Nikki McGruder named MU Health Care director of diversity and inclusion – Columbia Missourian

Nikki McGruder, director of the Inclusive Impact Institute, will become the director of diversity and inclusion for MU Health Care on Aug 10.

MU Health Care added this new position recently, according to a press release from MU Health Care.

McGruder is expected to move forward MU Health Cares efforts on diversity, which is considered an integral aspect of the health systems culture, according to the release.

MU Health Care is committed to developing a culture of inclusion, and some progress has been made in the past two years, said Jonathan Curtright, chief executive officer of MU Health Care.

"Nikki will help us further our goal of creating a workforce where each person feels welcomed, respected, included, valued and with opportunities to be successful," Curtright said.

McGruder has been devoted to making the Columbia community more diverse and inclusive for years.

McGruder worked for the Columbia branch of the Diversity Awareness Partnership as the regional manager for more than three years. In 2018, she started her career as the director of the Inclusive Impact Institute, which aims to create "diverse and inclusive communities through collaboration, education and engagement," according to the release.

"Its clear to me that MU Health Care is passionate about having a diverse and welcoming environment for patients and employees alike," McGruder said. "I am excited to continue my efforts to bring inclusivity to our community as a member of MU Health Care."

"I am excited to lead these efforts for a world-class health system while working alongside like-minded colleagues at MU Health Care and the MU School of Medicine," she said.

McGruder studied at Webster University in St. Louis with a masters degree in human resources development and received a bachelors degree in business from Columbia College.

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Nikki McGruder named MU Health Care director of diversity and inclusion - Columbia Missourian

Meet Thryve: The Future Of Personalized Beauty, Healthcare And Body Awareness – Forbes

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: A model, beauty detail, walks the runway during the Chanel show as part ... [+] of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 on March 7, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images)

I believe wholeheartedly that now matter how successful you are, borders on how well you live your life. These days, and for good reason, the fashion world has a strong focus on beauty, healthy and wellness. If applied in a balanced format, all three will live in harmony.

Lets face it, living well makes you feel stronger and more confident. When you feel confident, you have more stamina at work. People are attracted to beauty, health and positive people. Revlon understands that natural looking make-up looks radiant on healthy skin and healthy skin comes from within.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Actress Jennifer Hudson arrives at Revlon's Annual Philanthropic ... [+] Luncheon at Chateau Marmont on September 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

In early 2020, mankind awakened to the sounding bell of a global pandemic Since then, beauty, health and body awareness has come to the forefront of consumer awareness. Now, more than ever, consumers are focused on looking healthy, well-dressed and displaying a strong positive attitude. Moreover, during these trying times, beauty and health allow people the ability to face the world and tackle daily problems.By choosing a healthy lifestyle, vitality, vibrancy, and vigor soon unfold and come into play to help you reach the greatest potential. This is the look of the season. Fashion, beauty and overall well-being is the new key to dressing for corporate ascension.

As I started to conduct this feature, I stumbled upon endless brands to research. Chanel, Revlon and Lancme are just a few global beauty and health brands that have been conducting in-depth research into this well-being sector of the celebrity and fashion industry.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06: Gigi Gorgeous attends Vanity Fair and Lancme Toast Women in ... [+] Hollywood on February 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

Despite the enormous amount of attention and dedication to the subject, mankind still has a lot to learn. Just this week, I watched the Netflix show titled Down-To -Earth featuring celebrity host Zac Efron. Upon watching the documentary, it clearly demonstrates with laser focus the importance of food, water and energy to sustain the planet. As I watched the show, I became absorbed in learning how good living is imperative in looking good and feeling productive.

Change is from the inside and maybe at this point in time, we all have to change. Tracking down Richard Lin, the co-founder and CEO of Thryve was not an easy task but it was most certainly worth the effort. My session with him was quite revealing. He believes through his beauty, health and well-being analysis that he can ensure a better path to life and a positive way to look good and feel greatespecially with respect to corporate ascension.

Launched in 2016, Thryve is focused on ensuring the availability of subscription-based customized testing of the microbiome with a personalized probiotic that any individual can use to have actionable insight into their health status and the prevention of chronic diseases. What is Thryve all about? Who is Richard Lin?

During COVID-19, I couldnt have wished for a more opportune time than this to discuss beauty and health with him. A time the world is engulfed in the distress of COVID-19 and people have faced one form of a lockdown or the other. People still want to look and feel good. Moisturizers, face-creams, vitamins are all part of a healthy regime. I cannot bypass the opportunity of bringing the good news of how your gut can be involved in creating a better version and a more successful you to your way at this time you may be embroiled with the ugly situation COVID-19 has brought on us.

The brand has it as a mission to empower you to take charge of your Health so you can feel your greatest. With a quality resource team, Thryve has been able to utilize artificial intelligence (natural language processing and machine learning) in order to summarize 50,000+ research articles on the microbiome to make the science accessible and easy-to-understand.

Richard Lin

JD: Who are you and what inspired you to start Thryve?

Richard Lin: About 4 years ago, I took antibiotics and came down with a nasty superbug called Clostridium Difficile. I had gone to multiple different doctors only to have my symptoms dismissed because I was too young and healthy looking to be sick. Through this process, I started reading scientific literature and engaging with other folks with chronic disease in Facebook Groups and Online Forums. Through my research, I asked my fourth doctor to get a DNA test to check for overgrowth of Clostridium Difficile which came back positive. I had that treated through more antibiotics and eventually a fecal transplant which resolved my symptoms.

In going through this journey, I realized that most consumers did not have a good idea what a microbiome is, why their microbiome matters, and ultimately what they can do to change it to improve their health. Thats why I started Thryve. The microbiome are the trillions of bacteria, yeast, and viruses that reside in our gut, skin, mouth, and more that science has shown to be correlated to many of the chronic and modern diseases we see in the west.

My background was in software and data science at large fortune 500 companies like SAP and startups like Deliv (acquired by Target), so I utilized these skills to bring together a scientific team that could get a product to market that was affordable and accessible for everyday consumers.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 07: Actress Halle Berry attends the 18th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women ... [+] on May 7, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

JD: Beauty enthusiasts would like to know if probiotics are any good for them, what are the skincare benefits of using probiotics?

Kimberly Griffith MS Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine and Thryves Clinical Researcher Partner: The concept of beauty from within is highly supported by the gut-skin axis. Probiotics encourage a healthy and balanced gut microflora that directly impacts skin health by reducing inflammation, preventing pathogenic growth, and increasing skin hydration and strength. Specifically, clinical evidence presents the positive role that probiotics provide in preventing and managing chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, wound healing, and dandruff. However, the positive effects of probiotics are not limited to chronic skin conditions, probiotics have shown to combat accelerated skin aging and assist in the prevention of premature aging. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology confirmed the anti-aging benefits exerted by probiotics which resulted in improved skin elasticity, decreased wrinkle depth, skin gloss, and increased skin hydration. The growing body of clinical evidence continues to support the beneficial role probiotics play in managing and maintaining overall skin health.

Specialized Probiotics for beauty and health

JD: Talk to Forbes about your companys History, Development, and Projection.

