ONC releases updated recommendations for pediatric health IT – Healthcare IT News

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Children have specific and unique medical needs and software supporting their care should be tailored to help address those needs.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has published a new informational resource aimed at shaping the specifications of technology products intended for pediatric use.

"There are critical functionalities, data elements, and other requirements that should be present in health IT products to address healthcare needs specific to the care of children," according to ONC.

The agency focuses on 10 recommendations that align to "clinical priorities that were identified by the American Academy of Pediatrics in partnership with relevant stakeholders across the country," wrote Senior Policy Advisor Samantha Meklir and Medical Informatics Fellow Al Taylor in a blog post Wednesday.

They noted that "significant contributions were also made by healthcare organizations and federal partners to provide detailed review and feedback" on the resource, which describes ONC-developed certification criteria specific to certain pediatric clinical prioritiesand offers additional technical specs to help developers working with childcare providers.

WHY IT MATTERS

The recommendations outlined in the informational resource included the use of biometric-specific norms for growth curves and support for growth charts for children; the computation of weight-based drug dosage; the synchronization of immunization histories with registries; and age- and weight-specific single-dose range checking.

Other recommendations acknowledged the potential complications and privacy concerns around providing children care, for example: the abilityto document all guardians and caregivers; transferrable access authority (as in the case of foster care, adoption, divorce or patient emancipation); and segmenting access to information.

"Adolescents may be allowed by law or practice to sequester access to information, such as sexual and behavioral health history in their health record," according to ONC's recommendations. "Some jurisdictions require sequestering a childs record of sexual history or abuse."

"Sequestering patient-selected information from parental, billing, or insurance communications may be required to protect an adolescent or pediatric patients privacy," the resource continued.

As for the care of newborn patients, the ONC recommends associating maternal health information and demographics such as infections, immunizations, blood type and heritable genetic conditions with the infant, given the data's potential importance in follow-up care.

It also recommended the ability to track incomplete preventative care opportunities, since doing so is "key to maintaining a pediatric patient's health," and flagging special healthcare needs.

"All pediatric practices provide care for individuals or groups of patients whose needs cannot always be accurately captured by using standard code systems," according to ONC.

THE LARGER TREND

In January 2019, Pew Charitable Trusts told ONC (and not for the first time) that it should do better prioritizing safety in its pediatric EHR usability efforts.

Poor usability, said Ben Moscovitch, Pew's project director of health information technology, can lead to dangerous medical errors, such as a patient receiving the wrong dose of a drug.

"Forthcoming regulations from ONC on EHRs used in the care of children and the development of a new reporting program offer opportunities to enhance usability which would simultaneously reduce burden and improve safety," said Moscovitch.

ON THE RECORD

"This [resource] may continue to evolve in the future as gaps are filled and more work is done to expand the tools, functionalities, and standards available for use by healthcare providers who care for children," said Meklir and Taylor about the new recommendations.

"We look forward to collaborating with clinicians, hospitals, standards developers, health IT developers and others to continue this work."

Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.Twitter: @kjercichHealthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.

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What Is Social Media’s True Role in the Healthcare Realm and How Can It be Adapted Effectively in the Current Climate?: Current Articles – South…

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By Mae Basiratmand, MS, RN

The need to institute incisive and resonating social media content in the healthcare sphere is past-due. The last decade has been a dynamic time social media became a vital source of information and news, often rivaling traditional mediums. Due to regulations and barriers in the healthcare industry, a synergistic relationship between healthcare and social media ceased to exist. Unlike social medias ease of usability in retail, media, and e-commerce, healthcares regulations create a difficult environment to traverse especially considering healthcare is highly regulatory with a history of lengthy approval time for publicizing any medically-related information. As consumer behaviors shift alongside the increasing autonomy and accessible knowledge made available by smart phones, consumers now regard social media as a more trustworthy source of information over traditional marketing communications where implementing and maintaining a social media strategy is considered a central business initiative.

With countless avenues to explore and discuss the purpose, benefits, and navigating the red tape of social media use (like leveraging user-generated content for celebrated stories, selling products, and even auditing channels for hiring new talent), social media can assist in mitigating timely concerns emerging in todays health climate. According to PwCs report on social media and healthcare, information shared on social media can directly influence a patients decision to choose a specific provider or seek a second opinion. A Pew Research article also noted that the most engaged audiences on social media are individuals who are coping with a chronic condition or disability, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or people who have recently experienced a medical emergency. Healthcare leaders need to ask key questions that address many healthcare mission statements and reach the core of this industry: how are patients looking to social media for health information and what can my organization do to inform the public?

The consistent news cycle revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic has altered consumer behavior with more heavy reliance on digital channels as a consistent source of information reinforcing the need for businesses to act quickly and share information rapidly. Organizations can benefit from using social media in enhancing brand awareness as well as achieving fundamental business goals of patient satisfaction, engagement, referrals, and knowledge. Social media enables organizations to also provide instant feedback that can be given 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can cover content areas such as changing policies, changes in leadership, information on how organizations are adapting, a need for resources, or even victories. Since social media has shifted the power from businesses to consumers (where they can share positive or negative experiences with products or brands with a world-wide audience) organizations need to gracefully contribute to this narrative and use its powers to combat misinformation, announce crisis communications, nurture engagement between the practice/organization and patients, and show humility.

However, including social media as a business tactic presents challenges, especially in relation to HIPAA compliance and the ongoing responsibility of online reputation management. These regulated areas need to have established guardrails and protocols for different scenarios, similar to how crises plans are set in place for an array of scenarios. Social medias only guarantee is the ever-changing nature of the channels where plans need to be both flexible and comprehensive. Many healthcare organizations are ill-equipped to manage the real-time feedback loop or even tap into the potential of social media to impact patient choices, care, and satisfaction. Post-pandemic, when more research is readily-available, organizations will be forced to acclimatize to new trends and the new remote lifestyle thats emerged as the new norm.

As a marketing manager and guest lecturer in numerous marketing and strategy courses in FAU Executive Educations healthcare-specialized courses, I have been able to share my experiences from nursing and leading global pharmaceutical marketing and social media campaigns centered on lead generation and brand and disease-state awareness. In Florida Atlantic Universitys (FAU) Executive Master of Health Administration and MBA in Healthcare Administration program, students are immersed with well-timed examples and real-world scenarios including social media case studies used for various businesses. In the coursework, students explore diverse topics from how the shifting digital marketing landscape can shape brand allegiance to how mass implementation of technology has paved the path for telehealth. In the classroom, students learn from industry practitioners and network with fellow students who hail from backgrounds including medicine, nursing, social work, business, administration, and many others. As part of the educational journey, these conversations lead to rewarding collaborations and an exchange of ideas that help professionals finesse their team dynamics, reinforce strategic acumen, and drive organizational growth. Ultimately, there is a need for adept and forward-thinking healthcare leaders who understand the value of social media as a communication channel and a tactic to strengthen trustworthiness among patients and organizations.

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Envision Healthcare Prepares to Deploy More Than 300 Clinicians to Florida as Part of National COVID-19 Response – Business Wire

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, today announced that it is working with the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management, to send additional clinicians to Florida to provide lifesaving care and support patients impacted by COVID-19. Teams consisting of registered nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists and emergency physicians will deploy to a large South Florida health system and to hospitals in the Orange, Pinellas and Duval counties.

Clinicians heroic and relentless efforts during these unprecedented times are inspiring, said Jim Rechtin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. Envisions partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management will provide much needed relief to clinicians working tirelessly to care for patients when they need it most.

As COVID-19 cases spike throughout the country, our clinicians and support teams continue to answer the call to care for patients, said Mansoor Khan, MD, MHA, Senior Vice President of Envisions Envoy Program. Our ENVOY team is often the first to deploy to provide care when and where its needed most. Our multispecialty team is experienced in responding to and helping communities recover after emergencies. We draw from our collective experience as more than 27,000 physicians and advanced practice providers to provide quality care and save lives.

