Telehealth could improve access to health care for pregnant mothers, their infants – OHSU News

Research lead byAmy Cantor, M.D., M.P.H, associate professor of medical informatics and clinical epidemiology, family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine, shows telehealth had similar and sometimes better health outcomes for maternal care. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Replacing or supplementing in-person maternal care with telehealth generally results in similar, and sometimes better, outcomes compared with in-person care, Oregon Health & Science University researchers found.

The study, published last week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, follows the widespread, rapid implementation of telehealth during the coronavirus pandemic, when physicians suddenly relied on video or phone calls for many types of routine appointments.

Amy Cantor, M.D., M.P.H. (OHSU)

The COVID-19 pandemic and the heightened demand for telehealth services we have seen over the past several years puts us in a unique position as clinicians, where we are now able to reevaluate and reimagine how we deliver care, said lead author Amy Cantor, M.D., M.P.H, associate professor of medical informatics and clinical epidemiology, family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology in the OHSU School of Medicine. The results of this study are encouraging because they indicate that telehealth could improve and expand health care options, especially for underserved communities and those who may face barriers to accessing traditional care.

The health of mothers and their infants is reliant on access to high-quality maternal health care. Attentive care throughout pregnancy allows providers to identify health conditions that may increase the risk for poor outcomes, and provides an opportunity for prevention and treatment of any complications.

There is little evidence to support the idea that the traditional approach to maternal care relying on in-person visits alone is best. When the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly limited access to in-person care, physicians turned to telehealth services, providing the opportunity to rethink how care could successfully be delivered. Considering the disproportionately high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States, as well as extreme health disparities, researchers are now considering the use of telehealth as a strategy to expand and improve the delivery of maternal health care.

Cantors team conducted a rapid review that included 28 randomized controlled trials and 14 observational studies of nearly 45,000 women. The aim was to understand the effect of telehealth as a supplement to or replacement of in-person maternal health care, compared with in-person care alone, on important health outcomes for pregnant adults and adolescents and their infants.

Researchers found that when telehealth-delivered care was used to supplement or replace in-person maternal care services, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction were similar to in-person care and sometimes better.

In particular, the study found telehealth strategies were especially promising for certain health services, such as the treatment of postpartum depression and remote monitoring of conditions like diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy. And for low-risk pregnancies, telehealth could replace some general in-person maternity care.

Despite the studys promising findings, Cantor said the effect of telehealth on mothers access to care remains unclear, highlighting an ongoing need to evaluate and improve health equity. Looking ahead, Cantor said future research should focus on larger studies that examine effects of telehealth on vulnerable populations, such as those living in rural areas, and evaluate outcomes based on population characteristics in order to better understand the effect of telehealth on health disparities.

Funding for this study was provided by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PROSPERO: CRD42021276347).

Read more:

Telehealth could improve access to health care for pregnant mothers, their infants - OHSU News

Democratic lawmakers introduce bill to make reproductive health care more accessible to women with disabilities – The Hill

Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday to assist Americans with disabilities seeking reproductive health services, hoping to reduce the barriers they may face after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion.

U.S. Sens. Patty Murray(D-Wash.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) announced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act in a press release, explaining the bill would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study to survey the landscape of reproductive health services for the mentally and physically disabled.

The bill would also fund grants for training and education programs for health care professionals who provide reproductive care for the disabled; pour additional grant funding into programs aimed at recruiting and educating people with disabilities in the reproductive health care field; and create a new technical assistance centerto assist with related educational needs for the disabled.

Duckworth, who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm in Iraq in 2004, said the bill would ensure 61 million disabled American women are not left behind in getting the care we need, when we need it.

For too long, Americans with disabilities have faced persistent barriers to healthcare services, equipment and providers, the senator said in a statement. With right-wing efforts underway to go even further to undermine these rights in the wake of the overturning of Roe, many are rightfully worried about having an even harder time accessing the reproductive care they need.

The Supreme Courts decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion cleared the way for about half of all states to ban or severely restrict abortion access.

The senators estimate that because of that ruling, 1 in 4 adults with a disability will face barriers to contraception counseling and prenatal care in a society where they already face consistent obstacles.

While the legislation is co-sponsored by several other Democratic senators and has the backing of more than a dozen disability rights groups and reproductive rights organizations, abortion access legislation is unlikely to pass in the evenly divided Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster.

Murray, however, said every single American deserves to have control over their own body, life, and future.

But people with disabilities have long faced discrimination and truly unacceptable roadblocks to getting the reproductive care they needand Republicans nonstop attacks on our rights have made matters so much worse, the senator said in a statement.

Continue reading here:

Democratic lawmakers introduce bill to make reproductive health care more accessible to women with disabilities - The Hill

Health care spending hit $3.07 trillion in 2019 – Medical Economics

Health care spending increased from $2.69 trillion to $3.07 trillion between 2016 and 2019 an increase of 14.3%, according to a report from ValuePenguin. The biggest increases were on mental illness (29.4%), neoplasms (22.8%), infectious & parasitic diseases (19%) and endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders (18.3%).

While spending on most medical conditions are increasing, influenza is seeing particularly large increases. Flu treatment costs and the number of diagnoses increased by 120.4% and 121.3% respectively, according to the report.

Spending on administrative and social admission increased 24.2% between 2016 and 2019 and 15.8% on a per-case basis. Non-prescription pharmaceutical products grew 12.7%.

"Salary growth isnt keeping up with rising health care expenses, and many Americans accrue medical debt as a result, said Robin Townsend, a health care analyst with ValuePenguin, in a statement. The financial burden of health care is causing many Americans to delay or skip medical treatment, which can raise health care expenses further. While52.9% of Americans opted for high-deductible health plansto keep their insurance rates down, policy holders end up sharing a larger portion of the cost of their care adding to the problem."

Read the rest here:

Health care spending hit $3.07 trillion in 2019 - Medical Economics

Executive Order on Securing Access to Reproductive and Other Healthcare Services – The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, itishereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. On July 8, 2022, following a decision by the Supreme Court to overrule Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), I signed Executive Order 14076 (Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services). As that order recognized, eliminating the right recognized in Roe has had and will continue to have devastating implications for womens health and public health more broadly.

Following that order, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken critical steps to address those effects. These steps include clarifying the obligation of hospitals and providers under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395dd, to provide to patients presenting at an emergency department with an emergency medical condition stabilizing care, including an abortion, if that care is necessary to stabilize their emergency medical condition, and issuing guidance to the Nations retail pharmacies on their obligations under Federal civil rights laws including section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 28 U.S.C. 794, and section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. 18116 to ensure equal access to comprehensive reproductive and other healthcare services, including for women who are experiencing miscarriages.

However, the continued advancement of restrictive abortion laws in States across the country has created legal uncertainty and disparate access to reproductive healthcare services depending on where a person lives, putting patients, providers, and third parties at risk and fueling confusion for hospitals and healthcare providers, including pharmacies. There have been numerous reports of women denied health- and life-saving emergency care, as providers fearful of legal reprisal delay necessary treatment for patients until their conditions worsen to dangerous levels. There are also reports of women of reproductive age being denied prescription medication at pharmacies including medication that is used to treat stomach ulcers, lupus, arthritis, and cancer due to concerns that these medications, some of which can be used in medication abortions, could be used to terminate a pregnancy. Reportedly, a healthcare provider, citing a State law restricting abortion, even temporarily stopped providing emergency contraception.

As it remains the policy of my Administration to support womens access to reproductive healthcare services, including their ability to travel to seek abortion care in States where itis legal, I am directing my Administration to take further action to protect access to reproductive healthcare services and to address the crisis facing womens health and public health more broadly.

Sec. 2. Definition. The term reproductive healthcare services means medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy.

Sec. 3. Advancing the Ability to Obtain Reproductive Healthcare Services. In furtherance of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order, the Secretary of HHS shall consider actions to advance access to reproductive healthcare services, including, to the extent permitted by Federal law, through Medicaid for patients traveling across State lines for medical care.