Richard Lin: Thryves origin story is like any tech darling. We started out in the kitchen and slowly expanded to our own facilities over the course of 3 years. Weve raised from venture-capitalist and strategic venture arms such as Unilever Ventures, PivotNorth Capital, TrailMix Ventures, Darling Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, Unpopular Ventures, Joyance Partners, Social Starts, Shanda Group, Pharmapacks, and Bioverge

Our product which includes a microbiome DNA test, digital app (health report, customized food plan), and personalized probiotics is the worlds first customized solution to target gut health. Weve utilized artificial intelligence (natural language processing and machine learning) in order to summarize 50,000+ research articles on the microbiome to make the science accessible and easy-to-understand. Weve done this with the help of our scientific advisor board from the likes of MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Purdue, and UC Davis.

The future of healthcare which I like to call going from health 1.0 (reactive) to health 2.0 (predictive, personalized, and preventative) will be realized by using omics / DNA in order to prevent chronic disease from happening in the future.

Our goal going into 2021 and 2022 is to offer multiple site-wide microbiome testing (vaginal, infant/child, skin, oral) and build the omics platform as a service with genomics (human DNA) and exposomics (environmental toxins).

Pic Thryve COURTESY OF Thryve

JD: Why do you think people should consider using probiotics?

Richard Lin: Science has shown that probiotics when taken in adequate amounts can have far reaching health benefits such as positively affecting gut related infections and diseases, food and environmental allergies and intolerances, immune support, intestinal barrier strength, microbial imbalances, skin related issues, hypercholesterolemia, anxiety and depression, and weight management.

A recent article reviewing probiotics in treatment and disease prevention in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, stated Few treatments for human diseases have received as much investigation in the past 20 years as probiotics. Additionally, they concluded when given in adequate quantities for sufficient periods of time, are beneficial in many human disease conditions and safer than most pharmaceuticals. (Liu, et al., 2018)

As stated by Sarah Daniels Ph.D., Lead Research Scientist at Thryve: A clinical review published in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, confirmed the efficacy and beneficial effects of Saccharomyces boulardii as a probiotic for the therapy and prevention of disorders within the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus CL 1285, L. casei Lbc80r, L. rhamnosus CLR2 alongside Saccharomyces boulardii I-745 and L. casei DN114001 have shown effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. (Sniffen, et al., 2018). Probiotic efficacy is not limited to the gut. A recent study published within Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, presented evidence suggesting the therapeutic role of a probiotic such as Lactobacillus casei 01 positively affecting weight management and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. (Khalili, et al., 2019)

That said, probiotics would be a shot in the dark if purchasing from your local grocery store. A couple of items to consider

1) what strains are in the probiotics, this will determine the actual health benefits

2) total amount of CFUs (Colony Forming Units), which determines the potency

3) prebiotic additives, which are indigestible fibers or sugars that feed probiotics to help them proliferate and growth for added benefits

4) source of ingredients, most probiotics need to be refrigerated or they expire. Although your store bought variety may be in the refrigerated aisle, it may been delivered in a high temperature storage facility like a truck or warehouse

Beauty starts with good skin

JD: What differentiates Thryve from every other probiotic company out there?

Richard Lin: 3 things:

Natural/Beauty Skin: Model With Probiotic

JD: What are some changes your company is making and how are you happy about those changes?

Richard Lin: The first 2 years in Thryve, I had never truly focused on culture. More specifically, what are the values of our business and who do we want to hire that upholds these same values. When I first started the company, I hired folks who looked great on paper, but just weren't a good fit with the culture I had internally thought about, but never externally expressed in voice or writing.

Over the course of 2020, Ive been highly vocal on our company values (growth mindset, clear accountability, customer obsession, and speed as a habit) and put into the process to continue to remind our team why we do what we do. I believe this is such an important change in any company, since companies are made up of people and the goal is to have everyone rowing in the same direction (mission).

More specifically, we enacted these changes from the start of the hiring process. When we interview candidates for new positions we hone in on our core values to ensure everyone we bring on is a good fit for our culture. Post-hiring, we set up bi-monthly performance reviews with quantitative and qualitative bi-directional (managers to employees and vice versa) feedback around these values to review where weve done well and where we need to improve. This has built a great feedback loop and positive camaraderie between the team.

JD: Do you think probiotics are any good for weight loss or weight gain?

Sarah Daniels Ph.D. and Thryves Lead Research Scientist:

Recently, the relationship between probiotics and weight change has been of great interest. Seminal work in this field has demonstrated that obese and non-obese gut microbiome profiles differ in both animal models and in humans. Given the current obesity epidemic, many studies have focused on the effects of probiotics on weight loss. However, a probiotic supplement alone may not confer full reversal of obesity. Previous research examining the direct effects of probiotics on weight loss has shown mixed results. These studies cannot always be compared side-by-side as participant demographics (e.g., age, baseline weight) and the probiotics tested vary from study to study. Overall, this field is in its infancy stages. More human studies using large sample sizes, rigorous randomized control trials, and multi-pronged approaches (i.e., incorporating diet, probiotics, and lifestyle changes) will help determine whether probiotics play a role in weight change.

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Meet Thryve: The Future Of Personalized Beauty, Healthcare And Body Awareness - Forbes

Molina Healthcare to buy Passport Health Plan, saving jobs and hope for west Louisville headquarters – HealthLeaders Media

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Molina Healthcare to buy Passport Health Plan, saving jobs and hope for west Louisville headquarters - HealthLeaders Media

Addressing racism in healthcare requires accepting responsibility – ModernHealthcare.com

We are all feeling many strong emotions in response to the recent death of George Floyd, the civil unrest, and the long-standing institutional racism and injustices in health, education, housing and wealth that are more exposed than ever.

As an expert in improving patient safety and health system performance, I believe the way we respond to harmful medical errors can offer insights into how we can make progress with racism. When clinicians harm a patient, the response can be shame, guilt or love. With shame, we feel, I am a bad person. Shame makes us small and stalls progress in preventing harm in the future. With guilt, we feel, I did a bad thing. Guilt turns us inward, narrowing the focus of potential solutions. Love allows the person to both be accountable and to work with others to reduce the risk that the event happens again.

A love response requires three things: An apology and acceptance of responsibility; a transparent disclosure of what happened; and a commitment to make amends and work with others to ensure the mistake does not happen again. Conversations about race might be more productive if approached the same three ways.

Furthermore, there are two types of apologies a clinician can make after harming a patient: an apology of acknowledgment and an apology of responsibility. An apology of acknowledgment states, I am sorry you were harmed. An apology of responsibility states, I am sorry that I harmed you.

Apologies of acknowledgment do little to heal or build trust. Apologies of responsibility are a potent pill that helps heal and builds trust.

Many are asking what will work in addressing institutional racism and systemic inequities in power, health, wealth and education. In my opinion, we need to build trust, which can start with whites publicly apologizing for their contributions to racismwhether intentional or not.

Most of the public discourse has been apologies of acknowledgment that infer, I am sorry you suffer from racism. Few individuals have made apologies of responsibility. As a white man of privilege, I would like to start the process by apologizing for contributing to racism and the inequities and injustices that result. As a society, we need to begin with an apology of responsibility followed by a transparent accounting of our history of racism and a commitment to work together for change.