This team will join Envisions approximately 6,000 clinicians based in Florida who have been working around the clock to care for patients. Hundreds of Envision clinicians have deployed through the ENVOY travel team to hard-hit areas across the nation, including New York, New Jersey and Arizona. The medical group will remain on the front lines of the COVID-19 response in Florida and across the nation while continuing to treat all patients in communities large and small.

About Envision Healthcare Corporation

Envision Healthcare Corporation is a leading national medical group that delivers physician and advanced practice provider services, primarily in the areas of emergency and hospitalist medicine, anesthesiology, radiology/teleradiology, and neonatology to more than 1,800 clinical departments in healthcare facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Post-acute care is delivered through an array of clinical professionals and integrated technologies which, when combined, contribute to efficient and effective population health management strategies. As a market leader in ambulatory surgical care, the medical group owns and operates 257 surgery centers and one surgical hospital in 34 states and the District of Columbia, with medical specialties ranging from gastroenterology to ophthalmology and orthopedics. In total, the medical group offers a differentiated suite of clinical solutions on a national scale with a local understanding of our communities, creating value for health systems, payers, providers, and patients. For additional information, visit http://www.envisionhealth.com.

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Envision Healthcare Prepares to Deploy More Than 300 Clinicians to Florida as Part of National COVID-19 Response - Business Wire

SEIU Healthcare: Statements from healthcare workers in support of Gov. Evers mask mandate – Wisbusiness.com

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WISCONSINToday, following Governor Tony Evers announcement that he would pass a statewide ordinance to require masks in public, healthcare workers applauded the move as a critical step to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives.

Healthcare workers and members of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin issued the following statements:

Since this pandemic began, healthcare workers have been organizing and pushing for elected leaders to do their part to stand with us on the front lines. We thank Governor Evers for hearing the call of healthcare workers and joining with us to pass common sense solutions. This mask ordinance shows that the Governor honors the sacrifices that nurses, hospital workers, nursing home workers, and first responders have made, risking our own health and that of our families. We will continue to do all we can to protect our patients and the public during this pandemic. It helps knowing that Governor Evers is on our side to do whatever it takes. Ramon Argandona, Madison hospital worker and President of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin

As a nurse who cares deeply about the safety of my patients and community, I feel so relieved to hear about Gov. Evers order. I feel safer going into my job knowing that we have a consistent statewide approach. Without a doubt, this will help protect our patients and keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed. We know that wearing masks in public will reduce the spread of the virus. With cases and hospitalizations increasing, this is a big step forward to protect public safety and combat COVID-19. Allison Sorg, registered nurse at a Madison hospital and SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin member

This is absolutely necessary. Weve seen how COVID-19 has devastated the Black community in Milwaukee and across the country. By requiring that everyone in our state wears a mask in public, Gov. Evers lets us know he is committed to curbing inequities laid bare by the virus and protecting public health for all Wisconsinites. Gertrude Murray, CNA in Milwaukee and SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin member

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Cassidy, Kaine, Young, Reed Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Health Care Professionals’ Mental Health Amid COVID-19 – The Livingston Parish…

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Yesterday, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, legislation that aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals.

Health care professionals have long experienced high levels of stress and burnout, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem. While helping their patients fight for their lives, many health care professionals are coping with their own trauma of losing patients and colleagues and fear for their own health and safety. The issue captured national attention when Dr. Lorna Breen, a physician from Charlottesville, Virginia working on the frontlines of the pandemic in New York, died by suicide. This bill helps promote mental and behavioral health among those working on the frontlines of the pandemic. It also supports suicide and burnout prevention training in health professional training programs and increases awareness and education about suicide and mental health concerns among health care professionals.

Doctors, nurses and health care workers shoulder the responsibility of saving lives. The COVID-19 pandemic adds to that stress and increases their own risk of becoming infected. This bill is an important lifeline for medical professionals so that they, too, can get the help they need even as they care for others, said Dr. Cassidy.

The pandemic is taking an enormous toll on the mental health of health care professionals who, on top of their own anxieties, are supporting many Americans in their time of need. Additionally, the stigma surrounding treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders can discourage health care professionals from seeking help.

Specifically, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act:

Establishes grants for training health profession students, residents, or health care professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. The grants would also help improve health care professionals well-being and job satisfaction.

Seeks to identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, training health care professionals in appropriate strategies, and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction.

Establishes a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting health care professionals to encourage them to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns.

Establishes grants for employee education, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment; health care providers in current or former COVID-19 hotspots will be prioritized.

Establishes a comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals health.

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the health care professionals who put their lives on the line every day to treat patients especially during this pandemic, said Kaine. No one can witness that much suffering firsthand without it affecting them, and we must help provide the necessary resources and support now. At the same time, we must also take steps to promote a culture of mental health among students, residents, and health care professionals so those who are struggling feel comfortable reaching out for the treatment and support they need. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can back this legislation to help the health care professionals who are helping us during this crisis and in the years to come.

Our frontline health care professionals face high levels of stress daily as they work to keep Hoosiers healthy, especially during this difficult time, said Young. "The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will help these critical workers get the support they need to prevent suicide and promote mental and behavioral health.

Our doctors, nurses, and frontline health workers are under considerable strain and stress as they work overtime to help combat COVID and save lives. While they are looking out for patient health, we must look out for their well-being. And that means ensuring they have the PPE they need, and also ensuring they have the mental and emotional health support and interventions they need, said Reed.

"Wed like to thank Senators Kaine, Reed, Young, and Cassidy for advancing this important legislation at a time when our healthcare workforce is perhaps at its most fragile as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that physician and provider burnout was at an all-time high before the beginning of this pandemic and it is critical that we educate current and future caregivers about the importance of self-care. The danger of physician mental health stress is not a partisan issue- it is an issue that affects all of our loved ones as givers and receivers of healthcare. Dr. Lorna Breen was a dedicated physician who devoted her life to improving the lives of her patients and her colleagues. This legislation is a continuation of that work. We would also like to recognize and thank the physicians and healthcare providers at Columbia/New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York and our frontline workers and medical community throughout the country," said Jennifer Breen Feist and Corey Feist, Co-Founders of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Osteopathic Association.

ACEP is grateful for the introduction of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. This bill helps carry on Dr. Breens legacy and will ensure emergency physicians and other health care providers get the mental health treatment they need as they continue to serve on the front lines of the most serious public health crisis of our lifetime, said William Jaquis, MD, FACEP, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nations largest non-profit dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, proudly endorses the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, said AFSP Chief Executive Officer Robert Gebbia. This vital piece of legislation will help prevent suicide and positively impact programs that increase resources for health care professionals who are working to save lives daily amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank Senators Reed, Kaine, Young, and Cassidy for their work to increase awareness and target resources to those at a higher risk of suicide at this time.

Protecting and supporting the mental health of physicians, nurses, and other medical and hospital professionals is essential, especially as we weather the unprecedented public health crisis that COVID-19 presents, said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.H. Sens. Kaine, Young, Reed, and Cassidys bill offers tangible steps toward supporting the health care workforce as they continue to deal with the challenging, long-term mental health repercussions of treating patients during the crisis.

You can view the full text of the bill here.

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Cassidy, Kaine, Young, Reed Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Health Care Professionals' Mental Health Amid COVID-19 - The Livingston Parish...

Uber to provide NYC healthcare workers with $750K in free meals, rides – SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Uber is providing free meals and rides to the brave healthcare workers keeping us healthy during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On Thursday, Uber and the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City announced that they had partnered to provide $750,000 worth of free meals and rides to nearly 6,000 residents and fellows across the NYC Health + Hospitals system.

