| Obama hears from Seacoast on health care
PORTSMOUTH - Illinois Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made it very clear to the 200-plus people who attended what he called, "A Community Meeting on Health Care," held at Seacoast Media Groups new headquarters at Pease on Tuesday, that the universal health care plan he wants to develop for the country has to have the backing of its citizens. "I want to be held accountable for establishing a universal health care plan by the end of my first term, but I have to insist on the voters rallying for this change," Obama said following the two-and-a-half-hour meeting with local residents. "When I take office, I have to feel I have a mandate for change." He placed the blame for not finding a solution to the health care crisis that has left 47 million Americans uninsured and tens of millions under-insured on a lack of political will.
Workaholic Japanese boomers shift gears as homeland grapples with cost
ITO, Japan (AP) - The way Masahiro Shimizu sees it, he and Japan's other postwar baby boomers built the country into an economic powerhouse - and now it's time to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Shimizu will leave his job in the department store business next year, having become one of some 5.4 million Japanese boomer employees who will reach the standard retirement age of 60 over the next three years. The retirement of the boomers, which kicks off in April with the start of the fiscal year, is a signature event for Japan, symbolizing a rapidly aging society, a looming fiscal crunch and the emergence of a roaring "grey economy" fuelled by free-spending retirees. The impact of mass retirements is expected to be limited at first, but the debate - which to some extent mirrors the one in the United States over Social Security and longevity - is in full swing, and the retirement age is already edging upward.
RFID Reader Prevents Reagent Counterfeiting In Healthcare Industry
Cloning and counterfeiting pose perhaps the greatest threat in the healthcare industry where decreased reliability and performance of medical devices and medication affect diagnosis and treatment. The downstream effects are decreased patient safety, insurance cost efficiency, and provider reputations. Iris Diagnostics, a division of Iris International (NASDAQ: IRIS), is tackling the cloning problem head-on by RFID-enabling their iQ200 Automated Urinalysis System. Utilizing chemical reagents to detect the presence of molecules in urine samples, the machine relies on reagents of the correct type, freshness, and authenticity in order to deliver the most accurate results. To prevent reagent counterfeiting, Iris Diagnostics is incorporating SkyeTeks RFID reader and ReaderWare Security technology into their product.
AARP Financial Survey Finds Phoenix Area Investors May Not Be On ...
TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Overwhelmed with too many mutual fund choices, annoyed by complex prospectus language, and unsure of where to turn for investment advice, a sample of Phoenix area residents in their prime savings years are falling behind in their efforts to achieve a more secure retirement, according to a survey by AARP Financial Inc. "Investing for retirement is unnecessarily complex, confusing and time- consuming," said Richard M. Hisey, Chief Investment Officer at AARP Financial Inc. "As a result, many investors save too little, too late or too sporadically, while others stop saving altogether." The survey of under 200 Phoenix metropolitan area residents age 50-plus found that 38% of pre-retirees saving for retirement have accumulated less than $100,000. "Our survey looked at those who are already saving for retirement," Hisey pointed out.
Ahmadinejad Greets British Hostages After 'Pardoning' Them
Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - At the very end of a lengthy and rambling speech on Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unexpectedly announced that he would pardon and set free 15 British sailors seized nearly two weeks ago.Iran has insisted that the sailors violated its territorial waters, but Britain said the sailors, including one woman, were in international waters.Ahmadinejad said that he hoped that British Prime Minister Tony Blair would not question or prosecute the sailors for "speaking the truth" that they had entered Iranian waters.He also called on Blair to take steps toward peace and not to increase "occupation."During the nearly hour-long speech, Ahmadinejad awarded medals to two commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guard naval detachment who were involved in the seizure of 15 British sailors on March 23.
Hospira Introduces 5GHz Advanced Wireless Security Platform For ...
4/10/07 - Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP) introduced a new wireless platform for its medication infusion devices that incorporates leading-edge authentication standards and encryption protocols to assist hospitals in securely transferring data and complying with patient confidentiality regulations. The new technology also provides the first three- in-one wireless multi-band module for an infusion system, enabling hospitals to select any of three frequency modes for communication. The platform's expanded security options help ensure only designated, approved hospital staff access clinical data transmitted between the devices and hospital information technology systems as part of the intravenous (I.V.) medication administration process. This can help healthcare providers more readily comply with patient confidentiality regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, in securing patient data against inadvertent release.
Health care costs a recurring issue
Some weeks ago I developed a "tickle" in my left ear. Over the next 48 hours, the tickle progressed to mild pain, fullness and diminished hearing. As it was by then a weekend, I proceeded, dutifully and within the speed limit, to my Incline Village Community Hospital.
