Kemper Home Service Companies in Jacksonville and Step Up For Students sponsor a volunteer event at a local food bank to teach students the value of community service.

Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) February 21, 2014

Kemper Home Service Companies, a donor to the Step Up For Students Scholarship Program, sponsored a field trip event Thursday to a local food bank for St. Patrick’s Catholic School middle school students to encourage an interest in volunteerism.

Employees from the Kemper Home Service Companies Jacksonville office joined approximately 15 students and teachers at the Lutheran Social Services Food Bank for the volunteer activity and presentation on the importance of giving back to the community.

“Community service is an integral part of our company culture. We wanted this event to combine our support of the Step Up program with our desire to give back, and we couldn’t be more proud to make that happen today,” said Joe Conn, senior district manager for United Insurance Co., a Kemper Home Service Company. “We are proud to support Step Up For Students and also provide this volunteer opportunity to Step Up scholarship students, so that hopefully they will continue to volunteer and pay it forward.”

Step Up For Students, the nonprofit organization that administers the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program, enables corporations with certain types of Florida tax liabilities to contribute by redirecting their taxes to the program, and receiving dollar-for-dollar tax credits for their redirection.

Since 2012, Kemper Home Service Companies, a subsidiary of Kemper Corporation, have contributed $200,000 to the scholarship program, providing approximately 42 scholarships for low-income Florida students.

“We are thankful for Kemper’s partnership in our mission to empower Florida families by helping them find the best learning environment for their children,” said Step Up President Doug Tuthill. “And we’re even more thankful that some Step Up students were able to take part in Kemper’s KemperCares Program. We are glad Kemper is taking its involvement a step further and encouraging students to give back.”

In addition to Step Up For Students, the Kemper Home Service Companies support many other nonprofits. Through the KemperCares Program, each regional office chooses a local nonprofit organization to support throughout the year. Kemper Home Service Companies donate financial resources to each organization, and employees volunteer at least 20 hours of community service per year.

As part of the KemperCares Program, Conn announced at the event Thursday that Kemper has recently contributed $250 to the food bank.

About Kemper

Kemper is a diversified insurance holding company with subsidiaries that provide an array of products to the individual and small business markets:·     Auto insurance
·     Homeowners insurance
·     Renters insurance
·     Life insurance
·     Health insurance

Kemper markets to its customers through a network of independent agents, brokers and career agents.

The Kemper Home Service Companies provide personalized service to customers in their homes and offer tailored and affordable insurance products for individuals and families of lower and moderate incomes.

Additional information about Kemper is available by visiting kemper.com.

About Step Up For Students

Step Up For Students is the nonprofit organization responsible for administering the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The scholarship program is available to students who qualify for a free- or reduced-price lunch and provides tuition assistance to the private school of their parents’ choice or transportation help to an out-of-district public school. Scholarships are funded by corporations that receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for their contributions. For more information, visit StepUpForStudents.org. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.

Vice President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the Obama administration will fail to meet its goal of seven million Obamacare-paying customers by the March 31 deadline. 

"Initially, we talked about by the end of this period having seven million people lined up. We may not get to seven, but we're gonna get to five or six, but that's a hell of a start," said Biden in Minneapolis.

Currently, the White House claims 3.3 million individuals have enrolled in Obamacare. However, as The New York Times reported, 20% of those people have not paid their first month's premium, thereby making them ineligible to receive coverage. That means just 2.6 million people are paying customers of Obamacare, a figure that represents just 37% of the Obama administration's seven million goal. 

What's more, it is presently unclear what portion of those 2.6 million already had health insurance but were forced to purchase coverage from Obamacare after the President's healthcare overhaul killed their plans. 

Over the next ten years, Obamacare will cost U.S. taxpayers $2.6 trillion.

 
 
 
  Reported by Breitbart 15 hours ago.

The latest report in Atlantic Information Services’s Management Insight Series, Data Sources for Rate-Setting in ACOs, Exchanges and Narrow Networks, provides a comprehensive review of how FAIR Health® and other data sources can be used to determine rates for health insurance products sold via accountable care organizations, public and private insurance exchanges, and narrow networks.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 21, 2014

Greater cost transparency and consumer engagement are front-and-center in the health insurance revolution that is underway, and the use of data is driving these monumental changes. In addition to helping support the adjudication of out-of-network claims, claims data can provide the building blocks for ACO development, as well as the foundation for pursuing a narrow-network strategy, developing consumer-oriented tools to promote effective plan selection and plan management, and building internal dashboards for strategic decision making. Atlantic Information Services – industry-leading publishers of Health Plan Week and AIS’s Health Reform Week – is pleased to announce the publication of Data Sources for Rate-Setting in ACOs, Exchanges and Narrow Networks. The latest addition to AIS’s Management Insight Series, the report examines the various ways claims data can be used in the new health insurance marketplace.

Featuring a review of FAIR Health’s origins and mission as a repository of claims data, as well as the auditing and validation processes in place to ensure data integrity, this comprehensive report also addresses issues such as:· Why do health plans need a sound and defensible source of benchmark data?
· How can benchmark data be repurposed to help build consumer education, and cost and transparency tools?
· Why are benchmark data important for exchange products?
· What models exist today for setting out-of-network rates? What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of each?
· How can chronic disease and treatment cost profiles be used to promote enrollment and informed use of benefits on the exchange?
· How should benchmarking data be used to determine charges under value-based payment mechanisms such as ACOs?

For more information on Data Sources for Rate-Setting in ACOs, Exchanges and Narrow Networks, including a full table of contents, visit http://aishealth.com/marketplace/data-sources-rate-setting-acos-exchanges-and-narrow-networks.

AIS’s Management Insight Series is designed to provide practical solutions to complex business challenges with the help of the industry’s most insightful advisors and managers. See a full list of titles in this series at http://aishealth.com/marketplace/insight-series.

About AIS
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is a publishing and information company that has been serving the health care industry for more than 25 years. It develops highly targeted news, data and strategic information for managers in hospitals, health plans, medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies and other health care organizations. AIS products include print and electronic newsletters, websites, looseleafs, books, strategic reports, databases, webinars and conferences. Learn more at http://AISHealth.com. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.

Michael Barone and Charles Krauthammer have some medical advice for you: Don't get health insurance, they say. It won't make you healthier. It's a waste of money.

