While some of the nation's governors are balking at implementing key provisions of the health care law, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton appears eager to move forward.
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Health care on agenda when Mich. lawmakers return
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and his fellow Republicans could find themselves knee-deep in health care issues Wednesday when lawmakers briefly return after a five-week break.
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Governors discuss health care expansion at national gathering – www.roanoke.com
Photos by Associated Press
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (from left), Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell attended the National Governors Association meeting on Friday in Williamsburg. The governors will meet through Sunday.
A re-enactor dressed as Patrick Henry addresses the meeting as Gov. Dave Heineman watches. The governors discussed the challenges of implementing the health care law.
WILLIAMSBURG The nation's governors flocked to the Colonial icon on Friday and brought with them clashing views on how to implement provisions of the controversial federal health care overhaul.
The annual meeting of the National Governors Association convened just two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but effectively gave states flexibility to decide whether to expand the Medicaid program that serves the poor. And the session kicked off on the same day that President Barack Obama began a two-day campaign swing through the state.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, is taking a wait-and-see approach to the issue, seeking more information from the federal government while also hoping that Congress will repeal the law after the upcoming election. In a news conference at the historic old Capitol on Friday, McDonnell said it "doesn't make sense" to expand the program if its costs can't be contained.
"Medicaid expansion without reform is irresponsible," McDonnell said.
McDonnell also revealed during the news conference that Virginia finished the recent fiscal year with a budget surplus for the third consecutive year. A McDonnell aide said after the news conference that the amount of the surplus won't be known until all of the revenue numbers are compiled. McDonnell will brief legislative budget-writers next month.
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, a Democrat and NGA vice chairman, said Medicaid expansion "could absolutely be a good deal for Delaware taxpayers" because it would extend coverage to a population that otherwise seeks medical care in hospital emergency rooms.
McDonnell, Markell, and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican and the NGA chairman, spent much of the opening news conference discussing the challenges states confront in implementing provisions of the health care law.
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Governors discuss health care expansion at national gathering - http://www.roanoke.com
Robots will improve home health care
FROM THE SHOW As robotics evolves in tandem with computing, robots will soon be mobile and intelligent enough to provide home health care, says Intel futurist Brian David Johnson.
Not only will they be able to keep an eye on the elderly and others who need home care, but also we will be able to customize them with apps, just like an iPhone.
Join the conversation on Facebook or Google+ and share feedback with The Gavin Newsom Show at @GavinOnCurrent.
The full interviews with Brian David Johnson, Kara Swisher and Tim Ferriss air this Friday at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT.
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Summer astronomy program begins in Glacier National Park
July 12, 2012 Visitors invited to experience Glaciers day and night skies
WEST GLACIER Glacier National Parks summer astronomy program begins July 11 with day and evening ranger-led activities held on the east and west side of the park. Visitors have the opportunity to experience evening telescope viewing of deep space objects like galaxies, star clusters, planets, and nebulae. Dedicated volunteer astronomers will provide interpretive programs such as laser-guided constellation tours.
Evening telescope viewing will be available Wednesday Sunday at the Apgar Transit Center and daily at the St. Mary Visitor Center from 10:00pm to midnight, weather and sky visibility dependent. The St. Mary Visitor Center is currently screening the documentary The City Dark every Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. The film highlights the story of light pollution and disappearing night skies.
Solar-viewing opportunities will be available at the Apgar Village Green, 100 yards north of the Apgar Visitor Center, on Wednesday Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Informal solar-viewing opportunities will also be available at the St. Mary and Logan Pass Visitor Centers, weather permitting. Visitors can safely view sun spots and coronal mass ejections through a hydrogen-alpha filtered telescope.
Dark skies, environments undisturbed by light and air pollution, have natural, cultural, and scenic importance. Glacier National Park is home to some of the darkest skies in the world, providing ideal conditions for viewing opportunities while maintaining critical wildlife and plant habitat for species affected by artificial light. A joint effort between Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and Glacier National Park is being initiated for designation of both parks as an International Dark Sky Park/Preserve so all may experience this vanishing resource.
