Easter Islands – Daniel Arsham illustrates for Louis Vuitton Travel Books 2013 – Unravel Travel TV – Video

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Easter Islands - Daniel Arsham illustrates for Louis Vuitton Travel Books 2013 - Unravel Travel TV
As a child, Daniel Arsham dreamed of building cities, of impossible constructions and futuristic landscapes. The young American, born in 1980, studied at New...

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Easter Islands - Daniel Arsham illustrates for Louis Vuitton Travel Books 2013 - Unravel Travel TV - Video

Pacific's Marshall Islands facing drought emergency

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MAJURO, Marshall Islands: A drought has left areas of the Marshall Islands facing "dire" water shortages with aid agencies scrambling to ship relief to affected communities, officials in the Pacific nation said Wednesday.

With almost no rainfall since late last year on some of the northern islands, the government this week issued a disaster declaration as villages began rationing water to preserve supplies.

"We've got 3,700 people without drinking water, the situation is dire," national water advisor Tom Vance said on Wednesday following a trip to Mejit Island.

Health officials said water tanks were running low and water from wells had turned brackish, making it unsafe to drink. Without rain, the only other source of liquid for the islanders is coconuts.

"The situation is increasingly desperate if this drought persists in the northern islands and atolls," said Chief Secretary Casten Nemra, who is heading the emergency relief program.

The United States and Australian governments this week announced $100,000 in emergency aid grants, with the US also donating four reverse osmosis water-making units which are expected to arrive in the next few days.

The Marshall Islands government said it hoped to buy more of the units and send a ship to the disaster zone carrying 450 collapsible water containers filled to capacity.

Nemra said the drought had severely damaged local food crops and there were health fears for the population, with cases of diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, influenza and other illnesses already being reported.

"The northern Marshall Islands is under incredible level of hardship and reports indicate that conditions will get worse in the coming days," he said. -AFP

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Pacific's Marshall Islands facing drought emergency

Health Care Providers Beta Testing New URAC Accreditation for Clinical Integration

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Washington, DC (PRWEB) May 08, 2013

Several organized physician groups are beta testing URACs new clinical integration accreditation program standards. URAC, an independent accreditation organization advancing quality and value throughout health care, created the new program to serve as a roadmap for health providers to achieve clinical integration and accountable care. By earning URAC accreditation, providers will demonstrate they are delivering improved patient care and reducing costs.

URACs clinical integration accreditation program guides health care providers in a number of areas for transforming care delivery, including operations, health information technology, clinical management, care coordination, and population health.

We value the insights the beta testers have shared about URACs clinical integration accreditation, said Jane Webster, senior vice president for research, development and planning at URAC. Feedback from health care providers helps to develop a product that matches industry needs. The beta testers also gain an advantage in the market by becoming early adopters, building the organizational foundation needed to become a fully accountable clinically integrated network.

Clinically integrated providers unite around the needs of each patient, delivering care based on a common set of clinical best practices. URACs new standards have been carefully designed to align with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust regulations. The program works for a variety of health providers, from small to large, including specialty groups.

The benefits of becoming clinically integrated are substantial for improving care delivery, reducing cost, and demonstrating evidence-based outcomes. Hallmarks include seamless care coordination, timely sharing of patient medical information, and close tracking of care referrals and follow-up.

The following health care providers are beta testing URACs clinical integration accreditation program:

About URAC URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, promotes health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system and provides a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry.

As a leading national accrediting organization, URAC accreditation programs span the health care spectrum. URAC is recognized by State and Federal regulatory agencies for these programs. Most notably, the Administration has recognized URAC as an approved accreditor for health plans participating on health insurance exchanges.

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Health Care Providers Beta Testing New URAC Accreditation for Clinical Integration

Growth of Health Care Spending, Prices & Employment Each Head Lower

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ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

National health care spending in March 2013 grew 3.8 percent relative to March 2012, one-tenth below the February rate, putting it below the record low levels seen annually in 2009 2011, and below our estimate of 4.3 percent for 2012. Meanwhile, health care employment may finally be slowing with an average gain of 19,000 jobs per month for 2013, compared with 27,000 per month during 2012.