As I suspected, I had become the forlorn possessor of an "outer ear" infection requiring topical antibiotics. In the bad old days this now eminently treatable condition could have progressed to a raging infection and permanent deafness in that ear, if not worse. Ah! The wonders of modern antibiotics.
Upon thanking the good doctor at the emergency room, I trundled over to Raley's with my prized antibiotic prescription and learned that five milliliters, i.e. maybe 30 drops, would set me back $70.
Blues deal could cost 1000 jobs
The proposed mega-merger between Pittsburgh's Highmark Inc. and Philadelphia's Independence Blue Cross could result in the shedding of 1,000 jobs from the combined company. That's according to Highmark Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Melani, who for the first time yesterday put a figure on the number of work force reductions that could result from combining the state's two largest health insurers. In comments following the merger's first public airing, held yesterday before Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and the rest of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Philadelphia, Mr. Melani confirmed that some of the cost-savings will come by way of job cuts, most of them through attrition. When announcing the deal last month, the companies had said no layoffs were planned but that any reduction would be handled through attrition and reassignments.
Erickson Air-Crane's Neil Livingstone adds directorship in stem ...
NEW YORK--NeoStem, Inc. (OTCBB:NEOI), the first company to specialize in the collection, processing and storage of stem cells from healthy adult donors for personal use in times of critical medical need, today announced that Dr. Neil C. Livingstone has joined the Company's Advisory Board. Dr. Livingstone has noted expertise on national security, and is the author of nine books on terrorism. He has served on advisory panels to The Secretary of State, The Chief of Naval Operations, and The Pentagon. He has testified before Congress and delivered more than 500 major addresses in the U.S. and abroad, including recent speeches at The House of Commons and The United Nations. “We must do everything we can to protect our first responders," said Dr. Livingstone. As a member of NeoStem's Advisory Board, he will provide strategic guidance as NeoStem develops a nationwide health-industry network to capitalize on the projected $8.5 billion stem cell therapeutics industry, especially relating to firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical responders.
Chartiers-Houston comes out swinging
HOUSTON - One team is a regular in the WPIAL softball playoffs, but is still building toward becoming a top program. The other is, simply put, a proven winner. Bentworth High School has made playoff appearances each of the past four seasons, but hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals. Chartiers-Houston, meanwhile, is the two-time defending WPIAL Class A champion and has been in the semifinals each of the last eight years. When the two met on a blustery Wednesday afternoon at the Allison Elementary School field, each had something to gain from the key early-season Section 1-A matchup. Bentworth wanted to prove it can play with one of Class A's best, and Chartiers-Houston wanted to show it's still the team to beat.
Hawks need some hits in the draft
One for four. That's what the Seattle Seahawks batted in the opening month of free agency. Entering the offseason, the Seahawks' top needs were a tight end, right guard, free safety and run-stopping defensive tackle. They aimed high at guard and tight end and struck out swinging on Kris Dielman and Daniel Graham. And they probably lost Graham because they focused so intently on getting defensive end Patrick Kerney, a luxury addition who comes as-is, with no guarantee. The Hawks finally filled a hole when they doubled up at safety with Deon Grant and Brian Russell. They also eventually found a tight end and are crossing their fingers that age (35) won't catch up to Marcus Pollard and that Pollard can still catch a few passes. They're also hoping for a miracle from Floyd "Pork Chopped Liver" Womack, the injury-prone guard who probably should start spelling his last name "Woe-mack." That said, the Seahawks currently are counting on Pork Chop to remain healthy for once and start at right guard in 2007.
Most of city on flood plain, FEMA says
Most of the property owners in Santa Maria would be required to buy flood insurance, based on an early draft of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's revised flood maps that was shown Monday to city and county officials.
FEMA has identified 20,000 parcels and 17,000 structures in Santa Maria that would be in its revised flood plain - reaching from the Santa Maria River Levee and possibly down to Betteravia Road.
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Sweet Home Alabama National
In one of my last columns, called Bank Investing 101, I mentioned a few banks that I considered to be well-managed, high-performing, and reasonably valued. One of those banks was Alabama National BanCorporation (Nasdaq: ALAB). I want to spend a few minutes talking about this one in particular, because the more I look at it, the more I like it, and it has nothing to do with the fact that I am a native Alabamian. Indeed, it is hard for me to find something I don't like about this bank. Don't let the "Alabama" fool youThis bank has a presence in some of the most rapidly growing markets in the nation, many of which are around Atlanta and coastal sections of Florida. Measuring the average growth rate of the bank's markets is a little tricky, since it serves so many of them. But if you weight the expected population growth for each of its markets by the percentage of the bank's total deposits in that market (which seems a reasonable approach), you wind up with a population growth projection of more than 12% annually.