For more information on the astronomy program, view the ranger-led activities schedule by clicking here or contact the park at 406-888-7800.
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Zabaware's AI Software Used in Secret Cinema Production of Prometheus
Zabawares Ultra Hal Artificial Intelligence software plays the role of a space ships computer in Secret Cinemas presentation of the box office smash hit Prometheus.
The line between actor and audience member is blurred. Audience members registered for various professions with a mysterious fictitious company called Brave New Ventures. Identities registered ranged from matter analysts to control operators and all were transported into the world of Prometheus with original props from the film including rover trucks, parts of the flight deck, and the cockpit.
The space ships computer system, called Mother, was provided by Zabaware, creators of the artificial intelligence software Ultra Hal. Like an actor, Ultra Hal put on the persona of Mother and answered queries from the audience. Audience members could go up to the Mother computer console and interact with it by giving it questions or commands in plain English. The system provided the audience with answers about the ships mission, crew, and would carry out various commands such as establishing communications with other crew members that were on the surface of an alien planet.
Zabaware is an Erie, Pennsylvania based company that specializes in artificial intelligence technology. Zabaware is the maker of the award winning Ultra Hal software, artificial intelligence technology that won the most human computer of the year in the 17th annual Loebner Prize Competition for Artificial Intelligence (AI). The software can give computers a personality using AI technology, speech recognition technology, and real-time animation. Ultra Hal is like an inquisitive child and is capable of learning new things from conversations based on complex natural language processing technology capable of statistically analyzing past conversations. The algorithms behind Ultra Hal have been in development for over 17 years.
Ultra Hal is available as a Windows app, Facebook app, a web app, and is on Twitter. The software is available for download at http://www.zabaware.com and photos from the Secret Cinema production of Prometheus are available at http://www.zabaware.com/prometheus.html
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Zabaware's AI Software Used in Secret Cinema Production of Prometheus
Omega World Travel Awarded UNICEF Travel Management Contract
FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Omega World Travel (Omega), a woman-owned, global travel management company headquartered in Fairfax, VA, announced this week it has been awarded the UNICEF, New York HQ, travel management contract. UNICEF is a global humanitarian relief organization with more than 60 years of experience saving children's lives, working in more than 150 countries and supporting efforts in public health, disease prevention, logistics, political systems, human rights, education and emergency response. Omega will support UNICEFs mission by providing first in class customer care and complete travel management services.
We are proud to be servicing such an important organization and are humbled by UNICEFs efforts to intervene on behalf of children worldwide. We can think of no better cause than to be partners with UNICEF in their mission, says Omega president and CEO, Gloria Bohan. Overtime, we have worked with countless clients that support relief efforts on all continents and are honored to have this new opportunity to continue to play our part.
Celebrating its 40th year in business in 2012, Omega services numerous not-for-profit organizations, like UNICEF, along with NGOs, corporations and government entities. In addition, Omega is involved in community and philanthropic endeavors, supporting such groups as the National Capitol Area chapter of Junior Achievement. Recently, Gloria Bohan was recognized by the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation and was appointed a board member to the World Affairs Council, an organization dedicated to global education.
About Omega World Travel
Omega World Travel is the 4th largest travel management company in the U.S. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va. Omega provides business travel to the corporate and government arena; operates a meetings and incentives division for strategic meetings management; and offers a full array of leisure products from adventure tours to luxury vacations. In addition, Omega owns Cruise.com, one of the largest sellers of cruises on the internet, and TravTech, a software development company that provides technology solutions to the industry. For additional information about Omega please visit: OmegaTravel.com. Follow Omega on Twitter @TravelUpdates or twitter.com/travelupdates and on Facebook at facebook.com/omegaworldtravel.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.
UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010. But still, 21,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit http://www.unicefusa.org.
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Omega World Travel Awarded UNICEF Travel Management Contract
Russian Commission Approves New Space Station Crew
A Russian state commission on Friday gave the final approval for the main and backup crews of a new expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) ahead of their launch on July 15.
The new crew comprises Russian cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Japans Space Agency (JASA) astronaut Akihito Hoshide.
