Aberdeen Asset Management Plc is betting that investors are too pessimistic about industrial companies, shifting money into those stocks and selling health-care shares, the worlds biggest gainers this year.

Uncertainty about the global economy has spurred cyclical equities to lag pharmaceutical shares and other defensive industries by a margin thats too wide to ignore, according to Martin Connaghan, senior investment manager for global equities. Some industrial companies, such as elevator and escalator makers, have stable income from maintenance contracts that make them less sensitive to global growth, Connaghan said in an interview in Hong Kong on Aug. 28. Aberdeen Asset managed about $551 billion as of June 30.

A measure of worldwide industrial shares is trading near the lowest valuation relative to health-care stocks in more than a decade, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Health-care shares have rallied the most among the MSCI World Indexs 10 industry groups this year, buoyed by dealmaking and demand for equities with a profit outlook thats less tied to the global economy.

Theyve done particularly well these last couple of years, said Connaghan. On the other side of that, some of the more cyclical companies, whether it be some of the industrial type of companies or materials and mining, have been relatively weak so there has been a slight reduction of some of that defensive exposure and increase into some of the more cyclical stocks.

The MSCI World Industrials Index, which includes companies from Airbus Group NV to elevator maker Zardoya Otis SA, traded at 18 times its trailing 12 month earnings yesterday, compared with 22 times for the global health-care gauge. The disparity widened last week to the most since October 2002.

Investors have poured $4.3 billion into U.S. exchange-traded funds tracking health-care shares this year, more than eight times the $530 million they added to industrial ETFs, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Global economic data the past few months have been mixed, with gauges of euro-region manufacturing and services industries unexpectedly falling in August, while Japans economy shrank the most in five years last quarter after a sales-tax increase. In the U.S., gains in factory activity last month contrasted with slower payrolls growth, while Chinese imports unexpectedly slid.

Were not necessarily saying the environment in the future will improve, said Connaghan. The outlook for cyclical stocks is tricky at this moment. We dont expect the outlook for these companies to necessarily change in the immediate future, we just think that there are a lot of bad news or low expectations.

Aberdeen is investing in industrial shares with stable revenue from services such as maintenance contracts, Connaghan said, while declining to name specific companies.

Some of the industrial companies arent as cyclical as they may appear when you first look at them, if you actually look at their revenues, Connaghan said. Demand for their actual product may decline but there is always a base level of income and revenues that are coming from areas that are more stable, regardless of the economic environment.

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Aberdeen Asset Sells Health-Care to Buy Industrial Stocks

((KNWA/NBC))-- The nation's largest retailer is making the move from urgent care and flu shots into primary care.

By the end of the year, primary care clinics will open in a dozen rural Walmart stores.

The retailer recently launched its newest health clinic with a marching band and fanfare. The company is looking to change the game in retail health, offering more services at a lower cost than its rivals.

"Price matters to our customers and associates. So the Walmart Care Clinic is really about establishing that new price point," says Jennifer Laperre, Walmart U.S. Sr. Dir. Health and Wellness.

At a time when more workers face higher out of pocket health costs, Walmart's clinics offer expanded in-store services like physicals and wellness check-ups, face to face with nurse practitioners for a total of $40.00. For its employees it's just $4.00.

While it is only a pilot program for now, analysts say if Walmart can make this level of pricing work, it will pose a challenge not just to other retail clinic rivals, but to other providers, doctors and hospitals.

"They are a real opportunity, they are a real threat in many different places, and if providers don't respond accordingly, they could see many of their most profitable channels disrupted," says Christopher Kerns, with the Advisory Board Company.

Walmart is facing its own higher health costs, as more of its associates are now enrolling in its health plan in the wake of the Affordable Care Act. That plays a big a part in the retailer's clinic equation.

"That's a pretty good way to handle that added enrollment and first-time health coverage consumers," says Neil Trautwein. with the National Retail Federation.

And it doesn't hurt that once they're all in the clinics, they'll likely shop in the store.

