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Budget office cuts cost estimate of children’s insurance

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ official budget analysts have eased one stumbling block to lawmakers’ fight over renewing a program that provides health insurance for nearly 9 million low-income children. The Congressional Budget Office says a Senate bill adding five years of financing to the program would cost $800 million. Previously, the analysts estimated it would […] Reported by Seattle Times 2 hours ago.

Ron Paul: Just Say No To Jeff Sessions – OpEd

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Attorney General Jeff Sessions kicked off the New Year by reversing the Obama-era guidance for federal prosecutors to limit their enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. In what is almost certainly not a coincidence, Sessions’ announcement came days after California’s law legalizing recreational marijuana sales went into effect. Sessions’ action thus runs counter to the wishes of the majority of the people in the most populous US state, as well the people of the 28 other states (and DC) that have legalized some form of marijuana use.

Federal laws criminalizing marijuana and other drugs have failed to reduce drug use. However, they have succeeded in giving power-hungry politicians and bureaucrats what was, before 9-11, the go-to justification for violating our civil liberties. The federal war on marijuana has also wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. Far from reducing crime, outlawing drugs causes crime by ensuring criminals will control the market for drugs. Outlawing drugs also provides incentives for drug dealers to increase the potency, and thus the danger, of drugs, as higher potency products take up less space and are thus easier to conceal from law enforcement.

The US Constitution does not give the federal government any authority to criminalize marijuana. Thus, the question of whether marijuana is legal is one of the many issues reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment. If the Constitution gives Congress the power to ban marijuana, then why was it necessary to amend the Constitution to give Congress the power to ban alcohol?

Sessions’ usurpation of state marijuana laws is the type of federal intrusion into state issues usually opposed by conservatives. Sadly, too many conservatives are just as willing to sacrifice constitutional government and individual liberties for the war on drugs as they are for the war on terror.

Conservative hypocrisy is especially strong when it comes to medical marijuana. Many Americans have used medical marijuana for conditions such as cancer and glaucoma. Yet many conservatives who (properly) decry Obamacare’s mandate forcing every American to purchase health insurance cheer Jeff Sessions’ effort to deprive suffering individuals of the medical treatment of their choice. Cruel paternalism in healthcare policy is often associated with progressives, but unfortunately conservatives are just as guilty.

States that have legalized medical marijuana have fewer deaths related to opioid abuse. These states have also experienced a decrease in crime and black market activity. This is perhaps because some have found medical marijuana a viable alternative to opioids.

Laws outlawing marijuana criminalize peaceful behavior that, while potentially harmful to the individual, does not violate the rights of others. Therefore, these laws, like all laws authorizing government force against peaceful, if immoral, actions, are incompatible with a free society. Once again we see the hypocrisy of conservatives who decry progressives’ war on tobacco and fatty foods, yet support jailing marijuana users.

Federal laws outlawing marijuana violate the Constitution, justify violations of civil liberties, and increase violence. By criminalizing nonviolent behavior voluntarily chosen by individuals, drug laws undermine the moral principles underlying a free society.

President Trump should fire Jeff Sessions and replace him with someone who respects the Constitution and individual liberty. Also, officials from states with legal medical or recreational marijuana should refuse to cooperate with those tasked with enforcing federal marijuana laws. If President Trump and state officials stand up for liberty, the people will join them in saying no to Jeff Sessions.

This article was published by RonPaul Institute. Reported by Eurasia Review 9 minutes ago.

Donald Trump promises to 'take the heat' for broad immigration deal

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President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was ready to accept an onslaught of criticism if lawmakers tackle broad immigration reforms after an initial deal to help the young illegal immigrants known as Dreamers and build a wall on the US border with Mexico.

Trump told lawmakers at the White House he would back a two-phased approach to overhauling US immigration laws with the first step focused on protecting immigrants who were brought here as children from deportation along with funding for a wall and other restrictions that Democrats have opposed.

Once that is done, Trump said, he favours moving quickly to address even more contentious issues, including a possible pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants that is opposed by many Republicans and many of his supporters.

"If you want to take it that further step, I'll take the heat, I don't care," Trump told lawmakers about a broad immigration bill. "You are not that far away from comprehensive immigration reform. And if you wanted to go that final step, I think you should do it."