I call these conversations of love, because love empowers apologies of responsibility. Love can provide empathy for all, recognizing that the vast majority of people are loving and all of us want to be loved. Love can house the strong feelings that will emerge, so we can really hear and seek to understand each other.

These conversations can take place in communities where we work, worship, live, learn, congregate and collaborate. They can be jointly hosted by persons of color and a white person. To work, they need to occur with the uplifting and connecting energy of love. While they are not easy conversations to have, they will begin the healing process and will continue to grow in number. Along the way, we learn what works to make things substantively better, and we do what works.

Change progresses at the speed of trust. Trust between communities of color and white people is terribly broken. But it can be mended. Our country and our communities are ready for change. An Aspen Ideas report on education reform concluded that in any collective human endeavor there comes a moment; a moment when we know so much more about what to do; a moment when collective voices align around a common purpose; a moment when we can make the possible real. For ending racism in America, that moment is now. Words are not enough; they do not substitute for action. We need action.

So let us start conversations of love. Let us create safe spaces for all and make an apology of responsibility. Let us acknowledge and mourn our history of racism, let us draw hope from the strengths in our communities, and walk together toward a better tomorrow.

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Addressing racism in healthcare requires accepting responsibility - ModernHealthcare.com

Healthcare workers among the many who are writing up a will because of the pandemic – KSN-TV

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)-Attornies are seeing a rise in the number of people drafting up wills, many being frontline workers.

It made it really clear that this could happen to any of us, said Post Rock Family Medicine Physician Dr. Beth Oller.

With four young kids and a two-physician household, Doctor Beth Oller said writing up a will was something she needed to do.

Coronavirus really brought it into perspective of how important it was to do this sooner rather than later, said Oller.

Oller said she and her husband wanted to have a plan for their kids in case they were to get the virus working on the frontline.

She isnt the only one that has this on her mind, Attorneys who focus on estate planning said theyre seeing a surge in inquiries.

A lot of healthcare workers calling obviously being on the frontlines have an even increased concern of the virus and wanting to make sure that things are set, said Morris and Laing Law Partner and Attorney Shannon Braun.

Braun has worked with many healthcare workers and she said even her longtime clients are finalizing their wills.

It makes us think about planning for those things that a lot of times we dont want to think about or we do put off, said Braun.

Oller said while its the worst case scenario, ensuring her family is taken care of is her priority.

Its not always a comfortable conversation to have, however, this is a really perfect time as it brings these concerns and realities of life to the forefront, said Oller.

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Healthcare workers among the many who are writing up a will because of the pandemic - KSN-TV

More people may turn to the Affordable Care Act for health insurance as economic downturn lingers – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison Richardswas one of more than 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers worldwide evacuated in March when the potential scale of the coronavirus pandemic became clear.

The decision brought Richards, who was serving in Peru, home to Racine. It also left her without a job and without health insurance.

But Richards who has a gastrointestinal condition, a common health hazard when working in a developing country was eligible for subsidized health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

If I did not have this plan, she said, I would not be getting treatment, to put it simply.

This is the first economic downturn in which people who have lost their jobs can receive federal subsidies to help offset the cost of health insurance.

More than half of the U.S. population gets health insurance through an employer. And millions of people who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic also have lost their health insurance.

Yet insurance brokers in the Milwaukee area generally have not seen a large increase in people buying health plans through the Affordable Care Act.

There hasnt been a big surge as I expected at least yet, said Todd Catlin of TransitionsHealth Benefits in Brookfield.

That, though, is expected to change.

Many employers have continued to provide health insurance for their furloughed workers. But the Paycheck Protection Program, which gave employers forgivable loans if they keep people on payrolls, is coming to an end.

The recent surge in infections has increased the chances of a deeper and longer recession than initially projected. And an unknown number of businesses are unlikely to survive a prolonged downturn.

People who workin low-wage jobs that don't provide health benefits have made up a large share of those now unemployed because of the pandemic.But people who have had coverageare eligible for subsidized health plans through the Affordable Care Act under what is known as a special enrollment period.

This allows people provided they previously were insuredto get coverage after the annual open-enrollment period for certain life events, such as getting married, moving or losing a job. They have 60 days to sign up.

The cutoff for the subsidies, which are pegged to annual income, is $51,040 for one person.

Most people who are unemployedwould be eligible for subsidies. In all likelihood, they also would qualify for additional subsidies available to people with low incomes to help offset deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Richards is paying about $23 a month, for example, for a health plan with an out-of-pocket maximum of $1,500.

Nationally, about 154,000 more people through May had enrolled in health plans because they lost their jobs than in the same period last year, according to the federal government. It works out to a 46% increase.

(At the end of the open-enrollment period in December, about11.4 million people, including 195,498 people in Wisconsin, had coverage through health plans sold on the marketplaces set up under the Affordable Care Act.)

The increase in enrollment at least through May is relatively small.

Security Health Plan, a subsidy of Marshfield Clinic Health System, and Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative have yet to see a significant increase in people who have gotten coverage through the Affordable Care Act because they lost their jobs.

ButMarty Anderson, chief growth officer for Security Health, said he expects an August cliff when furloughs become layoffs.

Cathy Mahaffey, CEO of Common Ground Healthcare, also expects to see more who lost their jobs to get coverage in the next few months.

I believe its coming, she said, but certainly it hasnt happened yet.

Some signs already are appearing.

The number of people who bought health plans sold by Childrens Community Health Plan from February through June has more than doubled compared with last year, Mark Rakowski, chief operating officer, said in an email. The trend was even stronger in May and June.

Julie Kautzer, who lives Manitowoc, lost her job in mid-June when Holy Family College closed.She immediately signed up for coverage.

I knew I needed to have something, she said.

Kautzer is paying $58 a month for a health plan with an $8,000 deductible. She is healthy and that was enough coverage to give her peace of mind.

If something awful does happen, she said, it is going to cost a lot more than $8,000.

Kautzer who has since contacted several former co-workers to encourage them to get health insurance is grateful for the Affordable Care Act.

The law, though, remains controversial.

In late June, the Trump administration filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that the entire law must be declared invalid because of a change made by Congress in 2017.

The administration supports a lawsuit filed by Republican-controlled states challenging the law. (Under former Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin initially was among the states but has since withdrawn from the lawsuit.) The law is being defended by 20 states and the District of Columbia.

The Supreme Court isnt expected to issue a decision until late this year.

Kautzer is among those who opposethe Trump administrations push to end the law.

This is the worsttime to do that, she said. There are so many people who need it.

Yet even supporters acknowledge the law is flawed, in part because the subsidies are too small given the high cost of health care.And public support for the law remains split.

The Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll found that 50% of those surveyed in April support the law though support for specific provisions, such as coverage for preexisting health conditions, is strong.

Richards medical condition, for instance, would not have been covered before the Affordable Care Act.

I need this, she said. And there are people who need it way more than me.

Many people who have gotten health insurance through an employer, however,may not realize that getting coverage through the Affordable Care Act is an option.