On behalf of our amazing, brave workforce, we would like to thank Uber and the Mayors Fund to Advance NYC for coming together to deliver much needed free rides to our essential employees providing lifesaving care at the peak of the pandemic, said NYC Health + Hospital CEO and President Dr. Mitchell Katz.

Through the partnership, the NYC Health + Hospitals, in conjunction with the Mayors Fund, committed nearly $600,000 in meal credits, while Uber will supply $175,000 in free rides, with all meal credits and free rides provided directly to the healthcare workers.

As part of the program, all residents and fellows at the citys 11 public hospitals receive an Uber Eats for Business profile where they can expense up to $100 worth of meals to NYC Health + Hospitals.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Uber has also donated $30 worth of free rides to all residents and fellows which can be used anywhere throughout the five boroughs.

New York Citys healthcare heroes have guided this city through some of its most difficult moments in recent memory, and they are still doing the tireless work of protecting New Yorkers day in and day out, said Toya Williford, executive director of the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City. It is an honor to partner with Uber and NYC H+H to show our appreciation for the ongoing sacrifices of our healthcare workers across the city with meals and rides.

This isnt Ubers first time donating meals and rides to New York Citys frontline workers. The company previously donated $750,000 in ride credits and nearly 15,000 meals to local healthcare workers and first responders.

In late April, Uber partnered with state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) to donate 5,000 free rides to Staten Island healthcare workers, providing $25 round-trip ride codes to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton and other organizations that represent doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals.

Our healthcare workers are heroes, and we are honored to partner with the Mayors Fund, and NYC Health + Hospitals, to help support their incredible efforts. We know there is more we can do, and we stand ready to support New York City, and New Yorkers, however we can, said Danielle Sheriden, head of U.S. operations for Uber.

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Uber to provide NYC healthcare workers with $750K in free meals, rides - SILive.com

Nearly Half a Million Teachers Do Not Have Health Insurance, Leaving Some Financially Exposed to Potential COVID-19 Healthcare Costs – PRNewswire

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NEW YORK, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As concerns over the spread of coronavirus continue to grip the nation, a new debate has ensued over whether or not it's time for teachers and students to head back to the classroom. As plans are put in place, states should consider health insurance coverage across the education profession. Specifically, health insurance coverage for educators.

ValuePenguinanalyzed the teacher population across the U.S. to understand where teachers are at risk and how many teachers are uninsured across the country.

Key findings:

To view the full report, visit: Teacher Health Benefits Study

About ValuePenguin.com:ValuePenguin.com, part of LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE), is a personal finance website that conducts in-depth research and provides objective analysis to help guide consumers to the best financial decisions. ValuePenguin focuses on value, assessing whether the return of a particular decision is worth the cost or risk of that option, and how this stacks up with the other possible choices they may have. For more information, please visit http://www.valuepenguin.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter @ValuePenguin.

Media Contact:Nadia Gonzalez (Mrs.)[emailprotected]

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http://www.valuepenguin.com

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Nearly Half a Million Teachers Do Not Have Health Insurance, Leaving Some Financially Exposed to Potential COVID-19 Healthcare Costs - PRNewswire

NextGen Healthcare, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results – Business Wire

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IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NextGen Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXGN), the leading provider of ambulatory-focused healthcare technology solutions, announced today its fiscal 2021 first quarter ended June 30, 2020 operating results.

Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Highlights

Revenue for the fiscal 2021 first quarter was $130.9 million compared to $131.9 million a year-ago. On a GAAP basis, net loss for the fiscal 2021 first quarter was $0.8 million compared with net income of $1.2 million in the fiscal 2020 first quarter. On a GAAP basis, fully diluted net loss per share was $0.01 in the fiscal 2021 first quarter compared to net income per share of $0.02 per share for the same period a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, fully diluted earnings per share for the fiscal 2021 first quarter was $0.21 versus $0.16 reported in the first quarter a year ago.

Cash flow from operations was $17.7 million in the fiscal 2021 first quarter compared to $17.0 million for the same period a year ago. Free cash flow was $11.4 million compared to $8.6 million in the same period a year ago. Ending cash balance was $192 million with $179 million outstanding against revolving credit facility.

In the face of unprecedented conditions, NextGen delivered an exceptional performance by minimizing revenue impact, preserving earnings, and generating free cash when patient visit volume was significantly reduced, said Rusty Frantz, president and chief executive officer of NextGen Healthcare. As we move through the quarter, our attention has turned back to innovation, commercial execution, and growth based on our differentiated, future-facing ambulatory platform that is purpose built to engage patients in their wellness journey.

Fiscal 2021 Financial Outlook

Given the continued uncertainty in the market, the Company is not providing annual guidance. As the market stabilizes and there is more confidence in the macro environment, the Company will evaluate returning to guidance.

Conference Call Information

NextGen Healthcare will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2021 first quarter operating results on Thursday, July 30, 2019 at 5:00 PM ET (2:00 PM PT). Shareholders and interested participants may listen to a live broadcast of the conference call by dialing 866-750-8947 or 720-405-1352 for international callers and referencing participant code 4192842 approximately 15 minutes prior to the call. A recording of the live webcast will be available on investor.nextgen.com after the call. It will be archived for 90 days until October 28, 2020.

About NextGen Healthcare, Inc.

We empower the transformation of ambulatory carepartnering with medical, behavioral and oral health providers in their journey to value-based care to make healthcare better for everyone. We go beyond EHR and PM. Our integrated solutions help increase clinical productivity, enrich the patient experience, and ensure healthy financial outcomes. We believe in better. Learn more at nextgen.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to, statements regarding future events including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic, developments in the healthcare sector and regulatory framework, the Company's future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future (including, without limitation, statements concerning revenue, net income, and earnings per share). Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause the results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements and additional risks and uncertainties are set forth in Part I, Item A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to: volatility and uncertainty in the global economy and financial markets in light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic; the volume and timing of systems sales and installations; length of sales cycles and the installation process; the possibility that products will not achieve or sustain market acceptance; seasonal patterns of sales and customer buying behavior; impact of incentive payments under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on sales and the ability of the Company to meet continued certification requirements; uncertainties related to the future impact of U.S. tax reform; the impact of governmental and regulatory agency investigations; the development by competitors of new or superior technologies; the timing, cost and success or failure of new product and service introductions, development and product upgrade releases; undetected errors or bugs in software; product liability; changing economic, political or regulatory influences in the health-care industry; changes in product-pricing policies; availability of third-party products and components; competitive pressures including product offerings, pricing and promotional activities; the Company's ability or inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; possible regulation of the Company's software by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; changes of accounting estimates and assumptions used to prepare the prior periods' financial statements; disruptions caused by acquisitions of companies, products, or technologies; the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response thereto could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; and general economic conditions. A significant portion of the Company's quarterly sales of software product licenses and computer hardware is concluded in the last month of a fiscal quarter, generally with a concentration of such revenues earned in the final ten business days of that month. Due to these and other factors, the Company's revenues and operating results are very difficult to forecast. A major portion of the Company's costs and expenses, such as personnel and facilities, are of a fixed nature and, accordingly, a shortfall or decline in quarterly and/or annual revenues typically results in lower profitability or losses. As a result, comparison of the Company's period-to-period financial performance is not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indicator of future performance. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This news release contains certain non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures, which are provided only as supplemental information. Investors should consider these non-GAAP financial measures only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with or a substitute for U.S. GAAP. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company has provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in the accompanying financial tables. Other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently than NextGen Healthcare, Inc., which limits comparability between companies. The Company believes that its presentation of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share provides useful supplemental information to investors and management regarding the Company's financial condition and results. The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company calculates free cash flow by as total net cash provided by operating activities, net of cash used for the additions of capitalized software costs and equipment and improvements. The Company calculates non-GAAP diluted earnings per share by excluding net acquisition costs, amortization of acquired intangible assets, amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, impairment of assets, restructuring costs, net securities litigation defense costs and settlement, share-based compensation, impairment of assets, and other non-run-rate expenses from GAAP income before provision for income taxes.

