Tag Archives: Health

Poll: Nine in Ten Want U.S. Involvement in World Health Organization

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Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 16, 2013

A poll conducted during the current record-setting flu season and released today by the Better World Campaign reveals strong bipartisan support for the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sixty-one percent of voters express a favorable opinion of the WHO, and 92 percent say that it is important for the United States to both provide funds and be part of the decisionmaking process for the WHO, which works to protect against threats to global health and prevent disease outbreaks around the world. The figures are in keeping with findings of an April 2012 poll, in which 93 percent of Americans said it is important that the U.S. be a WHO member, indicating consistent U.S. support for the United Nations coordinating health agency.

With regards to U.S. spending on international assistance to help people in poor and developing countries improve their health situation, a plurality of voters45 percentsupport keeping the level of U.S. spending the same, 22 percent support an increase in this spending, and 27 percent support a decrease in this spending.

The poll was conducted January 6-9 by the bipartisan research team of Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research Associates. It surveyed 900 registered voters (630 landline/ 270 cell) with a margin of error of

Nov. 28 Webinar to Address Impact of Obamas Re-election on Health Insurance Exchanges

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(PRWEB) November 16, 2012

Atlantic Information Services is pleased to announce its Nov. 28 webinar, The Impact of November Elections on Insurance Exchanges: What Health Plans, Providers and Brokers Need to Know About the Second Obama Administration, a discussion featuring three health industry leaders on the postelection landscape for insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.

With President Barack Obamas re-election, and new faces in state capitals, the pace of implementing state exchanges should accelerate dramatically. And Republican-led states that were hoping a Romney win would get them off the hook must scramble and start making hard decisions.

On Nov. 28, a three-person panel will address questions on essential health benefits, IT systems, qualified health plan selection and other key issues:


What impact will election results have on the pre-Nov. 6 timetable and agenda for exchange implementation?
What factors have just changed in health plan determinations as to whether they should participate in a federally facilitated exchange?
What is likely to be the new timetable for issuance of federal guidance that is needed for states to move forward?
What key exchange-related issues should plans, providers and brokers now be aware of?

After a 60-minute presentation, a concluding question and answer session will allow webinar participants to pose individual questions to the speakers:

Chris Condeluci, of counsel at Venable LLP in Washington, D.C. He practices in the employee benefits and tax policy areas, with particular emphasis on health care reform and retirement and compensation policy.
Jordan Battani, managing director of the Global Institute for Emerging Healthcare Practices at CSC, where she leads a team of industry experts responsible for identifying, researching and writing about trends and innovations in health care particularly as they relate to the application of information technology solutions.
Daniel Schuyler, a director at Leavitt Partners who helps guide the firms health insurance exchange practice. He brings to the firm applied experience in the development and implementation of health insurance exchanges.

Visit http://aishealth.com/marketplace/c2r42_112812 for more details and registration information.

About AIS

Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is a publishing and information company that has been serving the health care industry for more than 25 years. It develops highly targeted news, data and strategic information for managers in hospitals, health plans, medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies and other health care organizations. AIS products include print and electronic newsletters, websites, looseleafs, books, strategic reports, databases, webinars and conferences. Learn more at http://www.AISHealth.com.







Security America Mortgage Shake President Obama’s Hand in Fort Bliss, TX While Recently Deployed Military are Praised & Educated about New Health & Home Loan Advantages

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Fort Bliss, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston, Texas (PRWEB) September 17, 2012

As Americans grow in support to help military members and their families transition back into homes within the United States, the U.S. President makes several appearances nationwide – meeting the military heroes personally to offer tribute. With a ‘mission to serve’ attitude, veterans learn more about VA home loan benefits and additional changes to the executive priorities of the presidential cabinet.

Texas veterans can now find more information about VA eligibility, entitlement, support at VA website; va.gov. New veteran support can be found within local veteran posting including information about jobs, affordable real estate homes, and many other growing VA benefits supported by Texas based companies. America’s preferred VA mortgage lenders, such as Security America Mortgage, also support veterans by sponsoring events with non-profit organizations to assist the Texas Commission for Veterans with VA relocation, VA housing education, and VA home loan advantages for military members throughout the nation.

On September 1, 2012, President Obama met military families in Fort Bliss, Texas to congratulate each active duty and veteran service member for a “job well done”. According to “The Daily Beast” magazine, Obama visited the Texas veterans and families all while shaking as many hands of those who attended the crowd.