Trump campaigned for the White House in 2016 with a hard-line approach on illegal immigration, and many of his supporters consider potential citizenship for undocumented immigrants to be an unacceptable grant of amnesty.

Trump said on Tuesday he would sign a bill that gives legal status to the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children, known as Dreamers, as long as the bill had the border security protections he has sought, including funding for a wall.

"Now, that doesn't mean 2,000 miles of wall because you just don't need that ... because of mountains and rivers and lots of other things," Trump said. "But we need a certain portion of that border to have the wall. If we don't have it, you can never have security."

Trump and his fellow Republicans, who control the US Congress, have been unable to reach agreement with Democrats on a deal to resolve the status of an estimated 700,000 young immigrants whose protection from potential deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program ends in early March.

*"A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING"*

Under pressure from immigrant groups ahead of midterm congressional elections in November, Democrats are reluctant to give ground to Trump on the issue of the wall, his central promise from the 2016 presidential campaign.

But after the meeting, lawmakers from both parties said they would meet as early as Wednesday to continue negotiations on a deal covering DACA and border security, as well as a visa lottery program and "chain migration," which could address the status of relatives of Dreamers who are still in the United States illegally.

"From that standpoint it was a very productive meeting," said Senator David Perdue, a Republican. "We have a scope now."

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters the broader bill with a path to citizenship was not a focus for now.

"We're certainly open to talking about a number of other issues when it comes to immigration, but right now this administration is focused on those four things and that negotiation, and not a lot else at this front," she said.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who also was at the meeting, said negotiators in Congress still faced difficulties but it was important that Trump had shown he had "no animosity toward the Dream Act kids" and the "wall is not going to be 2,220 miles wide."

*PARTY DIFFERENCES ON BORDER SECURITY*

The US Congress has been trying and failing to pass a comprehensive immigration bill for more than a decade, most recently in 2013 when the Senate passed a bill that later died in the House of Representatives.

The latest immigration negotiations are part of a broader series of talks over issues ranging from funding the federal government through next September to renewing a children's health insurance program and giving US territories and states additional aid for rebuilding after last year's hurricanes and wildfires.

Top congressional leaders did not attend the hour-long meeting. The guest list included lawmakers from both parties involved in the immigration debate, such as Graham and Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.

A majority of those protected under DACA are from Mexico and Central America and have spent most of their lives in the United States, attending school and participating in society.

Trump put their fate in doubt in early September when he announced he was ending the DACA program created by former President Barack Obama, which allowed them to legally live and work in the United States temporarily.

Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives, said a DACA bill could win support for passage even though there are differences between the parties over what constitutes necessary border security.

"Democrats are for security at the border," Hoyer told Trump during the meeting. "There are obviously differences, however, Mr. President, on how you affect that."

On Monday, Trump announced that he was ending immigration protections for about 200,000 El Salvadorans who have been living legally in the United States under the Temporary Protection Status program. Haitians and other groups have faced similar actions.

A congressional aide told Reuters that negotiators in Congress also have been talking about legislation that would expand TPS in return for ending a visa lottery program that Republicans want to terminate.

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US President Donald Trump, flanked by US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), holds a bipartisan meeting with legislators on immigration reform at the White House in Washington. (Reuters)
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The billion dollar startups revolutionizing healthcare you should be watching in 2018

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The billion dollar startups revolutionizing healthcare you should be watching in 2018 There was no shortage in healthcare and biotech startup funding in 2017. 

By the end of 2017, a new crop of unicorns were born, while others increased their billion-dollar+ valuations. 

From companies harnessing the plant microbiome to buzzy biotechs working on cutting-edge technology, here are the unicorns to keep an eye on in 2018, ranked by valuation.

Unless otherwise noted, valuations are according to PitchBook. 

*SEE ALSO: Theranos is gearing up for a rebound with $100 million to get it through 2018*

*DON'T MISS: Nutrition experts ranked the best diets to try in 2018 — here are the top 11*

-15. Flatiron Health - $1.2 billion-

Flatiron Health, a New York-based healthcare technology startup, collects clinical data from cancer patients — such as what medications the patient has taken and how they've responded to them.

The hope is that with that information, healthcare professionals can have a better idea of how cancer drugs work in the "real world"— in hospitals and cancer centers — as opposed to during clinical trials. The company has partnered with the FDA over this data, which could one day influence how we treat cancer. 