The Company utilizes a normalized non-GAAP tax rate to provide better consistency across the interim reporting periods within a given fiscal year by eliminating the effects of non-recurring and period-specific items, which can vary in size and frequency, and which are not necessarily reflective of the Companys longer-term operations. The normalized non-GAAP tax rate applied to each quarter of fiscal year 2020 was 22.0%. The normalized non-GAAP tax rate expected to be applied to each quarter of fiscal year 2021 is 20.0%. The determination of this rate is based on the consideration of both historic and projected financial results. The Company may adjust its non-GAAP tax rate as additional information becomes available and in conjunction with any other significant events occur that may materially affect this rate, such as merger and acquisition activity, changes in business outlook, or other changes in expectations regarding tax regulations.

The Companys future period guidance in this release includes adjustments for items not indicative of the Companys core operations. Such adjustments are generally expected to be of a nature similar to those adjustments applied to the Companys historic GAAP financial results in the determination of the Companys non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Such adjustments, however, may be affected by changes in ongoing assumptions and judgments as to the items that are excluded in the calculation of non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, as described in this release. The exact amount and probable significance of these adjustments, including net acquisition costs, impairment of assets, restructuring costs, net securities litigation defense costs, and other non-run-rate expenses, are not currently determinable without unreasonable efforts, but may be significant. These items cannot be reliably quantified or forecasted due to the combination of their historic and expected variability. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile this non-GAAP guidance to the most comparable GAAP measures.

NEXTGEN HEALTHCARE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30,

2020

2019

Revenues:

Recurring

$

119,522

$

119,447

Software, hardware, and other non-recurring

11,357

12,414

Total revenues

130,879

131,861

Cost of revenue:

Recurring

50,429

50,540

Software, hardware, and other non-recurring

6,041

6,278

Amortization of capitalized software costs and acquired intangible assets

9,899

8,413

Total cost of revenue

66,369

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Nanotech Security Presenting at the SNN Network Virtual Investor Conference on Tuesday August 4, 2020 – Yahoo Finance

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 29, 2020 / Nanotech Security Corp. (TSXV:NTS)(OTCQX:NTSFF) ("Nanotech" or the "Company"), a leader in the development of secure and memorable nano-optic security features used in the government and banknote and brand protection markets, announces it will present at the SNN Network Virtual Investor Conference on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 1PM EST/10AM PST. Nanotech President and CEO Troy Bullock and CFO Monika Russell will host the presentation and answer investor questions.

SNN Network Virtual Investor Conference 2020

Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Time: 1PM Eastern Time/10 AM Pacific Time

Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2059/35960

To attend the SNN Network Virtual Investor Conference, register at https://conference.snn.network/signup. 1-on-1 meetings are available and will be scheduled and conducted via private, secure video conference through the conference event platform. Conference registration is required to book 1-on-1 investor meetings.

If you can't make the live presentation, Nanotech's webcast recording will be available directly on the conference event platform link under the tab "Schedule".

About SNN.Network

SNN.Network is your multimedia financial news platform for discovery, transparency and due diligence. This is your one-stop hub to find new investment ideas, check in on watchlist, gather the most up-to-date information on the Small-, Micro-, Nano-Cap market with the goal to help you towards achieving your wealth generation goals. Follow the companies YOU want to know more about; read and watch content from YOUR favorite finance and investing influencers; create YOUR own watchlist and screen for ideas YOU'RE interested in; find out about investor conferences YOU want to attend - all here on SNN.Network.

About Nanotech

With billions of security features in circulation, Nanotech's products include secure and memorable security labels, stripes, patches, and colour-shifting films for currency authentication and brand protection.

KolourOptik is a patented technology that is exclusive to the government and banknote market and combines sub-wavelength nanostructures and microstructures to create modern overt security features with a unique and customizable visual effect. KolourOptik pure plasmonic colour pixels produce full colour, 3D depth, and movement used in security stripes and threads that are nearly impossible to replicate. At less than 5 microns thick, KolourOptik products seamlessly integrate into banknotes and other secure government documents.

LiveOptik is a patented technology that utilizes innovative nano-optics one tenth the size of traditional holographic structures to create next generation overt security features customized to our customers' unique requirements. LiveOptik delivers multi-colour, 3D depth, movement, and image switches for secure brand protection stripes, threads, and labels that are nearly impossible to replicate.

Additional information about Nanotech can be found at the Company's website http://www.nanosecurity.ca, the Canadian disclosure filings website http://www.sedar.com or the OTCMarkets disclosure filings website http://www.otcmarkets.com.

Nanotech Security Corp.:Kelley Ryshakinfo@nanosecurity.ca+1.604.678.5775

Investor Relations:Sean Peasgoodsean@SophicCapital.com+1.647.699.9845

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

News Compliments of Accesswire

SOURCE: Nanotech Security via Planet MicroCap Showcase

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/598710/Nanotech-Security-Presenting-at-the-SNN-Network-Virtual-Investor-Conference-on-Tuesday-August-4-2020

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Nanotech Security Presenting at the SNN Network Virtual Investor Conference on Tuesday August 4, 2020 - Yahoo Finance

NS Nanotech Closes the LED Green Gap – PR Web

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Nano-LED materials from NS Nanotech will lower costs, require less power, and improve LED performance

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (PRWEB) July 30, 2020

NS Nanotech, a new LED materials company, announced it met its first technical milestone with the demonstration of a nano-LED that promises to close the green gap in LEDs.

The new light emitting diode is based on patented technology enabling fabrication of components that will be smaller and draw far less power than current LED solutions, while emitting brighter, more saturated, more stable, and more directional green light. The demonstration unit will be unveiled at the virtual Display Week Conference and Exhibition sponsored by the Society for Information Display, starting Aug. 3.

The $20-billion LED market is based on a 20th-century invention that still has several major shortfalls in cost and performance shortfalls that NS Nanotech is working to overcome, said Seth Coe-Sullivan, CEO and co-founder. Initially, we are bridging the green gap in LEDs that has drastically limited their use in markets ranging from large-scale outdoor signage to mobile displays. Ultimately, we intend to disrupt even larger emerging markets for multicolor micro-LED displays and UV LED solutions.

Patented Technology Promises to Deliver Long-Awaited Benefits

Based on exclusively licensed patent portfolios from McGill University and the University of Michigan, NS Nanotechs technology introduces new methods for growing nano-LEDs and their resulting structures. Coe-Sullivan said the companys green LED technology is expected to deliver an order-of-magnitude improvement in efficiency for micron-sized devices, from todays standard of less than 5% to more than 50% wall-plug efficiency (Wopt/Welec).

Coe-Sullivan said the company has achieved nano-LED performance of less than 5nm FWHM (full width at half maximum) emission spectrum, resulting in the most saturated and stable LED spectrum the industry has ever achieved. The performance compares more closely to laser technology than any other LED or quantum dot solution, he said.

The new technology promises to dramatically reduce the power required for high-resolution displays. Imagine a mobile phone with a brighter and crisper display than you have ever seen, but which draws only half the power and lasts twice as long on a single charge as any of todays smartphones, said Professor Zetian Mi, co-founder of NS Nanotech and leader of the research team that developed the technology at McGill and University of Michigan.

Cost and Performance Breakthroughs for Multiple Applications

The company intends to bring costs below the threshold required for integration of micro-LEDs into countless end products. NS Nanotech expects its green LED wafer will offer twice the efficiency performance of any other current solution. Further development will enable breakthroughs in cost and efficiency delivering performance equivalent to chips that today are ten times the size, for products such as micro-LED displays used in mobile phones.

NS Nanotechs nano-LEDs will also be capable of delivering invisible ultraviolet-spectrum light that has been proven effective in water and air purification and sterilization of medical equipment. By delivering to UV LEDs the same breakthroughs in cost and performance that it delivers to multicolor micro LEDs, the company will be positioned to enable new classes of antiviral and anti-microbial purification solutions.