My sense is that for people who have been on employer-sponsored plans, it just doesnt register, said Chris McArdle of MKE Benefits. Its just not on their radar.

Yet someone who was 45 years old and who lost a job at the end of June that pays $45,000 a year would be eligible for a health plan that costs $63 a month, with a $500 deductible and an out-of-pocket maximum of $2,700.

Sometimes they are astounded by how affordable the marketplace can be, McArdle said.

Insurers have been flexible in allowing employers to keep furloughed employers on their health plans,said McArdle, who also sells insurance to small employers. And employers, by and large, have done that.

The question is how long some can continue to do that.

Employers are going to be faced with some tough calls, hesaid.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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More people may turn to the Affordable Care Act for health insurance as economic downturn lingers - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Battle Ground HealthCare awarded $65000 grant for COVID-19 support – The Reflector

Earlier this week, Battle Ground HealthCare (BGHC) was awarded a $65,000 grant to fund the hiring of a nurse practitioner. This new position will assist in meeting the increased demand for care as a result of COVID-19. The addition was made possible through a rapid-response grant from the SW Washington COVID Response Fund.

Many clients of the facility have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. The layoffs and employer cuts seen around the country have an amplified impact on lower-income patients who rely on clinic services.

The current pandemic has been a challenge to healthcare providers across the country and BGHC is no exception.

Early on we saw the need to rethink the way we deliver care Executive Director for BGHC Sue Neal said in a news release. Shifts to telephone and video visits met short-term needs, but we serve patients with chronic conditions who have highly complex medical needs and these solutions are not sustainable in the long run. A part-time nurse practitioner will allow us to get our patients back into the clinic, see more patients and offer flexibility when our patients experience acute needs outside of their regular appointments.

This grant is a recognition of the role free clinics have in meeting healthcare needs during this pandemic, Board President Adam Lee said. Partners like the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington and those who contributed to the COVID Response Fund enable the work we do. Without support from outside organizations and from our generous donors, we would not be able to continue our life-changing work.

While the COVID Response Fund grant will provide the short-term funding needed during the current pandemic, BGHC will be seeking additional grants and funding to continue in this increased capacity on an ongoing basis.

The Reflector

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Battle Ground HealthCare awarded $65000 grant for COVID-19 support - The Reflector

First round of COVID-19 tests related to health-care worker return negative – The Guardian

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.

The first round of COVID-19 tests related to the health-care worker at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) have all returned negative.

Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, confirmed the results in an evening media release on Friday, July 17. Following her announcement that a health-care worker tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, a large number of people were tested to be on the safe side.

Overall, 613 QEH staff and 145 Island EMS staff were tested, and along with the previously reported case of a woman in her 80s, 94 patients that the health-care worker had contact with were tested - all tests returned negative.

An additional six patients from out of province were contacted and advised to be tested. As well, 61 patients and 30 staff members will require a second test, which will be completed by July 19.

Between July 12 and 16, a total of 2,054 lab tests were completed at the QEH lab.

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First round of COVID-19 tests related to health-care worker return negative - The Guardian

3 Top Healthcare Stocks to Buy Right Now – The Motley Fool

Investors often consider the healthcare sector a "defensive" one because people get sick in good economic times and bad. Thus, the stocks tend to hold up in times when worries about the economy abound.

That maxim has pretty much been tossed out the window in 2020, along with much of conventional investing wisdom. The healthcare sector has been thrown into turmoil with stay-at-home orders and clinic closures. But biotech stocks have been doing very well, with the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) up 16% this year.

For investors looking for places to put money in the midst of uncertainty about the direction of the pandemic, stocks of companies in the forefront of important medical advances hold promise for the long term. BioNTech(NASDAQ:BNTX), NeoGenomics (NASDAQ:NEO), and Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) are three companies that should come through the pandemic era stronger than ever.

Image source: Getty Images.

Stocks that are in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine have seen their shares soar in the past four months, but German biotech BioNTech is still a good buy for the long term. Despite a big partner for the vaccine in Pfizerand an approach based on the same technology as Moderna's, shares haven't risen as far as those of Moderna, and BioNTech's market capitalization is only two-thirds of it.

BioNTech is differentiated from its competitors in that it has four vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, each with a unique messenger RNA (mRNA) format, in clinical tests designed to quickly narrow down to the most promising candidate. On July 1, the company and Pfizer reported very positive results from a phase 1/2 trial of one of the four candidates, saying that the blood concentration of neutralizing antibodies in the subjects were up to 2.8 times higher than in patients who had recovered from the virus. Still to come soon are results from the three other candidates, and the company expects to start a phase 2b/3 study this month with 30,000 participants.

But the reason to buy BioNTech for the long term isn't for a COVID-19 vaccine, although a win there would be a strong catalyst. The more important driver for the company's business is the company's rich pipeline of next-generation cancer immunotherapies. The company has 10 anti-cancer drugs in 11 clinical trials targeting melanoma and cancers of the breast, ovaries, prostate, pancreas, head and neck, and other solid tumors. BioNTech should produce a steady news flow of results from these trials in the coming months. Success is not a sure thing, but if the news is good, the stock should have a strong tailwind.

The pandemic caused hospitals and health centers to postpone elective medical procedures, but what was a little surprising was that even companies that provided services needed to treat severe diseases such as cancer saw a drop in business as the stay-at-home orders went into effect. NeoGenomics is the largest pure-play oncology testing company and saw its clinical test volume drop 20% year over year in the last two weeks of March and between 25% and 30% in April.

NeoGenomics is in a sweet spot in healthcare. Oncology is by far the largest area of investment among drug companies, with 40% of all U.S. clinical development spending going to cancer drug trials, about three times the amount for the therapy area in second place. Driving the industry are new approaches to therapies that target malignancies based on the specific biochemistry and genetics of different cancers. As medicines become more specific, testing becomes an increasingly important part of treatment, and NeoGenomics is growing sales both to clinicians working with cancer patients and to pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs.

NeoGenomics' business should bounce back quickly even if the pandemic resurges, given the urgency of treatment for seriously ill cancer patients. The company didn't furlough employees when the business dipped, so as to be better prepared for the rebound it expects. Revenue growth in the first quarter dipped to 11% after jumping 40% in the fourth quarter, and analysts are actually expecting a 15% decline in revenue when the company reports second-quarter results on July 28. The company continues to expect long-term organic growth in the mid-teens and will probably continue to grow by acquisition as well.

Investors have been buying the stock in recent weeks, after the company launched a new suite of liquid biopsy tests, enabling the detection of cancer biomarkers from blood samples when tissue specimens of solid tumors are hard to obtain. Low expectations in the near term, strong growth prospects for the long term, and the ability to innovate through internal development and partnerships make the stock a buy for patient investors.

Illumina dominates the market for gene sequencers, and even though COVID-19 research drove up sales of gene sequencing systems in the first quarter, the company expected sequential declines in revenue in every region in the second quarter. Shutdowns of research institutions and clinics should take a toll on the company's results, which will be reported on Aug. 3.

But longer term, the company is in great shape. The use of genetic information in the diagnosis and treatment of disease is accelerating, while large-scale population studies just getting under way when the pandemic hit will eventually drive big increases in sales of the supplies used in operating Illumina's instruments.