The company most recently raised $175 million in January 2016.-14. Clover Health - $1.2 billion-

Venture-backed Clover health sells Medicare Advantage health insurance plans.  When seniors in the US turn 65, they can choose to be part of either traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage, which is operated through private insurers like Clover and often provides additional healthcare benefits. The hope for Clover and other technology-based health insurers is to use data to improve patients' health. 

In January, CNBC reported that the company has hit some rough patches, including upsetting patients and missing financial targets.

Founded in 2014, the company most recently raised $130 million in May 2017. 

 -13. Auris Surgical Robotics - $1.28 billion-

The surgical robotics company has been relatively quiet about its work in relation to its valuation. 

"We are developing targeted, minimally invasive therapies that treat only the diseased cells in order to prevent the progression of a patient’s illness," the company said on its website. To start, the company is going after lung cancer. 

The company most recently raised $280 million in August 2017. 
See the rest of the story at Business Insider Reported by Business Insider 4 hours ago.

Yale Study Demonstrates Four-Fold Superiority of Academic Level Diagnostic Accuracy

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialty diagnostics company Precipio, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRPO), today announced preliminary data from an ongoing study on the impact of academic pathology expertise on diagnostic accuracy.The purpose of the study was to independently evaluate the effect of academic pathology on the massive problem of misdiagnosis, and determine the impact of Precipio’s business model as a solution to this problem.

Initial data shows that of the biopsy samples that Yale specialist pathologists provided a second opinion on and arrived at different diagnoses, ~73% arrived at a diagnosis that either definitely or possibly changed the patient treatment plans.

*Superior Diagnostic Accuracy*

This is a substantial number, both strengthening industry data on the problem of misdiagnosis; providing powerful evidence to the consequences to patient care; and validating Precipio’s business model as the only innovative solution of its kind to combat the problem of misdiagnosis.

This data is further strengthened by the comparative data generated internally by Precipio, demonstrating that in the first 100 cases initially diagnosed by academic expert pathologists at Yale and then sent to an outside pathologist for a second opinion, in 99% of those cases, the second opinion confirmed the primary diagnosis arrived at by Yale.

“Preliminary findings of the study are consistent with independently reported data on cancer misdiagnosis rates of about 20%,” said Dr. Christopher Sebastian, a pathology resident at Yale University and co-principal investigator. “Pathology is complex and rapidly evolving. It’s not surprising that subspecialty training and an academic focus help pathologists more accurately diagnose patients.”

“This is further independent evidence of the importance of academic level, specialist pathology in preventing billions of wasted dollars and untold family trauma resulting annually from pervasive cancer misdiagnosis,” commented Ilan Danieli, president & CEO. “It’s a validation of our mission to bring life-saving, academic level diagnostics to the millions of US patients diagnosed with cancer every year along with enormous cost saving benefits to  physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies. Our unique business model continues to demonstrate that it can bring both tremendous clinical impact, as well as substantial, quantifiable financial value to the industry stakeholders.

*The Study*

The study’s purpose, launched July 2017, is to evaluate the hypothesis that academic pathologists’ expertise result in a higher rate of diagnostic accuracy than the current industry is providing. The study was designed to retrospectively evaluate the concordance in two sets of data in order to demonstrate this hypothesis.

The first cohort consists of patients who received their primary diagnoses non-academic community hospitals or national reference labs (representative of the industry), and were then referred to an academic pathology institution (Yale University) for a second opinion consultation. The purpose of evaluating this cohort was to re-assess the diagnosis received outside of an academic institution, and then have an academic expert specialist evaluate its accuracy.

The second cohort consists of patients initially diagnosed at Yale University, and then referred to another academic institution for a second opinion consultation, (for example at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, or at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York). The purpose of evaluating this cohort was to review the diagnosis rendered by an academic expert, and assess its accuracy by having it reviewed by a peer academic expert – thus, subject to the same scrutiny as the first cohort. In the cases where there is a disagreement between primary diagnosis and the second opinion evaluation, the patient sample will be submitted to a third party academic institution to act as the arbiter (a process which currently does not exist in the industry). For the purpose of this study, academic expert pathologists at University of Pennsylvania will review each of the discordant cases and determine the correct diagnosis.