They must be desperate. They don't want to admit that they've run out of criticisms of Obamacare. The website is working, enrollments are surging, and millions of Americans are getting affordable, high-quality health insurance. They couldn't deny these facts, so they needed a new argument to discredit the law -- and they found it tucked away in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In 2008, Oregon conducted an experiment. They held a random lottery. They picked 20,745 names out of a waiting list of 90,000 low-income adults who wanted to sign up for Medicaid. Of the winners, half received Medicaid, and half did not. After two years, they compared the two groups to see if the ones who had Medicaid were any better off.

Barone and Krauthammer claim that the Medicaid group did not have better health than the uninsured group, proving the futility of health insurance, but their conclusion is based on a very narrow, selective reading of the evidence.

It's true that the individuals on Medicaid did not fare any better than their uninsured counterparts on blood tests for cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. But it's also true that the Medicaid patients scored higher on the mental quality-of-life test, experienced significantly lower rates of depression, and reported that they felt healthier.

The Medicaid patients also experienced significantly less financial strain. They were 25 percent less likely to have an unpaid medical bill sent to a collection agency.

In other words, health insurance has significant mental and financial benefits.

In this study, the physical benefits are less clear, but that's not surprising, given that it only lasted two years and it only measured three simple blood levels. Fortunately, other researchers have measured more than just cholesterol.

A 2008 study in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, for example, revealed that uninsured patients were significantly more likely to develop advanced-stage cancer because they didn't receive early screening to detect it.

A year later, Harvard researchers published a study in the Annals of Surgery showing that uninsured patients who arrived at the emergency room with traumatic injuries were almost twice as likely to die in the hospital as patients with insurance, even if they had the same race, gender, age and severity of injury. Later that year, a similar study was conducted at the Boston Children's Hospital and published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. It found that uninsured children were more than three times as likely to die from traumatic injuries as children with commercial insurance.

And if all that wasn't enough to convince you, the American Journal of Public Health published a study that same year comparing the death rates of the insured and the uninsured when they had the same education, income, weight, rates of smoking and drinking, etc. They concluded that 44,789 Americans die every year simply because they don't have health insurance.

That is the bottom line we should be talking about.

If the Oregon experiment were carried out beyond two years, the differences between the insured and the uninsured would accumulate. They found that the Medicaid patients were 70 percent more likely to visit the doctor, 20 percent more likely to have their cholesterol monitored, and for the women, 60 percent more likely to get a mammogram. Those kinds of preventive measures don't make a huge impact in two years, but in the long run, they can mean the difference between life and death.

Health insurance is so beneficial to your health, in fact, that its effects spillover and benefit those of us around you. Studies have shown, for instance, that companies that offer health insurance are more productive because insured workers take 52 percent fewer "sick days" than their uninsured co-workers.

I have to wonder if Barone and Krauthammer have ever even met anyone on Medicaid. I wonder if they know the terrible fear that uninsured Americans feel when they get sick and they're forced to choose between astronomical medical bills and untreated illness.

I think they should find out. If they're so confident that health insurance doesn't affect your health, then I would like to issue this challenge to them: Give up your own health insurance. Don't waste another penny on it. Join the ranks of the uninsured.

If not, if they're unwilling to follow their own advice, then they should stop giving it. They should stop spreading misinformation that can hurt millions of Americans who read their op-ed columns and who depend on the access to lifesaving medical care that only health insurance can provide.

==========

An abbreviated version of this op-ed was published in today's South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and former GoDaddy general counsel Christine Jones — who are both courting business backers in the Republican gubernatorial primary — have come out against a religious liberties bill backed by socially conservative and Christian advocacy groups. Senate Bill 1062 allows business owners to cite their religious beliefs in hiring decisions and if they want to opt out of government mandates, such as for health insurance coverage for contraception and abortion pills. “I am… Reported by bizjournals 14 hours ago.

A recent report brings good news about health care reform. The Affordable Care Act is helping break what's called "job lock," which was a major problem in our old health system. "Job lock" refers to how millions of Americans were stuck in jobs they otherwise didn't want because they needed health insurance. Many were unable to take other jobs, start businesses, retire early or do something else they really wanted to do only because the risk of losing insurance was too high.

The result was a hardening of the arteries of the old system. If a daughter wanted to care for her elderly parent, a grandmother wanted to care for her grandchild while her son went to college, a carpenter wanted to retire at 62 instead of 65, an engineer wanted to turn a brainstorm into a business, or an aging literature major wanted to finally write a novel -- they couldn't do it. Such mobility was a pipe dream.

Now these people get to make choices to improve their quality of life without fear of losing coverage. And those who no longer want jobs will make way for others who need them. And all thanks to Obamacare.

The good news comes in the Budget and Economic Outlook (2014 through 2024) recently released by the Congressional Budget Office. You can be forgiven for missing the news, because the moment the report was released, opponents pounced on it with the absurd claim that the ACA was destroying jobs. More disappointing was the botched way most in the media reported the news. The Denver Post, for example, ran a headline announcing "law costs jobs."

Such is the nature of the overly politicized health care debate in America, and it's a darn shame. Good news gets drowned out in the Washington echo chamber.

There was a time when folks across the political spectrum agreed that ending job lock was a good idea. In 2008, the conservative Heritage Foundation praised a health proposal of then-presidential candidate John McCain because "individuals would no longer feel obligated to stay with their employers simply because they need to keep their employer-based health insurance."

In 2009, Rep. Paul Ryan said:
(T)he key question that ought to be addressed in any health care reform legislation, is are we going to continue job lock, or are we going to allow individuals more choice and portability to fit the 21st century workforce?
Conservatives no doubt disapprove of how the Affordable Care Act breaks job lock. And they point out that some of this added choice comes because of subsidies low-income workers will receive. But none of that makes ending job lock suddenly a bad thing. The same exact result cannot be a virtue if conservatives are responsible for it, but a job killer if President Obama is.

Nor is it right to call it "increasing choice" when it affects the middle class but "discouraging work" when it affects low-income families.

A 2008 Harvard study estimated that 11 million people were caught in job lock. That's 11 million people like the woman mentioned in an email we received from one Colorado employer:
(P)eople who have wished to retire or voluntarily leave the workforce are able to do so because they will have access to health care. An example of this is a 62-year-old woman on my staff who has wanted to retire, could afford to do so, but was uninsurable because she is a cancer survivor.

(T)he exodus of those people will open up positions that the currently unemployed folks can fill.
The bottom line is that the Affordable Care Act has increased the choices Americans have regarding health care and employment. And as any good conservative knows, when you increase choice, you improve lives. Reported by Huffington Post 12 hours ago.