The backup crew includes Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn.
The crews have trained in Russia, as Russian Soyuz-family spacecraft remain the only means of transportation for crew members to and from the orbital station until at least 2015, and successfully passed all of the exams.
Russia's Soyuz-FG rocket with Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft carrying the new crew has been scheduled to lift off at 6.40 a.m. Moscow time (02:40 GMT) on Sunday from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz TMA-05M is expected to dock with the orbital station on July 17.
For Malenchenko, it will be his fifth long-duration spaceflight. Williams and Hoshide visited the ISS once each traveling on board a U.S. space shuttle. It will be their first flight experience with the Soyuz spacecraft.
The new crew members will join the current ISS crew, which includes Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin and NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, who have been in orbit since mid-May.
Vitaly Lopota, the head of the Russian space corporation Energia, told the commission on Friday that the spacecraft and ground control services were ready to carry out the launch.
All systems are in good shapewe are ready for launch, Lopota said.
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Glenn Employee Recognized by NASA's Space Flight Awareness Program
CLEVELAND - Glenn Research Center employee Suzanne M. Quintile was honored by NASA's Space Flight Awareness Program for outstanding support of human spaceflight.
The program recognizes outstanding job performance and contributions in support of human space flight by civil service and contract employees throughout the year and focuses on excellence in quality and safety.
Quintile, of Brunswick, Ohio, is a budget analyst within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Working with the Space Technology Office within the Space Flight Systems Directorate, she serves as the lead resources analyst for five projects of various sizes crossing multiple NASA programs.
In recognition of Quintile's contributions, she was invited to travel to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the awards ceremony and a tour of the center.
The Space Flight Awareness Program Honoree Award is one of the highest honors presented to employees for their dedication to quality work and flight safety. Recipients must have contributed beyond their normal work requirements toward achieving a particular human spaceflight program goal; contributed to a major cost savings; been instrumental in developing material that increases reliability, efficiency or performance; assisted in operational improvements or been a key player in developing a beneficial process improvement.
For more about NASA Glenn Research Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/glenn
Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
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Glenn Employee Recognized by NASA's Space Flight Awareness Program
NASA Cribs with Astronaut Mike Fincke – Video
12-07-2012 15:41 In this video produced by students in NASA's Cooperative Education Program, astronaut Mike Fincke gives a tour of the International Space Station crib at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Cooperative Education Program provides students with opportunities to combine academic studies with on-the-job training and work on exciting NASA projects. It is designed to train and develop students for the possibility of full time employment at NASA upon graduation.
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NASA | Big Sunspot 1520 Releases X1.4 Class Flare – Video
13-07-2012 10:53 An X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun, peaking on July 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM EDT. It erupted from Active Region 1520 which rotated into view on July 6. This video uses SDO AIA footage in 131(teal), 171(gold) and 335 (blue) angstrom wavelengths. Each wavelength shows different temperature plasma in the sun's atmosphere. 171 shows 600000 Kelvin plasma, 335 shows 2.5 million Kelvin plasma, and 131 shows 10 million Kelvin plasma. The final shot is a composite of 171 and 335 angstrom footage. This video is public domain and can be downloaded at: Like our videos? Subscribe to NASA's Goddard Shorts HD podcast: Or find NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Facebook: Or find us on Twitter:
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NASA Offers Glimpse Into Aug. 5 Mars Rover Landing on Monday
NASA will hold a press conference Monday (July 16) to discuss the latest the Aug. 5 landing plan for its huge Mars rover Curiosity, the largest rover ever sent to the Red Planet, and you can follow the briefing live online.
The Mars rover press conference begins at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT, 10 a.m. PDT) Monday at NASA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will be webcast live on NASA TV for the public to follow along.
The press briefing will "discuss the upcoming August landing of the most advanced robot ever sent to another world," NASA officials said in a statement. "A new public-engagement collaboration based on the mission also will be debuted."
Internet viewers will be able watch the NASA briefing on the Mars Science Laboratory mission and Curiosity rover on NASA TV channel, as well as participate in a moderated chat via Ustream.