Sec. 4. Promoting Compliance with Non-Discrimination Law in Obtaining Medical Care. In furtherance of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order, and to ensure that individuals are not denied necessary healthcare on the basis of any ground protected by Federal law, including current pregnancy, past pregnancy, potential or intended pregnancy, or other medical conditions, the Secretary of HHS shall consider all appropriate actions to advance the prompt understanding of and compliance with Federal non-discrimination laws by healthcare providers that receive Federal financial assistance. Such actions may include:

(a) providing technical assistance for healthcare providers that have questions concerning their obligations under Federal non-discrimination laws;

(b) convening healthcare providers to provide information on their obligations under Federal non-discrimination laws and the potential consequences of non-compliance; and

(c) issuing additional guidance, or taking other action as appropriate, in response to any complaints or other reports of non-compliance with Federal non-discrimination laws.

Sec. 5. Data Collection. The Secretary of HHS shall evaluate the adequacy of research, data collection, and data analysis and interpretation efforts at the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other relevant HHS components in accurately measuring the effect of access to reproductive healthcare on maternal health outcomes and other health outcomes. Following that evaluation, the Secretary shall take appropriate actions to improve those efforts.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

August 3, 2022.

Follow this link:

Executive Order on Securing Access to Reproductive and Other Healthcare Services - The White House

CVS Health Looking To Enhance Capabilities Through Home Health Care – Home Health Care News

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is one of many large corporations that have expressed a desire to revolutionize the consumer experience in health care.

To do so, the company will continue to try to enhance its health service offerings in three categories: primary care, provider enablement and home health care.

CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch reiterated that plan Wednesday.

We are expecting to enhance our health services in three categories: primary care, provider enablement and home health, Lynch said during the companys Q2 earnings call. There are multiple pathways for us to make a mark on community health care and our ability to achieve our strategic goals. We have very specific criteria that we look at as were evaluating our many options. We look to see if theres a strong management team, a very strong tech stack, the ability to scale and a pathway to profitability.

Despite losing out to Amazon Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) on a bid for primary care player One Medical, Lynch said CVS Health plans to acquire or take a stake in a primary care company by the end of 2022.

We cant be in primary care without M&A, Lynch said. We are being very disciplined, both strategically and financially, as we pursue our M&A strategy. M&A can be very fluid. You dont necessarily design exactly how these deals get done. We are committed to extending our health services and we are very encouraged and confident that well take the next step on this journey by the end of this year.

Other public primary care players that could be potential targets: CareMax, Cano, Agilon and Oak Street Health, among others.

CVS Healths focus falls in line with other companies, like Amazon and Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA), that are becoming nontraditional primary care providers.

Nontraditional primary care providers could capture around 30% of the U.S. market in the next 10 years, according to a new report from Bain & Company.

New primary care models from nontraditional players such as advanced primary care providers, retailers and payers aim to deliver more efficient care, improve patient outcomes, and lower costs, the report read. Payers, health systems and investors will need to make strategic choices to determine where to play and how to win over the next decade.

CVS reported net income of $2.95 billion in Q2 of 2022, up from $2.78 billion year over year, a 6% increase.

Visit link:

CVS Health Looking To Enhance Capabilities Through Home Health Care - Home Health Care News

Navigating health care as a young adult | News, Sports, Jobs – The Express – Lock Haven Express

Michelle Cavanaugh, M.D.

Our teenage years and early twenties are a pivotal time of change in our lives. Young adults are simultaneously transitioning educationally or vocationally, legally, socially, and emotionally. Young adults take on the responsibilities of becoming an adult and navigating life, and managing health and wellness are a big piece of the life puzzle. From updating your health insurance plan to finding in-network doctors and scheduling appointments, staying healthy can feel overwhelming. However, young adults do not have to go it alone and theres support available to help you find your way.

Owning Your Health

Once you turn 18, you are legally responsible for your own care and, unless you agree, your parents cannot access medical information or attend doctors visits. As parents, encouraging your childs involvement early on in their own care helps them be more comfortable making their own decisions when the time comes.

Transition is a process that begins in early adolescence by partnering with patients and families to prepare them for adult care. Throughout these years good communication between patients and providers is key. This isnt all on the patient and their family either. Pediatric providers also play a role in ensuring a smooth handoff to their successors and helping their patients through the change.

Primary Care Provider Key to Managing Wellness

Your biggest partner in your journey is your primary care provider. Finding a new primary care physician as a young adult can be overwhelming. Thats especially the case if you recently left your parents insurance plan and need a health professional you can trust. After years of relying on a pediatrician with intimate knowledge of your medical history, it can be hard to navigate the many options of new doctors.

There are lots of primary care doctors around, and it can seem like an overwhelming task to find the right one. The best way to start is to ask friends and family for referrals. You might find the same name or practice keeps coming up. If you already have a family physician you trust, ask them for a referral.

Once you have some names, its important to verify which doctors are in your health insurance network or who accepts your insurance plan. To do this, you often can call the office and ask. You also can use online directories to begin your search.

Scheduling a Visit

The best way to confirm whether a new physician is right for you is to schedule a face-to-face visit. When you make the appointment, either via phone or through an online portal, let the office staff know youre looking for a new provider and would like to sit down and discuss your expectations. During the appointment, get a feel for the office atmosphere and confirm youre comfortable with the entire staff. Talk about your medical history, medications, and worries moving forward and confirm the provider meets your requirements.

This first appointment is a great opportunity for a well visit. Just like it sounds, the well visit is your chance to talk to your provider when you are not sick. You can feel just fine while having underlying conditions, like high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, pre-diabetes, or suspicious moles. These conditions, if discovered early, can be managed before they turn into larger chronic health concerns.

Once youre confident in your provider choice, talk to them about recommended screenings and tests. Many screenings happen every year, such as blood pressure, heart and lung function, and gynecological exams, or at other regular intervals, like cholesterol and blood sugar. Your provider may also have recommendations for vaccinations including influenza, tetanus, measles, mumps, HPV, and hepatitis A and B, ensuring youre up to date and protected.

As a young adult your health may be the last thing on your mind. However, the time you spend today can put you on the path to a happier, healthier lifetime. Your primary care provider is your partner in any health goal and were here to offer suggestions to improve your overall health and give you resources to help you start and maintain healthy habits, now and through all of lifes milestones ahead.

Michelle Cavanaugh, M.D., is a physician with UPMC Family Medicine and sees patients at UPMC Primary Care, 175 Pine St., Williamsport. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cavanaugh, call 570-326-2447. For more information, visit UPMC.com/PrimaryCareNCPA.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

View post:

Navigating health care as a young adult | News, Sports, Jobs - The Express - Lock Haven Express

Covid-19 has damaged the reputation of Cuban health care – The Economist

For a look behind the scenes of our data journalism, sign up to Off the Charts, our weekly newsletter

For a long time Cubans were proud of their health-care system, and justifiably so. Between 2000 and 2020 the small communist-run island outspent most other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Life expectancy is higher than in the United States. Cuba has qualified doctors and nurses to spare. When covid-19 first struck, Cuba sent some of its medics to countries struggling with their initial wave of patients. An impressive 89% of Cubas population is now fully vaccinated with its homegrown covid jabswhich boast efficacy rates of up to 92.4% after three doses. But according to The Economists excess mortality tracker, Cuba has one of the highest estimated death tolls from the pandemic, relative to its size. Where did it go wrong?

Officially, by August 2022 covid had killed 8,529 of Cubas 11m people. But our model estimates that the true toll could be far higher. Excess mortalitythe gap between how many people have died in a given period, regardless of cause, and how many deaths would normally have been expectedsuggests that up to 62,000 Cubans may have died as a result of the pandemic. That 600% increase over the official toll is probably the result of inadequate testing and other problems. It is possible that officials underreported the deaths, too.

Cubas estimated tally of excess deaths per 100,000 people is 550. This revised death toll would place it among the 20 worst countries in the world. It would also make Cuba an outlier in the region: the average across the Americas is 368.

Its ageing populationalmost 20% of Cubans are over 60, more than anywhere else in the regionmade Cuba especially vulnerable to covid. But other factors were avoidable. Budget cuts and a shortage of essential supplies were taking a toll even before the pandemic. After the outbreak hospitals quickly became overwhelmed; oxygen, personal protective equipment and medicines ran short. And although plenty of Cubans are now vaccinated, the country was slow off the mark. Deaths peaked as late as August 2021, during the Delta wave. In that month only around 35% of Cubans had received a full course of covid vaccinations, compared with 64% of Britons and 54% of Americans. The pandemic has brought to light something Cubans have known for some time, but that officials wanted to keep under wraps: the countrys health-care system is not what it used to be.