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Primary Health Care at the Grocery Store?

Cure Tonsils with Home Remedies (With English Subtitles and captions in 162 languages)
Tonsils are collections of lymphoid tissue facing into the aerodigestive tract. The set of lymphatic tissue known as Waldeyer #39;s tonsillar ring includes the adenoid tonsil, two tubal tonsils,...

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Nonprofits Partner To Foster Culture Of Health
Here is the link to the Forbes post for tomorrow #39;s interview: http://onforb.es/1nVaoTa. A new partnership between the American Heart Association (AHA, for brevity #39;s sake) and the Robert...

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Is your financial situation leaving you feeling sick to your stomach? Youre not alone. Despite the Affordable Care Act and the recently launched health care exchanges, an alarming amount of Americans are worried about medical expenses.

Medical debt is weighing on the wallets and minds of consumers. According to a new report from Bankrate.com, 25 percent of Americans currently have more medical debt than emergency savings. That figure nearly doubles to 44 percent among people earning less than $30,000 per year. Furthermore, 34 percent of parents with children under 18 say they have more medical debt than emergency savings, compared to 22 percent of respondents without kids.

Even people who do not currently have medical debt are plagued by the thought of it. The report finds that 55 percent of respondents were either very or somewhat worried they will become overwhelmed by medical debt at some point in the future. These results show that more than half the population feels financially insecure when it comes to healthcare. This is an issue that affects consumer confidence and the broader economy, said Doug Whiteman, Bankrate.com insurance analyst.

Making matters worse, 55 percent of Americans are also worried that they will not have affordable health insurance in the future. Women (60 percent) are more worried than men (50 percent), while Republicans (63 percent) are the most concerned group, with independents (62 percent) a close second. Forty-six percent of Democrats are concerned about affordable health insurance.

The fear may arise from first-hand experience with expensive health plans. With the Affordable Care Act, anybody who now wants insurance can get it, explained David Cusano, senior research fellow at Georgetown Universitys Health Policy Institute. The question now becomes: Can I afford to use it? When you think about people confronting out-of-pocket maximums at around $7,000 or deductibles of $5,000 for a family, thats a lot of money. You throw prescription drug copays into the mix, and I can see where you would be worried.

Medical bills are such of a burden to Americans that the nations most popular credit score provider is revising its model. FICO will change its calculations so medical collections will have a lower impact on credit scores, making it easier for consumers to obtain loans. The median FICO Score for consumers whose only major negative references are medical collections will increase by 25 points. In July, Experian said more than 64 million Americans had a medical collection on their credit report.

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Is Obamacare Curing Your Health Care Worries?

Sometimes the work Cindy Balliet did this past year touched her heart.

Balliethelped awoman with chronic back painget enrolled in the new federal health insurance program.

The woman was then able to get implants in her spine that blocked much of the pain and allowed her to live a more normal life. She could walk at least to the mailbox and back. She could go to church. She could make her bed, things we take for granted, said Balliet.

The woman enjoyed cooking. So she baked Balliet a loaf of bread.

Balliet got other loaves of fresh bread, a universal gift of thanks, from grateful people she shepherded through the computer application process for the Affordable Care Act.

She also got candy and thanks and hugs. Lots of hugs.

Balliet was one of 50 people trained and licensed to help Nebraskans navigate the new health insurance system.She was one of nine navigators paid to work full-time at Community Action Partnership offices across the state.

Balliet came to Nebraska from Michigan when her husband got a job in Seward. Sheplanned to work on obtaining a nursing home administrator license.

Instead, Balliet, who has a background in insurance sales, spent the last year helping people in the Lincoln area get health insurance throughthe newfederal system, which was created in a political hurricane andlaunched with serious computer-related problems.

ACA, also called Obamacare, provides health insurance for people who dont have access to employer-sponsored insurance. Premiums are based on age, gender and smoking status only. There is no penalty for pre-existing health conditions.