Senate Bill 1062 may just be the new SB 1070. That’s the chorus from business and political opponents of SB 1062, which allows business owners to cite their religious beliefs in hiring and other decisions and when they try to opt out of government mandates that go against their faith, such as health insurance coverage for abortion-inducing pills. SB 1070’s immigration planks cost the state meetings and conventions and hurt Arizona’s image with Hispanics, critics of that measure contend. If… Reported by bizjournals 11 hours ago.

Transitioning to Medicare from your employer's health insurance presents some complex challenges -- and missteps can result in costly premium penalties and coverage gaps. Consumer experts who provide Medicare enrollment assistance say employers don't always provide the right answers. Reported by Newsday 10 hours ago.

New Client Retention Solutions for the Changing Small and Medium Group Markets

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) February 21, 2014

Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on defined contribution solutions for brokers.

According to Zane Benefits' website, changes to the U.S. health insurance market are turning small and medium sized client’s attention to the amount they spend on healthcare, and introducing them to new affordable options for health insurance. As part of this, small and medium groups are dropping group health insurance. Yet it doesn't mean brokers and agents have to lose their business.

According to Zane Benefits' website, there are practical ways offering a defined contribution solution will help brokers retain and grow small and medium group business amidst the changing health insurance landscape.

First, defined contribution is a client retention tool for small and medium groups who are dropping group health insurance. According to Zane Benefits' website, after payroll group health insurance premiums are the most significant cost to an employer. From 1999 to 2013 the cost of single group coverage increased 168%, and family coverage increased 182%. These clients want to offer health benefits, but need a more affordable solution. Defined contribution solutions help solve this challenge and help brokers retain clients.

Click here to read the full article.

--

About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.

We've got a lot to get to in our weekly roundup of politics this week, it seems.

For those watching the Olympics (or trying to, in and amongst the soap opera that is NBC's coverage, and the accompanying forty bazillion commercial breaks) and wondering what's going on in Russian politics, well, we direct you to the panty protests. Not the most important issue of the week, but quite possibly the most bizarre (and that's even in a week that saw members of Pussy Riot getting horsewhipped by Cossacks, mind you).

This week, President Obama issued a handwritten apology to an art history professor, for denigrating the value of an art history college degree in a speech. This, for some reason (as if he really needs one) made Marco Rubio angry. A handwritten apology from the president must be nice -- we're still waiting for our apology for pretty much everything nasty Rahm Emanuel ever said (although we're not exactly holding our breath, on that one).

Johns Hopkins released a study proving that background checks for buying guns works exactly the way they are supposed to, but (speaking of not holding our breath) the media and the politicians pretty much ignored it.

A New York state senator introduced a bill banning killer whales in waterparks from the state, and he apparently plagiarized a student's article posted on the Huffington Post. Well, I'm not sure if "plagiarizing" is the right word, really, since he wasn't trying to sell the work as his own in any way, he just used part of it in the text of the bill (justifying its necessity). We would like to issue a blanket permission for all Democratic lawmakers, in response: please feel free to quote liberally from any of these columns in any legislation you wish. Dropping us a note informing of such an occurrence would be nice, but is not necessary.

In marijuana news (which has become a weekly staple, on these pages), Doug Gansler, Maryland's attorney general, seems to think that medical marijuana's acceptance is pretty much as inevitable as gay marriage, at this point. Gansler's running for governor, in a field with other Democrats. As time goes on, more and more Democrats are going to have to accept the fact that marijuana is now (1) a potent and valid political issue, and (2) worth supporting, because public attitudes are changing fast.

New York is moving closer to legalizing medical marijuana (beyond just a pilot program), and even two Republicans have now joined the effort -- so it's not just Democrats who are waking up to the new political reality. And in Colorado, the governor just admitted that pot sales (and therefore pot tax revenues) are going to be higher than expected. Feel free to make your own "higher than expected" joke, here.

Or, perhaps, insert your own "munchies" joke instead, because we're moving on to news from the world of pizza. Chevron decided to compensate citizens affected by one of their fracking wells blowing up by delivering coupons for a free pizza and bottle of soda to affected residents. You just can't make this stuff up, folks. In more positive pizza news from Arizona, one pizza parlor showed its displeasure of the state government passing a "religious freedom" law (which would allow business owners to discriminate against gay people) by posting a sign in the window reading "We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators." Bravo! I'd like a slice with extra snark, please....

In other news from the Wild West, a Republican state representative in Colorado left a hearing on concealed handgun permits, but he apparently left a handbag behind... with his loaded handgun in it. The jokes just write themselves, on that one.

Anyone who read What's The Matter With Kansas? will want to check out an article by the author where he updates his opinion with a look at the current state of affairs in the Sunflower State.

And finally, to end on this Western theme we seem to have moseyed into, George W. Bush is now channeling his inner Georgia O'Keeffe by creating paintings of animal skulls. Make of that what you will.

 

What with Congress on yet another weeklong taxpayer-funded vacation, there wasn't much happening in Washington this week that caught our eye in the *Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week* category.

So (to use a question format, for reasons which will become apparent in a moment): who was the most impressive Democrat in the news this week?

The answer has actually caused us to create a special *Most Impressive Retiring Democrat* award this week, for Representative Rush Holt, who just announced he'll won't be running for another term. The reason for giving Congressman Holt this award? From the news report:



Holt, a Jeopardy! champion with a doctoral degree in physics, recently re-introduced a "Darwin Day" resolution on the House floor, advancing a proposal to designate British naturalist Charles Darwin's Feb. 12 birthday as a day of recognition for "the importance of science in the betterment of humanity."



Pretty much that entire paragraph is impressive as all get out, but the thing which we found more impressive than the Darwin Day resolution -- or even the doctorate in physics -- was "Jeopardy! champion." Now that's impressive in a legislator!

So our first-ever *Most Impressive Retiring Democrat* goes without qualification to Rush Holt. We'll be sorry to see a man of your caliber leave Congress, because the average I.Q. of the institution is obviously going to drop with your exit. You have set a high bar for our new *MIRD* award, one that no one else may ever reach.

[Congratulate Representative Rush Holt on his House contact page, to let him know you appreciate his efforts. Be sure to phrase your congratulations in the form of a question, though.]

 

Sadly enough, there was no shortage of disappointing Democrats from last week's news. The first two are nothing more than faceless bureaucrats, so they might not even be Democrats, but we're going to hand whoever made the initial decisions *(Dis-)Honorable Mention* awards, just because. We can't, however, hand out *Honorable Mention* awards for the people who overturned these two decisions, because they did so only after exposure in the press -- not simply because they should have vetoed the idea in the first place.