Edwards' plan addresses uninsured and inefficiencies
One Corps, a nationwide service organization formed some time ago by former U.S. Sen. John Edwards was the sponsor of a National Day of Health Care Action in February to highlight the need to guarantee every American the quality health care they deserve. Our local chapter of One Corps is One America For St. Joseph County (Web site: http://www.blog.johnedwards.com/chapter/230).
In early February, Edwards released a bold plan to transform America's health care system and provide universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. Without digging into the details too deeply (the seven page proposal is available at http://www.johnedwards.com), it attempts to address the problem of 47 million uninsured Americans, spiraling health care costs, a fragmented system of insurance and the inconsistent quality of care available.
Reedsville farmer prepared to ward off unwelcome cranes
Krepline, owner of Krepline Farms LLC in Reedsville, located a few miles northwest of the Collins Marsh State Wildlife Area, tried for years to protect his corn crop from the migratory cranes, which nest at the marsh and wander onto his farm fields to methodically pluck out his planted seeds. He even asked the state Department of Natural Resources for help. "They gave us some pyrotechnics to shoot them, but the birds realized that it wasn't harmful and would come back in two to three weeks," said Krepline, who lost between 25 percent and 75 percent of his crop to cranes over the last six years. "We tried it because the seed was already in the ground and we couldn't do anything about it could you stand there all day long shooting them with your cap gun?" But Krepline had better results last year by using Avitec, a nonlethal repellent recently approved for temporary use again this year by the U.S.
People medicating their pets in droves, study shows
Toronto - Insurance numbers from the U.S. show people are medicating their pets as much as they medicate themselves -- with the total market expected to climb to $500-million by 2010. For many pet owners, the days of putting a sick dog or cat to sleep without considering other options like prescription drugs, surgery or even treatments like chemotherapy and accupuncture are long gone. Americans bought almost $3-billion worth of pet drugs for dogs and cats in 2005. And for many like this owner of an elderly rotweiller, it's well worth it. "It's a family member, absolutely," he said. "She's 16, and that's at least three years older than we expected her to live." But there are those who don't see it that way. "I think it's getting a little carried away.
Congressional Proposals Would Cover All Uninsured, Reduce Us ...
2007 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com) -- A new analysis of health reform bills in Congress prepared for the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System shows that many current Congressional health care proposals could significantly reduce the number of uninsured Americans and also decrease overall health care expenditures including those for insurance administration and prescription drugs. The analysis finds that while the plans put forth in Congress vary greatly in their scope, many of them would do more to cover uninsured Americans than the current Administration proposal. This first-ever review of leading Congressional bills and the administration's proposal concludes that elements of many of the plans proposed in Congress are feasible and would reduce health care costs over time.
Hightail it to the 2007 Furry Scurry
DENVER, CO (March 5, 2007) - Fetch your sneakers and your furry friend for the 14 th annual Dumb Friends League Furry Scurry, presented by Hill's Science Diet and King Soopers. This not-to-be-missed two-mile walk and fun run for dogs and their human companions begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, in Denver's WashingtonPark. Participants are encouraged to collect pledges, as all proceeds from the event will benefit the Dumb Friends League and the animals in its care. "The Furry Scurry is not only a huge celebration for animal lovers, it's a great way to make a big difference for homeless pets in our community," says Bob Rohde, Dumb Friends League president. "Last year alone, our organization cared for more than 26,000 animals and provided services for thousands of pets and people in Colorado.
Talk of the bay: Mass appeal to ramp up efforts in mass transit
Give us fast buses, give us commuter trains, give us trollies, but let our people get to work on time. Three groups representing hundreds of Tampa-area companies have pitched their support to mass transit as an alternative to traffic jams. The Tampa Downtown Partnership, the Westshore Alliance and the New North Transportation Alliance urged aggressive action to build commuter links between major employment centers. "To maintain our competitiveness in attracting businesses and qualified employees, we need to provide multiple ways for people to get around," said Fred Dobbins, chairman of the downtown partnership. Verizon connects in cell phone study It says its network has the "fewest dropped calls." Verizon Wireless seems to be living by its slogan. A 2007 J.D. Power and Associates wireless call quality performance study found Verizon scoring top marks in the Southeast, Southwest, West, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
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