Read this article:

Covid-19 has damaged the reputation of Cuban health care - The Economist

Meet the Woman Bringing Health Care to the Doorsteps of Low-Income Kenyan Communities – Global Citizen

It took a pandemic for the conversation about the urgent need to strengthen health systems to top global agendas. Meanwhile, citizens in low-income areas across the African continent have known for a long while that health care, although a human right, is an issue of inequality the wealthier you are, the better and easier it is to access crucial health care services.

Kenyan social health innovator Naom Monari, however, didnt need a pandemic to know that more needed to be done to support low-income communities and help them access health care easily and affordably. Through her social enterprise, Bena Care, she has stepped up to help bridge the inequality gap that has made managing and curing illnesses a burden on low-income communities.

Thats why Monari is this years winner of the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award, a $50,000 prize given to an applicant who has created measurable impact in an innovative way that disrupts the existing systems that allow for extreme poverty to persist.

Monari and her two fellow award winners will receive networking support to accelerate and scale their impact in addition to their cash prizes. The award presented by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen is supported by the leading US and Australian-based cellular medicines company, Mesoblast.

Bena Care is not just a social enterprise, we are a movement aimed at creating awareness on the health care injustices that low-income families face, and the role this plays in pushing them further into poverty, Monari told Global Citizen.

The social enterprise was founded in 2016, and with a slogan that reads, Health care at your doorstep its beyond fitting that Bena Cares main aim is making health care both more affordable and accessible for people with chronic and life-threatening illnesses right from the comfort of their homes.

How did she get started? Well, her eyes were opened to what inequality in Kenya looks like when she attended public school.

[It] opened my eyes to what abject poverty was with more than half of my classmates attending school barefoot and on empty stomachs. It was unsettling, she explained. There was clearly a great divide among people from the growing middle class, and lower class that were pushed to the side.

The Bena Care Team at work. Image supplied with permission.Image: Bena Care

Monari realized that something urgently needed to be done on health access particularly when she was at nursing school and saw how inadequate access to health care could fuel the poverty shed first recognised as a child; and how that poverty could continue to drive inadequate access to health care creating a vicious cycle of inequality.

Working as a student nurse on clinicals in a local hospital, I came face to face with the harsh realities of extreme chronic illnesses, long term hospitalization, and the emotional and economic effects these had on patients and their families, she told Global Citizen.

On taking a deeper look at how the problem really looked like in other parts of the country, I realized that more than one million people get pushed below the poverty line each year in Kenya by health care-related costs, she continued. A shocking statistic that led to the birth of Bena Care.

Bena Care is a social enterprise in Kenya, and this year's winner of the 2022 Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award.Image: Bena Care

Bena Care works to provide preventative, rehabilitative, and therapeutic care, to citizens who need it most. Part of this work is an online platform that allows for access to used homecare equipment such as hospital beds and oxygen concentrators, which Monari noted helps to improve the quality of life for patients and their families, and cuts their health care costs significantly.

Since inception, Bena Care has successfully tackled the emotional and economic effects of long term hospital stays, Monari told us, explaining the impact that Bena Care has had so far. She highlighted too that the social enterprises services are also designed to benefit those working in the health care system.

By building a network of health care workers spread across Kenya, we are able to deploy nurses to patients in need of care nearest to them. Hence, the health care workers benefit from full-time, part-time, and flexible hour jobs to supplement their incomes, she said.

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bena Care team were able to obtain a grant from the Making More Health Accelerator, which allowed them to engage in extensive outreach, boosting their capacity to provide at-home care services throughout the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a long overdue spotlight on the field of home care, leading to an inevitable shift from hospital to home, as it presents more value in palliative care, she said.

Now that Monari and Bena Care have won this years Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award, the priority, Monari says, is to get even more ambitious in the mission to end health care inequalities..

The award is a clean slate for Bena Care to set new goals and better structures to achieve a world with no health care injustices, she said.

She added: My appeal for every Global Citizen is to understand that our backgrounds and circumstances may have influenced who we are today, but it is our responsibility to create sustainable change for better and healthier communities.

Excerpt from:

Meet the Woman Bringing Health Care to the Doorsteps of Low-Income Kenyan Communities - Global Citizen

Tampa General Hospital’s Vice President of Innovation Chosen Among Top Leaders In Keeping American Health Care on the Cutting Edge – PR Newswire

Rachel Feinman is among 30 leaders around the country chosen by Becker's Healthcare for creating a culture of innovation.

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rachel Feinman, vice president of Innovation at Tampa General Hospitaland managing director of TGH Innoventures, has been named one of the nation's top innovation leaders by Becker's Healthcare.

Feinman is among the list of "30 Great Chief Innovation Officers to Know,'' leaders who are vital to digital transformation efforts and initiatives to keep health systems on the cutting edge of delivering patient care.Feinman was chosen for her work in creating a culture of innovation across the Tampa General system, accelerating research and development, and managing venture capital funds.

Feinman also was selected for her efforts to harness the ingenuity and creativity of the academic medical center's team members to improve operations and clinical care.

"Innovation is critically important to our organization as it is the engine that propels us forward in developing real-world solutions for some of the most complex issues in health care," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "Rachel has done an outstanding job in realizing our plan to find and leverage partnerships and perspectives that amplify next-generation ideas."

"This is an incredible honor, and it reflects the dedication of the team to move innovation forward,'' Feinman said. "It's another sign that our organization continues to strive to be a national leader in delivering world-class care.''

Feinman became vice president of Innovation at Tampa General in 2021 afterserving as executive director of Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) for three years. With a passion for influencing the strategy for impactful innovation, she currently leads innovation and oversees Tampa General's venture investment strategy.

At Tampa General, innovation and health care are inseparable. Part of the hospital's objective is to significantly advance the future of health care in the Tampa Bay region, state of Florida and nationally. Launched in early 2021, Innoventures provides a coordinated mechanism for Tampa General to develop innovative solutions to improve quality and access to care. Innoventures also provides the hospital with a platform to invest resources and funds into emerging companies that share the academic medical center's vision and can help develop immediate solutions for health care access, quality and delivery.

Innoventures began as a$15 million, innovation-focused investment fund to support entrepreneurs, scientists and administrators addressing real-world problems. Some of its early successes include:

The full list of honorees can be read at: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/30-great-chief-innovation-officers-to-know-2022.html

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list.The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and third out of 100 Florida companies in the 2021 America's Best Employers by State.Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2020, provided a net community benefit worth more than $182.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida.It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Toweroutpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from theTGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Tracknetwork of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas throughTGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track.As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost.For more information, go towww.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Karen BarreraAssistant Director of Communications & Partnerships(813) 844-8725 (direct)(813) 928-1603 (cell)[emailprotected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital

Go here to see the original:

Tampa General Hospital's Vice President of Innovation Chosen Among Top Leaders In Keeping American Health Care on the Cutting Edge - PR Newswire

Energy and Health Care bill faces opposition in Congress – WWLP.com

WASHINGTON DC (WWLP) After a year of negotiations, Democrats have finally reached an agreement for an energy and health care bill. The next step is to get the bill passed by Congress but it faces GOP opposition.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 addresses prescription drug prices, climate change, and inflation. Heres what you can expect from the bill.

The American Council on Renewable Energy CEO Gregory Wetstone says this bill will provide needed stability for renewable energy companies, For the first time with this bill, the renewable energy business, wind and solar and other swill have the benefit of knowing there is a long term tax platform.

The proposed new minimum tax on big corporations worries Republicans. They say the increase will hit millions of Americans because the corporations will pass on costs to consumers.

Wyoming Senator John Barraso says this will send Americans over a cliff, In terms of wanting to raise taxes and increase spending. Those are things that are going to make the economy even worse.

In the face of Republican opposition, the proposal needs the vote of every Senate Democrat to become law. With August recess starting next week, there is a scramble to nail down support for the bill.