Study investigators at Yale anticipated the first cohort would show a significant rate of misdiagnosis with meaningful consequences to the patient; while the second cohort would show minimal discordance, reflecting an overall substantially higher level of diagnostic accuracy rendered by academic pathologists.

*Preliminary Results*

To date, a total of 315 cases have been reviewed, 213 of which belong to the first cohort of the study, consisting of patients initially diagnosed at a non-academic facility, and then receiving a second opinion consult at Yale University. The preliminary data reveals that, of the cohort of patients initially diagnosed at a non-academic institution, in 45 patients (21% of the cases) the academic pathologist arrived at a different conclusion during their second opinion assessment.

Furthermore, in 33 of those cases (>73%), the change in diagnosis had a potential substantial impact on patient treatment plan and is considered a material discordance. In the remaining 102 cases reviewed that belong to the second cohort, in only 5% of the patients that were initially diagnosed by an academic expert, the second opinion diagnosis differed from the primary diagnosis. However, in 0% of those cases, did the change impact the patient treatment plan and is therefore not considered a material discordance.

*Ongoing Study*

The study will ultimately include at least 1,000 patients to further demonstrate the value of academic expertise in the diagnostic process. It is expected to be completed by the end of Q1-2018, after which the results will be compiled and published in a peer-reviewed industry journal.

“These preliminary results demonstrate the value of academic expertise in pathology diagnosis. They also lend support to the Precipio business model of utilizing academic pathologists to reach superior diagnostic accuracy in the reference lab setting,” said Professor David Hudnall, Yale Professor of Pathology and Precipio medical director. “I look forward to witnessing the impact of Precipio’s model of academic-reference lab collaboration on patient care, and how it will affect the industry”, concluded Dr. Hudnall.

In our mission to eradicate disease misdiagnosis, Precipio harnesses academic expertise and delivers it to community oncologists and hospitals worldwide, helping to provide patients with the most accurate diagnosis. In an industry that is gradually shifting towards value-based services, the importance of arriving at an accurate diagnosis can no longer be overlooked. Our clinical laboratory receives patient specimens and ensures that they are reviewed by the specific expert relevant to the type of disease diagnosed. This has resulted in a substantially higher level of accuracy delivered by Precipio. While the obvious key beneficiary is the patient and their physician who are armed with the correct information to battle cancer; the health insurance companies too can avoid billions of dollars in waste as a result of misdiagnosis.

*About Precipio*

Precipio is eradicating the problem of misdiagnosis which affects millions each year and costs billions of healthcare dollars in waste. By harnessing the intellect, expertise and proprietary technologies developed within academia, such as Yale School of Medicine and Harvard’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute, delivering quality diagnostic information to physicians and their patients worldwide, Precipio disrupts current diagnostics with a superior level of diagnostic accuracy.

For more information, please visit www.precipiodx.com. 

*Forward-Looking Statements*

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements related to ICP technology, including financial projections related thereto and potential market opportunity, plans and prospects and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the known risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on May 12, 2017, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s prior filings and from time to time in the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change in such factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to in such statements. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release and the Company does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

*Inquiries*

*investors**@precipiodx.com*

*+1-203-787-7888* Reported by GlobeNewswire 1 hour ago.

Children's health insurance program hangs in limbo as Congress struggles to extend it

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Congress has broad agreement on a five-year renewal of the Children's Health Insurance Program, but not on how to pay for it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by Delawareonline 3 hours ago.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Aledade Partner to Expand Innovative Value-based Care Model

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BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Today, Aledade, Inc. and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah announced a new partnership expanding Aledade’s Utah Accountable Care Organization (ACO) to provide high-quality, coordinated care to 4,000 Regence plan members cared for by its practices. Under Aledade’s first commercial contract in the state, Regence and its members will benefit from Aledade’s innovative physician-led ACO model that rewards doctors for improving quality of care and patient health outcomes, while lowering costs.

"Utah has always been known for quality and innovation in healthcare. Aledade is proud to partner with Regence, a longtime leader in the state, to expand our unique primary care physician-led ACO model,” said Scott Segell, vice president at Aledade. “Regence members are the real beneficiaries of this partnership that allows independent primary care practices to take advantage of value-based opportunities with payers that have previously only been available to large physician networks and hospital providers.”