NASA's webcast can be accessed here: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
The Ustream chat can be found here: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl
The car-size Curiosity rover is the centerpiece of NASA's $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory mission to determine if Mars has ever harbored conditions favorable for primitive life. The mission is overseen by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., The Curiosity rover launched in November 2011 and will land at 10:31 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5 (1:30 a.m. EDT/0530 GMT on Aug. 6).
Several NASA scientists will be on hand for NASA's Monday briefing about the rover mission. They include:
No planet is more steeped in myth and misconception than Mars. This quiz will reveal how much you really know about some of the goofiest claims about the red planet.
NASA'sMars rover Curiosity is the most ambitious robot ever sent to the Red Planet. The rover carries a suite of 10 experiments to study the Martian surface and atmosphere, including a laser to determine chemical properties and a sample analysis laboratory for on-site analysis.
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NASA Offers Glimpse Into Aug. 5 Mars Rover Landing on Monday
IPC Midwest Set to Open with the Big News in Nanotechnology
July 13, 2012 - Bringing big news of nanotechnology to light, Alan Rae, Ph.D., CEO of NanoMaterials Innovation Center, will be Opening Session speaker at IPC Midwest Conference and Exhibition on August 22, 2012. In his presentation "Nanotechnology and Electronics Assembly," Dr. Rae will outline current and potential applications in areas important to IPC members - primarily on assembly of electronics and energy products using both novel printing processes and also in very conventional technology. IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries 3000 Lakeside Drive Bannockburn, IL, 60015 USA Press release date: July 12, 2012
BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, - As electronics manufacturers strive to keep costs of high density electronics in check, the potential of nanotechnology and its growing applications make it an extremely attractive technology worth examining. Bringing the big news of nanotechnology to light, Alan Rae, Ph.D., CEO of NanoMaterials Innovation Center, will be the Opening Session speaker at IPC Midwest Conference & Exhibition on August 22, 2012, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill.
Heavily funded by governments and industry worldwide for the last 10 years, research in nanotechnology has provided a wide range of materials and systems with a progressive range of applications for the electronics manufacturing industry. As Dr. Rae explains, in many cases these applications go unnoticed, but the performance increases obtained through the use of nanotechnology create significant opportunities and business advantages.
In his presentation "Nanotechnology and Electronics Assembly," Dr. Rae will outline the current and potential applications in areas important to IPC members - primarily on the assembly of electronics and energy products using both novel printing processes and also in very conventional technology. In addition, he will discuss the evolving commercial structure that supports the translation of inventions to an increasing number of practical products.
The IPC Midwest Opening Session is a free event for all IPC Midwest registrants. A free exhibits-only registration to IPC Midwest provides free access to the opening session as well as the show's exhibition featuring top industry suppliers, and a free afternoon reception to introduce IPC's new president and CEO John W. Mitchell.
Special registration packages provide savings to a number of educational opportunities, including the technical conference, standards development meetings and IPC Executive Summit. In addition, individuals who register by July 20 can save 20 percent on registration fees. Visit http://www.IPCMidwestShow.org/register to view all registration options.
IPC Midwest is produced by IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries. To register or for information on IPC Midwest, visit http://www.IPCMidwestShow.org.
About IPC IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,100 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2.02 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; and Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China.
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Science Translational Medicine and the DMM Global Foundation Announce Days of Molecular Medicine 2012 "The …
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Science Translational Medicine, the newest journal from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the Days of Molecular Medicine Global Foundation (DMM GF) announced today the launch of Days of Molecular Medicine 2012 "The Translational Science of Rare Diseases: From Rare to Care," a three-day meeting which will be held in Vienna, Austria from October 8 through October 10, 2012.
Taking place at the Palais de Lichtenstein, and featuring an international roster of academic, industrial and government scientists, headlined by Nobel Laureate Dr. Eric Kandel, the meeting will cover how new technologies are providing fresh insights into the causes of rare diseases and ways forward for developing new treatments.