About NS Nanotech

NS Nanotech closed its first round of seed funding in 2019 to focus on development of its patented nano-LED technology and completion of its green LED demonstration. Seth Coe-Sullivan, CEO, previously co-founded QD Vision, the quantum dot materials company whose technology eventually was integrated into Samsungs QLED televisions; he is also the winner of the Brody Award for LCD performance improvements. Co-Founder Zetian Mi, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan, is a pioneer in nanostructure epitaxial growth. And Co-Founder Rick Bolander is Managing Partner of E-Lab Ventures and an investor with a long track record in launching successful materials companies. The companys platform technology is poised to deliver breakthroughs in a wide variety of applications, starting with micro-LED displays, and extending to applications in health, energy efficiency, and sanitation.

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What We Know: COVID-19 Clusters at South Bay Costco Locations – NBC Bay Area

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Santa Clara County on Thursday confirmed COVID-19 clusters among employees at four Costco locations across the county.

Below is a breakdown of the clusters, as provided by the county.

The county said Costco has been "very cooperative" with its investigation and both are working closely to ensure the safety of customers and employees.

Preliminary investigation results indicate that "many of the cases" have been a result of community transmission and "most likely" not due to internal transmission among the workers, the county said. The investigation, to this point, also indicates that Costco is complying with social distancing guidelines and other protocols.

"Because of the investigation so far, we have not closed any of those stores," Santa Clara County COVID-19 Testing Officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib said. "We feel like they are following guidelines. We feel that the public is totally safe in continuing to shop at Costco."

An employee, who asked not to be identified said workers want more protection.

"They dont understand that you have pregnant employees. You have employees with young kids. Employees that go home to grandparents, elderly parents, and everybody is at risk," they said.

All Costco customers and the general public are reminded to continue to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.

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What We Know: COVID-19 Clusters at South Bay Costco Locations - NBC Bay Area

Beaumont Health: Finances still strained by COVID-19 outbreak – The Detroit News

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Beaumont Health is still struggling financially from the COVID-19 outbreak that hit Metro Detroit in mid-Marchand expects the strain to continue through the rest of the year, the health system saidThursday.

Beaumont treated more coronavirus patients than any Southeast Michigan health system, it said in a press release, hurting its non-coronavirus patient volumes, operating income and non-operating income through the second quarter of this year.

Beaumont Hospital-Wayne(Photo: Beaumont Health)

As of June 30, Beaumonts net loss was $146.7 million, a decrease of $355.6 million over the same period in 2019. Operating revenues of $2.1billion were a$220.4 million decrease over the $2.32 billion reported a year ago.

The Beaumont team remains focused on providing high-quality care as demonstrated by our recent designation of 19 national rankings by US News and World Report,"Beaumont Health Chief Financial Officer John Kerndl said in a statement.

"Surgeries, ER visits and diagnostic services have begun to recover, but not back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Beaumont signed a non-binding letter of intent in mid-June to join with not-for-profit Advocate Aurora Health, based in Downer's Grove, Illinois,and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Some Beaumont physicians are circulating a petition of no-confidence aimed at hospital leadership over the proposed merger.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel saidlast week she is reviewing theproposed merger deal, which would create a 28-hospital system spanning three states.

System leaders arguethe merger would lead to an investment of $100 million in technology among the three health systems, and other benefits to Metro Detroit patients.

The eight-hospital health system in late April laid off about 2,475 employees andpermanently eliminated about 450 positions. Beaumont said it was "hemorrhaging" cash because of dried up surgical revenue due to canceled elective procedures, decreased non-COVID-19 visits to the hospitalsand increased costs for personal protection equipment.

About 60%of those employees have since been called back to work, according to the Southfield-based health system. Federal COVID-19 funds the health system received did not depend on the employee call-backs, Beaumont Health officials said.

Beaumont iscontinuing to evaluate "all expenses, including staffing levels, and identifying ways to align costs and current volume levels," the nonprofit systemsaid Thursday.

The health system is also pursuingall available state and federal COVID-19 assistance, and deferring non-essential or non-coronavirus-related capital expenditures, the press release said.

Beaumonts financialindicators remainstrong, according to the press release,due primarily to cash increases related to Medicare advanced payments of $504 million, a $100 million lien of credit, CARES Act payments and deferred payroll taxes in the second quarter.

kbouffard@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @kbouffardDN

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Beaumont Health: Finances still strained by COVID-19 outbreak - The Detroit News

Researcher: This new symptom could be a key indicator of COVID-19 – WANE

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DALLAS (NEXSTAR) A Harvard researcher believes skin rashes could be a new symptom of COVID-19.

Andrew Chan, a professor of immunology and infectious disease at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has been tracking coronavirus patients using the COVID Symptom Study app. He says the app is picking up more cases of raised skin bumps and inflammation on fingers and toes.

The rashes were placed into three categories:

Chans research focused on rashes involved roughly 336,000 app users in the United Kingdom.

Similarly, an early study on COVID found 17 percent of the 11,546 people surveyed had a rash as their first COVID-19 symptom. Of those who reported suffering from a rash, 21 percent said it was their only symptom.

Even though skin rashes may not be that common in COVID, the fact that they do arise, the fact that they may be a more specific sign, highlight how important it is to really assess their prevalence and how predictive they are, Chan said in an interview with VOX.

As of now, rashes arent listed as a coronavirus symptom by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC-approved symptoms are:

The CDC notes the above list does not include all symptoms and symptoms may appear2-14 days after exposureto the virus.

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Researcher: This new symptom could be a key indicator of COVID-19 - WANE

Veteran kicker Mason Crosby among three Packers added to reserve/COVID-19 list – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Jim Owczarski and Olivia Reiner discuss WR Devin Funchess' decision to opt out of the 2020 season and how it affects his contract with the Packers. Packers News

At age 35 and holder of every significant kicking record in Green Bay Packers history, Mason Crosby would have surprisedno one if he had opted out on the 2020 NFL season.

Crosby hasnot signed the opt-out clause offered to every NFL player who felt it was not safe for him or his family to risk contracting COVID-19 while at work.

Buthe was added Thursday to the Packers reserve/COVID-19 list, which means he either tested positive for the virus or was in a place where the risk of being exposed was elevated.

The Packers have been conducting tests this week per the NFLs COVID-19 protocol, which calls for three tests to be taken in a four-day period, one each on the first and second day and the third on the fourth day.

Those who clear the tests or havent been in a high-risk environment recently will be allowed to enter the Packers' facility and get fitted for equipment. The Packers are expected to begin strength and conditioning work next week as training camp officially kicks off.

Also added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday weretight end Jace Sternberger and DL Treyvon Hester. The only other Packers player to land on the list is DE/OLB Greg Roberts.

All four will be barred from entering the Packers' facility but are provided with a thermometer and a pulse oximeter for daily symptom and temperature checks and are in contact with the team's medical staff daily.

Players who test positive but show no symptoms will be out a minimum of five days and must pass consecutive tests 24 hours apart to be cleared for return. Those who tested positive but showed symptoms cant return until at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and at least 72 hours have passed since they experienced symptoms.

Crosby has a week from when the amendment to the CBA involving COVID-19 is signed to decide what he ultimately wants to do. Though the league is moving forward with the protocols agreed upon, the deal has not been finalized.

Crosby revealed last year that his wife, Molly, had a tumor removed from her lung and a blood clot removed from her abdomen. Her recovery went well and Crosby announced in May that she had received notice in March that the cancer was completely gone.

Crosbys 1,575 career points rank No. 1 on the all-time franchise scoring list, and he ranks No. 23 in NFL history in scoring. He is the all-time franchise leader in field goals (329), 50-yard field goals (35) and extra points (588).