Aledade’s Utah ACO will take on accountability for the total health care experience of Regence members who see an ACO primary care physician. Aledade offers a new model of primary care by partnering with physicians to build and lead ACOs that allow doctors to stay independent, practice medicine like they’ve always wanted to, and thrive financially by keeping people healthy. In this partnership, Regence patients get to keep their primary care doctor while seeing the results of Aledade ACO practices’ focus on care coordination, population health management, and preventive care.

“We’re very pleased about our new collaboration with Aledade,” said Jim Swayze, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. “Their nationally deployed and proven ACO model aligns perfectly with our long-standing priority of working closely with leading provider groups who share our belief that Utahns deserve high quality, well-integrated health care at an affordable cost.”

 

Regence, Utah’s first health insurer, also has the distinction of being the first insurer to offer an accountable health solution, called Total Cost of Care, to the market in 2013. The inclusive care management model offers members the opportunity to align with their choice of physician groups, rather than requiring selection from a single system. Over the past five years, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and its affiliated health plans have implemented over 50 value-based agreements – including the Total Cost of Care program – with providers across Idaho, Utah, Oregon and Washington.

 

Founded in 2014, Aledade’s Accountable Care network has grown to include more than 260 independent, physician-led practices across 18 states that together represent more than 360,000 covered lives and $2.5 billion in health care spending. Aledade’s value-based primary care model now delivers care across all payer and patient populations, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and commercial health plans. Today, all of Aledade’s ACO partner practices offer same or next day appointments, and 95 percent provide access to on-call physicians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

ABOUT ALEDADE
Founded in 2014, Aledade offers a new model of primary care that puts physicians back where they should be: quarterbacking their patients’ health care. Aledade partners with primary care physicians to build and lead Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that allow these doctors to stay independent, practice medicine like they’ve always wanted to, and thrive financially by keeping people healthy. Aledade provides data analytics and user-friendly technology to help doctors provide more seamless care, unparalleled regulatory expertise, best practices developed with and shared by a national network of physicians, and face-to-face practice transformation support. Aledade has established successful ACOs that care for more than 360,000 patients in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia, and has expanded to three new states – Ohio, Kentucky, and New Jersey – in 2018.

 

At the heart of the Aledade model is the simple, but radical, idea that Aledade only succeeds when partner practices succeed in delivering better care at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.aledade.com.

ABOUT REGENCE BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF UTAH
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, based in Salt Lake City, is the state’s first health insurer and now provides more than 529,000 members with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers in Utah and nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com, facebook.com/regenceutah, or twitter.com/regenceutah.

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Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30e9f9f8-1fb2-48d1-8c37-b91fad61a44f

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83c05226-2baf-4c88-9a82-65b3d44f3ba3

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c65e0cae-a9e3-4fe5-89bb-f3ccb970629e

CONTACT: Lou Riepl
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah
801-333-5705
lou.riepl@regence.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 2 hours ago.

We are working to restore past glory – NHIA Boss

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Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Samuel Annor has said his outfit is working to restore integrity in the scheme. Reported by Myjoyonline 47 minutes ago.

Candidates From Around The Nation Compete For The 4th Annual Animaltarian Of The Year Award Contest

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Public voting round kicks off to select eight finalists for PetPartners, Inc.'s Animaltarian of the Year Contest

RALEIGH, N.C. (PRWEB) January 10, 2018

Candidates for the 4th annual Animaltarian of the Year Award Contest began competing for public votes, announced PetPartners, Inc. The Contest, which awards the winner $5,000, was created to raise awareness and awards extraordinary individuals and organizations who support animal welfare throughout the United States.

The 2017 Animaltarian entries spanned coast to coast, with submissions from individuals and organizations from California to New York and even Puerto Rico. The public is invited to vote for their favorite submission from January 5, 2018 through January 24, 2018 through the PetPartners’ Animaltarian website at https://www.petpartners.com/animaltarian/2017/entries. The top eight submissions that receive the highest number of votes will proceed to the finalist voting phase.

John Wycoff, President of PetPartners, Inc. and the creator of the Contest said, “Since the Contest’s inception in 2014, we are amazed and thrilled at the exceptional candidates who are dedicated to supporting animal welfare. This year is no exception and we wish everyone the best.”