Health care prices in March 2013 were 1.6 percent higher than in March 2012, one-tenth below the February rise, and second lowest reading since December 1997s 1.3 percent figure. The 12-month moving average at 1.9 percent is the lowest rate since a 1.8 percent reading recorded in October 1998.

Health care employment rose by 19,000 jobs in April 2013, matching the average growth for the first four month of the year. With a better than expected 165,000 economy-wide jobs created, plus upward revisions for February and March totaling 114,000, the health sector share of total employment dropped slightly to 10.72 percent, off the revised all-time high of 10.73 percent last seen in January 2013.

These data come from the May Health Sector Economic IndicatorsSM briefs released by Altarum Institutes Center for Sustainable Health Spending. The briefs, covering health care spending, utilization, prices, and employment are at http://www.altarum.org/HealthIndicators.

The somewhat slower growth in health spending is driven by slower health care price growth which, in turn, is following slower economy-wide inflation, said Charles Roehrig, director of the Center. Our research suggests that the recession continues to push down on health spending, cutting growth by a percentage point or more. And while the data are noisy, health providers may finally be cutting back employment in light of reimbursement pressures.

The health spending share of GDP was 18.1 percent in March, up from 16.4 percent at the start of the recession in December 2007. Implicit per capita health care utilization averaged 1.3 percent growth over the last 12 months.

Altarum Institute (www.altarum.org) integrates objective research and client-centered consulting skills to deliver comprehensive, systems-based solutions that improve health and health care. Altarum employs more than 400 individuals and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., with additional offices in the Washington, D.C., area; Atlanta, Ga.; Portland, Maine; and San Antonio, Texas.

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Growth of Health Care Spending, Prices & Employment Each Head Lower

Health Net Announces Appearance at Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 Health Care Conference

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LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Health Net, Inc. (HNT) today announced that members of its management team are scheduled to present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 Health Care Conference on May 14, 2013, at approximately 1:00p.m. Eastern time (10:00a.m. Pacific time).

A live webcast and replay of the presentation will be available at http://www.healthnet.com under Investor Relations. The webcast is open to all interested parties. The webcast should be accessed at least 15 minutes prior to its start time. Anyone listening to the webcast will be presumed to have read Health Nets Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013, and other reports filed by the company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Health Net

Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that delivers managed health care services through health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net provides and administers health benefits to approximately 5.4million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as Part D), Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. Through its subsidiaries, Health Net also offers behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs, managed health care products related to prescription drugs, managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers, and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health Nets website at http://www.healthnet.com.

Cautionary Statements

Health Net, Inc. and its representatives may from time to time make written and oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) of 1995, including statements in this and other press releases, in presentations, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), reports to stockholders and in meetings with investors and analysts. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements and as such are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by PSLRA. These statements are based on managements analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are subject to changes in circumstances and a number of risks and uncertainties. Without limiting the foregoing, statements including the words believes, anticipates, plans, expects, may, should, could, estimate, intend, feels, will, projects and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by the forward-looking information and statements due to, among other things, health care reform and other increased government participation in and regulation of health benefits and managed care operations, including the ultimate impact of the Affordable Care Act, which could materially adversely affect Health Nets financial condition, results of operations and cash flows through, among other things, reduced revenues, new taxes, expanded liability, and increased costs (including medical, administrative, technology or other costs), or require changes to the ways in which HealthNet does business; rising health care costs; continued slow economic growth or a further decline in the economy; negative prior period claims reserve developments; trends in medical care ratios; membership declines; unexpected utilization patterns or unexpectedly severe or widespread illnesses; rate cuts and other risks and uncertainties affecting Health Nets Medicare or Medicaid businesses; Health Nets ability to successfully participate in Californias Coordinated Care Initiative or Arizonas Medicaid program; litigation costs; regulatory issues with federal and state agencies including, but not limited to, the California Department of Managed Health Care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and state departments of insurance; operational issues; failure to effectively oversee our third-party vendors; noncompliance by Health Net or Health Nets business associates with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information; liabilities incurred in connection with Health Nets divested operations; impairment of Health Nets goodwill or other intangible assets; investment portfolio impairment charges; volatility in the financial markets; and general business and market conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section included within Health Nets most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, and the other risks discussed in Health Nets filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by law, Health Net undertakes no obligation to address or publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

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Health Net Announces Appearance at Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2013 Health Care Conference

Cost of health care varies widely at North Bay hospitals

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Published: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 1:12 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 2:03 p.m.