Featured topics include a new targeted therapy for cystic fibrosis, exon skipping for treating muscular dystrophy, gene therapy for SCID and hemophilia, tailoring treatments with genomics, and embryonic stem cell therapy for treating retinal diseases. Joining Science Translational Medicine, AAAS and the DMM Global Foundation in launching Days of Molecular Medicine 2012 are the following co-organizers: the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, the Karolinska Institute, and Fondation Ipsen.
Days of Molecular Medicine 2012 is also made possible through the generous sponsorship of Boehringer Ingleheim, Inc.
"The Days of Molecular Medicine 2012 conference will discuss the many different causes of rare diseases," says Orla Smith, Managing Editor of Science Translational Medicine, "and the diverse roster of speakers will provide fresh insights into how we can develop effective new treatments."
"From cystic fibrosis to hemophilia, there are a number of diseases that, while classified as "rare", afflict a significant number of people worldwide," says Ken Chien, DMM Global Foundation Director. "With enough attention from the research community, and the application of cutting-edge technology, we can start to bring much needed relief to patients and their families. That's what DMM 2012 is all about."
"Rare diseases often come with unspeakable suffering where children are mainly affected. It is a matter of great importance to me to support every effort to share knowledge and develop new ideas, which will hopefully turn into added value for the patients, " says Dr. Josef Penninger of the IMBA. "Therefore, it is a special honor for me to host this year's Days of Molecular Medicine Meeting here in Vienna on this very topic."
For further information and to register for the meeting visit dmm.aaas.org.
About AAAS/Science Translational Medicine The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society, is the publisher of the journal Science (www.sciencemag.org) and the sister journals Science Translational Medicine (www.sciencetranslationalmedicine.org) and Science Signaling (www.sciencesignaling.org). The goal of Science Translational Medicine, launched in October 2009, is to promote human health by providing a forum for communicating the latest biomedical research findings from all established and emerging disciplines relevant to medicine. Despite 50 years of advances in our fundamental understanding of human biology and the emergence of powerful new technologies, the translation of this knowledge into effective new treatments and health measures has been slow. Science Translational Medicine seeks to publish articles that identify and fill the scientific knowledge gaps at the junction of basic research and medical application in order to accelerate the translation of this knowledge into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat human disease.
About DMM Global Foundation The DMM Global Foundation is dedicated to promoting the career pathways for physician scientists. Over the past decade, the members of the Foundation have worked to initiate and establish DMM as one of the leading scientific forums to champion the importance of translational science and medicine via partnerships with leading international institutions, foundations, and scientific publishing groups. The Foundation is proud to be a co organizer and sponsor of DMM 2012.
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Health minister in talks over CSU medical school
APPROVAL for a medical school at Charles Sturt University could be just months away, according to the universitys advisor, Professor John Dwyer.
Advocates for the medical school, designed to boost doctor numbers in the bush, have welcomed a meeting planned with NSW health minister Jillian Skinner as the next step towards making the training facility a reality.
In a formal letter to CSU, Ms Skinner invited the university to start negotiations with the government on student numbers, medical training requirements and infrastructure for the medical school.
While final approval for the school rests with federal health minister Tanya Plibersek, the letter from Ms Skinner was fantastic news, according to Professor Dwyer.
Both the university and I went and spoke to the government and we got a very warm reception, he said.
Its obviously an important move for the NSW Government to be supporting it.
CSUs director of corporate affairs Mark Burdack said the Federal Government had made it clear State Government support for the school was essential.
Because medical training is undertaken in hospitals [the NSW Government] plays a critical role in making available training spaces, he said.
He said the university would now develop a curriculum model for the school and take the plans to the NSW health minister. Professor Dwyer again reiterated the importance of community support to get the medical school off the ground after a two-year campaign.
With 25,000 supporters and growing ... the Central West community is putting the pressure on the government, he said.
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Liberty Interactive Announces Semi-Annual Payment on 3.5% Senior Exchangeable Debentures Due 2031 and Changes to Date …
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Liberty Interactive LLC ("Liberty"), a subsidiary of Liberty Interactive Corporation (Nasdaq: LINTA, LINTB), announced a semi-annual payment to the holders of its 3.5% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due in 2031 (the "Debentures"). The amount of the payment is $17.50 per $1,000 of original principal amount of the Debentures.