To see the list of this year’s candidates or to cast your vote, please visit http://www.PetPartners.com/Animaltarian/2017/entries. Official Contest Rules is available at http://www.PetPartners.com/Animaltarian. Additionally, follow Animaltarian of the Year via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnimaltarianOfTheYear throughout the Contest period.

For more information on the Animaltarian of the Year Award Contest or PetPartners pet health insurance, please contact Jeena Choi at 917-882-0960 or Jeena.Choi(at)IHCGroup.com.

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About PetPartners Inc.
PetPartners provides pet health insurance in all 50 United States, offering products to individuals and groups (such as associations, companies and credit unions). Since 2002, PetPartners has been the exclusive provider of pet health insurance protection to registrants of the American Kennel Club through the AKC Pet Insurance brand. In 2006, PetPartners was selected by the Cat Fanciers' Association, one of the largest registry of purebred cats, to provide health insurance to CFA registrants. Founded by Sir John D. Spurling, a leading British innovator in pet insurance who remains on its Board of Directors, PetPartners became a member of The IHC Group in 2017. For more information, please visit http://www.PetPartners.com. Reported by PRWeb 56 minutes ago.

Gary Beatrice, co-owner of NKY-based health insurance company, dies at 55

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Gary Beatrice, a co-owner of a Northern Kentucky health insurance brokerage and employee benefits agency, died Jan. 8 from pancreatic cancer at his Independence home. He was 55. Beatrice, a native of Pompton Plains, N.J., was in his 29th year at Fort Mitchell-based Business Benefits, which he owned with his siblings, Jim Beatrice and Geralyn Isler, and his parents, George Beatrice and Barbara Beatrice.  A 40-year resident of Northern Kentucky, Gary Beatrice earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology… Reported by bizjournals 2 seconds ago.

The Children's Health Insurance Program Is In Peril Again. But There's Good News.

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The real cost of funding health care for 9 million low-income kids has dropped -- a lot. Reported by Huffington Post 2 days ago.

Budget office cuts cost estimate of children’s insurance

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ official budget analysts have eased one stumbling block to lawmakers’ fight over renewing a program that provides health insurance for nearly 9 million low-income children. The Congressional Budget Office says a Senate bill adding five years of financing to the program would cost $800 million. Previously, the analysts estimated it would […] Reported by Seattle Times 2 days ago.

Budget, elections on mind as lawmakers begin ’18 session

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers return to Montgomery to begin the 2018 legislative session. Legislators convene at noon Tuesday to begin a session under an election year backdrop. Lawmakers and state offices are up for election in 2018. The session will be dominated by two major budgetary issues: prisons and the Children’s Health Insurance […] Reported by Seattle Times 2 days ago.

Congress may be getting ready to create a whopper of a fiscal cliff

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Congress may be getting ready to create a whopper of a fiscal cliff **

· *Congress has until January 19 to avert a government shutdown.*
· *It looks increasingly likely that Congress will simply pass a short-term extension for government funding.*
· *A short-term extension runs the risk of pushing the next shutdown debate into other tenuous negotiations.*

--------------------Once again, Congress is facing down an imminent deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Once again, there is a growing sense that lawmakers may simply punt on that deadline by passing a short-term funding bill.

This time, punting on a larger funding bill could come with much tougher consequences.

With just 10 days before the January 19 deadline to keep the government open, the two parties remain far apart in solving critical issues needed to reach a long-term funding agreement. That in turn raises the possibility of a short-term bill to keep the government open and funded.

Analysts believe the most likely scenario is short-term funding legislation known as a continuing resolution (CR), which sets the limits for defense and non-defense spending for the coming year. Chris Krueger, an analyst at Cowen Washington Research Group, said such a scenario has a whiff of familiarity.

"Government funding expires on January 19, i.e. government shutdown," Kreuger wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. "This was initially punted from October 1 when ... Trump cut a 'deal' with Chuck and Nancy to table everything until December 8, which then saw another punt to December 22, and now to January 19th. Here we are, with another short-term CR very possible."

But a short-term resolution could cause a serious pile up of must-pass legislation down the road.