Illumina's business tends to follow the company's cycle of new product introductions. The launch of a major new platform, such as the mid-range sequencers the company announced in January, can cause a temporary slowing of sales as customers stop buying older models, but then it can fuel a strong, multi-year surge in growth as higher sequencing speeds at lower costs draw in new customers. That scenario appears to be playing out this year, with first-quarter revenue up only 2% because of soft system sales, but with almost half of early sales of the new NextSeq 2000 system going to customers who were buying their first Illumina product.

Gene sequencing produces massive amounts of data, so Illumina directs some of its investment to tools that help clinicians and researchers make sense of it all. The company this month launched new software to help detect genetic diseases from genomic information and last month acquired Dutch software company BlueBee, maker of cloud software for interpreting genomic data.

Illumina should emerge from the COVID-19 era stronger than ever, and its latest new products should give the company a boost going into 2021.

Originally posted here:

3 Top Healthcare Stocks to Buy Right Now - The Motley Fool

Amazon Makes Health Care Access Even Easier for Employees with Launch of New Third-Party Health Centers – Yahoo! Voices

The company is collaborating with national provider Crossover Health to pilot convenient health centers near its fulfillment centers and operations facilities in Texas, with additional centers planned for other states in months ahead

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced a health care pilot with Crossover Health, an expert in comprehensive primary care services, to establish local, convenient health centers near Amazon fulfillment centers and operations facilities across the country. The first Neighborhood Health Center location will be available for Amazon employees and their families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200714005697/en/

Amazon is piloting a new, health care benefit for employees by establishing local, convenient health centers near Amazon fulfillment centers and operations facilities across the country. The launch of the new Neighborhood Health Centers will provide a range of quality primary care services exclusively for Amazon employees further strengthening Amazons industry-leading benefits program, which provides comprehensive healthcare for employees starting on day one of employment. Through this initial pilot program, Amazon expects to establish 20 health centers in five cities across the U.S., improving access and care for more than 115,000 associates and their families. (Photo: Business Wire)

"Across the U.S., an increasing number of patients do not have easy access to a primary care physician and instead utilize emergency or urgent care options, which is not only more expensive for patients, but also overlooks important preventative care opportunities," said Darcie Henry, Amazons Vice President of Human Resources. "We want to solve that for our employees, and the launch of these new Neighborhood Health Centers will provide a range of quality primary care services for employees across the country further strengthening Amazons industry-leading benefits program, which provides comprehensive healthcare for employees starting on day one of employment."

Crossover Health is a national medical group that works with self-insured employers to connect every employeein headquarters or in dispersed locationsto an integrated care team that delivers comprehensive primary care to the whole family. The first Neighborhood Health Center for Amazon will be located in Las Colinas, Texas, with extended hours to accommodate various employee work schedules. The Neighborhood Health Center will be available exclusively to all local Amazon employees and their families. Crossover Health will fully operate and staff the Neighborhood Health Centers, which will provide full-spectrum acute, chronic, and preventive primary care, prescription medications, vaccinations, behavioral health services, physical therapy, chiropractic care, health coaching, and care navigation to specialty referral services. To support families, same-day pediatric services will also be available. Crossover Healths proprietary technology platform allows patients to start nearly all of their care online and then transition to in-person care as needed.

"Prevention and early detection is essential to remaining healthy, and the importance of primary care cannot be understated. I appreciate seeing the collaboration between Amazon and Crossover Health to ensure their employees have access to quality and convenient health care services. I am also pleased that this pilot program will run in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The health and wellness opportunities Amazon is providing its employees should spark inspiration for other companies to follow suit in providing similar benefits," said Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.

Story continues

Through this initial pilot program, Amazon expects to establish 20 health centers in five cities across the U.S., improving access and care for more than 115,000 associates and their families in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Louisville, KY; Detroit, MI; and San Bernardino/Moreno Valley, CA. If the pilot is successful, the company will look to roll out similar facilities in other cities and states.

"We are proud to collaborate with Amazon to support the health and wellness of Amazons employees. Crossover Health believes that exceptional primary care is central to continued health and well-being," said Scott Shreeve, MD, CEO and co-founder of Crossover Health. "Now its more important than ever to make care available through multiple channels and across the full continuum. Our advanced primary care model will serve as vital infrastructure to deliver expanded access to care in-person and online to meet the needs of Amazons employees and their families."

This new benefit further strengthens Amazons commitment to the health and wellness of its people and providing an industry-leading benefits package for employees, which includes a $15 minimum wage, comprehensive healthcare for full-time employees including full health, dental and vision, from day one, a 401(k) program with 50 percent company match, up to 20 weeks paid parental leave, infertility and adoption benefits, and flexible Leave Share and Ramp Back Programs that allow new parents to share their paid leave with their spouse or partner, then return to work at their own pace. The company also offers an innovative Career Choice Program, which pre-pays 95 percent of tuition for courses in high-demand fields. Since the programs launch eight years ago, more than 25,000 employees in 14 countries have pursued degrees in game design, visual communications, nursing, IT programming, and radiology, to name a few.

Amazon also recently announced a new family care benefit through Care.com, which provides each of its 650,000 U.S. employees up to 10 days of subsidized emergency backup child or adult care between now and October 2. Read more about Amazons comprehensive healthcare benefits.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200714005697/en/

Contacts

Amazon.com, Inc.Media HotlineAmazon-pr@amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/pr

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Amazon Makes Health Care Access Even Easier for Employees with Launch of New Third-Party Health Centers - Yahoo! Voices

McLaren Health Care Embraces Local Advertising During The Pandemic – AdExchanger

Michigan-based McLaren Health Care used Gannetts sponsored content offering to share critical messages during the pandemic with a more nuanced, responsive approach than it could achieve with just banner ads.

For example, the health care company noticed many patients were avoiding medical treatment for potential strokes and heart attacks, fearful of exposure to the coronavirus. So it developed content that explained how social distancing was practiced in emergency rooms. It also touted its FastER Care, where people can see real-time wait times for its ER.

Our marketing and messaging have played a large role in communicating to the community the steps that we have taken to ensure safety and to convey that it is safe to seek treatment when needed, said McLaren Health Care marketing manager Linda Toomey.

McLaren Health Care already used Gannetts advertising products dubbed LOCALiQ before the pandemic hit. It wrote health care articles to paint a picture of patient experience and to educate on services offered, Toomey said. The articles were distributed to local audiences reading USA Today, the Lansing State Journal and Detroit Free Press.

During the pandemic, McLaren continued to follow that mission but adapted to what people were worried about such as seeking care for conditions not related to the coronavirus.

McLaren also works with Gannett to extract insights to make its advertising more effective.

McLaren Health Care A/B tests to compare difference ad creatives and continuously monitors click-through rate to track campaign effectiveness.

The health care marketer also uses a tool that identifies trending question and search terms for its content, Toomey said.

In the short time that we have been optimizing our content we have seen an overall increase in our average page views, unique visitors and average attention seconds, she said.

The content outperforms USA Today benchmarks almost universally, particularly human-interest stories.