The first was reportedly the brainchild of I.C.E., the immigration police. They thought it'd be a dandy idea to tie together all the country's data from vehicle license plate readers into a gigantic federal repository which would essentially track everyone driving a car in America. The stated reason for this massive surveillance was to catch undocumented immigrants. No detail of how tracking every car's movement continually was supposed to accomplish this. When the story broke in the news, the Department of Homeland Security immediately nixed the idea. But I'd be willing to bet it'll pop back up again sooner or later, perhaps over at the F.B.I. or N.S.A., so keep your eyes peeled.

The second idiotic notion for what the government should be doing came from the Federal Communications Commission, who decided to take it upon themselves to conduct a "survey" of news organizations across the country. This survey would be looking for how news editors make decisions on what to run, with particular attention being paid to expose bias. Since the F.C.C. licenses broadcast stations, this is a monumentally bad idea. Some people, of course, wish for a return to the days of the "Fairness Doctrine," but the reality is that we've moved beyond that now. Meaning the F.C.C. has no business delving into how editorial decisions are made. None. There are plenty of academic studies on news bias out there, for one, and if a new study is needed then this is the route it should take: let an academic institution conduct it, not the people who have the power to deny broadcasting licenses. Thankfully, the program was halted (once exposed in the media), but once again -- who authorized this idiocy in the first place?

We've got one more *(Dis-)Honorable Mention* to hand out, before we get to the main event. The lead sentence of this article speaks for itself: "Former U.S. Rep. Melvin Jay Reynolds has been arrested in Zimbabwe on suspicion of possessing pornography and an immigration offence." Read the whole story for the sordid details and the whole sordid past of Reynolds.

But this week's *Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week* is none other than former congressman Joe Baca, who is running for a House seat after being defeated by fellow Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod last time around. McLeod announced she will only serve one term and will not run for re-election. Baca, in a recent interview, commented on the woman who beat him: "Look at what we wound up with: Some bimbo who decided not to run again." In the past, he has also allegedly called another fellow Democrat (Loretta Sanchez) a "whore."

Now, Democrats have done an excellent job framing all the anti-woman policies and legislation emanating from the Republican Party as a "War On Women." It's one of the best political framing examples of the last few years, in fact. But to ride that high horse, Democrats are obligated to vigorously police their own ranks. Which includes condemning the knuckle-dragging behavior exhibited by the likes of Baca. He did apologize for the language later, but that's simply not good enough. Using such language about any woman -- no matter whether she's a public official or not, no matter whether she's in your own party or not -- is just not acceptable. Period.

Democrats have positioned themselves as the party which cares about women. This works, because for the most part they do (unlike the Republicans, who believe that women are weak-minded and have to be held by the hand when they visit their doctor, for instance). So it is even more egregious to hear a Democrat say something like this, and all other Democrats should loudly condemn Baca for his stupidity and male chauvinism, speaking with one voice.

For shame, Joe Baca, for shame.

[Unfortunately, Joe Baca is not currently serving in office, so we cannot provide a link so you can let him know what you think of his language. It is our policy not to link to any candidates' campaign pages.]

 

*Volume 292* (2/21/14)

There were two items in the news of note to those who enjoy well-crafted talking points. The first was the obituary of a giant in the field of "framing," Charles Fillmore. This column likely wouldn't exist without Fillmore's pioneering work in the field.

The second news item is more lighthearted. Former governor of Louisiana Edwin Edwards is apparently thinking about running for a House seat. He has quite a colorful past, including such items as federal convictions for corruption and a lengthy jail sentence. He was, however, an amusing politician when speaking off-the-cuff, such as when he ridiculed an opponent for being so dumb "it would take him an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes." His greatest line, though, the one that forever immortalized him in the history of American political quips, was uttered when speaking of how good his chances were for being re-elected. He could only lose, he famously said, if he were "caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy." So we'll be watching his congressional run closely, because who knows what he might say this time around?

OK, that's enough introduction. Let's get on with this week's talking points. We have a running theme this week: the utter and complete failure of the Republican Party's vaunted "outreach" to certain groups of Americans who have been voting against them in droves. Here are six facets of this failure, just from the current week's news alone. The final one was just thrown in for fun, though.

 *   Gay outreach failure*This is another example of brilliant framing, and should be picked up immediately by all Democrats in states where this nonsense is being debated.

"The state of Arizona is enacting a law which would enshrine the ability of businesses to legally be bigots. There's just no other way to put it. The bill would allow business owners to discriminate against the public for, quote, religious reasons, unquote. In Tennessee, where a similar bill was defeated, they came up with a perfect name for such odious legislation. They called the bill they killed the 'Turn The Gays Away' bill. Because that is precisely what such laws are being debated and passed for. They are using the cloak of religion to legalize discrimination. I guess the story of the Good Samaritan was edited out of their Bibles, because it's hard to square such laws with what is commonly called 'being a good Christian.' If this bill is signed into law in Arizona, I urge the media to start calling it what it is: the Turn The Gays Away law."

 *   Working poor outreach failure*Democrats have been doing a pretty impressive job of countering the recent C.B.O. report on raising the minimum wage, so far. Keep up the good work!

"I see Republicans gleefully pointing to the recent C.B.O. report which gave an estimate of how many jobs would be lost if the minimum wage were raised to $10.10 an hour. I find this amusing, because some Republicans are trying to get their party to actually talk about poverty in America -- but their answers to poverty are all the same, really, because they all make life harder for poor people. But to get back to the report, I do not agree with the report's conclusion, because they used outdated and disproven research to make their case. The best and most-recent research clearly shows that raising the minimum wage has precisely zero effect on unemployment. Even if, for the sake of argument, the C.B.O. is right, it offers a choice I think most Americans working at low-wage jobs would take: a 1-in-33 chance of losing your job versus a 32-in-33 chance of getting a raise of up to 39 percent of your salary. That's a 3 percent chance of losing your job versus a 97 percent chance of a raise. I think most people would accept those odds, don't you? Especially when the Republican alternative is to do absolutely nothing for any of these people."

 *   Youth vote outreach failure*I don't know whether to say "boo!' or "baa!" OK, I apologize for that joke in advance, how's that?

"If you want proof that the Tennessee state government just doesn't have enough important things to do, look no further than them declaring outright war on the University of Tennessee, where students are holding a 'Sex Week' series of events. College students in Tennessee are in great need of solid information on sex, mostly because the state refuses to teach anything other than abstinence to younger students. Even though no tax dollars fund this event, and even though no actual university dollars are used, the state legislature is still passing a condemnation resolution. Way to go, Republicans! This is a textbook case (pun intended) of how not to do youth voter outreach. Especially the one legislator who tried to make a case for forcing the event off campus, by stating: 'They can go out there in a field full of sheep if they want to and have all the Sex Week they want.' Keep reaching out to the youth of America, GOP!"