History of Changes to Reference Securities
(on or about)
Underlying Debenture
Motorola spins-off Freescale Semiconductor to shareholders
Freescale (Class B)
4.0654 FSL.B
Freescale taken private at $40 per share
Motorola Inc. changes name, splits-off Motorola Mobility and effects reverse stock split
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Falkland Islands Hlg – Director/PDMR Shareholding
Falkland Islands Holdings plc
("FIH" or "the Company")
Director's Dealing
Falkland Islands Holdings plc, the AIM quoted international group which owns essential services businesses focused on retail, transport and logistics announces that it has been informed today that on 13 July 2012 John Foster, a director of the Company, acquired 1,883 ordinary shares of 10 pence each ("Shares") at a price of 403 pence per Share. Following the acquisition, Mr. Foster holds 20,000 Shares representing 0.16% of the Company's total voting rights.
Enquiries:
Falkland Islands Holdings plc
David Hudd, Chairman Tel: 07771 893 267
John Foster, Managing Director Tel: 01279 461 630
WH Ireland Ltd. - NOMAD and Broker to FIH
Adrian Hadden / Nick Field Tel: 0207 220 1666
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NewsX@9: Indian healthcare in shambles — NewsX – Video
12-07-2012 12:31 NewsX@9 is a NewsX special show which debates the main news event of the day. Here we raise the issue of sorry state of healthcare services in India. Ward boys and sweepers acting as doctors are not restricted to Uttar Pradesh alone. In Bihar's Saharsa district, a generator operator has been treating patients at the District hospital. But that's not all. In Meerut, doctors are throwing all concerns of hygiene and public decency to the winds to conduct post-mortems in full public view. Raising questions as to whether it is our health care that is in the ICU. So we ask today-Who will rein in India's Truant doctors? We debate the question on the show and try to evolve consensus among our panelists over the issue. Watch this NewsX's debate special show NewsX@9. For more log onto -
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inFocus: The Health Care law part #2
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Earlier this month the Supreme Court voted to uphold the President's Health Care Law. Last week on 22News inFocus, we discussed what the federal law would mean for people living here in Massachusetts.
This week, we're digging deeper into the issue, and we'll have two state leaders here to discuss the law's long term impact on your health care.
You'll hear from both the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services, and the Chief of Staff of the State Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
We'll also talk to a local doctor about how you can cut the cost and increase the quality of your health care. Don't miss 22News inFocus this Sunday at noon.
Guests:
Dr. Judyann Bigby, Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services Attorney Diane Lawton: State Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Doctor Philip Gaziano: CEO of Accountable Care Associates
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Health Care fraud claims settled in court
Readmore: Local, News, Health Care, Health Care Fraud, Health Care Fraud Claims Settled in Court, Primary Medical in Surfside Beach, Carolina Forest Family Medicine, And Rivertown Primary Medical, Dr. James Vest
United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced Friday that the United States Attorney's Office settled claims of health care fraud with Dr. James Vest and his clinics.
Those clinics are Primary Medical in Surfside Beach, Carolina Forest Family Medicine, and Rivertown Primary Medical in Conway.
Prosecutors contended that Dr. Vest's practices submitted claims to Medicare and TRICARE for services that were provided by mid-level providers, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as though the services were provided by Dr. Vest himself.
Both Medicare and TRICARE pay 85% of the physician fee schedules for services provided by mid-level providers.
The investigation began with the filing of a whistleblower lawsuit called a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act.
The suit was filed by one of the nurse practitioners who worked in Dr. Vest's practices.
The False Claims Act allows individuals to file lawsuits with allegations that fraud has been committed against the federal government on behalf of the government.
Whistleblowers, referred to as Relators under the False Claims Act, are entitled to share in any recovery received by the government. In this case, Ms. Carey will receive 20% of the funds of the settlement or $65,000 plus her attorney fees.
"Health care fraud remains a high priority in this office. When a claim is submitted that misrepresents the service provided or who provides the services, it is false and we will make the case a priority," Judge Nettles said.
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