See the article here:

Energy and Health Care bill faces opposition in Congress - WWLP.com

Is abortion health care? Court to hear trigger ban case – Wyoming Tribune

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, RevolutionaryPeople's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

See the original post:

Is abortion health care? Court to hear trigger ban case - Wyoming Tribune

Bassett Healthcare Network Invests Nearly $50 Million in Compensation Increases for Its Workforce – Bassett Healthcare Network

Bassett Healthcare Network has undertaken a full compensation analysis for its caregivers and practitioners across eight counties, investing nearly $50 million into pay increases for its workforce. The analysis, accomplished in partnership with outside firms called Gallagher and Sullivan Cotter, has resulted in wage adjustments across the organization that are competitive across New York State. The project represents Bassett leaderships intensified dedication to its caregivers and practitioners, recruitment and retention, and the health systems surrounding communities.

Bassett Healthcare Network is incredibly pleased to complete this important compensation analysis, a massive collaborative effort in support of our thousands of employees across the region, says Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, President and CEO.

Bassett partnered with Gallagher to engage in comprehensive position reviews for every caregiver across the organization, examining job descriptions, years of service, education, experience, and market data among other details to put in place a new pay grade structure and harmonize job titles. More than 1,200 caregiver positions have been analyzed individually as part of the analysis. Meanwhile, a parallel assessment conducted by Sullivan Cotter will boost pay structures for Bassetts practitioner population with a focus on improving incentivized compensation and rewarding quality.

Our overall goal has been to make sure Bassetts wages are in line with comparable job positions in our industry and region, explains Christine Pirri, senior vice president and chief people and diversity officer at Bassett Healthcare Network.

The full sweep compensation evaluation and adjustment comes on the heels of Bassett recently increasing its minimum wage to $16 an hour. One year ago, in July 2021, the network increased its minimum wage to $15. Other initiatives are being prioritized by the organizations leadership to boost retention and recruitment. Bassett, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, recently launched a new series of ads that underscore the institutions legacy and more than century-long commitment to building healthy rural communities.

When Dr. Mary Imogene Bassett one of the first female medical directors in the history of the United States founded our hospital in Cooperstown, she had a vision to pioneer advanced health care to our rural communities, says Dr. Ibrahim. I know she would be proud to see how weve carried out this tremendous legacy and continue to build upon it every day. What was originally a state-of-the-art research hospital nestled in Cooperstown is now a large health care system that spans eight counties and 5,600 miles throughout Central New York roughly the size of the state of Connecticut.

Bassett Healthcare Network includes five hospitals (three of which are designated critical access hospitals), over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two skilled nursing facilities, a durable medical equipment company, a home health agency, and other partners in related fields. The institution is affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and has established innovative relationships with companies like Optum.

Bassett Healthcare Network is hiring in all locations. Visit our careers pageto explore opportunities across the region and apply today.

Excerpt from:

Bassett Healthcare Network Invests Nearly $50 Million in Compensation Increases for Its Workforce - Bassett Healthcare Network

Warnock tweak would further expand health insurance in inflation deal – Business Insider

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia wants to see his party's latest $740 billion inflation deal go further on healthcare.

He'll be introducing an amendment that would offer government-funded health insurance to 4 million people with earnings below roughly the federal poverty level, his office confirmed to Insider.

Warnock will introduce the amendment when the Inflation Reduction Act undergoes "vote-a-rama," a marathon session of amendment votes that could end up changing the final draft of legislation. Initial votes on the legislation will begin Saturday.

The news about the amendment comes after a coalition of advocates in southern states sent a letter to senators Wednesday urging them to support Warnock's Medicaid amendment.

Without it, they warned, "the proposed bill would leave behind the poorest Americans at a time when growing abortion restrictions make access to comprehensive health care even more urgent."

"Closing the Medicaid coverage gap is the most racially equitable health policy this Congress could enact," the coalition said.

It's not clear how many senators will vote in favor of the amendment, and Warnock's office didn't specify how precisely it would be designed.

Depending on how the amendment is written, it could cost the federal government $125 billion through 2025, according to projections from the Congressional Budget Office, the federal government's nonpartisan scorekeeping agency.

States already have the option to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as "Obamacare." In the majority of states that have done so, people earning $13,590 or less for a single person or $27,750 for a family of four pay nothing or very little for healthcare.

States that didn't expand Medicaid, however, have higher rates of uninsured people. An estimated 4 million more people would be able to join Medicaid if all states expanded the program, according to a federal government report compiled by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Several Republican-led states refuse to expand Medicaid, largely out of ideological opposition but also saying they don't want to pick up 10% of medical costs they'd be on the hook for under Obamacare. Under the law, the federal government picks up the remaining 90% of costs.

Today, 12 states still haven't moved to expand Medicaid, including Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

Warnock is up for reelection in Georgia. In November he'll face off against Republican Herschel Walker, a former star athlete who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

The senator has called Medicaid expansion an equity issue. At least 275,000 people in Georgia are uninsured because they can't access the program, he said during a hearing in October 2021.

So far, the Inflation Reduction Act contains provisions to allow the federal government to set prices of some prescription drugs for seniors and would funnel billions of dollars to Obamacare "marketplace" health insurance. These plans are sold by private insurers to middle- and higher-income people, but the federal government helps to pay the costs of premiums.

Provisions for Medicaid were in the Build Back Better Act, the $2 trillion legislation that passed the US House but failed to gain support in the Senate. Republicans, who hold 50 seats in the Senate, opposed the plan as did Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Under that bill, people with incomes below the poverty level would have been able to access private insurance in the Obamacare "marketplaces." The federal government would pay the full cost of healthcare premiums and would contribute to extra healthcare expenses incurred at the doctor's office or in a hospital.

It's not clear whether Warnock is pursuing the same approach with his amendment. Paying for private insurance is more expensive than paying for Medicaid.

The federal government already offers to defray state costs of Medicaid for two years under the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill President Joe Biden signed into law in March 2021.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday that initial votes will begin Saturday on the Inflation Reduction Act. The parliamentarian, who is the referee for the Senate, still has to finish reviewing the bill to make sure it fits the Senate's arcane rules for reconciliation, which would allow Democrats to pass the bill with 50 senators as well as a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris.

But the legislation is not a done deal since Sinema has not yet taken a position on it.

Read the original:

Warnock tweak would further expand health insurance in inflation deal - Business Insider

The Rise of Indonesia on the Global Stage: Reflections on an Economic Ascent – The Diplomat

The Debate|Opinion

With its presidency of the G-20 this year, the country is finally beginning to fulfill its potential as a regional and global leader.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo meets with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 29, 2022.

Indonesia has just hosted the G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bali. Today, President Joko Widodos Indonesia stands strong on the global stage, using its neutral non-aligned status to carefully navigate a diplomatic crisis in this case the war in Ukraine. The Indonesian leader, known as Jokowi, has met with both U.S. and Russian presidents, as well as fellow G-20 leaders and Ukraines president, in order to try and add some cool Javanese diplomacy to the simmering diplomatic tensions between the West and Russia.

Indonesia is also increasingly vocal in combating Chinese expansionism in its backyard, specifically in the South China Sea. Indonesia frequently turns back or in some cases blows up illegal Chinese fishing boats. Indonesia is beginning to assert itself on both the regional and global diplomatic stage something that many commentators, including myself, have been arguing it should do for almost a decade.

The ascent of Indonesia should be welcomed. As an archipelagic nation, Indonesia is so big and sprawling that it has no interest in expansion but is solely focused on keeping its disparate and stretched territories together. Its neutral status in which it is allied neither with the West nor China should also be seen as a positive. By maintaining a neutral stance, Indonesia plays a fine balancing act of attracting both.

Having been fortunate enough to have spent almost my entire career and adult life in Indonesia, I have witnessed first-hand the steady, although admittedly sometimes messy, economic rise of Southeast Asias largest economy and ASEANs leading power.

Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific.

Indonesia, growing again after a global COVID-19-induced economic slump, is becoming more developed and advanced every year. It is on the cusp of using its advanced and increasingly strong tech status to move or at least gradually shift the economy from a pure natural resource-based export-orientated economy to a mixed service, manufacturing, and natural resource-based economy and an Asian hub.

Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month.

Since the time of colonialism and the Dutch East Indies, and before that trading with Indian and Arab merchants, Indonesia has been rich in natural resources and successful at exporting these goods around the world. It will likely and should continue to do so. Awareness of the negative impacts of climate change is increasingly growing in policy circles in Indonesia and with the public at large, with Indonesia making greenhouse gas reduction pledges, but natural resources such as palm oil, love it or loathe it, form the base on which Indonesia is able to develop other strands of the economy.