The highest-viewed articles are those which highlight people detailing their journey, Toomey said. Ultimately, the more humanized the content, the better the performance.

Working with LOCALiQ also gave McLaren Health Care actionable insights. People searched for the term coronavirus more than COVID, for example, which helped the company better tailor its articles.

The pandemic has underscored the importance of local media in helping people understand how a global threat affects an individual community.

Gannett CRO Kevin Gentzel hopes that the strong results delivered for local brands using LOCALiQs suite of ad products, especially sponsored content, during a challenging time like a pandemic will unlock further growth for the local media company.

If the local media company can help local business owners solve for complexity in marketing for the digital world, not just provide access to local audiences, it can help them understand their local market and steer their business better than remote platforms can during an unprecedented time.

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McLaren Health Care Embraces Local Advertising During The Pandemic - AdExchanger

6 Health Care Stocks to Buy for the Second Half of 2020 – Barron’s

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The members of the Barrons Roundtable see numerous bargains among health-care stocks. The conversations below are excerpted from our recent Midyear Roundtable, published on July 10. To read the entire Roundtable, click here.

Rupal J. Bhansali, CIO and portfolio manager, International & Global Equities, Ariel Investments:

I have three health-care names. GlaxoSmithKline [ticker: GSK] yields almost 5% and offers single-digit organic earnings growth. Gilead Sciences [GILD] has a 3.5% dividend yield, with underlying growth coming from its core franchise in HIV and, potentially, remdesivir, a drug that could be used to treat Covid-19. Roche Holding [RHHBY] is a leading player in oncology. Telecoms and health-care companies have strong balance sheets, strong market positions, and undervalued shares.

Glaxo, Gilead, and Roche are platform companies, as opposed to product companies. Their successor drugs come off the same mechanism of action and knowledge base as prior drugs. The risk of failure is lower, and the probability of approval is greater. We dont like Apple [AAPL], for instance, because it is a product company. If the next product doesnt sell well, thats problematic as earnings prospects become binary rather than bankable.

Scott Black, founder and president, Delphi Management:

Bristol-Myers Squibb [BMY] is trading around $60. The company has a $134 billion market cap and pays a $1.80 annual dividend, for a yield of 3%. Bristol has reported quarterly earnings growth for the past five years, minus one quarter in 2017. Its strengths are in oncology and hematology, although it has a blockbuster cardiovascular drug, Eliquis. Eight of its drugs have more than $1 billion in yearly sales. The company has nine drugs in Phase 3 trials, and figures it could commercialize 20-plus new drugs in the next 10 years. That would add at least $20 billion in new revenue.

We expect Bristol-Myers to generate $41.8 billion of revenue this year, and earn about $6.20 a share, versus $4.69 in 2019. Revenue will get a one-time pop of about 60% because of last years acquisition of Celgene. For next year, we have modeled 7.5% revenue growth on the conservative side, or $45 billion, and earnings after taxes of $16.5 billion, or $7.33 a share. Using more-optimistic assumptions, the company could earn $17 billion, or $7.55 a share, on $45.6 billion of revenue. The shares trade for 7.9 times expected earnings, which is ludicrous. Bristol-Myers will generate more than $14 billion of free cash this year. Its net debt-to-equity ratio is 0.55. Return on equity is around 26%.

William Priest, executive chairman and co-CIO, Epoch Investment Partners:

Thermo Fisher Scientific [TMO] sells scientific instruments, lab equipment, diagnostics consumables, and life-sciences reagents. This is a razor/razor-blade model; as the installed base of equipment expands, Thermo retains an attractive annuity stream from servicing the equipment and selling higher-margin consumables.

At $360 a share, the market cap is roughly $145 billion. Net debt totals $17 billion. The stock is trading for 26 times forward earnings. Management continues to drive top-line growth through investment in research and development, which leads to new-product innovation and improved pricing, and accretive acquisitions. We like the companys plan to acquire Qiagen [QGEN], a leading molecular-diagnostic-equipment and consumables provider, for $10 billion.

Our six-to-12-month target price for Thermo Fisher is $420 a share, or 30 times our 2022 free-cash-flow estimate of $14 a share. We estimate near-term downside risk to $300 a share.

Henry Ellenbogen, CIO and managing partner, Durable Capital Partners:

My second pick is Abcam [ABC.UK], a small-cap company that trades in the U.K. It operates in the biologic-drugs industry, a fantastic end market that will have strong secular growth for years to come. At the very beginning of the drug-discovery process, scientists need certain key ingredients. Abcam is the global market leader in selling those antibodies to researchers. It has continued to gain share in its core market while extending into other areas, including amino acids and proteins. It should be able to compound for many years.

It is a niche industry, but this is a highly strategic asset. Abcam has revenue of a bit less than 300 million pounds sterling [$378.5 million], even though it has close to a 30% market share in its core business. It is headquartered in Cambridge in the U.K., but we think about it as a global company.

Write to Lauren R. Rublin at lauren.rublin@dowjones.com

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6 Health Care Stocks to Buy for the Second Half of 2020 - Barron's

It’s One Of This Year’s Best Health Care ETFs And It Doesn’t Own Any Moderna – Benzinga

When it comes to health care exchange-traded funds in 2020, it's a case of haves and have nots.

What To Know:The health care ETF haves are those with robust exposure to Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), or at the very least, hefty allocations to some of the other companies pacing the coronavirus vaccine competition.

In theory, the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (CBOE:AKRG) is a health care ETF have not. As in the fund has no exposure to Moderna, but that's not preventing the actively managed ARKG from delivering a year-to-date gain of 66.41%.

Why It's Important:Outperformance is old hat for AKRG. Over the past three years, the ETF is up 164.7%. Looked at differently, the returns of the S&P 500 Health Care Index and the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index over that same period could be combined and then doubled and the result would be a percentage that still lags ARKG.

Of course, all of that is in the past, but the long-term outlook for genomics investing is bright.

Over the last five years, we have passed key inflection points in the ability to access, manipulate, and understand the molecular building blocks of the human body, writes ARK Director of Research Brett Winton in a recent paper. The genomic age of medicine promises profound ramifications for human health and for the companies involved, among them: (i) tool providers that enable basic research, sharpen the precision of diagnostics, and guide personalized medicine; (ii) diagnostic platforms deploying data that informs the treatment of disease; (iii) and other companies deploying technology and data to create next-generation treatments and cures, increasing returns on therapeutic research and development for the first time in 20 years.

As noted above, in 2020, it's easy for investors to be seduced by health care ETFs highly levered to COVID-19 vaccines, but there's more to the ARKG story and that story extends beyond the time when the virus is a thing of the past.

ARK Invest estimates that by 2024 therapeutic pipelines and tool providers should generate hundreds of billions of dollars in the new revenue and trillions in new market capitalizations as they transition to the genomic age, notes Winton.

What's Next?There are several genomics sub-segments represented in ARKG, but one of the more compelling is Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR). CRISPR is a cornerstone of the livable drugs market.

The addressable market for living drugs in oncology could exceed $200 billion annually as they impact more types of cancer at earlier stages than historically has been the case. Enabled by gene-editing, the applications could extend well beyond oncology, impacting the longevity of human life materially, according to ARK.