Kreuger noted that Congress must pass bills to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program, reauthorize the National Security Agency's surveillance authority, determine whether to enforce some taxes imposed by the Affordable Care Act, and more.

Perhaps most problematic is that kicking the can down the road runs the risk of pushing up the funding deadline against a deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling.

The debt limit was suspended as part of the short-term September funding agreement until December 9. Since then, the Treasury Department has used what are known as "extraordinary measures" to ensure that the US does not default on some of its debt obligations.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the extraordinary measures will run out in late March or early April. The Bipartisan Policy Center projected the so-called "x-date" at which the measures would be exhausted is sometime in March.

Not suspending or increasing the debt ceiling by the "x-date" could result in a technical default for the US government — and cause a global economic disaster.

Greg Valliere, chief strategist at Horizon Global Investments, said this theme might play out for much of the year's first quarter.

"With no sign of agreement between the President and Congress on most issues, there's one logical result for the White House — playing defense, reacting to deadlines as they arise, rather than unveiling new policy initiatives," Valliere said. "And the deadlines will come fast and furious in the next few weeks — deadlines on the budget and debt ceiling, deadlines on the Iranian nuclear deal, deadlines on the 'dreamers.'"

*SEE ALSO: Trump is planning to use a misleading number to try and sell the GOP tax law*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Trump's family church explains why he refuses to accept failure Reported by Business Insider 2 days ago.

Digital tools support employers' changing health insurance needs

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Like most industries, the health insurance industry has adjusted to the wireless, online lifestyles that most people lead these days. Nearly all health insurers offer web-based resources for members to view claim histories, update information and print identification cards. But should you expect more? Some health insurers now offer a variety of innovative digital tools for their members as well as support services and customized programs to complement them. If you are choosing an insurer for your… Reported by bizjournals 2 days ago.

Excel Impact Named Best Privately-Owned Company in Ohio by Entrepreneur Magazine

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Excel Impact ranks in the top 100 of the Entrepreneur 360 List and #1 in Ohio

MEDINA, Ohio (PRWEB) January 09, 2018

Today on the Entrepreneur 360™ list, Excel Impact was named as the best privately-owned company in Ohio. The honor given to Excel Impact by Entrepreneur magazine is based on four different metrics: impact, innovation, growth, and leadership.

Excel Impact, which was founded in 2013 by Alex Matseikovich, Craig Sturgill, and Rodolfo Marrero has already gained significant recognition through placement on the Inc. 5000 and the Deloitte Fast 500™ list. Perhaps even more impressive, is the fact that they were able to achieve all of this with just under ten employees.

Hailed as the fastest growing insurance company in 2017 by Inc. Excel Impact is still looking to the future. “We’re excited about all of the recognition we’ve received in the past year,” states President and co-founder Craig Sturgill. “Our team loves challenges, and we’re going to keep challenging ourselves to create more value for insurance consumers and our partners. This is the mentality that we keep in the office, so we’ll keep pushing the envelope and innovating for as long as we can.”

Excel Impact has big plans for growth in the coming year. The company currently focuses on health insurance and Medicare, but in just a few short months they’ll be diving fully into Life Insurance as well. Each time the company enters a new vertical they strive to do better for consumers, and with well over 1 million people served, Excel Impact is definitely delivering value.

“Purchasing insurance can be a complicated process,” says CEO Alex Matseikovich. “We’ve been working on making the process easier since we started. Having insurance, whether it’s health or life, is so important in today's world and it should be easier for consumers. It needs to be easier for consumers. That’s why we continue to innovate within the industry.”

About Excel Impact LLC

Excel Impact, LLC was founded in 2013 as a fast-growth marketing firm, specializing in digital advertising and lead generation for the insurance industry. Our mission is to create unparalleled value for consumers and clients by providing exceptional quality.

We help connect consumers shopping for insurance online with the best-matched insurance agencies who can assist in education and enrollment regarding the various insurance options. We have a deep understanding of the senior-citizen demographic and specialize in products such as Medicare, Health, and Burial Insurance. For more information, visit http://www.excelimpact.com

About Entrepreneur Media Inc.

For more than 40 years, Entrepreneur Media Inc. has been serving the entrepreneurial community providing comprehensive coverage of business and personal success through original content and events. Entrepreneur magazine, Entrepreneur.com, and publishing imprint Entrepreneur Press provide solutions, information, inspiration and education read by millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners worldwide.