Crosby signed a three-year, $12.9 million contract in February before becoming a free agent. He received a $3 million signing bonus and is scheduled to make $3 million more in salary and bonuses.

Across the NFL, more than 50 players have been placed on the C-19 reserve list.

Also Thursday, the Packers claimed H-back/fullback/tight end John Lovett on waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lovett, 24,played quarterback at Princeton. Hedid not appear in a regular-season game as a Chiefs rookie last season.

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Veteran kicker Mason Crosby among three Packers added to reserve/COVID-19 list - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ice-T says COVID-19 has wrecked his father-in-law’s lungs – Los Angeles Times

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Ice-T believes the novel coronavirus is nothing to be messed with. And if you dont agree, well, thats what the rapper-actor is scared of.

He shared details of his father-in-laws COVID-19 struggle with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show on Wednesday, including the fact that Steve Austins lungs are damaged indefinitely after his bout with the disease.

Ice-T, who was in New York working when the lockdowns hit, spent a little more than two months hunkered down in New Jersey before hightailing it to Arizona, where he and his family live when hes not shooting Law & Order: SVU. Its where wife Cocos family is based.

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I hate to say it, but Cocos dad is a Harley-Davidson-riding, no-mask-wearing type of dude. And it put him on his back, he told Fallon.

Ice-T marveled at how, when he and his family first arrived there from the hard-hit New York-New Jersey area, so many Arizona residents werent wearing masks or taking other precautions. Now, he said, they are.

When you get these numbers up, more people know people that are in the hospital, and that triggers the masks faster than anything, he said.

Austin came down with symptoms on Fathers Day (June 21), and he fought the disease for nine days before being admitted to a hospital. He was held for three days in the ICU. Thats when the next-of-kin calls came, Ice-T said, when they were considering putting the 63-year-old on a ventilator.

Thats when its scary, Ice-T said.

It took him a month to make it out of the hospital, God bless him. Now hes home, but his lungs are damaged indefinitely. COVID attacks your lungs, and it can really leave your lungs ruined.

The actor, 62, said he put it on social media because there are still people who dont believe the global pandemic is a real thing. Ice-T said he knows eight people who have died from COVID-19. I dont need more proof than that to know I dont want to play with it, he added.

On Twitter, he said, one user said that the father of 4-year-old Chanel seemed like he was scared.

I said yeah, Im scared of your contaminated breath, OK? Is there a problem with that?, Ice-T told Fallon.

I dont want to die. Ive made it through so much in my life I dont want to die because of this. Especially with a new daughter. So Im aware and Im concerned, and Im cautious. You want to call that scared, call it scared.

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Ice-T says COVID-19 has wrecked his father-in-law's lungs - Los Angeles Times

COVID-19: UN chief outlines path to sustainable, inclusive recovery in Southeast Asia – UN News

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Antnio Guterres has released his latest policy brief on the crisis, which examines impacts on the 11 countries in the subregion and recommendations for the way forward that put gender equality at the centre of response efforts.

As in other parts of the world, the health, economic and political impact of COVID-19 has been significant across Southeast Asia - hitting the most vulnerable the hardest, he said in a video accompanying the launch.

Southeast Asia comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Viet Nam.

Prior to the pandemic, countries were lagging behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline.

Despite strong economic growth, the policy brief reveals that the subregion was beset by numerous challenges including high inequality, low social protection, a large informal sector, and a regression in peace, justice and robust institutions.

Furthermore, ecosystem damage, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions and air quality were at worrying levels.

The pandemic has highlighted deep inequalities, shortfalls in governance and the imperative for a sustainable development pathway. And it has revealed new challenges, including to peace and security, the Secretary-General said.

The current situation is leading to recession and social tensions, while several long-running conflicts have stagnated due to stalled political processes.

All governments in the subregion have supported my appeal for a global ceasefire - and I count on all countries in Southeast Asia to translate that commitment into meaningful change on the ground, he added.

The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and the pandemic was declared in March. Globally, there have been more than 16.5 million cases, with nearly 657,000 deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Wednesday.

While the disease arrived in Southeast Asia earlier than in the rest of the globe, the UN chief commended governments for acting swiftly to battle the pandemic.

On average, they took 17 days to declare a state of emergency or lockdown after 50 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, according to the policy brief.

Containment measures have spared Southeast Asia the degree of suffering and upheaval seen elsewhere, said Mr. Guterres, who also praised cooperation among the countries.

The Secretary-General underlined four areas that will be critical to ensuring recovery from the pandemic leads to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive future for Southeast Asia.

The first tackling inequality in income, health care and social protection will require short-term stimulus measures as well as long-term policy changes, he said.

Mr. Guterres also advised countries to bridge the digital divide so that no one is left behind in an ever-more-connected world.

ILO/Marcel Crozet

Factory workers in an assembly line in Cambodia.

Due to the over dependence on coal and other industries of the past, he encouraged greening the economy, including to create future jobs.

Upholding human rights, protecting civic space and promoting transparency are all intrinsic to an effective response, he concluded.

Central to these efforts is the need to advance gender equality, address upsurges in gender-based violence, and target women in all aspects of economic recovery and stimulus plans, the UN chief said.

This will mitigate the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on women, and is also one of the surest avenues to sustainable, rapid, and inclusive recovery for all.

Though the challenge is formidable, the Secretary-General underlined the UNs strong commitment to helping Southeast Asian countries achieve the SDGs and a peaceful future for all.

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COVID-19: UN chief outlines path to sustainable, inclusive recovery in Southeast Asia - UN News

Judge Andrew Napolitano: Portland protests are about dissent, and without dissent we’d have little freedom – Fox News

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Two weeks ago, this column offered a brief history of the freedom of speech in America. The essence of the column was that all public speech is lawful when there is time for more speech to challenge it and that the remedy for hate speech is not censorship, but more speech.

Last week, this column addressed the unconstitutional behavior of federal agents in Portland, Ore.,most of whom are out among peaceful demonstrators interfering with free speech, travel and assembly.

Also last week, a newspaper in New Jersey, the editors of which might have disagreed with the essence of this column -- that the First Amendment requires the government to protect political dissent and prohibits interfering with it -- published my column with the two and a half most important paragraphs removed.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN TALKS WITH OREGON GOVERNOR TO DRAW DOWN FEDERAL AGENTS: REPORT

Was I disappointed that a column that was represented as mine had such a substantial portion missing that the printed version failed to make its point? Yes. Anyone would be. Newspapers should not be in the business of censorship.

Neither should the government.

The federal forces in Portland are doing far more than protecting a federal courthouse. They are listening to peoples phone calls and capturing their text messages and emails without warrants. They are materially interfering with lawful dissent.

It is one thing to build a wall or a fence around a courthouse and man it with armed guards. It is quite another to wade into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators with tear gas of such intensity and ferocity -- its active ingredient is2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile-- that it is prohibited in wartime by treaties to which the United States is a signatory.

Here is an eyewitness account of events in Portland last Friday night from Marissa Lang, a Washington Post reporter:

The tear gas started early Friday night, interrupting a line of drums and dancing, chanting protesters, an artist painting in oils underneath a tree in the park and a man with a microphone speaking about the issues of racial justice and policing at the center of these nightly demonstrations.

Hey guys, dont panic, dont panic, the man said from the steps of the Multnomah County Justice Center, one block over from the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. All you first-timers out here, its just tear gas. Everybody just relax.

As if on cue, a brigade of orange-shirted men with leaf blowers descended on the cloud, revved their engines and blew the tear gas away. The crowd cheered.

Thank you leaf-blower dads! shouted a young woman.

This chemical can burn skin, permanently damage eyes and lungs and even cause death. It is unleashed every night, repeatedly and for hours. Why would any government in a democracy that claims to derive its powers from the consent of the governed unleash this deadly agent on anyone?

Here is the backstory.