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Ex-health care navigator earned lots of hugs

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe plans to expand public health care to 20,000 mentally ill adult residents. But he will not try a large-scale unilateral expansion of the state's Medicaid program.

McAuliffe said Monday at a Capitol news conference that he wants to target his efforts to provide health care for the neediest of the state's 1 million uninsured.

The governor also plans outreach efforts to help enroll many of the state's uninsured into existing programs and to provide dental care for about 45,000 pregnant women who already receive publicly funded health care.

McAuliffe had previously promised to expand Medicaid to about 400,000 eligible low-income adults using mostly federal funds. He was blocked by the Republican-controlled General Assembly earlier this year.

Here is the news release:

Today Governor McAuliffe launched A Healthy Virginia, a 10-step plan to expand healthcare services to over 200,000 Virginians. This plan is an unprecedented action by any governor in Virginia history and includes authorizations of four emergency regulations, one executive order, and innovative and creative solutions to expand healthcare to Virginia veterans, children, and families.

As governor, there is no greater responsibility than ensuring the health and safety of the citizens you serve. That is why I am so proud to stand here today and unveil A Healthy Virginia a plan that will improve the lives of more than 200,000 citizens throughout the Commonwealth, said Governor McAuliffe. Through my plan, I am taking action by authorizing 4 emergency regulations and issuing 1 executive order that will address urgent health needs and put us on a pathway toward Building a New Virginia Economy. However, these steps are just the beginning, and we must continue to press forward together to achieve better health for all of our citizens.

Governor McAuliffes Plan: A Healthy Virginia governor.virginia.gov/media/3096/a-healthy-virginia-report-final.pdf

Step 1: Covering people with serious mental illness The Governor will launch the Governors Access Plan, or GAP, to make sure real health care reforms reach our neediest citizens. This new and innovative plan will provide medical and behavioral health care to approximately 20,000 uninsured Virginians with severe mental illnesses. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-4011, Governor McAuliffe will authorize his staff to start the emergency regulation process and work with CMS on the needed waiver for this coverage.

Step 2: Improve the coordination of care for adults and children who are already covered by Medicaid and have a serious mental illness Governor McAuliffe is authorizing the Department of Medical Assistance Services to issue regulations to establish health homes for individuals with severe mental illness. These health homes are not physical spaces, but instead, are a model of care in which all of an individuals primary, acute, behavioral, and long-term care services are coordinated and integrated. By implementing this program with minimal investment, Virginia can get a 90 percent match rate of federal money. This is a fiscally responsible step that will provide 13,000 of the neediest Virginians the quality care they need.

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Gov. McAuliffe announces limited health care expansion

California State Senator Ricardo Lara explaining Health Care for All bill. AJPRESS PHOTO

Health coverage for remaining uninsured would need funding

New levies on drivers licenses, remittances on the table

LOS ANGELES, California A proposed state law that seeks to fund health care coverage for Californias remaining uninsured could lead to new fees on remittances and drivers license applications.

An expanded Medi-Cal and an insurance marketplace for undocumented immigrants, will need funding, according to State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Huntingon Park/Long Beach), the primary author of Senate Bill 1005 or the Health For All Act.

The imposition of new fees is being debated by bill proponents, Sacramento policy makers and think tanks, who are trying to find ways to make Health For All a fiscally sound program.

For immigrants whose families back home rely heavily on remittances from the United States, fees on remittances could be a big setback. The added fees on remittances could also adversely impact the economies of some countries that are greatly depend on foreign remittances.

But Lara clarified that these fees are still theoretical at this point, and are not yet considered as the ultimate solution to make the Health For All program work. Lara made the clarification during an ethnic media roundtable hosted by New America Media on Friday, September 5.

Theres no set fee now. Were just in the discussion phase. Were trying to figure out how much money were actually going to need to be able to fund this exchange and the expansion of Medi-Cal, Lara said.