Good news: CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) is ARKG's second-largest holding at a weight of 11.28%. That stock is up almost 88% over the past 90 days.

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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It's One Of This Year's Best Health Care ETFs And It Doesn't Own Any Moderna - Benzinga

ADRIAN SMITH: Going the Wrong Way on Health care – Scottsbluff Star Herald

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as Obamacare is ten years old. However, with ten years of hindsight, it is clear the ACA has been anything but affordable for Nebraska families. In the Third District, insurance on the ACA exchange often costs upwards of $30,000 for a family when you include annual premiums and deductible. Despite the ACA raising health insurance rates instead of lowering them, this week Speaker Pelosi brought a new ACA expansion bill (H.R. 1425) before the House of Representatives.

The insurance scheme developed by the ACA does not work rather than effectively lowering costs, its mandates have spiked insurance rates for those who have to pay for coverage out of pocket. In fact, rather than truly address the forces driving health costs, more than half of House Democrats would prefer to enact Medicare for All a bill they have cosponsored to initiate a full-scale government takeover of our nations health care system with a $32 trillion price tag.

H.R. 1425 would not only pour more money into subsidies and bureaucracy to paper over Obamacares failures, it would also implement government mandated drug price controls, and punish states which chose not to expand Medicaid. What we really need are reforms which give Americans more control over their care and increased competition to bring more affordable coverage.

With an ongoing, worldwide pandemic, we also need pharmaceutical innovations new vaccines and medicines more than ever. Instead, H.R. 1425 would institute government price-fixing which has been repeatedly proven to reduce future innovation. This means fewer medical breakthroughs, and fewer new cures. If the government stifles innovation, taxpayers will be on the hook for the slow and expensive development of urgently needed new vaccines or cures.

I was disappointed when H.R. 1425 passed the House of Representatives, but it stands no chance of being passed by the Senate or signed into law by President Trump. Instead of this partisan exercise, we should work together to address surprise billing and drug prices.

In the Ways and Means Committee, I have been working with my colleagues on these issues for a year and a half and we have identified a number of bipartisan solutions which would reduce drug prices and improve access to health care. I stand ready to continue working together, toward these real solutions which can pass both houses of Congress and be signed by President Trump to improve health care for all Americans.

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ADRIAN SMITH: Going the Wrong Way on Health care - Scottsbluff Star Herald

Healthcare and Insurers, we need to talk. signed Public Health – State of Reform – State of Reform

Jefferson Ketchel, MA RS, is the Executive Director of the Washington State Public Health Association. In this commentary, he discusses sustained investments in public health. This piece is part of a series of commentaries focused on transforming public health released throughout this week. The other commentaries are available here and here.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

-Lao Tzu

In life there are few certainties, but 2020 has had several, so far.

It was hard to imagine it was only just over a year ago that we were in the midst of a measles outbreak and working together to address the opioid crisis. As we struggled to stop the spread of disease and prevent illness and premature death we should have realized at the time these events were canaries in the coal mine warning us of a fractured system that would soon be put to an ultimate test.

However, I am truly impressed with what we are able to do with what we have. Thanks to tireless and courageous people in healthcare, and with the planning, contact tracing, social distancing, and mask utilization, Washington State has done a decent job flattening the curve. Some of these tools are as old as history, but that is because they work. This was accomplished without a vaccine, therapeutic and adequate testing capacity, limited PPE, AND with a barebones public health system. At the same time, that system is getting by on some incredibly outdated and sporadically functioning technology. Imagine how many illnesses could have been prevented, economic damages minimized, and lives saved if we had the public health system our communities deserve and one that addressed racist structures that perpetuate poor health for marginalized populations?

Public health has gotten used to one-time funding amidst crises. However, it does not solve much and perpetuates the failed system that will once again not be properly prepared for the next event or address systemic injustices. This emphasizes that we are a Band-Aid society that prevents us from getting to the root of problems. Just imagine what could be done with sufficient health monitoring, disease investigation, coordination, and a focus on healthier communities.

Health shouldnt be a luxury item. Public health has developed the Foundational Public Health Services, which are services that are unique to government and should be afforded to all Washingtonians. If they were present state-wideconsistently and equitablywe could raise all boats and be able to coordinate and prevent crises big, small, and persistent. While some small investments have been made (without them, things would have been much worse), public health has attempted for several years to get these services sustainably funded but have hit wall after wall.

While the social determinants of health (racism, housing, education, employment) have significant impacts on healthy years of life, the political determinants of health impact our ability to actually fix them. There are powerful lobbies for tobacco, sugar-sweetened beverages, and others. Where are the lobbies for public health?

I ask that health care and insurers be leaders in advocating for investment in the public health system. Alone, no hospital, clinic, or payer can solve public health problems.

The system is working exactly as it was designedand were getting what we paid for. We can do so much better. We need your alliance. Join us.

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Healthcare and Insurers, we need to talk. signed Public Health - State of Reform - State of Reform

As Part of New York’s Ongoing Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Special Health Insurance Enrollment Extension Through NY…

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Special Enrollment Period for uninsured New Yorkers will be extended for another 30 days, through August 15, 2020, as the State continues to provide supportive services during the COVID-19 public health crisis.New Yorkers can apply for coveragethroughNY State of Health, New York State's health insurance marketplace, or directly through insurers.

"During these difficult and unprecedented times, access to quality, affordable health care is critically important to New Yorkers' well-being," Governor Cuomo said. "While we're continuing to move in the right direction, we know we're not out of the woods yet and by extending the open enrollment period we're making sure New Yorkers who need affordable health care coverage can get it and help keep themselves and their families safe."

NY State of Health Executive Director, Donna Frescatore said, "At this unprecedented time in our state and nation's history, we want to remind New Yorkers that NY State of Health is here as a safety net. Individuals can find and enroll in affordable, comprehensive health insurance coverage, and our Customer Service Center and enrollment assistors are available to help with this process."

Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell said, "New York bent the curve but it remains critically important for all New Yorkers to have access to quality and affordable commercial health insurance. This special enrollment period extension is one of the many ways New York is continuing to work together with the commercial health industry to serve the needs of vulnerable New Yorkers. DFS is proud to be a part of this effort to keep New Yorkers healthy and safe."

NY State of Health, together with the State Department of Financial Services and New York State insurers, are taking this action in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency so that individuals do not avoid seeking testing or medical care for fear of cost. Individuals who have lost employer coverage must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage and individuals who have lost income may be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, or subsidized Qualified Health Plans.

Individuals who enroll in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health or directly through insurers by August 15, 2020 will have a choice of coverage start date either August 1 or September 1, 2020. Individuals who are eligible for other NY State of Health programs - Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus - can enroll year-round. Finally, as directed by Governor Cuomo, all New York insurers havewaivedcost sharing for COVID-19 testing.

As always, consumers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health online atnystateofhealth.ny.gov, by phone at 1-855-355-5777, and by connecting with a free enrollment assistor.

Additional information on NY State of Health insurance options during the Coronavirus emergency can be found here. Department of Financial Services information and resources during the Coronavirus emergency can be found here.

