Health Mettler Institute - Page 46 of 194 - Healthy LifeStyle & Education

March 17, 2023

Week 9 of the 2023 Session

On Wednesday, March 8, the Governor announced that the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), through its Kansas Community Suicide Prevention Grant program, has awarded $525,000 to 15 community organizations to develop strategies to prevent suicide among at-risk Kansans. The 15 grantees, located in Arkansas City, Belleville, Chanute, Clay Center, Garden City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Mission, Olathe, Paola, Seneca, Shawnee and Wichita, will be required to create plans that include conducting a community assessment, building suicide prevention infrastructure, addressing cultural competency, and ensuring suicide prevention efforts are evidence-based. The grants are intended to serve individuals of all ages.

Also on March 8, Gov. Kelly announced that Kansas is the first state to receive $15 million in U.S. Department of Treasury Digital Connectivity Technology funds. The funds will support equal access to high-speed internet, provide devices to underserved Kansans, and expand digital skills training for communities across Kansas. The Kansas Office of Broadband has been conducting meetings across the state to solicit feedback for a five-year broadband access and digital equity strategic plan. The listening sessions have highlighted the need for laptops/computers, public wi-fi, and digital training programs.

House Health and Human Services Committee

(Rep. Brenda Landwehr, Chair)

On Monday, March 6, the Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 180, which would establish the Women’s Bill of Rights and specify that for purposes of any state law or rules and regulations an individual’s “sex” means such individual’s biological sex, either male or female, at birth. The bill would state that with respect to biological sex, separate accommodations are not inherently unequal and would state that laws, rules and regulations that distinguish between the sexes are subject to intermediate constitutional scrutiny. SB 180 also would require schools, state agencies, or political subdivisions that collect vital statistics to identify individuals within the data as either male or female at birth. Opponents included representatives of the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Legal Services, Kansas Interfaith Action, ACLU of Kansas, Equality Kansas, United School Administrators (USA) of Kansas, Kansas School Superintendents’ Association, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, and five private citizens. Written-only opponent testimony was submitted by 49 private citizens, representatives of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Kansas National Education Association, and Mainstream Coalition. Proponents included representatives of Independent Women’s Voice and the Women’s Liberation Front. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by Kansas Family Voice and the Kansas Catholic Conference and written-only neutral testimony was submitted by the Kansas Department of Corrections. Committee members asked questions regarding the difference between gender and sex, potential legal implications of the bill, and the government’s use of the vital statistics data referenced in the bill. The bill was subsequently passed favorably out of Committee on March 7.

On Tuesday, March 7, the Committee heard a presentation by Leah Gagnon, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK). Gagnon provided an overview of CHC/SEK, including its history, number of patients served annually, workforce, and services provided by community health workers. Committee members asked questions regarding reimbursement rates, healthcare literacy, workforce strategies, and partnerships with diverse communities.

The Committee also held a hearing on House Bill (HB) 2429, which would establish the Alternatives to Abortion Program and Alternatives to Abortion Public Awareness Program, to be administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). The Alternatives to Abortion Program would serve as a statewide program to enhance and increase resources that promote childbirth to women facing unplanned pregnancies. The Alternatives to Abortion Public Awareness Program would help pregnant women who are at risk of having abortions to be made aware of the alternatives to abortion services that are available. DCF also would be required to match monies appropriated to both programs, which would be contracted by the State Treasurer to a nonprofit organization. Proponents included representatives of Kansans for Life, Kansas Catholic Conference, Nativity House KC, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Embrace of Wichita. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by two private citizens. Written-only opponent testimony was submitted by a representative of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes and three private citizens. Committee members asked questions regarding current funding of pregnancy resource centers, client demographics, referrals, and the current pregnancy maintenance initiative administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

On Wednesday, March 8, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2313, which would enact the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. The bill would define “born alive” to mean the complete expulsion or extraction of a human being from its mother, at any stage of development, who, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section or induced abortion. The bill also would establish requirements for healthcare providers and employees of medical facilities in situations when an abortion or attempted abortion resulted in a child being born alive and would define criminal and civil actions allowed for violations of the Act. Medical care facilities in which an infant was born alive would be required to submit an annual report to KDHE. Proponents included Rep. Ron Bryce, a representative of Kansans for Life and two private citizens. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by representatives of the Kansas Catholic Conference and Kansas Family Voice and a private citizen. Written-only opponent testimony was submitted by a representative of the ACLU of Kansas. Committee members asked questions regarding levels of care for anencephalic infants, the gestational age language in the bill, and the timing of transporting a born alive infant to a hospital. The Committee then worked the bill and passed it favorably out of Committee.

The Committee also worked HB 2429 (see above) and amended the bill to (1) limit the term of the contract with a nonprofit organization to two years, (2) authorize the State Treasurer to assess an administrative fine against any nonprofit organization awarded a contract under the bill for failure to satisfy the requirements of the bill or for intentional or reckless misuse of any funds awarded under a contract, and (3) require the nonprofit organization to submit an annual report regarding the administration of the Alternatives to Abortion Program, including the number of clients enrolled in the program, number of newborns born to program participants, and number of newborns placed for adoption. The bill was then passed favorably out of Committee, as amended.

Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee

(Sen. Beverly Gossage, Chair)

On Monday, March 6, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2033, which would change the criteria used to refer youths to juvenile crisis intervention centers (CICs) by adding definitions for “behavioral health crisis” and changing the phrase “mental health crisis” to “behavioral health crisis” in multiple statutes. In the Revised Kansas Code for Care of Children, the term “Behavioral health crisis” would mean “behavioral and conduct issues that impact the safety or health of a child, members of the child’s household or family, or members of the community, including, but not limited to, non-life-threatening mental health and substance abuse concerns.” There are currently no CICs operating in Kansas. Opponent testimony was provided by a private citizen, who expressed concern that the term “behavioral health crisis” is too broadly defined and could result in violations of constitutional rights. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by Tanya Keys, Deputy Secretary, DCF and KDADS, and representatives of the Johnson County Mental Health Center and Children’s Alliance of Kansas.