The federal government -- which originally claimed that COVID-19 was a hoax -- is losing the public relations battle over the pandemic. It was too late to the game to claim leadership. Now, after nearly 150,000 deaths, a politically induced recession -- which the same feds who are suppressing speech foolishly think they can cure by borrowing and spending $4 trillion in four months -- and a myriad of confusing, conflicting and unlawful state regulations of personal behavior, the feds want to change the subject.

Will federal forces in Portland change the subject?

Yes, for a while, particularly when the government breaks its own laws. Try as the government has, it simply cannot find any lawful basis for the presence of its forces on Portlands streets. They have assaulted without provocation and arrested without warrants or probable cause. Thats called kidnapping.

Are they military? They look and act and are armed as if they are, but the feds claim the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense, employs these forces. Does that make a legal difference?

The Constitution and federal law prohibit the introduction of the military into domestic law enforcement unless requested by the state legislature or the governor. Both the Portland mayor and the Oregon governor have asked the feds to go home.

The Constitution also guarantees the concept of federalism. When the Supreme Court last looked at that issue in 1997, the late Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that the federal government cannot interfere with the discretion of state officials to spend state tax dollars and deploy state assets as they wish; nor can it commandeer state functions.

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If putting hundreds of military-garbed armed forces onto public streets against the wishes of local and state officials and attempting to take them over from local police does not violate the constitutional guarantee of federalism, it is hard to know what does.

This business in the Portland streets is about dissent. Dissent is integral to our humanity and culture. This country was born in dissent. It often irritates, and those in power loath it. But without it, wed have little freedom and no protection from the tyranny of the majority.

John Stuart Mill argued that if all the world but one person were of the same opinion, the world would have no more right to silence the one than he -- if he had the power -- would have to silence the world.

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I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. When Voltaire was reputed to have written those words, dissenting speech was punishable by death. In America, the Supreme Court has ruled, the government must give dissent breathing room. In Portlands streets, the feds are trying to make it impossible for any but their own to breathe.

Only a government hateful or fearful of the people it claims to serve uses force to silence them.

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Judge Andrew Napolitano: Portland protests are about dissent, and without dissent we'd have little freedom - Fox News

Harassing E-Mail to Sen. McConnell Can’t Be Punished as "Speech Integral to Criminal Conduct" – Reason

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In today's decision in United States v. Weiss, Judge Charles Breyer (N.D. Cal.) dismissed a prosecution for sending harassing e-mails (in violation of 47 U.S.C. 223(a)(1)(C)) to Senator Mitch McConnell's office. The judge concluded that the e-mails weren't punishable threats of violence (more on that in a later post); but the government's chief argument was that they were constitutionally unprotected because they were "speech integral to criminal conduct"the criminal conduct being the sending of harassing e-mails, in violation of 47 U.S.C. 223(a)(1)(C). Judge Breyer rejected that argument on the government's part, in my view correctly so:

As to "speech integral to criminal conduct," the government contends that "any speech of [Weiss's] that is restricted by 223(a)(1)(C) is integral to his criminal conduct in violating 223(a)(1)(C)." That reasoning is fatally circular.

"Speech integral to criminal conduct" does not mean that Congress can make a law criminalizing otherwise-protected speech, and then, because a defendant's speech violates the law, deem the speech to be "speech integral to criminal conduct." "[I]f the government criminalized any type of speech, then anyone engaging in that speech could be punished because the speech would automatically be integral to committing the offense. That interpretation would clearly be inconsistent with the First Amendment." United States v. Matusiewicz(D. Del. 2015).

As Eugene Volokh explained, the exception "can't justify treating speech as 'integral to illegal conduct' simply because the speech is illegal under the law that is being challenged. That should be obvious, since the whole point of modern First Amendment doctrine is to protect speech against many laws that make such speech illegal." Eugene Volokh, The 'Speech Integral to Criminal Conduct' Exception, 101 Cornell L. Rev. 981 (2016) (hereinafter Volokh). Moreover, "[i]t is not enough that the speech itself be labeled illegal conduct, e.g., 'contempt of court,' 'breach of the peace,' 'sedition,' or 'use of illegally gathered information.' Rather, it must help cause or threaten other illegal conduct which may make restricting the speech a justifiable means of preventing that other conduct." Id. (emphasis in original).

"Speech incident to criminal conduct" applies to speech that "is a mechanism or instrumentality in the commission of a separate unlawful act," apart from the speech itself. People v. Relerford (Ill. 2017). The exception originates from the case of Giboney v. Empire Storage & Ice Co. (1949), in which, to pressure nonunion ice-sellers, a union picketed an ice company, demanding that it agree to stop supplying ice to the nonunion ice-sellers. What the union was demanding of the ice company was illegal under Missouri law, which prohibited any agreement in restraint of trade in the sale of any product. The union's picketing therefore was intended "to effectuate the purposes of an unlawful combination, and their sole, unlawful immediate objective was to induce [the ice company] to violate the Missouri law by acquiescing ." The Court explained that while "the agreements and course of conduct here were as in most instances brought about through speaking or writing it has never been deemed an abridgement of freedom of speech or press to make a course of conduct illegal merely because the conduct was in part initiated, evidenced, or carried out by means of language ." See also Volokh ("Many lower court decisions have cited Giboney in cases factually much like Giboney itself: cases where the speaker is soliciting the commission of some other crime.").

The existence of a separate unlawful act is key. The Minnesota Supreme Court recently explained that "statutes criminalizing the use of the Internet or an electronic device to engage in communications with a child that relate to or describe sexual conduct and the intentional solicitation of prostitution fall within the" exception, because such speech is "directly linked to and designed to facilitate the commission of a crime." In re Welfare of A.J.B. (Minn. 2019). "On the other hand," that court held that "speech advising, encouraging, or assisting another to commit suicide was not speech integral to criminal conduct because the act advocated forsuicideis not illegal."

In United States v. Osinger, which the government relies on, the Ninth Circuit held that the defendant's Facebook impersonation of the victim and his posting of sexually explicit photographs of her was integral to his "course of conduct" of stalking her, which began with in- person stalking even prior to his online speech. Had Osinger not done anything but engage in free speech, the "speech integral to criminal conduct" exception should not have applied, as Judge Watford wrote in a compelling concurring opinion. See id. (Watford, J., concurring). Judge Watford agreed with the majority's holding in that case because "whatever difficulties may arise from application of the exception in other contexts, it surely applies when the defendant commits an offense by engaging in both speech and non-speech conduct, and the sole objective of the speech is to facilitate the defendant's criminal behavior." But see Volokh at 103642 (criticizing Osinger and noting that "[s]peech that is intended to annoy, offend, or distress does not help cause or threaten other crimes, the way solicitation or aiding or abetting does.").

The government also relies on United States v. Sandhu, in which the Ninth Circuit [in a nonprecedential decision] held that any speech involved in the commission of 47 U.S.C. 223(a)(1)(D)the statute making it a crime to cause another person's phone to ring repeatedlywas "speech integral to criminal conduct," The government asserts that "[t]he same analysis applies here." Opp'n at 19. But section 223(a)(1)(D) targets conduct separate and apart from any speechspeech was irrelevant to the prohibited conduct of "caus[ing] the telephone of another repeatedly or continuously to ring, with the intent to harass ." See 47 U.S.C. 223(a)(1)(D); see also Osinger (Watford, J., concurring) (distinguishing the criminalization of pure speech from cases involving "non-communicative aspects of speech, like repeated unwanted telephone calls that are harassing due to their sheer number and frequency."). The First Amendment does not prevent Congress from criminalizing the causing of someone's phone to ring repeatedly; it does prevent Congress from criminalizing political speech.