With the right economic management, and a leader who can strike the right balance between climate change reduction and natural resource development while nurturing Indonesia as a regional manufacturing, service and tech hub, there is no reason why Indonesia will not meet its potential after Jokowis second term comes to an end in 2024. With its economic ascent it will be able to increase its political weight on the global stage further something which Jokowi has started with aplomb.

All this would not be possible without a very aspirational and demographically young and growing Indonesian population. It is unique and striking that Indonesians seem to possess an innate entrepreneurial ability, from the humble street shop or roadside restaurant to Indonesias rapidly expanding multibillion dollar tech scene. Years of painfully slow incremental improvements in education, healthcare, and social security programs now finally seem to be showing results.

Indonesia of course remains beset by economic problems outlined in multiple World Bank reports namely, deep-seated corruption at all levels of business, regulation, and government and a still largely closed nationalistic economy that both favors local investors and makes it unnecessarily difficult for foreign backers to get even the basic permits to operate. However, the countrys progress and improvement should be celebrated. Indonesia has come a long way over the last five years, let alone the last decade. With the right will and leadership, matched with sound policymaking and financial management, there is no reason why Indonesia cannot accelerate its economic ascent further over the next decade and claim a coveted place at Asias top table of superpowers.

See the original post here:

The Rise of Indonesia on the Global Stage: Reflections on an Economic Ascent - The Diplomat

Key To Building Wealth In Times Of High Inflation – Crypto & DeFi – – The Coin Republic

Yearly expansion in the US advanced quickly to an incredible 9.1% in June this year, the most elevated in 40 years. Furthermore, this while food and gas costs proceed to increase and property holder loan fees presently surpass 5% on a 30-year fixed-rate contract. Stagflation, as Larry Summers portrayed it, is a powerful coincidence that consolidates easing back GDP development and rising expansion, with a durable impact.

The US economy contracting 1.4% in the principal quarter of 2022 could proclaim this financial discomfort. Join that with the typical APR on customary investment accounts of a weak 0.10%, a lowest pay permitted by law not raised at the government level in north of 10 years, and its undeniable we really want better approaches to make our government issued currency reinforce. based economy and supplement our ventures.

In his book The Changing World Order, mutual funds titan Ray Dalio depicts monetary cycles that rehash the same thing from the beginning of time as the force of countries shifts.

At the point when a nation turns into the prevailing force to be reckoned with, its money turns into the save cash until the end of the world. For instance, during the rule of the British Empire, real once controlled the worldwide economy.

Notwithstanding, in 1944, the Bretton Woods Agreement made the US dollar the accepted hold cash of the world. Despite who is in control, one steady remaining parts: in the midst of rising expansion, the simplest way for an administration to think about rising obligation is to print more cash; as such, to blow up out.

ALSO READ: ICO Pitchmen Sentenced to Prison

There has been a ton of discuss national bank computerized monetary forms (CBDCs), yet on the off chance that we as of now have deflationary stablecoins in the environment whose worth can be fixed to security like other digital currencies or even conventional resources, what is the genuine advantage of a CBDC?

The entire thought of a stablecoin is to offer a crypto resource whose worth isnt defenseless to outrageous instability. Most stablecoins accomplish this dependability by fixing their worth to a government issued money like the US dollar, or a bushel of resources that could incorporate fiat and digital currencies.

Furthermore, most stablecoin projects additionally boost individuals to remain put resources into the environment by offering subordinate adaptations of resources theyve gotten into liquidity pools, permitting financial backers to engage with other DeFi conventions, regardless of whether their fundamental ones resources stay obstructed.

They can acquire liberal premium despite everything use subordinates to get from us, or procure returns somewhere else, increasing their underlying ventures.

Andrew is a blockchain developer who developed his interest in cryptocurrencies while his post-graduation. He is a keen observer of details and shares his passion for writing along with being a developer. His backend knowledge about blockchain helps him give a unique perspective to his writing

Read this article:

Key To Building Wealth In Times Of High Inflation - Crypto & DeFi - - The Coin Republic

New Infrastructure Network Construction Helps the Digital Economy – Digital Journal

On July 31, 2022, the 2022 China (Ningbo) New Infrastructure and Digital Economy Summit Forum was successfully held. Sun Telecomwas invited to participate in this forum. This forum aims to further promote the exchange and connection of related enterprises, technical forces and industrial resources in the field of digital new infrastructure.

The new infrastructureuses new generation information technologies such as Mobile Internet, 5G, Internet of Things, Big Data, Cloud Computing and AI to promote the process of digital economy comprehensively. Entering the era of new infrastructure, enterprises need to build their own optical network environment first. Through the Space-earth integrated communication networkand Cloud-Network Integrationto help the development of the digital economy.

Space-Earth Integrated Communication Network

New infrastructure requires strong and stable communication network support. Comprehensively upgrade the communication network infrastructure, form a high-speed ubiquitous, interconnected, and integrated communication network support system, and promote cloud-network collaboration and computing-network integration.

Space-earth integrated communication networkintegrates the satellite network with the traditional terrestrial optical fiber network, and consists of a space-based backbone network, a space-based access network, and a ground-based node network. Data relay satellites operating in GEO orbit, Pigeon, Iridium, OneWeb, Hongyan Project, etc. Put the processing, switching, network control and other functions on the star to complete. Global seamless coverage is achieved through the interconnection of satellite-to-ground optical links, and the system can operate independently of ground nodes.

The space segment integrates all kinds of owned and leased GEO and orbital communication satellites and manages them in a unified manner, thereby providing resource guarantees for various users in land, sea, air and space. The satellite resource pool uses L, S, C, Ku, Ka and other spectrum resources, the scale can be adjusted according to needs, and provides mobile or broadband services through the ground coverage of multi-point beam antennas. The ground segment consists of infrastructures such as hub ports and earth stations, as well as core networks, IT systems, and edge clouds. Upgrade the existing earth station to form the ability to connect the sky, the earth, and the cloud network, and realize the interconnection and interoperability of heterogeneous networks.

Cloud-Network Integration

All-optical networks (AON)technology allows data to be transmitted without any electrical processing, which can result in farther transmission distances. AON technology is used in Telecom Network, FTTH, Data Center, Cloud Computing and Internet of Things (IoT), etc. As the fiber optic solutions providerSun Telecom said, the all-optical network will evolve from a bandwidth-driven pipeline network to an experience-driven cloud-based network, and needs to have five characteristics of the deterministic bearer, full-service access, network flattening, operation and maintenance automation, and cloud-optic integration. Based on the quality of rigid pipelines Connectivity, consolidate the bearing base of the digital economy.

The Cloud-Network integration is the core driver and essential connotation of new infrastructure, and the digital base of new infrastructure. Through the high-speed interconnection between different resource pools of the same cloud service provider, the differences in business relationships caused by different distribution regions of user cloud hosts in practical applications can be resolved to ensure network stability and transmission security. Or high-speed interconnection between public cloud resource pools between different cloud service providers, breaking through the resource barriers of different manufacturers, and realizing the interconnection of cross-cloud service providers and cross-cloud resource pools.

Summary

Optical fiber networks, 5Gand other network infrastructure have become the infrastructure that is as important to the national economy and peoples livelihood as water and electricity. The new infrastructure is inseparable from the infrastructure of the optical fiber network. Only by steadily laying the foundation for the network, building a communication network that integrates the sky and the earth, and implementing the integration of the cloud and the network, can we move into the new infrastructure era, meet the needs of computing power development, and promote the development of the digital economy.

Media ContactCompany Name: Sun TelecomContact Person: Yannie LiuEmail: Send EmailPhone: +86-21-60138638City: ShanghaiCountry: ChinaWebsite: https://www.suntelecom.cn

Original post:

New Infrastructure Network Construction Helps the Digital Economy - Digital Journal

Circular economy is the only option | Daily Sabah – Daily Sabah

While the fight against climate change remains on the agenda as one of the most important problems in front of humanity, the war between Russia and Ukraine undoubtedly impacts the efforts in this direction negatively. This crisis, which started before the wounds caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could heal, causes the actions against climate change to be put into the background because many countries want to protect their national interests economically. Even the European Union (EU), whose leadership we have witnessed in the fight against climate change, is making statements that it expects an increase in the use of fossil fuels in the coming period and adopting policies in this direction.