 *   Multicultural outreach failure*Maybe he was trying to use the anachronistic term "Mohammedanism"? Nah, he's probably just an idiot. It helps if you have an incredulous look on your face, at the end of this talking point.

"While trying to pass a law to get the Ten Commandments into government spaces and schools, one Alabama Republican referred to an alternate religion as 'Muslimism.' I guess that's what passes for multicultural outreach in the Republican Party these days, eh? I mean... Muslimism? Really? That's just... Wow."

 *   Women outreach failure*And it wouldn't be a complete list without a front-lines update.

"I see that the Republicans have been working overtime to offer up restriction after restriction on abortion. Not content with just that, in Texas they're celebrating their, quote, achievements in women's health, unquote, after making it impossible for thousands of Texas women to get health insurance. So it looks like the War On Women is raging full-force. I guess it'll take a few more elections to show Republicans that this is not the way to get women to vote for you."

 *   Gay and minority outreach failure*Using the word "segregation" means offending two groups at once, to put it mildly.

"In Nevada, a Republican running for a Democrat's House seat used what can only be called Orwellian language to describe why he's against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Here's the full quote:"



We need to look at people as a whole. Everybody has the same rights and privileges. We should look at the same individuals, care about our neighbor, everybody is our neighbor, but by continuing to create these laws that are what I call segregation laws, it puts one class of a person over another. We are creating classes of people through these laws.



"So, to sum up this reverse-logic, a law which guarantees equality for all means it is putting one class of person over another. Somehow. Legally removing discrimination means creating classes of people. Again, somehow. Allowing this 'segregation' to continue means being against 'segregation.' Up is down, in other words. This twisted reasoning is beyond comprehension, really. What Republicans stand for is continuing discrimination against classes of people. Granting equal rights for all removes discrimination. He's got it precisely backwards."

 *   It's all a plot!*Twist that knife.

"I see that Louie Gohmert is launching his own political action committee to fight the ongoing war between the Tea Party and the Establishment Republicans. 'War' is his word, not mine, by the way. He explained why he's starting the PAC thusly: 'There's a war against the Tea party. There's a war against conservatives, we're told. If somebody declares war on me I'm not just going to lie down and take it. I'm going to fight.' Well, bully for him! You know, sooner or later, the conspiracy theorists in the Republican Party are going to start believing that the whole Tea Party movement is nothing more than an evil Democratic plot. I mean, if I was a fat cat Democrat with millions to pump into a dastardly effort to obliterate the Republican Party, I don't think there would be any better way to spend such money than to send it to a PAC run by Louie Gohmert. The Tea Party is doing a better job of destroying the Republican Party than any efforts launched by Democrats ever have. Which eventually is going to lead some to conclude that the whole thing is nothing more than a Democratic conspiracy, don't you think?"

 

Chris Weigant blogs at:Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
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  Reported by Huffington Post 10 hours ago.

A federal appeals court has issued a ruling against the University of Notre Dame in a lawsuit over parts of the federal health care law that forces it to provide health insurance for students and employees that covers contraceptives. Reported by FOXNews.com 7 hours ago.

A federal appeals court has issued a ruling against the University of Notre Dame in a lawsuit over parts of the federal health care law that forces it to provide health insurance for students and employees that covers contraceptives. Reported by WTHR 6 hours ago.

Owners of Compensation Programs, Inc. (ComPro), a health insurance brokerage firm in Lincoln, Neb., are planning to attend the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Capitol Conference in Washington D.C. this month.

Lincoln, NE (PRWEB) February 22, 2014

Owners of Compensation Programs, Inc. (ComPro), a health insurance brokerage firm in Lincoln, Neb., are planning to attend the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Capitol Conference in Washington D.C. this month. Chris and Brian McPike, attending the event under the Nebraska delegation, will be updated on issues that impact the health insurance industry.

NAHU, an organization representing more than 100,000 licensed health insurance professionals, is holding their 24th annual Capitol Conference from February 24-26. The yearly conference educates delegates from around the country on important health insurance issues, especially those that impact legislative action. The three-day event consists of multiple breakout sessions discussing the latest in health insurance, visits with Congressional representatives, and lobbying on Capitol Hill.

ComPro owners Brian and Chris McPike say they are looking forward to attending this year’s conference and will be present for all three days of the conference. They plan on meeting with senators and representatives to lobby their support for remedies that will benefit Nebraska’s citizens.

“This is an excellent opportunity to meet with our Congressmen and discuss the issues that concern us about the Affordable Care Act law. The Congressmen see it from a political side but are removed from the real world implementation. We are there to discuss the issues and offer options to improve health care overall,” said owner Brian McPike.

Some key breakout sessions at the conference this year include ‘Private Exchanges – New Options for Employers’, ‘Access Opportunities for Agents in Public Exchanges’, and ‘Compliance Corner Live – Your Compliance Questions Answered.’ The last two afternoons are dedicated to lobbying on Capitol Hill.

ComPro serves financial professionals, employers and individuals. The ComPro team believes in providing professional, experienced service with integrity and studies all possible insurance coverage options for clients.

For more information on the NAHU Capitol Conference, contact Brian McPike at brianmcpike(at)comproins(dot)com or visit http://www.nahu.org/. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.

Mail-away genetic testing promises to revolutionize the way that people learn about and manage their health. Already half a million Americans have sent their saliva to find out their risk of genetic disease--no doctors needed.

Splashed across TV sets nationwide this past summer was 23andMe's invitation to discover "hundreds of things about your health," including that you "might have an increased risk of heart disease, arthritis, [or] gallstones."

Since the company's inception in 2007, the government had allowed it to market and sell its at-home genetic tests free of regulation. For $99 and the click of a mouse, 23andMe promised a "first step in prevention" to "mitigate[e] serious diseases."

But this winter, the Food and Drug Administration issued a letter forbidding sales of the test to diagnose health conditions unless there is evidence that it works for that purpose. Shortly after 23andMe announced that it had "suspended" all sales of its "health-related genetic tests to comply" with the FDA directive, consumers brought a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging that it "falsely and misleadingly advertises" the genetic test "as providing 'health reports on 240+ conditions'" in the absence of "analytical or clinical validation."

The 23andMe controversy illustrates a stalemate over the role of direct-to-consumer genetic testing in American health care.