Lara, who is joined by a broad and diverse statewide coalition of health, immigrant and community advocates in the push for Health For All, said that it is tricky to figure out how much money this program is going to cost.

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New fees on remittances to help fund California health care expansion?

Along with everyone else in the community, we anxiously await the decision by the Wellmont board of directors on whether and/or with whom they might create a new strategic alliance. Their good work and deliberations could lead to changing the face of health care in Bristol for generations to come.

Several community leaders in Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City have expressed support, and are lobbying for a merger between Wellmont and Mountain States Health Alliance. While unconfirmed, Mountain States is rumored to be one of the three finalists for a potential merger.

Local control has been the rallying cry by the community leaders supporting a potential Wellmont-Mountain States merger.

We respect Wellmonts decision to seek strategic options, but before jumping on the band wagon for a merger joining Wellmont and Mountain States everyone needs to take a moment to consider the potential consequences.

Typically, when two organizations merge, a justification for such a union is to seek operating efficiencies. This holds true for corporate mergers in most business sectors including health care. This often leads to a reduction or elimination of duplicated services.

Local health care organizations are facing challenges in both Tennessee and Virginia (as well as the rest of the country) tied the Affordable Health Care Act and the decision by Tennessee and Virginia legislatures to reject expanded Medicaid funding.

We are very fortunate to have three incredible medical facilities in the Tricities. We have two Level One Trauma Centers in Johnson City and Kingsport, and a Level Two Trauma Center in Bristol. We have outstanding cancer treatment facilities and wonderful cardiac care as well as many more, valuable services.

If a merger between Wellmont and Mountain States were to occur, one of the first questions begging an answer would be: Do we need this level of service in all three communities?

We have duplication of a number of very important services. Duplication among health care providers means competition, which in many cases results in a differentiation in pricing and levels of personal service.

Bristol, being the smallest of the three communities and the smallest of the three hospitals could be the odd-man out if a merger was to occur and duplicated services were deemed necessary to be eliminated.

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The changing face of health care

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States health care spending affecting your insurance costs
22News found out why some anticipate those numbers will continue to rise and how that could impact how much you pay for your next health insurance policy.

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Changes to Vietnam veterans health care
News 8 #39;s Jocelyn Maminta reports.

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Changes to Vietnam veterans health care - Video

Our ACO story - Baptist Memorial Health Care
See how Baptist Memorial Health Care doctors are working together with Aetna to help people get and stay healthy, while lowering costs at the same time.

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Our ACO story - Baptist Memorial Health Care - Video

Single payer health care
We tried to warn everyone.

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Single payer health care - Video

Webinar: Decision Making in Healthcare Contexts- Supporting People with ID/DD
"Speaker: Samantha Crane, Director of Public Policy Autistic Self Advocacy Network "Too often, people with I/DD are denied health care or forced into guardianship arrangements as a result...

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Webinar: Decision Making in Healthcare Contexts- Supporting People with ID/DD - Video

By Erica McClain Digital First Media

The new system officially launched Sept. 2 and was approved by federal and state regulatory officials and granted tax-exempt status as a new $3.8 billion nonprofit health care organization.

The three health care systems CEOs began discussions about a merger in late 2013 and signed a letter of intent in March.

The integration planning to create a new health care organization from three separate organizations has gone extremely smoothly, which is a credit to the leaders and staff of Beaumont, Botsford and Oakwood, stated Brian M. Connolly, president and CEO of Oakwood Healthcare, in a press release. This demonstrates our shared dedication to improving quality and delivery of care, making exceptional health care more accessible to our communities. Beaumont Health has a unique opportunity to become a local and national leader, and we are well on our way.

Beaumont Health consists of eight hospitals with 3,337 beds, 153 outpatient sites, 5,000 physicians, more than 33,000 employees and about 3,500 volunteers, according to a press release. In 2013, the combined organizations had 168,047 inpatient admissions, 15,997 births and 492,677 emergency visits.