On the other hand, the Russia-Ukraine war and the pandemic revealed that global supply chains have very fragile structures and are quite insufficient to resist shocks. Therefore, in addition to the consequences of climate change, it is highly likely to expect that these shocks will adversely affect global trade, create inflationary pressure on economies and increase the supply problems already experienced due to the global pandemic. As a matter of fact, serious problems have started to occur in food and energy issues so far. As a result, this situation necessitated countries to consider climate-friendly models in which they can use their own resources more efficiently and make them less dependent on foreign sources as little as possible.

At this point, while taking action on the most urgent issue of climate change, we need to change all our production and consumption habits and adopt policies that will help us achieve economic models based on more sustainable foundations. Turkey's current economic models have a linear structure based on the "buy-use-discard" approach. Simply put, in linear models, resources are extracted, converted into products, and then turned into waste. At this point, the material in question becomes waste in a way that cannot be reused. This process results in an intensive supply of inputs, energy use, and the generation of significant amounts of waste. This system, which assumes that natural resources are unlimited and that we humans have the right to drown the world in unlimited waste, has now become unacceptable under today's conditions.

Contrary to the linear model, circular economies are aimed to extend the lifecycle of existing products as much as possible by resorting to methods such as sharing, renting, reusing, repairing, and recycling. In addition, it is aimed to reduce the use of materials in this way, produce less resource-intensive products and recover waste through recycling. All products consumed in a circular economy are used repeatedly; if the product breaks down, it is repaired, and in cases where this is not possible, it is foreseen to manufacture new products from this product. In a circular economy, as it is popularly said, waste becomes the new raw material.

On the other hand, it would be a big mistake to describe the circular economy as only reuse and recycling because, thanks to its model, changes in production and consumption methods will also reduce emissions. In this model, the share of renewable energy and recyclable resources increases; the use of water, soil, energy, and especially raw materials decreases; therefore, positive environmental effects arise. It also ensures sustainable development, reduces the dependence of economies on external dynamics and makes production and consumption structures more resistant to external shocks.

This approach creates business models that include designing more durable and recyclable products, reusing materials in the production cycle, and promoting more responsible consumption. In this way, it leads to innovation and helps to provide new employment opportunities. In a study conducted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) on the subject, it is predicted that 7-8 million net employment will increase on a global scale until 2030, thanks to the transition to a circular economy. Within the framework of its economic gains, it is estimated that the transition from a linear structure to a cyclical system has a potential of $4.5 trillion for global economic growth until 2030.

Despite all these positive aspects, the progress achieved from circular economic models does not seem sufficient on a global scale. The Circularity Gap Report (CGR) 2021 reveals that only 8.6% of the global economy is currently cyclical. However, the report also shares that the target of 17% cyclical by 2030 for sectors with high change potential seems possible.

Undoubtedly, this situation can be attributed to the lack of policies to support or encourage the circular economy, the failure to correctly convey the policies in this direction to the stakeholders, and the inability to realize pricing in this context. In addition, this situation may be caused by the limited supply chains, insufficient technological infrastructures, or the insufficient level of knowledge and expertise of the stakeholders for the circular economy. All these issues make it essential to implement a comprehensive and inclusive transformation with the participation of all relevant stakeholders under the leadership of the public authority.

It is very important to determine at what level of the economy the transformation in question will be initiated. Urbanization policies greatly affect economies considering their economic, social and environmental effects. On the other hand, by 2050, 70% of the world's population is expected to live in cities. Cities currently account for around two-thirds of global energy demand, responsible for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions and 50% of global waste. Therefore, if it is taken into account that the negative effects of climate change will increase, especially if linear economic models continue to be adopted in cities, the risks people face become more evident.

The rapidly growing city population and the increasing demand for goods and services make the efficient use of resources and the construction of environmentally friendly structures even more important and necessitate the creation of healthy and shorter supply chains. The transformation in question will affect not only the actions to be taken by the industrial sector in the cities but also the materials and designs used in the construction sector, public transportation and other transportation methods, food systems and many other products and services. In this way, all economies will be more resilient to climate and other external shocks, starting with cities.

The importance of cities for the circular economy was also included in the final declaration of the Group of 20 (G-20) Leaders' Summit held in Rome in 2021 under Italy's term presidency. In the declaration, country leaders underlined the key role of cities in promoting, facilitating and enabling the circular economy and committed to supporting location-based solutions by local governments. Countries have also committed to supporting efforts to improve cities' resource efficiency and circular approaches, including through the G-20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue.

A circular economy, an issue that developed countries agreed upon even before the Russia-Ukraine war, needs more consideration and acted on as soon as possible due to the fragility of the supply chains. Undoubtedly, this transformation will not be easy. Especially in developing countries, many business lines are connected to a linear economy. Just as it is impossible to shift employment from fossil fuel-based business lines to renewable energy-based business opportunities in a very short time, a detailed and planned transition process seems necessary to return from a linear economic structure to a cyclical model. Because the most important condition for this transformation to be successful is to ensure that the fragile segment of the society working in traditional industries is not adversely affected by this change.

Turkey has foreseen the circular economy's potential and clearly demonstrates its determined stance to realize this transformation. In this context, comprehensive studies are carried out with the participation of all stakeholders to implement its green development plan with the net-zero emission target by 2053, set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoan.

The Zero Waste Movement, initiated under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoan and praised by all biased and unbiased segments, is a critical step toward transformation in this direction. With the mentioned initiative, great benefits are provided in terms of preventing waste, using resources more efficiently, reducing the amount of waste, establishing effective collection systems and recycling waste. In this direction, the Turkish Environment Agency was established, which carries out its activities to implement the most efficient practices in waste collection, carry out the deposit return system effectively and popularize the Zero Waste Movement.

On the other hand, within the framework of Turkey's bilateral relations with the EU, which constitutes more than 50% of its foreign trade, the circular economy has an important place in harmonization with the European Green Deal policy (EGD). As a matter of fact, it would not be wrong to say that the EGD will have a significant impact on the country's EU accession process and its commercial and economic relations with the union. Being aware of this, one of the nine main headings determined within the scope of the EGD Action Plan prepared by Turkey has been determined as a "Green and Circular Economy."

Preparing the circular economy action plan as part of the Green Deal Action Plan continues. Another step taken within the scope of these studies has been the project aiming to strengthen Turkey's institutional and technical capacity in the transition to a circular economy in line with the EU Circular Economy model. In the process that will involve all relevant stakeholders, it is aimed to analyze the transition potential of Turkey to a circular economy, develop a comprehensive national strategy for the implementation of the EU circular economy strategy, and develop the management capacities of central and local governments in the field of integrated waste management.

As a country, Turkish people have to be aware that their planet's resources are limited and only if they sustainably use these resources can they leave a good and healthy tomorrow for future generations. The devastating effects of climate change and recent external shocks clearly show that the transition from linear economic models to cyclical structures will enable them to overcome current crises and be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Therefore, Turkish people must think through every step they take with their children and future generations and leave them a livable planet with a beautiful environmentalist and circular economy.

View post:

Circular economy is the only option | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

Poll: Abortion trails only the economy as a motivating issue for Nevada voters The Nevada Independent – The Nevada Independent

Abortion laws are one of the top factors driving voters to the polls, and theres broad support for making major structural changes to the U.S. Supreme Court, a recent poll from The Nevada Independent and OH Predictive Insights indicates.

Nearly 17 percent of respondents indicated that abortion laws were the issue most motivating them to vote, coming in second to the economy (40 percent) but ahead of other issues such as education (4 percent), gun laws (7 percent) and tax laws (2 percent). About 92 percent of respondents said they see at least some circumstances where abortion should be legal, with only 8 percent indicating it should be illegal in all circumstances.

Of those 92 percent of respondents, 45 percent said abortions should be legal under any circumstances, while 47 percent indicated legality should exist, but only under certain circumstances.

The poll results come nearly six weeks after the nations highest court overturned abortion protections provided by Roe v. Wade, signaling the major role the decision could play in the upcoming midterm elections.

