%
Romania

Greece 98
66 +2.7%
-2.4%
Other 55 +1.8%
*International insurance* *1,381* *+2.5%*

· *Financial businesses*

The Group's premium income was €71 million, including €68 million from Groupama Asset Management and €3 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.

Groupama Asset Management's outstandings totalled €99.2 billion at 30 June 2017, up +€2.4 billion compared with 31 December 2016. The growth was driven by the development of customers on behalf of third parties and especially international external customers.

* Significant increase in net income at €286 million *

The Group's economic operating income increased to €154 million at 30 June 2017, up +39% compared with 30 June 2016.

Economic operating income from insurance totalled +€165 million at 30 June 2017, with €122 million from business activities in France and €43 million from international subsidiaries.

In property and casualty insurance, economic operating income amounted to +€29 million at 30 June 2017 compared with +€72 million at 30 June 2016. The non-life net combined ratio was 99.7% compared with 99.9% at 30 June 2016 despite the worsening of weather claims and serious claims for +1.8 points. The attritional loss experience was stable, and the cost ratio improved by -0.2 points to 28.1%.

In life and health insurance, economic operating income amounted to €137 million at 30 June 2017, up +€66 million compared with 30 June 2016. This growth resulted from the substantially improved loss ratio in the health and bodily injury business activities (-6.2 points) and the slight increase in income from the life insurance business benefiting from the development of unit-linked policies in recent years in France.

The reconciliation from economic operating income to net income takes into account non-recurring items of +€132 million at 30 June 2017. In addition to realised capital gains of €105 million coming partly from the sale of the share of its holding in OTP Bank, the group also incorporated €127 million in net income from business disposals, including the sale of its holding in Icade.

Overall, the Group's net income totalled €286 million at 30 June 2017 compared with €69 million at 30 June 2016.

* A solid balance sheet *

The Group's shareholders' equity totalled €8.8 billion at 30 June 2017. In particular, it includes the mutual certificates issued by Groupama since the end of 2015 for €375 million, including €185 million collected in the first half of 2017.

At 30 June 2017, insurance investments stood at €88.2 billion versus €86.2 billion at 31 December 2016. Unrealised capital gains reached €10.7 billion at 30 June 2017, including €7.4 billion on bonds, €0.9 billion on equities, and €2.4 billion on property assets.

At 30 June 2017, subordinated debt not recognised in shareholders' equity amounted to €1,135 million versus €750 million at 31 December 2016. In order to extend the maturity of its debt profile and strengthen its financial flexibility, Groupama launched an offer in January 2017 to exchange all of its undated deeply subordinated notes issued in 2007 and a portion of its senior subordinated notes issued in 2009 for new senior subordinated notes with a maturity of 10 years.

Groupama's debt to equity ratio excluding revaluation reserves was 13.8% at 30 June 2017 compared with 9.7% at 31 December 2016.

The strength of the group was confirmed by Fitch Ratings. On 3 May 2017, the agency upgraded the insurer financial strength ratings of Groupama SA and its subsidiaries to 'A-' from 'BBB+'. The outlook associated with these ratings is Stable.

At 30 June 2017, the Solvency 2 coverage ratio was 326%, up +37 points from 31 December 2016. Groupama calculates its Solvency 2 ratio at the Group level, incorporating the transitional measure on technical reserves in accordance with the statutory provisions.

*Group Communications Department*

* Press contact * : *Analyst and investor contact:*
Guillaume Fregni - + 33 (0)1 44 56 28 56

guillaume.fregni@groupama.com Valérie Buffard - +33 (0)1 44 56 74 54

valerie.buffard@groupama.com

* * *
* * * *

Groupama financial information on the accounts closed at 30/06/2017 includes:

· This press release, which is available on the groupama.com website,
· Groupama S.A.'s half-year report, which will be filed with the AMF on 15 September 2017 and posted on the groupama.com website on the same day,
· Groupama's combined financial statements at 30/06/2017, which will be posted on the groupama.com website on 15 September 2017.

Get all the latest news about Groupama

· on its website: www.groupama.com
· and on Twitter: @GroupeGroupama

* Appendix: key figures for Groupama - combined financial statements *

· *Premium income*

30/06/2016 30/06/2017 2017/2016
€ million Reported premium income Pro forma

premium income* Reported premium income Change **

as %
*> France* *7,655* *7,657* *7,761* *+1.4%*
Life and health insurance 3,466 3,466 3,494 +0.8%
Property and casualty insurance 4,189 4,191 4,267 +1.8%
*> International & Overseas* *1,431* *1,347* *1,381* *+2.5%*
Life and health insurance 446 405 414 +2.2%
Property and casualty insurance 985 942 967 +2.6%
*TOTAL INSURANCE* *9,086* *9,005* *9,141* *+1.5%*
*Financial businesses* 66 66 71 +7.2%
*TOTAL* *9,152* *9,070* *9,212* *+1.6%*

* Based on comparable data

** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis

· *Economic operating income*

€ million 30/06/2016 30/06/2017 2017/2016 change
Insurance - France

Insurance - International 104

38 122

43 +18

+5
Financial businesses -3 16 +19
Holding companies -29 -27 +2
*Economic operating income** *111* *154* *+43*

Economic operating income : equals net income adjusted for realised capital gains and losses, long-term impairment provision allocations and write-backs, and unrealised capital gains and losses on financial assets recognised at fair value (all such items are net of profit sharing and corporate income tax). Also adjusted are non-recurring items net of corporate income tax, impairment of value of business in force, impairment of goodwill (net of corporate income tax), and external financing expenses.

· *Net income* * *

€ million 30/06/2016 30/06/2017 2017/2016 change
Economic operating income 111 154 +43
Net realised capital gains adjusted for long-term impairment losses on financial instruments 68 105 +37
Gains and losses on financial assets and derivatives recognised at fair value -26 19 +45
External financing expenses -19 -31 -12
Net income from discontinued business activities 127 +127
Other expenses and income -65 -88 -23
*Net income, group share* *69* *286* *+217*



· *Balance sheet* * *

€ million 31/12/2016 30/06/2017
Shareholders' equity, Group share 8,752 8,774
Subordinated debts classified in shareholders' equity 1,514 1,243
Subordinated debts classified in "Financing debts" 750 1,135
Gross unrealised capital gains 10,955 10,699
Total balance sheet 98,085 100,708



· *Main ratios*

* * 30/06/2016 30/06/2017
Non-life net combined ratio 99.9% 99.7%

* * 31/12/2016 30/06/2017
Debt-to-equity ratio 9.7% 13.8%
Solvency 2 margin* 289% 326%

* incorporating the transitional measure on technical reserves in accordance with the statutory provisions

Version pdf
--------------------This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq 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: GROUPAMA via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2130614 Reported by GlobeNewswire 8 hours ago.

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Trump just took a big step in undermining Obamacare

The Trump administration is taking a big step toward undermining the Obamacare exchanges for 2018.

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If enrollment declines, it could lead to higher costs for Americans and an uptick in the uninsured rate.

The moves come after the Trump administration already slashed the length of open enrollment in half. It is now from November 1 to December 15. In past years, open enrollment ran from the start of November to the end of January.

The move was swiftly condemned by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"The Trump administration is deliberately attempting to sabotage our health care system," Schumer said in a statement. "When the number of people with health insurance declines and costs skyrocket, the American people will know who's to blame."

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