While congratulating the U.S. Heroes, Obama shook the hands of veterans, their families, and active troops all while communicating his appeasement over their job well done. Obama further addressed the crowd of military service members with an announcement over the “new executive order” that was signed on Friday, August 31, 2012, called, “IMPROVING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND MILITARY FAMILIES”. (Click for Full Length White House Story Here)

“[...By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Since September 11, 2001, more than two million service members have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Long deployments and intense combat conditions require optimal support for the emotional and mental health needs of our service members and their families. The need for mental health services will only increase in the coming years as the Nation deals with the effects of more than a decade of conflict. Reiterating and expanding upon the commitment outlined in my Administration's 2011 report, entitled "Strengthening Our Military Families-Security America Mortgage" we have an obligation to evaluate our progress and continue to build an integrated network of support capable of providing effective mental health services for veterans, service members, and their families.

Our public health approach must encompass the practices of disease prevention and the promotion of good health for all military populations throughout their lifespans, both within the health care systems of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and in local communities. Our efforts also must focus on both outreach to veterans and their families and the provision of high quality mental health treatment to those in need. Coordination between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense during service members' transition to civilian life is essential to achieving these goals.

Ensuring that all veterans, service members (Active, Guard, and Reserve alike), and their families receive the support they deserve is a top priority for my Administration. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve all facets of military mental health, this order directs the Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to expand suicide prevention strategies and take steps to meet the current and future demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment services for veterans, service members, and their families...]“

Hiring 1,600 new mental-health professionals and increase the agencys crisis-line capacity to allow those in need of professional assistance to meet with a counselor within 24 hours.

Last, Obama encouraged all military members who fought in more traumatic battles overseas to be open with those around them, and to further seek out as much support as they need, as all resources are being given to them by the government, including mental-health benefits, free counseling centers, and the many VA support groups spread out across Texas.

For military members looking for a home in Texas, Obama provided the masses with reliable real estate resources for veterans, including lists of approved Real Estate Agents. Financial hardships can be a challenge to overcome for veterans transitioning back into the civilian life, but luckily, Texas has been one of the few states in the nation to bypass the economic downfall of the repression.

Above all, the expanding VA support serves veterans with hope for change toward a new and glorious future to come for Texas homeowners.







Michelle Obama Speeches: Women in the Military, Health Insurance Reform, Diet and Exercise (2009)

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Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Obama attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School before returning to Chicago and to work at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband. Subsequently, she worked as part of the staff of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, and for the University of Chicago Medical Center. Throughout 2007 and 2008, she helped campaign for her husband’s presidential bid and delivered a keynote address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She is the mother of two daughters, Malia and Sasha, and is the sister of Craig Robinson, men’s basketball coach at Oregon State University. As the wife of a Senator, and later the First Lady, she has become a fashion icon and role model for women, and an advocate for poverty awareness, nutrition and healthy eating. During her early months as First Lady, she visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens. She also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service. On her first trip abroad in April 2009, she toured a cancer ward with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. She has begun advocating on behalf of military families. Like her predecessors Clinton and Bush, who supported the organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food …

The Obama Health Care Bill Puts the IRS on Steroids with Extra Budget Money and Taxpayers will be Impacted According to Fresh Start Tax LLC

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Miami, FL. (PRWEB) July 03, 2012

Quietly hidden in the agenda of the Health Care Provisions is an additional $ 500 million earmarked for the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that will allow them to hire additional personnel to enforce compliance, oversee tax laws, and implement the new Health Care Laws. The IRS is also spending millions to modernize their software and computer systems, making it much easier to find tax cheats and non-filers. With additional personnel and better computer systems, more taxpayers will be facing IRS audits, bank levies, wage garnishments, and tax liens.

According to their own 2013 projections, the IRS believes the new personnel hired will generate more than $ 1.48 billion in tax revenue. The report also stated that the IRS will be launching new programs to monitor employment tax, excise, gift and international collections. “Let’s face it”, Sullivan, director of Fresh Start Tax LLC, says, “the bottom line is that the Federal Government needs money to cover our large debt. Now, the IRS has the money and authorization to take action.”

Even Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Supreme Courts decision to uphold President Barack Obamas health care law means that the IRS will now come after Americans. I hope people back home fully understand what this means, and heres what this means: It is now unlawful for you not to buy health insurance, and if you do not buy it, you have an IRS problem, the Florida Republican said on Fox News. In an interview with CNN’s Candy Crowley, Rubio also stated, If you do not buy health insurance, the IRS is going to be on your back and chasing you. Theyre going to take away your refund, theyre going to increase your fees, theyre going to come after you. This is now turning the IRS into an enforcement mechanism for Obamacare.

Some of the main goals of the IRS, as stated on their “Summary by Appropriations Account and Budget Activity Report”, is to:

1. Improve Voluntary Compliance in the filing of tax returns,

2. Stricter enforcement and collections to ensure everyone meets their tax obligations

3. Ramp up and enforce International Tax Administration

4. Use resources to target high risk areas such as large corporations, international compliance and tax audits for many more taxpayers.