On one side are those like geneticist Robert Green and law professor Nita Farahany, who recently argued in the science journal Nature that people should be trusted to make responsible use of their own genetic information. Green and Farahany believe that the FDA's insistence that 23andMe prove its tests effective is unduly paternalistic. Marshaling evidence of consumer reactions to genetic testing results, they worry that the FDA's "overcautious" approach "may pose a greater threat to consumer health than the harms that it seeks to prevent."

Then there are those like bioethicist George Annas and physician Sherman Elias who argued in the New England Journal of Medicine that the FDA ban did no more than "requir[e] that companies that want to sell their health-related medical devices to the public demonstrate...that the tests do what the company claims they do." Annas and Elias fear that misreported or misunderstood genetic risk appraisals could lead consumers to make dangerous medical decisions: for example, to self-adjust prescribed treatments, forego potentially life-saving screenings, or even pressure physicians to operate on them unnecessarily.

Each position--nonintervention and prohibition--has much to commend it. Yet neither captures the diverse outcomes of genetic testing. Access to such information can generate education or ignorance, persuasion or coercion, health or illness. Green and Farahany are surely right that "[m]ore systematic research is needed to assess the outcomes of consumer genomics testing." But it is far from clear whether the need "to continue gathering data" justifies the consequences of unregulated testing.

Behavioral economics offers a range of mechanisms to break this impasse. Economist Richard Thaler and legal scholar Cass Sunstein famously argued in their best-selling book Nudge that institutions can design decisionmaking contexts in ways that help people make better choices without losing their freedom to choose. Consider a range of "nudges" to monitor the genetic information that is provided by and to consumer patients:
· DNA test discount for satisfactory completion of an online genetics quiz;
· health insurance voucher upon submitting proof of follow-up with a counselor;
· advisory notice with every order that "most people who acquire genetic testing seek expert guidance to help understand its implications for their health";
· repackaged results in terms of raw genetic data rather than future susceptibility to ill health;
· routine offer to reveal only those risks of disease that can now or might in the near future be responded to through treatment or prevention measures.
This innovative approach to the management of genetic health information better balances the dual goals of patient health and consumer freedom. Genetic testing is the next frontier of personalized medicine. But it needs a nudge.

Dov Fox is a law professor at the University of San Diego, where he and his colleagues will this spring convene leaders in law, ethics, industry, medicine, and government to examine the implications of genetic testing for American health care. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.

Health insurance career opportunities with IPA are now available in select markets, and qualified candidates have the ability to participate in wealth accumulation plan.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 22, 2014

Due to record-breaking growth, IPA Family, LLC (IPA), an American Independence Corp. company and member of The IHC Group, is pleased to announce that additional business opportunities are now available nationwide. To accommodate this surge, IPA hopes to fill area and regional leadership positions in select markets as soon as possible.

IPA President and Chief Operating Officer David Keeler attributes the company’s strong performance to its integrity-driven sales force and leadership team. “For us it is about serving others while earning significant wealth for today, tomorrow, and well into retirement,” Mr. Keeler said. “At IPA you have a true opportunity to be in business for yourself but not by yourself.”

Qualified candidates will possess the following skill-set: a minimum three years of industry experience and current possession of a life, accident, and health insurance license; decision-making and problem-solving abilities; active listening skills; critical thinking skills; experience influencing and motivating sales teams; sales experience; strong time-management skills; and a highly ethical predisposition. Selected candidates will be provided with a complete and comprehensive leadership package that promotes their personal and professional success.

This leadership package includes, but is not limited to, the following:
➢    Compensation programs with overwrites
➢    Residual income and monthly bonuses
➢    Lifetime vesting schedules
➢    Wealth accumulation plan
➢    Free sales leads and lead-management systems
➢    Ongoing training and business education using state-of-the art technologies
➢    Many other performance-based programs and incentives

“We believe integrity is the first step to true greatness. At IPA, honesty and integrity come above everything else. They are the core values of our company, and are the most important assets we have,” said Roxanne Huggins, who currently serves on IPA’s board of directors and leads its Heartland Center of Excellence as Area Performance Leader.

To be considered for one of the select area or regional leadership positions and participate in a professional and confidential interview process, please direct inquiries with resume to IPA Family, LLC through their website contact page.

Due to a culture of continuous growth and market expansions, IPA is currently accepting inquiries for existing and new markets. For more information about IPA Family and the companies it represents, visit http://www.ipafamily.com or call 800-772-8667 and indicate you saw our press release.

About IPA Family, LLC (IPA)
IPA Family, LLC is a national marketing organization that distributes major medical insurance plans and other health insurance plans and consumer benefit association membership programs across the nation. IPA’s trained professional sales associates, referred to as the “IPA Family,” provides information and a product portfolio that can meet the needs of most small business owners and self-employed individuals and families. Headquartered in Tampa, Fl., IPA is accredited and has an excellent reputation with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) and is a member company of The IHC Group.

About American Independence Corp.
AMIC, through Independence American Insurance Company and its other subsidiaries, offers pet insurance, non-subscriber occupational accident, international coverages, and short-term medical. AMIC provides to the individual and self-employed markets health insurance and related products, which are distributed through its subsidiaries IPA Family, LLC, healthinsurance.org, LLC, IPA Direct, Inc. and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. AMIC markets medical stop-loss through its marketing and administrative company IHC Risk Solutions, LLC.

About The IHC Group
The IHC Group is an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions to groups and individuals for over 30 years. Members of The IHC Group include Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC), American Independence Corp. (NASDAQ: AMIC), Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company. Each insurance carrier in The IHC Group has a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company, Inc., a widely recognized rating agency that rates insurance companies on their relative financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations. (An A++ rating from A.M. Best is its highest rating.) Collectively, the companies in The IHC Group provide insurance coverage to more than one million individuals and groups. For more information about The IHC Group, visit http://www.ihcgroup.com.

We encourage you to visit us on the following social media sites:
Facebook: Simply search IPA Family
YouTube: TheIPAFamily
Twitter: Subscribe to us @IPA_Family Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Health Insurance Renewal Time Brings Unexpected Surprises for Small Businesses

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) February 22, 2014

Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on the biggest health insurance renewal problems.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, health insurance renewal time can bring unexpected surprises for small businesses. This is especially true in 2014 with new changes brought on by health reform. But one silver lining is that small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees) are not subject to the ACA's employer mandate. Because of this, small businesses have more options for offering affordable health insurance.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the most popular small business health insurance "alternative" is pure defined contribution healthcare. With defined contribution, small businesses offer employees an allowance for health insurance instead of offering a traditional group health insurance plan.