To learn more, visit entrepreneur.com.

Follow us on Twitter at @Entrepreneur and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/entmagazine. Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.

Health Plan Markets To Expand Medicare Consultation Services In 2018

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Health Plan Markets will expand it's Medicare consultation services in 2018 and show customers how to add dental and other coverage to their current plans.

ORLANDO, Fla. (PRWEB) January 09, 2018

Health Plan Markets will be expanding their Medicare consultation services in 2018.The services will include a new website, a call center and online webinars and video production to offer important insurance details and updates.

“The problem many people face with healthcare is that they don’t have accurate information. We want to create outlets for them to get that information, either online, on the phone or in person. However, saying it is one thing, we are putting it into action with a brand new website due to come out early next year, a call center which we just opened up and we will be adding a lot of video content as well.” Justin Jacobs, Principle Agent

These services will be available to anyone in Orlando and throughout the state of Florida. The new Health Plan Markets website will include areas where visitors will get information about the latest Medicare and insurance updates, a blog that covers various topics, a frequently asked questions section and other features.

“Our specialty is offering free Medicare advice to seniors who need guidance when understanding their coverage, options with supplements and more. However, what we’ve found is that our clients are then referring their children and even their grandchildren to us when they have health insurance questions. It’s a great compliment but it also meant that we had to go beyond just being Orlando, Florida Medicare experts.

About Health Plan Markets

HPM has been in business since 2005, focusing on matching patients with doctors as well as market independent physicians. To date, they have served over 5,000 clients and offer assistance in multiple areas including Medicare, dental, vision, individual and family health insurance and more.

To learn more about these services or if you have any healthcare related questions, you can contact an associate at 844-696-3975 or visit askHPM.com Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.

Maryland seeks to turn health care mandate into down payment

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers want to create an individual health care mandate at the state level — in response to Washington gutting it at the federal level — and turn it into a down payment for people to pay for health insurance. Supporters outlined the idea Tuesday, a day before the Maryland legislative session begins, adding it could also work in other states to help keep insurance premiums from skyrocketing. The Maryland General Assembly is controlled by Democrats. The federal tax overhaul approved last month removed the federal penalty that was charged to people without health insurance. Reported by SeattlePI.com 2 days ago.

Florida Healthcare Law Firm Adding New Services In 2018

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Florida Healthcare Law Firm, a leader in medical legal counseling, is expanding their information platforms to include webinars and more blogs for 2018.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB) January 09, 2018

Florida Healthcare Law Firm will be adding to their information platforms in 2018. The company, which has assisted individuals as well as businesses in the medical field for years, has focused on improving their methods of providing the public updated information regarding medical and legal news and have been utilizing webinars and blogging to keep people informed.

“For the past few years we’ve been looking at ways of keeping people informed about the changes made in the medical field, especially when it comes to the legal side of things. As most of us know, the healthcare industry is constantly in flux and businesses are struggling to keep up and understand how these new rules and regulations will impact them on a business level as well as on a personal level. You need to know what a certain change means for you and what kind of an impact on your life it will have. Our attorneys are now hosting webinars and contributing blogs to help give people the information they need in a timely manner.” Florida Healthcare Law Firm Representative

The new information will cover important topics including Medicare, regular health insurance, medical malpractice, commercial insurance, telemedicine, telehealth, drop ships products and more. The goal of the campaign is to inform the public of policy changes as well as anything that would require the assistance of an attorney.

“Most of the stuff we share will not require you to go out and hire an attorney. However, we want to become a reliable source of information for people out there so that they know that if they do eventually need legal assistance, they can count on us.”

About Florida Healthcare Law Firm

Florida Healthcare Law Firm provides service and representation to healthcare professionals and businesses. Their team of experienced lawyers focuses on providing long-term service to their clients through representation as well as information. To learn more you can visit: http://www.floridahealthcarelawfirm.com/

Contact: (561) 455-7700 Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

What if CHIP Funds Run Out? Here’s What 6 Families Would Do

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With Congress yet to agree on a long-term plan to pay for the popular children’s health insurance program, parents start thinking about contingency plans. Reported by NYTimes.com 11 hours ago.
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