The broad-based, cross-party support for abortion rights also showed its colors Tuesday when Kansas voters rejected an effort to block abortion access (59 to 41 percent) in the form of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have removed the right in the state Constitution and cleared the way for the Legislature to ban the procedure. It was the first state to vote on abortion rights since the Supreme Court decision.

Democrats are really struggling for enthusiasm this election, said Mike Noble, chief researcher and managing partner of OH Predictive Insights. The abortion [issue] really woke them a little bit why should they be engaged, why it matters to get out and vote.

Nine in 10 Nevadans believe abortion should be legal in some way, shape or form. Noble said polling also showed that those with an anti-abortion stance were more willing to shift their positions depending on circumstances than those with pro-choice views.

Though support for abortion rights is high in Nevada, consensus differs on abortion protection timelines. About 23 percent of respondents said abortion should be legal at any point in a pregnancy, more than a third said 24 weeks is enough (the current legal timeframe in Nevada), while 23 percent said the legal cutoff should be 15 weeks. Another 28 percent said abortion should not be permitted at any time in a pregnancy (which is supposed to last 40 weeks).

Noble said the Supreme Court decisions surrounding abortion and other issues such as gun control have galvanized activism for overhauls to the high court itself. Poll results showed strong support for binding Supreme Court members to a code of ethics, expanding the number of justices, implementing term limits and placing an age cap on judges, among other changes.

The support tended to depend on party preference, with respondents identifying as Democrats expressing the most support for changes, followed by nonpartisans and Republicans. Noble said the party identification-based support for reforms is not surprising, especially because of the courts conservative lean.

Changes to abortion protections in Nevada

Abortion rights in the Silver State have been protected by state law for more than 30 years and could only be overturned by a direct majority vote from the people. Nevadas lawmakers and governor have no power to restrict abortion access earlier than 24 weeks into pregnancy the point at which a fetus is generally considered able to survive outside the womb with support.

The most recent effort to outlaw abortions came in 2012 when anti-abortion activists circulated but failed to qualify a ballot initiative to reverse abortion protections by defining life as starting at conception.

The polling from OH Predictive Insights/The Nevada Independent indicates that such a policy would have little support. Only 22 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to support a candidate who favors a petition drive to overturn Nevadas abortion statute compared to 38 percent who said they were unlikely to select such a candidate.

Forty percent of respondents indicated a level of indifference, saying they were neither likely nor unlikely to favor a candidate promoting those stances. During his unsuccessful bid for governor earlier this year, former Sen. Dean Heller vowed he would raise the money necessary to get a measure overturning abortion on the ballot, saying, I realize thats the only way it will change.

But undoing abortion protections isnt the only avenue being sought by those opposed to abortions.

This year, anti-abortion advocates are pushing for a ballot initiative to implement a parental notification measure, requiring parents to receive at least 48 hours notice before a minor has an abortion, though previous attempts have failed. Initiative backers have until Nov. 23 to submit their signatures.

More than half of poll respondents indicated support for a 48-hour parental notification window, a quarter said they were neutral on the issue, and 19 percent were opposed.

Abortion has emerged as a bellwether ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, with candidates either latching onto the issue or shying away from saying much, if anything at all.

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) has made protecting abortion rights a core tenet of her re-election campaign. In contrast, her Republican challenger, former Attorney General Adam Laxalt, has downplayed the issue's campaign significance, instead calling attention to rising gas prices and economic problems. Laxalt has not responded to specific questions about his stance on abortion rights but has called the Roe v. Wade decision a joke while bemoaning Nevadas abortion protections.

In the governors race, Gov. Steve Sisolak has said, As long as Im Governor, I will oppose any attempts whether at the federal or state level to attack a Nevada womans right to an abortion within 24 weeks of her pregnancy.

His opponent, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, has said he is pro-life but remained largely noncommittal on his stance on abortion protections, noting, Abortion policy is already addressed in Nevada law. The governor and legislature cannot make changes to it. The voters put it into law, and only they can change it.

Lombardos campaign said he supports parental notification for minors but has not taken a position on spousal notification because it was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in 1981. Recent campaign finance reports show a $1,500 expense from Lombardos campaign to the anti-abortion advocacy organization Nevada Right to Life, along with an expense of a little more than $1,400 to an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center Womens Resource Medical Centers for Southern Nevada for special event fees.

For more information on the abortion stances of top candidates, visit this story.

Find the full poll results and crosstabs here.

Go here to see the original:

Poll: Abortion trails only the economy as a motivating issue for Nevada voters The Nevada Independent - The Nevada Independent

The Incubation Network and RRS Asia Offers Circularity Concepts Online Learning Series – PR Web

The Incubation Network designed this series with the support of The Circulate Initiative to help organizations better understand the latest methods and technologies available to reach sustainability goals as we move toward a circular economy, said Anne Johnson, Principal and VP, RRS.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (PRWEB) August 04, 2022

The Incubation Network , a partnership between The Circulate Initiative and SecondMuse, alongside Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) Asia have developed a no-cost, online video learning series entitled, Circularity Concepts: Exploring Key Drivers of the Plastic Circular Economy. The educational series is designed to bolster awareness and knowledge of new and emerging issues, key policies, and other strategic efforts for implementing sustainable recycling solutions to help organizations meet 2025 circular economy goals with a focus on Southeast Asia and India.

The five-part video series, with downloadable presentations, covers a series of topics to grow understanding of material issues and actions companies might consider to reduce their consumption of plastic or utilize alternative materials and business models moving forward. For example, one topic reviews the current state and use of plastic credits in the region while another looks at reuse and refill strategies emerging strategies that can support transition towards a more circular economy.

At a time when there are some projections that ocean plastics will quadruple by 2050, finding solutions to better manage and recover waste plastics is critical to the health of our oceans and communities. The Incubation Network designed this series with the support of The Circulate Initiative to help organizations better understand the latest methods and technologies available to reach sustainability goals as we move toward a circular economy, said Anne Johnson, Principal and VP, RRS.

Circularity Concepts will help to open doors for circular economy innovation. Beneath the underbelly of Asias plastic waste challenge is a web of complex stakeholder, cultural and social structures that can be incredibly difficult to unpack alone. This is where The Incubation Network comes in, to connect our community of changemakers with learning tools and resources like Circularity Concepts to better identify pain points and map out opportunities for better solutions, said Simon Baldwin, Global Head of Circularity at SecondMuse.

The greatest impact comes from an ecosystem approach - corporates, startups, investors, and policymakers working together to develop circular economy solutions. To this end, we recognize the importance of addressing knowledge gaps in the system to facilitate action. Drawing on our subject matter expertise and understanding of the circular plastic value chain, we supported The Incubation Network and RRS Asia in identifying priority topics for Circularity Concepts and sought to showcase the circular economy in action through practical, real-world examples, said Umesh Madhavan, Research Director at The Circulate Initiative.

CIRCULARITY CONCEPTS MODULES:

Module 1 (16 min.) Setting the Stage for a Successful Circular Economy: EPR and Policy Developments in Asia takes a look at the role of policy in supporting the development of sustainable recycling systems and how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) plays a significant role in the process.Module 2 (26 min.) Bioplastics and Alternative Materials: Evaluating the Role of Bioplastics in the Circular Economy examines the role of bioplastics, a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, and the key drivers that must work in harmony to realize the benefits of bioplastics as production continues to grow.

Module 3 (29 min.) Advanced Recycling Technologies and a Circular Economy for Plastics explores how Advanced Recycling Technologies (ARTs) work alongside more traditional mechanical recycling systems and the pros and cons of scaling these technologies both from an environmental and financial standpoint.

Module 4 (38 min.) Evaluating the Opportunities and Benefits of Reuse & Refill in a Circular Economy discusses the different models of reuse and refill, its benefits, successful business models as well as examples emerging in Asia and beyond.

Module 5 (36 min.) Plastic Credits: Evaluating the Opportunities and Benefits of Plastic Credits in a Circular Economy explores the challenges faced by companies incorporating the plastic credit system into their own corporate ecosystem and the way plastic credit systems could help or hinder the management of plastics in emerging markets, particularly when it comes to overlaying policy on EPR.

The Circularity Concepts: Exploring Key Drivers of the Plastic Circular Economy modules are now available at https://www.circularityconcepts.org/. To learn more about RRS Asia and The Incubation Network, visit: https://recycle.com/our-services/industries-we-serve/rrs-asia and https://www.incubationnetwork.com.