Zane Benefits’ website examines the three biggest group health insurance renewal problems small businesses face, and how these problems can be permanently solved with a defined contribution approach.

Problem #1: Annual Premium Increases Create Unpredictable Budgets Year to Year

Problem #2: The Small Group Plan Doesn’t Meet New ACA Standards

Problem #3: Renewals Take Time and Resources.. That Small Businesses Don’t Have

Click here to read the full article.

--

About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

Improvements in the stock market and health care industries have resulted in the growth of several 100K jobs in the U.S. Granted mirrors this job growth.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) February 22, 2014

Hiring has once again improved and the trend will continue through the year with a number of jobs being posted in the finance and healthcare sectors. Harrison Barnes, Chief Executive Officer of Granted, predicts that there will be a great demand for mid-level professionals as companies will want to hire competent staff, but at a lower pay. Hiring will no longer be as depressing as it was in December 2013, but employers will remain cautious with their recruitment plans at least in the first quarter of this year. Consequently, there will be a surge in 100K opportunities in almost every sector. A growth in 100K jobs has already been spotted on Granted, a powerful job aggregation site that gives job seekers access to millions of jobs at one location. Job search data from the site is showing a definite rise in 100K jobs for the finance and healthcare sectors.

The stock markets in the U.S. enjoyed their best performance since the 1990s, despite the apparent slowdown observed in 2013. And this trend has continued in 2014 as well. Long term interest rates are up and consumer confidence is also strengthening. This trend, added to the findings of the 'Fidelity 2014 New Year Financial Resolutions Study', gives enough evidence that financial professionals will be high in demand this year. These professionals help individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. With people becoming more conscientious than ever about their bottom lines, there will be a rising demand for financial analysts, advisors and managers.

A recent market study conducted by Granted on job trends reports that more than 30% of employers in the financial services sector will post employment opportunities in 2014. Many of these employers have already started posting jobs. This can be attributed to the rise in the demand for financial services given that 54% of Americans are considering financial resolutions this year, according to the Fidelity report. Activity on Granted mirrors this job growth. More than 5,960 of the 100K jobs posted on Granted are for finance professionals.

Likewise, there will also be a great demand for healthcare professionals this year. According to the article “Jobs Prospects 2014: Where Should You Go and Where Not?” posted on Employment Spectator on 20 February, there will be plentiful jobs for healthcare professionals in Texas, Florida and New York. Following the enactment of the Affordable Care Act last year, more Americans have health insurance and can afford maintenance and emergency care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment will increase in home health, support and tech positions. Most professionals filling these positions can expect a salary of at least $100K. About 6,900 vacancies posted on Granted are 100K healthcare jobs.

Vacancies are rising in the U.S. and awaiting the right takers. Visit the Granted website to find out more about how this job site can assist job seekers in landing dream jobs with its super-friendly interface and search options.

About Granted:

Granted.com is a premier job search site with the largest jobseeker database in the United States. It is an affiliate of the Employment Research Institute, the largest group of career related companies worldwide. Heading the operations of the website is Harrison Barnes, CEO of Granted.com. It has the most comprehensive database of job seekers and employers across all industries. The site is aimed at connecting professional job seekers to the right organizations in order to boost their careers. You can maximize your reach in the talent pool by posting jobs at one location. For more details, visit http://www.granted.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday ruled against the University of Notre Dame in a case over parts of the federal health care law that forces it to provide health insurance for students and employees that covers contraceptives.

The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago upheld a federal judge's earlier ruling that denied the Roman Catholic school's request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent it from having to comply with the birth control requirement as the university's lawsuit moves forward. The lawsuit challenges a compromise in the Affordable Health Care Act offered by the Obama administration that attempted to create a buffer for religiously affiliated hospitals, universities and social service groups that oppose birth control. The law requires insurers or the health plan's outside administrator to pay for birth control coverage and creates a way to reimburse them.

Notre Dame, located in South Bend, Ind., contends the law violates its freedom to practice religion without government interference.

In its 2-1 decision, the court noted that Notre Dame had already notified the administrator of its employee plan, Meritain Health Inc., and the insurer for students, Aetna Inc., that the university would not pay for contraception, as required under the compromise. However, Aetna and Meritain still must cover contraception.

"We imagine that what the university wants is an order forbidding Aetna and Meritain to provide any contraceptive coverage to Notre Dame staff or students pending final judgment in the district court," Judge Richard A. Posner wrote. "But we can't issue such an order; neither Aetna nor Meritain is a defendant (the university's failure to join them as defendants puzzles us), so unless and until they are joined as defendants they can't be ordered by the district court or by this court to do anything."

In his dissent, Judge Joel M. Flaum noted that other religious groups have been granted injunctions when they have challenged the law.

"Notre Dame tells us that Catholic doctrine prohibits the actions that the government requires it to take. So long as that belief is sincerely held, I believe we should defer to Notre Dame's understanding," Flaum wrote.

In a statement provided to the South Bend Tribune, Notre Dame spokesman Paul Brown said the university's "concern remains that if government is allowed to entangle a religious institution of higher education like Notre Dame in one area contrary to conscience, it's given license to do so in others." Reported by Huffington Post 23 hours ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cuts are on the table next year for Medicare Advantage plans, the Obama administration says. The politically dicey move affecting a private insurance alternative highly popular with seniors immediately touched off an election-year fight.

The announcement gave new ammunition to Republican critics of President Barack Obama's health care law, while disappointing some Democratic senators who had called on the administration to hold rates steady. Insurers are still hoping to whittle back the cuts or dodge them altogether. Late Friday after financial markets closed, Medicare issued a 148-page assessment of cost factors for the private plans next year. It included multiple variables, some moving in different directions, but analyst Matthew Eyles of Avalere Health estimated it would translate to a cut of 1.9 percent for 2015, a figure also cited by congressional staffers briefed on the proposal.

"There's nothing to like here if you're one of the plans," said Eyles.

Administration officials say the plans don't need to be paid as much to turn a profit, because the growth of health care spending has slowed dramatically. They see the cuts as a dividend for taxpayers.

But the political clout of the plans is growing as seniors flock to them seeking better health care value. Medicare Advantage plans now serve nearly 16 million people, or about 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. They can offer lower out-of-pocket costs and broader benefits than traditional Medicare, but often restrict choice.

Insurers say they will be forced to pass on higher costs to seniors or cut benefits if their rates are reduced, and some plans may drop out altogether. The impact could vary significantly around the country.