The amount that North Bay hospitals charge for the same procedures varies widely from one facility to another, according to data released Wednesday by the federal government.

For example, a procedure to replace a major joint or reattach a lower extremity can cost $44,278 at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Santa Rosa, but up to $136,762 at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The data was released to the public to help make the U.S. health care system more affordable and accountable, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.

Currently, consumers don't know what a hospital is charging them or their insurance company for a given procedure, like a knee replacement, or how much of a price difference there is at different hospitals, even within the same city, Sebelius said. This data ... will help fill that gap.

Hospitals nationwide are included in the comparisons, which focus on the 100 most common Medicare inpatient stays. In another example, treatment for poisoning and toxic effects of drugs cost $15,092 at Ukiah Valley Medical Center and $40,828 at Marin General Hospital, the report said.

There are large parts of our health care system that just don't make a lot of sense, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, a statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition. The health care pricing and prices make no sense to both lay people and experts, and there needs to be a reform of how providers are paid.

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Cost of health care varies widely at North Bay hospitals

Health care tax credits: Eligibility and economic impact

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Ann Battenfield's healthcare coverage has so far been expensive and inefficient. The Affordable Care Act could change her life -- and the lives of millions in similar situations.

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- President Barack Obama made expanding the pool of insured Americans and guaranteeing coverage for those with pre-existing conditions cornerstones of his health care reform effort.

The resulting Affordable Care Act might well have been written for Illinois resident Ann Battenfield. She lacked insurance for 18 months before health care reform became a reality.

Credit: Andrew Hedlund -- Medill News Service

Battenfield has been self-employed since the 1990s and, as a result, was self-insured, but toward the end of that decade it became increasingly difficult to get coverage.

By about 2001 I was out of options, Battenfield said. For a while I would take consulting jobs with companies who offered to keep you on their insurance as long as you worked with them, even though I didnt want to work for the company.

The work was temporary. So, after she finished the job, she would be eligible for COBRA, government-sponsored health insurance for people who lose their jobs or see a reduction in hours.

(Note: Issues ruled by the Internal Revenue Service dictate that anyone between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line are eligible. It could be slightly different though if a state decides to participate in the Medicaid expansion.)

In the early 2000s, Battenfield stumbled upon a union that offered health insurance, a windfall that lasted until late 2008.

But she has periodic limb movement disorder that occurs during sleep. Insurance carriers consider it a pre-existing condition, meaning obtaining coverage didnt come down to just costs. It was also eligibility.

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Health care tax credits: Eligibility and economic impact

Major General Lefebvre’s Speech on "Freedom" at St. Johns Country Day School (Part 2 of 4) – Video

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Major General Lefebvre #39;s Speech on "Freedom" at St. Johns Country Day School (Part 2 of 4)
Major General Paul E. Lefebvre, USMC (Retired), delivered a speech about "Freedom" to St. Johns Country Day School students (Grades 8-12) on April 26. The we...

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Major General Lefebvre's Speech on "Freedom" at St. Johns Country Day School (Part 2 of 4) - Video

Major General Lefebvre’s Speech on "Freedom" at St. Johns Country Day School (Part 4 of 4) – Video

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Major General Lefebvre #39;s Speech on "Freedom" at St. Johns Country Day School (Part 4 of 4)
Major General Paul E. Lefebvre, USMC (Retired), delivered a speech about "Freedom" to St. Johns Country Day School students (Grades 8-12) on April 26. The we...

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Major General Lefebvre's Speech on "Freedom" at St. Johns Country Day School (Part 4 of 4) - Video