About RRSResource Recycling Systems (RRS) Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, RRS is a sustainability and recycling consulting firm that strives to create a world where resources are managed to maximize economic and social benefit while minimizing environmental harm. The firm has industry professionals, engineers, economists, technical analysts, and communication specialists who share this vision and possess core strengths in materials and recovery, life cycle management, applied sustainable design, and collaborative action development. http://www.recycle.com.

About The Incubation NetworkThe Incubation Network is an impact-driven initiative that sources, supports and scales holistic innovative solutions to combat plastic pollution through strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems with a diverse network of key partners.

Part of a highly collaborative community of startups and entrepreneurs, investors, partners and programs, The Incubation Network works together with industry players to tackle key barriers to address plastic leakage and advance a circular economy. This includes sourcing and supporting, to scaling early stage or pre-investment solutions, and connecting compatible ecosystem players to reinforce the value chain in waste management and recycling.

Established in 2019, The Incubation Network is a partnership between non-profit organization, The Circulate Initiative and impact innovation company, SecondMuse.

The Incubation Network is open to interested collaborators, corporations, and mentors, looking to address plastic leakage and advance a circular economy in South & Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit: http://www.incubationnetwork.com.

About The Circulate InitiativeThe Circulate Initiative is a non-profit organization committed to solving the ocean plastic pollution challenge by supporting the incubation of circular, inclusive and investible waste management and recycling systems in South and Southeast Asia. We achieve this by collaborating with key stakeholders across the sector, and by producing insights to support and accelerate investment and scale across the value chain.

Learn more: https://www.thecirculateinitiative.org/

Share article on social media or email:

Read more:

The Incubation Network and RRS Asia Offers Circularity Concepts Online Learning Series - PR Web

Whitmer Celebrates CHIPS and Science Act that will Bring Supply Chain from China to Michigan – Michigan (.gov)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 2, 2022

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Celebrates CHIPS and Science Act that will Bring Supply Chain from China to Michigan

Executive directive will prepare Michigan to compete for every project and job, leverage once-in-a-century investment in American manufacturing, and lower costs for working families

HEMLOCK, Mich. Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer celebrated the CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan federal legislation that will boost American manufacturing, create and protect tens of thousands of jobs, and lower costs for working families. Governor Whitmer has been a national leader on this issue for the past year, bringing Republicans and Democrats from across the country together to advocate for this critical legislation. At the event, the governor was joined by representatives from Michigan-based polysilicon manufacturer Hemlock Semiconductor, labor unions, Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), and virtually by President Biden.

The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act will make a once-in-a-century investment in American industry to create and protect tens of thousands of jobs, bring supply chain from China to Michigan, and help lower costs for working families on electronics, cars, and so much more, said Governor Whitmer. The ongoing chip crisis is having a stark impact on Michigan. We need to move fast, which is why I signed an executive directive today preparing Michigan to harness every available resource from the CHIPS and Science Act to set up our state for decades of growth. I will fight hard to ensure that Michigan brings home as many resources as possible from the CHIPS and Science Act, and I look forward to unleashing our states potential. Lets keep putting the world on notice and show everyone that Michigan is the place to build the future.

The executive directive can be viewed here.

Executive Directive Background

Governor Whitmers executive directive instructs state departments and agencies to leverage all available resources from the CHIPS and Science Act to continue bringing in projects and jobs to Michigan.

The directive requires each department and agency to identify a designee to facilitate inter-departmental coordination and outreach with potential private sector, higher education, and state partners. It also furthers collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to continue attracting long-term, sustainable investments from semiconductor companies around the world.

Additionally, it instructs departments and agencies to identify opportunities for workforce development geared towards the needs of the semiconductor industry, including adapting existing programs, collaborating with higher education institutions, and providing targeted education and training with additional federal resources. Finally, it urges efficient approval of any permits, applications, or requests from the state to avoid duplication or delay.

Todays executive directive will empower Michigan to effectively and efficiently deploy incoming resources from CHIPS and Science Act, building on a previous executive directive to streamline the permitting process, including for major projects like semiconductor plants.

Competing for CHIPS

In the past year, Michigan has secured bold investments in semiconductor and polysilicon manufacturing.

From cars to home appliances to cellphones, our everyday lives depend on semiconductor chips. This shortage has hurt Michigan autoworkers, businesses and families, said Senator Debbie Stabenow. Thats why I led the effort with Senator Peters to secure dedicated funding for chips used by the auto industry. Im glad to partner with President Biden to make these important investments in American manufacturing while lowering costs, bringing hundreds of thousands of jobs home, and strengthening our national security.

The CHIPS and Science Act will provide a significant boost for Michigan workers, manufacturing and our economy, said Senator Gary Peters. I was proud to lead the charge with Senator Stabenow to secure funding that will expand domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips, including for our auto sector, and pass this legislation through the Senate. By coming together to get this done, we will strengthen our supply chains, support more good-paying jobs, lower costs for families and bolster our national security.

Americas economy and Michigan workers should not have to rely on foreign made semiconductor chips. This bipartisan bill will help bring chip production back to Michigan and the United States, said Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05). Im proud to have led efforts in Congress to pass this critical legislation that will help lower costs for working families, boost Michigans economy and create good-paying jobs, while also strengthening Americas national security and our ability to compete with China.

We are honored to welcome President Biden to HSC in celebration of the CHIPS Act, a monumental bipartisan accomplishment, said AB Ghosh, Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation. The CHIPS Act signals to HSCthe sole U.S.-headquartered polysilicon manufacturerthat investment in the entire domestic semiconductor supply chain is a national priority. We also thank Governor Whitmer, Senators Stabenow and Peters, and Congressman Kildee for championing the CHIPS Act and for bolstering American innovation, manufacturing and global competitiveness.

Polysilicon is the semiconductor in semiconductor chips, said Kristen Opperman, Culture and Communications Manager of Hemlock Semiconductor. Without polysilicon made to the level of purity that we do, the breakthroughs in our technology that keep our world connected and energized would not be possible. The infrastructure here at HSC is extraordinary, and the work being done to run these assets is second to none. I thank our esteemed visitors for bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. so we can have more Americans doing great work to change the world.

Michigans Leadership to Deliver CHIPS and Science Act

CHIPS and Science Act Opportunity

The CHIPS and Science Act would fund $52 billion in incentives to boost domestic semiconductor production and research, $2 billion of which would be dedicated to incentivizing production of the mature node semiconductors used by automakers and parts suppliers. Mature node chips are also used in medical devices, agricultural machinery like farm tractors and combines, as well as radiation-proof chips required by our national defense industrial base.

The CHIPS and Science Act would provide a new, powerful tool in Michigans economic development toolbox. Increasing domestic chip production near automakers and other manufacturers will spur innovation, reduce inefficiencies, and avoid costly delays, helping Michigan attract long-term, sustainable investments from companies around the world.

Late last year, the Michigan Legislature, businesses, labor, and utilities worked with Governor Whitmer to pass bipartisan economic development legislation that helped Michigan land a $7 billion investment from GM creating and retaining 5,000 good-paying jobs, and earlier this year, Ford invested $2 billion creating 3,200 jobs. Signing the CHIPS and Science Act into law will pave the way for more transformational projects that will invest billions into our communities and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.

Chip Crisis Impact

Semiconductor chips are a vital component of many products used by people every day. The global shortage of these chips, exacerbated by the pandemic and supply chain constraints, has impacted people and industries across the country from auto manufacturing to consumer electronics, home appliances, medical devices, agriculture, defense and more. These shortages have resulted in reduced production and in some cases, idled plants, impacting more than 575,000 auto-related American jobs. In 2021, automakers in North America lost an estimated 2.2 million vehicles, equaling over 3,000 days of work.

This means workers with less income, higher prices at the store, less products for consumers to buy and an ever-growing dependence on foreign supplies. In the long run, increasing domestic production of chips will protect and create jobs, strengthen our supply chain, and grow the economy. The CHIPS and Science Act will bring chip manufacturing back home, creating and protecting thousands of good-paying jobs, growing Americas economy, and lowering costs for families.

###

More:

Whitmer Celebrates CHIPS and Science Act that will Bring Supply Chain from China to Michigan - Michigan (.gov)