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As Part of New York's Ongoing Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Special Health Insurance Enrollment Extension Through NY...

Health care workers in 4 counties to receive free face shields – Action News Now

TEHAMA COUNTY, Calif. -Health care workers in four counties will receive free reusable face shields donated by North Valley Community Foundation and Feather River Health Foundation due to a unique partnership that involved public health departments such as Chico State University and Idea Fab Labs.

It has been incredible to watch this come together, said David Little, executive vice president of NVCF. Everybody recognized a need for personal protective equipment for all health care workers, from doctors in emergency rooms to hygienists in dental offices. Then everyone worked to figure out how to make it happen.

The project started at Idea Fab Labs, a Chico Tech company when Enloe Medical Center requested face shields from Erin Banwell, the Idea Fab Labs director.

A team of professors joined Enloe Medical Center in creating a 3D printable frame that supports a clear plastic face shield.

The North Valley Community Foundation stepped in and offered funding for the face shields and included three surrounding counties which includes Butte, Glenn, and Colusa.

With an increasing demand for the face shields, Greg Watkins, chair of the universitys Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and Sustainable Manufacturing, received permission from the university to begin producing the frames by using plastic injection molding machines in the engineering labs on campus.

This started as a volunteer effort from engineering faculty and students who wanted to help out, said Watkins. Everybody came together and put in a lot of hours to make this happen. Its gratifying to see our students apply their design and manufacturing education and utilize our campus facilities to help out the local medical community.

The Public Health Departments for all four counties said they conducted surveys to decide on a number of face shields needed for each county and the shields will be given to hospitals, doctors offices, urgent care clinics, dental offices, veterans clinics, student health centers and more.

NVCF and Feather River Health Foundation split the cost of plastic materials in order for the shields to be donated. NVCF and Feather River Health Foundation both have coronavirus relief funds and this month formed a partnership to combine resources. For more information on how to donate to NVCFs Coronavirus Rapid Response Fund, visithttps://www.nvcf.org/coronavirus-covid-19-rapid-response

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Health care workers in 4 counties to receive free face shields - Action News Now

At 6:45 p.m. today, Spanberger to host COVID-19 health-care town hall – starexponent.com

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger will host a telephone town hall from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday with Virginia Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver to discuss challenges facing Central Virginia patients and health-care providers as the COVID-19 crisis continues.

Constituents can phone in to listen or participate. The live event will also be streamed on Spanbergers website and Facebook page.

Spanberger and Oliver will deliver updates on Virginias current COVID-19 situation, and answer questions from 7th District residents about the state and federal responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

Spanberger also will answer questions about her work in Congress to protect coverage for Central Virginians with pre-existing conditions and lower drug costs for 7th District seniors and families.

As our nation experiences surges in COVID-19, we need to take responsible steps that protect our most vulnerable neighbors, keep our healthcare workers safe, and make sure our small businesses can reopen without putting their employees and customers at risk, Spanberger said in a statement. In recent weeks, Ive listened to healthcare providers and experts describe their concerns about continued PPE shortages, rising prescription drug costs, and the need for strengthened federal assistance for nursing homes and community clinics.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Wednesdays telephone town hall will be Spanbergers seventh free, public telephone town hall focused on the impacts of the virus on Central Virginia families, businesses and seniors.

Last month, she hosted a virtual telephone town hall with U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Virginia Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Janice Underwood and VCU Massey Cancer Center Director Robert Winn to discuss the pandemics disproportionate impacts on minority communities in Central Virginia and across the country. Click here to watch a full recording of the event.

Last month, Spanberger voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation that would protect health-care coverage for millions of Virginians with pre-existing conditions, reduce premiums and lower prescription drug costs for Central Virginia seniors and families.

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At 6:45 p.m. today, Spanberger to host COVID-19 health-care town hall - starexponent.com

Hundreds of health care workers coming to Arizona to battle COVID-19 – KVOA Tucson News

TUCSON (KVOA) - According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 600 health care workers from across the country will soon be on the ground across Arizona over the next six weeks.

These frontline workers will help hospital staff as the pandemic shows little sign of slowing in this hotspot.

Dr. Christian Moher is a family medicine physician at Escalera Health in Tucson.

He works closely with doctors and nurses at Tucson Medical Center and knows this help comes at a critical time.

"All of my coworkers and friends who work in the hospital are exhausted and they desperately need some relief. They need some time off, they need to be with their families so having these people come and serve our community is a huge win for us," said Moher.

More than 40 out-of-state health care workers just left TMC after a two-week deployment.

A hospital spokesperson said it will get 12 people on the ground from this group of 600.

A spokesperson for Northwest Medical Center said 14 ICU nurses and four med/surg nurses will come to that hospital.

Moher said he's grateful to his colleagues from across the nation who will soon be here to help

"I don't think that in my wildest dreams when I was sitting in the third row at the University of Arizona College of Medicine studying to become a doctor that I could have imagined that our health care system could be as stressed as it is," he said.

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Hundreds of health care workers coming to Arizona to battle COVID-19 - KVOA Tucson News

Norton Healthcare names acting executive director of Norton Healthcare Institute for Health Equity – Norton Healthcare

Norton Healthcare has named Kelly C. McCants, M.D., acting executive director of the newly formed Norton Healthcare Institute for Health Equity.

Dr. McCants currently serves as Norton Healthcares medical director of advanced heart failure. He will hold both positions while the institute is being established. Dr. McCants will report to Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare and join the organizations executive team.

Norton Healthcares mission calls on us to respond to the needs of our community, and clearly our community is in need, Cox said. Dr. McCants is uniquely qualified for this role. Through his work with heart failure patients, he and his team have demonstrated the power of addressing socioeconomic dynamics in order to achieve heart recovery. He has a true passion for addressing health disparity, and we are fortunate that he has agreed to balance the role while continuing to care for his patients.

Last month, Cox announced the creation of the Norton Healthcare Institute for Health Equity as one of five initiatives to address inequalities within the community. The primary focus of the institute will be to identify and remove obstacles that prevent people in underserved areas from receiving the health care they deserve, as well as to eliminate disparities in care.

The premise of the institute is that health equity can only be achieved when every person has a fair opportunity to achieve their full health potential, Dr. McCants said. Im so proud that Norton Healthcare is striving for a future free of health inequities and is committing its time, talents and resources in pursuit of this essential human right.

Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Dr. McCants said he drew inspiration from his mother and older brother. He is the first physician and only the fourth college graduate among 54 members of his extended family. His brother, now a police captain, and his mother, who went back to school at age 40, were the first and second college graduates.

Dr. McCants attended Tennessee State University, Nashville, before going to Meharry Medical College, also in Nashville. He completed his internship, residency and fellowship at the University of Louisville. He returned to Louisville after a stint at Atlanta, Georgias Piedmont Hospital, where he was director of cardiac transplantation.

We know that this leadership model requires investing in passionate people to continue the success of our heart failure program and to move this health equity initiative forward, Cox said. We are committed to success and will do what is needed so that everyone has access to the health care they need.

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Norton Healthcare names acting executive director of Norton Healthcare Institute for Health Equity - Norton Healthcare