The industry says the cuts come as Medicare Advantage reductions programmed under the health care law are ramping up. The law sought to compensate for prior years in which the plans were overpaid. But it also includes a new tax on insurers, so industry officials fear the combined impact will be much higher.

The largest insurer trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, is sparing no effort to head off cuts, with an extensive advertising and lobbying campaign.

It has won the support of 40 senators from both parties who, in a Feb. 14 letter, called on the administration to essentially hold Medicare Advantage rates steady. Among the signers were six Democratic senators in contested races whose outcome will determine whether Obama faces a Congress next year that's completely controlled by Republicans.

Final rates won't be released until April 7, so the lobbying will get even more intense. In prior years, Medicare has sometimes pulled back from proposed cuts.

Friday's announcement will help the government decide basic rates for the Medicare Advantage plans. But the actual change individual plans and customers eventually see will vary, depending on factors like a plan's quality rating or where the plan is located.

The plans have become a key source of revenue growth for insurers who sell and administer the subsidized coverage. They offer basic Medicare coverage topped with extras like vision or dental coverage or premiums lower than standard Medicare rates. There are hundreds of different plans around the country, each with its own set of variables like different deductibles, premiums and co-insurance.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc. are the two largest Medicare Advantage providers. Health insurance stocks that soared in 2013 slipped at the start of this year after Humana Inc., the second-largest in the market, said rate cuts could be deeper than expected.

___

Associated Press writer Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report. Reported by Huffington Post 23 hours ago.

"With the highest rate of pregnancy-associated deaths among all 50 states, Georgia proposes dangerous anti-woman policies while women continue to die. Over 35 organizations rally together in opposition at the Georgia State Capitol on 2/25 at 11:30am," according to the Feminist Women's Health Center.

Atlanta, Geogia (PRWEB) February 22, 2014

On Tuesday, February 25 at 11:30am, over 35 organizations and hundreds of their members will rally together at the State Capitol. The event, “Walk in My Shoes, Hear Our Voice,” is in protest of the silencing of women’s voices.

"Too many politicians openly support a denial of basic health care and the reversal of essential reproductive rights. While increasing numbers of anti-woman policies are put in place, women are dying. Legislators have consistently failed to listen to or allow the testimony of women who relate the real impact of these policies on their lives and health," says Janelle Yamarick, Advocacy Director of the Feminist Women's Health Center.

The nation’s rate of maternal mortality has been steadily rising, and nowhere is that increase more evident than in Georgia. Public health officials reported in 2013 that Georgia has the highest rate of pregnancy-associated deaths among all 50 states.

Jaime Chandra, FWHC’s Marketing & Communications Manager says, “We have reached the tipping point and we’re here to say: we won’t go back! The continuous legislation attempting to control women’s health decisions, both directly and indirectly, are dangerous. We are ready for our voice to be heard; it is time to move forward and commit to protecting women’s lives.”

Below, Feminist Women's Health Center's Advocacy Network provides potential impact of proposed legislation:

SB 377 & HB 1023 use broadly-scoped definitions that significantly expand the legal ability to refuse and discriminate based on religious objection. These bills define ‘burden’ as any application of law or policy and ‘person’ includes corporations and other entities. The impact of these bills would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions. These bills could also impact a woman’s ability to acquire prescriptions or referrals from her doctor, receive emergency reproductive health care, and may even impact employment based on marital status, martial history, contraception use, or pregnancy status. (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/SB/377 & http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/HB/1023)

SB 98 would prohibit Georgians from purchasing health insurance through the ACA exchange that provides comprehensive reproductive health care benefits, including abortion. State employees would also be denied this coverage, now by law. This bill changes the insurance coverage that Georgians have right now; most insurance plans cover abortion, but this bill removes those benefits with dangerously narrow medical emergency exceptions. (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/SB/98)

SB 334 & HB 707, "The Georgia Health Care Freedom and ACA Noncompliance Act," would do exactly as the title suggests. It aims to prohibit any local or state government entity, including Universities, from engaging in activity that aids in the implementation of or education regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This bill would halt already funded programs that help uninsured Georgians find coverage. Further, it would create barriers to the preventative services guaranteed by the ACA. Since many pregnant women go into labor with chronic health problems, preventative healthcare is crucial to reducing maternal mortality. (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/SB/334 & http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/HB/707)

HB 990 would require Legislative Approval to expand Medicaid, prohibiting the State Governor from doing so without legislative action. Medicaid has already been proven to lower infant mortality and improved access to preventative care would ensure women’s health throughout all life stages. This bill would create numerous hurdles for all Georgians to obtain insurance coverage and reduce access to life-saving healthcare. (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/HB/990)

The organizations listed below have come together to support “Walk in My Shoes, Hear Our Voice.” The organizing principle is as follows: We are here to reclaim our voice. We reject bills that do not comply and support bills that do comply with the following principles* for all Georgians:·     to determine when and whether to have children,
·     to have a healthy pregnancy and birth;
·     to become a parent and parent with dignity, and
·     to have safe and healthy relationships and families.

Co-sponsoring organizations as of 2/22/14: ACLU of Georgia; American Friends Service Committee; Atlanta Feminist Women's Health Center; Atlanta Women’s Center; Clarkston Community Center; Emory Reproductive Health Association; Georgia Equality; Georgia NOW; Georgia Reproductive Justice Access Network; Georgia Rural Urban Summit; Georgia WAND; Georgia Women for a Change; Georgia Working Group; Health Organization for Latin America; International Action Center; League of Women Voters of Dekalb County, Georgia; League of Women Voters of Georgia; Men Stopping Violence; Moral Monday GA; NAACP Georgia: W.I.N. (Women in NAACP Working Group); National Association of Social Workers – Georgia Chapter; National Council of Jewish Women – Atlanta Section; ONE BILLION RISING; Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates; Raising Women’s Voices; Raksha; Refugee Women's Network; Secular Woman; SisterSong; SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW!; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta Reproductive Justice Advocacy Group; WonderRoot; Women of W.O.R.T.H; Young Women’s Task Force.

Media invited to attend. There will be a press event, designated spokespeople from each organization, and individuals who will be available for comment.

Walk in My Shoes, Hear Our Voice
Washington Street Side of the Georgia State Capitol
Tuesday, February 25, 2014, 11:30am – 1pm
http://www.HearOurVoice.org

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/567288220027619/
Original Song: “Won’t Go Back” https://soundcloud.com/feminist-center-atlanta/
Original Music Video: https://vimeo.com/feministcenter/wontgoback Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.