{Imagine, for example, a law criminalizing the printing of a flyer with the intent to undermine the President. The government's argument here would mean that what is really criminalized is the printing of the flyer with bad intent, and that whatever political speech is on the flyer is integral to the criminal conduct of printing a flyer with unlawful intent. That would be absurd. As Weiss asserts: "The First Amendment limits Congress; Congress does not limit the First Amendment."}

The government also cites to United States v. Alvarez as recognizing the "speech integral to criminal conduct" exception. In fact, while the Supreme Court in Alvarez recognized the existence of that exception, it did not employ that exception to resolve the case. Alvarez had been charged with and convicted for violating the Stolen Valor Act, because he lied about receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor. The Ninth Circuit reversed Alvarez's conviction, and the Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the Stolen Valor Act was a content-based restriction on free speech that violated the First Amendment.

Applying the government's reasoning here would have led the Court to uphold Alvarez's conviction: his speech violated the Stolen Valor Act, so it was speech integral to violating the Stolen Valor Act. Instead, the Court found that fact patterns involving "speech integral to criminal conduct" were "inapplicable[.]" Similarly, while the government argues that "[United States v. Popa (D.C. Cir 1999)] has no bearing here because it did not address the speech integral to criminal conduct exception[,]"the better interpretation of Popa is that it did not employ such an expansive interpretation of the exception because the law does not support it. Popa committed no criminal conduct other than his harassing phone calls. Why would the D.C. Circuit have bothered to undertake a lengthy analysis of intermediate scrutiny as applied to Popa's speech when it "could merely hold that the speech has been criminalized, apply the exception, and be done with it"?

As in Popa, this case involves no criminal act by Weiss apart from his violation of the statute by using his telephone to harass a public official with his speech (some of which was political). The government conceded as much at the hearing. When the Court asked the government what criminal conduct Weiss's speech facilitated, the government identified that conduct as the harassing and threatening use of a device. Weiss was not also soliciting a company to enter into an agreement in restraint of trade, he was not also engaging in a course of conduct of stalking, and he was not also conspiring to defraud the United States. Because Weiss's speech did not help cause or threaten other illegal conduct, the "speech incident to criminal conduct" exception does not apply.

{Moreover, there is no categorical exception to the First Amendment for speech made with theintent to harass someone. See Rodriguez v. Maricopa Cnty. Cmty. Coll. Dist. (9th Cir. 2010) (holding that the "right to be free of purposeful workplace harassment under the Equal Protection Clause" of the Fourteenth Amendment did "not retract[] the freedoms enshrined in the First.").}

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Harassing E-Mail to Sen. McConnell Can't Be Punished as "Speech Integral to Criminal Conduct" - Reason

Federal court order restricts Oakland police use of tear gas, rubber bullets – East Bay Times

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OAKLAND A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction banning Oakland police from using rubber or wooden bullets, stinger grenades and pepper-ball projectiles to control crowds of demonstrators and severely restricts the use of tear gas.

In his court order Wednesday, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero extended his previous restrictions in June and also ordered the Oakland Police Department to make sure that outside agencies abide by Oaklands rules if they are asked to provide mutual aid at city demonstrations or other events.

This order provides that certain crowd control tactics and munitions shall not be used except in very limited circumstances. This order should not be read as permission to use these tactics and munitions, Spero wrote.

As recognized in the Oakland Police Departments Crowd Control Policy, it remains incumbent upon OPD to uphold the constitutional rights of free speech and assembly while relying on the minimum use of physical force and authority required to address a crowd management or crowd control issue, Spero continued.

The federal magistrate judge did allow the use of tear gas, flashbang grenades and foam-tipped bullets, but only when there is an imminent threat of physical harm to a person or significant destruction of property and other techniques, such as simultaneous arrests or police formations, have failed or are not reasonably likely to mitigate the threat.

Speros order was in response to a lawsuit filed June 18 by the National Lawyers Guild on behalf of the Anti Police-Terror Project. The lawsuit alleges that Oakland police violated the constitutional rights of protesters when they used tear gas and other weapons at protesters between May 29 and June 1demonstrating for racial justice following the death of George Floyd.

The plaintiffs are pleased with the courts order, because it creates important protections for people exercising their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and assembly in Oakland by limiting the force that can be used against them by Oakland police and other law enforcement agencies, Oakland attorney Dan Siegel said in a statement.

The injunction is particularly important because it demands that Oakland control the tactics and weapons used by other police departments when they respond to Oakland protests under mutual aid agreements, he said.

Siegel said the Anti Police-Terror Projectwill continue to advocate for a complete ban on tear gas and similar chemical weapons because of their severe negative impact on peoples health, especially during the period of COVID-19.

Speros order specifies that none of the crowd control devices in Oakland can be used on peaceful protesters or fired indiscriminately into a crowd. They may only be targeted at the specific imminent threat justifying the deployment, he wrote.

In addition, he stated that flashbang grenades and gas canisters must be deployed at a safe distance from the crowd to minimize the risk that individuals will be struck and injured by those devices. When tear gas is used, only the minimum amount of chemical agent necessary to obtain compliance may be used, he wrote.

Oakland police are required to make at least two announcements warning protesters to voluntarily disperse and informing them that, if they do not disperse, they will be subject to arrest, the order stated. Police must identify at least two means of escape and allow the crowd enough time to leave.

Many of the rules had already been established in a federal court order that was negotiated after a 2003 protest at the Port of Oakland that included police firing less-than-lethal munitions at protesters.

In June, Spero issued a temporary restraining order against the police department that limited the use of tear gas and rubber bullets during demonstrations.

Under Wednesdays court order, Oakland police must now make their badges and nameplates visible on their uniform or helmets during demonstrations and must have their body-worn cameras on and recording at all times. Police vehicles, including motorcycles, cannot be used to disperse crowds.

In addition, the judge ordered Oakland police incident and operations commanders and others to undergo crowd control training by Nov. 1.

The order requires Oakland police to wear face masks and gloves whenever they interact with people because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Oakland Police Department will continue to abide by the court orders, said Officer Johnna Watson, Oakland police public information officer, in a Thursday statement.

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Federal court order restricts Oakland police use of tear gas, rubber bullets - East Bay Times

New lease of life and investment for Derby social club – Derbyshire Live

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Plans have been submitted to improve and extend a Derby social club which was almost turned into a place of worship last year.

Sinfin Moor Social Club in Arleston Lane re-opened this week and the new owners are committed to restoring it as a "key local community facility".

The submission of new plans follows 12 months of uncertainty for the 46-year-old social club, which began when a planning application was submitted to Derby City Council last October to turn it into a Sikh Gurdwara, attracting dozens of objections.

Despite the opposition, the council gave the plan the go-ahead but in December a shareholder in the club, Sanjeev Chopra, agreed to buy out his former partner and take full ownership of the club.

He has now sold the club's lease on to Sohan Perdesi, who intends to run it as a social club and family pub again, ending its possible conversion into a place of worship.

Mr Perdesi has now applied for permission to change the use of the building back again to a club and also to extend the function room to accommodate 500 people.

The extension would have timber-effect cladding, level access throughout and would create two new entrances from the large car park.

Bifolding doors and glazing would look out onto a green space and 14 members of staff would be employed.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Perdesi, son Rick Perdesi said: Our family is delighted to have opened our doors for the local community for the first time on Monday night.

"We have worked hard over recent months to get to this position and will be investing significantly more into the club once planning permission is hopefully granted for an extension and refurbishment."

The venue is hoping to stage charity, comedy and party nights, as well as be available for hire for events.

Councillor Baggy Shanker, who represents Sinfin ward, said: It was great to join the Perdesi family and local people at the reopening and I wish them all the best for the future.

"I am positive they will receive lots of local support as many people contacted me when the club was shut down, its an invaluable asset for the whole community and Im delighted it will remain a local family facility for all to enjoy."

The club carried on trading until earlier this year and remained closed throughout the lockdown, which started in March. It is now open again seven days a week.

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New lease of life and investment for Derby social club - Derbyshire Live