The new system officially launched Sept. 2 and was approved by federal and state regulatory officials and granted tax-exempt status as a new $3.8 billion nonprofit health care organization.

The three health care systems CEOs began discussions about a merger in late 2013 and signed a letter of intent in March.

The integration planning to create a new health care organization from three separate organizations has gone extremely smoothly, which is a credit to the leaders and staff of Beaumont, Botsford and Oakwood, stated Brian M. Connolly, president and CEO of Oakwood Healthcare, in a press release. This demonstrates our shared dedication to improving quality and delivery of care, making exceptional health care more accessible to our communities. Beaumont Health has a unique opportunity to become a local and national leader, and we are well on our way.

Beaumont Health consists of eight hospitals with 3,337 beds, 153 outpatient sites, 5,000 physicians, more than 33,000 employees and about 3,500 volunteers, according to a press release. In 2013, the combined organizations had 168,047 inpatient admissions, 15,997 births and 492,677 emergency visits.

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Oakwood Healthcare, Botsford Health Care and Beaumont Health System complete merger

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Newswise DETROIT Hospitals can greatly improve their flu vaccination rate among health care workers by using a mandatory employee vaccination policy, according to a Henry Ford Health System study.

Citing its own data, Henry Ford researchers say the health system achieved employee vaccination rates of 99 percent in the first two years of its mandatory policy, in which annual vaccination compliance is a condition of employment.

Nationally, 63 percent of health care workers were immunized against the flu in the past two years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Allison Weinmann, M.D., a Henry Ford Hospital Infectious Diseases physician and study co-author, says it was only after the health system went to the mandatory policy for the 2012-13 flu season did the vaccination rate substantial improve. Ongoing employee communication and having available vaccine were also key factors, Dr. Weinmann says.

The study is being presented Saturday at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Washington D.C.

As expected we got push-back from employees. But we always believed it was the right thing to do for patient and employee safety, says Dr. Weinmann, who leads the health systems immunization task force and was an early champion of the mandatory policy.

The health and safety of our patients and employees is paramount, and requiring employees to receive vaccination every flu season will help reduce the spread of infection to our patients. We also were proactive in vaccinating hospitalized patients.

More than 9,600 people were hospitalized for the flu during the 2013-14 flu season, and 60 percent of them were between the ages 18-64, the CDC says. The CDC recommends vaccination for anyone six months and older.

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Mandatory Policy Boosts Flu Vaccination Rates Among Health Care Workers

By Kevin Tustin STAFF WRITER

Medical professionals and mental health advocates testified Wednesday afternoon before the Democratic Policy Committee asking to bring reform to mental health coverage in the state.

Rep. Margo Davidson, D-164, of Upper Darby, hosted the hearing in the council chambers of the Upper Darby Municipal Building, joined by policy committee Chair Mike Sturla, D-96, of Lancaster, and other state leaders to discuss better access and treatment for those with a mental health diagnosis.

We have to fix this system, said Davison, there has to be parity so people have access to deal with their brain disease and brain illness.

As Davidson reminded committee and audience members that because her son, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, didnt fall into one of the insurance companys three boxes - hospitalization, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient she had to fight nine months with her insurance company to allow him to get the level of care he needed when first diagnosed.

It was a nightmare from start to finish, Davidson said.

Of those to testify before the committee was Alyssa Goodin, director of policy and advocacy at the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, who spoke at length about proper care for those who need it.

One of the most expansive ways we can increase access to behavioral health services is through the acceptance of federal dollars to expand our current Medicaid program, said Alyssa Goodin, director of policy and advocacy of mental at the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Goodin stated that Medicaid expansion will not only be beneficial to the states economy and job growth, but that its a safety net for those whose insurance doesnt cover comprehensive behavioral health coverage.

Currently, Gov. Corbett has not yet expanded Medicaid in the state, instead proposing his own alternative called Healthy Pennsylvania, what promotional materials on the states website calls a common sense approach to reforming Medicaid.

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Local officials work together to reform mental health care