So what is the real bottom line and who will this really effect? Sullivan feels that for the average Joe Taxpayer who receives a simple W-2 and e-Files a simple 1040, this will have no bearing except for an occasional tax audit, but to the rest BEWARE.

Sullivan feels there is no doubt about it and says, “Obama is unleashing the IRS dogs. Now the IRS will be able to act more aggressively in all areas of collections and compliance, especially with the new laws relating to the Health Care Program. We can expect to see a much greater rise in tax audits from the small company to the large corporate giant.”

Fresh Start Tax is a professional tax resolution firm. On staff are Board Certified Tax Attorneys, CPAs, and Former IRS Agents, Managers and Instructors. We have over 206 years of professional tax experience and over 60 years of direct IRS experience. To learn more about Fresh Start Tax, LLC, please visit http://freshstarttax.com or call us at (866)700-1040.







San Diego Black Health Associates Join Forces with Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program for California Statewide Initiative

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Los Angeles, CA, (PRWEB) April 12, 2012

The San Diego Black Health Associates (SDBHA) has just confirmed its partnership for the upcoming Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program taking place across the state of California on Saturday, May 12th, 2012.

From 11AM-4PM, volunteers will mobilize in San Diego cities along with metro cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to facilitate screenings in over 75 black-owned barbershops. The program anticipates screening approximately 1,500 African American men for diabetes and high blood pressure during the multi-city event. Participants will also receive healthy lifestyle education and medical resources for local clinics and physicians.

San Diego Black Health Associates are working with the Black Barber Shop effort based in Los Angeles to ensure that African American men to act in their own best health interests. We want consumers to know that chronic health conditions like diabetes and obesity are preventable. We are thoroughly convinced that by making a few changes to our diet and exercising regularly, we can live longer, function in a pain free environment and be the model for our children that they need says Paul Simms, SDBHA President.

Founded by the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation (DAP) in 2007, the tour has visited over 750 barbershops in 50 cities and 13 states and will continue its mission to screen 500,000 African American men by the end of 2014. This unique and innovative grassroots program works strategically with black-owned barbershops, because it represents such a cultural institution of familiarity and trust among African American malesmaking it the most effective avenue to disseminate health education information.

“The need to address health care disparities in African American men is paramount in light of the fact that they have the lowest life expectancy of any group in the U.S.,” says Dr. Bill J. Releford, D.P.M., founder of the DAP Foundation. “For decades, the black barbershop has served as a centralized gathering place where African American men feel comfortable discussing the most important issues that impact their lives: politics, social trends, family and finances. Now, we are introducing an important discussion of health and the critical need for health awareness.”

Compared to the general public, it is African American males who have a higher risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The American Diabetes Association estimates that 3.7 million (14.7 percent) African Americans ages 20 years or older have diabetes, while statistics show that forty percent (40 percent) of African American men die prematurely from cardiovascular disease as compared to twenty-one percent (21 percent) of white men.

Dr. Bill Releford organized the initiative to empower African American men to better understand cardiovascular diseases. As he travels across the country to spread awareness, he welcomes corporations, small businesses and county facilities to get involved in the mission. To learn more about The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program log-on to http://www.blackbarbershop.org and please remember to support this statewide effort on May 12th.

About San Diego Black Health Associates

Over a 20-year period, SDBHA has operated specific programs aimed at improving the health status of black people and other people of color. In addition, SDBHA is a resource for healthcare professionals, organizations and laypersons. Through the use of dedicated volunteer members, SDBHA has developed strong working relationships with a variety of community agencies and organizations, including the African American church. Through these collaborations, we have been successful in maximizing the impact of our community health promotion activities. Visit them online at http://www.sdbha.org.

About Dr. Bill Releford

As Founder of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program and the Diabetic Foot Institute, Dr. Bill Releford is a visionary and industry pioneer. He began his private practice in 1990 and has dedicated his lifes work exclusively to the reduction of diabetes-related amputations in high-risk populations. Dr. Releford and his efforts have recently been highlighted in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek Magazine, THE VIEW, THE DOCTORS, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams as well as the TODAY SHOW and more. Additionally, Dr. Releford’s innovative community organizing strategies culminated into an invitation from President Obama to attend the White House Super Bowl Party in 2011. To learn more about Dr. Relford and his work visit http://www.drreleford.com.

About the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation (DAP)

The DAP Foundation’s African American Men’s Outreach Program seeks to partner with community groups and organizations to reduce the incidence of health conditions that adversely affect African American males by utilizing education, prevention and early detection through screening activities. DAP’s efforts have already been successfully duplicated in other metropolitan areas, such as Oakland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Baltimore. For more information on participating or sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.blackbarbershop.org