On Tuesday, March 7, the Committee heard a presentation from Leah Gagnon, CHC/SEK, similar to the presentation she made in House Health and Human Services on March 7 (see above). Committee members asked questions regarding how individuals learn about safety net services, the health center’s relationships with schools and hospitals, how patients are prioritized for community health worker services, and medical reimbursement models.

On Wednesday, March 8, the Committee worked HB 2034, as amended by the House, which would create in the Revised Kansas Code for Care of Children a program within KDHE for the training of and payment for Child Abuse Review and Evaluation (CARE) providers who conduct CARE exams. The bill would establish definitions, requirements, and procedures related to CARE examinations and CARE providers and create the CARE Fund. The bill would amend the Code to require the Secretary of DCF or a law enforcement agency, upon investigation by law enforcement or assignment by the Secretary of any investigation of physical abuse or physical neglect, pursuant to this provision, that concerns a child five years of age or younger, to make a CARE referral for such child. The bill would allow, in any other investigation of physical abuse, emotional abuse, medical neglect, or physical neglect conducted pursuant to the section, the Secretary, the law enforcement agency, or the agency’s designee to make a CARE referral for such child. Proponent testimony was provided by representatives of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Sheriffs’ Association, Kansas Peace Officers Association, and Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by DCF, KDHE and the Children’s Alliance of Kansas. There was no opponent testimony. Committee members asked questions regarding the referral process, previous bills on the exchange of information between law enforcement and DCF, current system of physicians preforming examinations in cases of abuse, the CARE Network pilot, and opportunities for training outside of the CARE Network.

On Thursday, March 9, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2390, as amended by the House, which would enact the Kansas Overdose Fatality Review Board Act and exempt materials used to test for the presence of fentanyl, ketamine, flunitrazepam, and gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) from the definition of “drug paraphernalia.” The bill would establish the Kansas Overdose Fatality Review Board to review information and data related to drug overdose fatalities in Kansas and to make recommendations regarding evidence-based strategies to prevent or mitigate the consequences of drug overdose. The bill would require the Board to be established before January 1, 2025, and also require the Board to submit its findings and recommendations to the House Health and Human Services and Senate Public Health and Welfare committees. Proponent testimony was provided by Representative William Clifford, M.D.; Ashley Goss, Deputy Director, KDHE; Andy Brown, Commissioner Behavioral Health Services, KDADS; representatives of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, United Government Wyandotte County Public Health Department, and Reno County Health Department; and a private citizen. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by representatives of the Kansas Hospital Association, BrightHouse, Kansas National Education Association, Wichita Police Department, Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments, DCCCA, and Sedgwick County Health Department, and private citizens. Opponent testimony was provided by one private citizen. Committee members asked questions about the national advocacy efforts to protect teens from fentanyl exposure, the payment of review board members, options for tracking the testing strips, overlap with the Child Death Review Board, confidentiality, and why this board is needed in addition to current agencies.

House Child Welfare and Foster Care Committee

(Rep. Susan Concannon, Chair)

On Monday, March 6, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2443, which would establish the Office of the Child Advocate as an independent state agency and the Child Advocate Advisory Board; prescribe certain powers, duties and functions; and allow disclosure of confidential records to the Child Advocate. The purpose of the office is to ensure that children and families receive adequate coordination of child welfare services, child maltreatment prevention, protection, and care through services offered by DCF or DCF’s contracting entities, KDADS, the Department of Corrections, KDHE and juvenile courts. Proponent testimony was provided by representatives of Kansas Appleseed and Children’s Alliance of Kansas. Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas and Center for the Rights of Children. There was no opponent or neutral testimony. Committee members asked questions regarding the existing Office of the Child Advocate established by executive order, the need for additional funding for the Office, differences between the House and Senate bills to create the Office, removal of members of the advisory board, and selection of members of the Advisory Board.

On Wednesday, March 8, the Committee held an informational hearing on foster care and mental health and heard presentations from Tanya Keys, Deputy Secretary of DCF, and representatives of KVC, Saint Francis Ministries, Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, and the Kansas Health Institute. Presenters discussed the high prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders in families involved in the foster care system; challenges in accessing mental health services for children and adults; recent legislative efforts, such as implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; the potential impact of Medicaid expansion on the behavioral health system and foster care; and the shortage of mental health providers in certain areas of the state. Committee members asked questions regarding the recidivism rate of children returning to foster care, areas of the state with a shortage of behavioral health providers, the mobile family crisis response provided by Carrillon, data showing the impact of the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, possibility of an increase in children entering foster care as individuals lose Medicaid coverage over the next few months, and whether there are strategies or policies that other states have adopted that may address some of the issues of access to care in the absence of Medicaid expansion.

House Insurance Committee

(Rep. William Sutton, Chair)

On Wednesday, March 8, the Committee worked SB 26, which would amend law relating to the financial documentation demonstrating fiscal soundness that must be submitted by a health maintenance organization (HMO) or a Medicare provider organization (MPO) when applying for a certificate of authority to provide healthcare in the state. The bill would:

Require financial projections for a minimum of three years from the date of application;
Limit the projections for each deficit year and for one year thereafter required when an HMO or MPO expects to incur a deficit to a maximum of five years;
Eliminate the requirement for monthly statements of revenue and expense for the first year on a gross dollar and a per-member-per-month basis; and
Change the required balance sheet for all financial projections from quarterly to yearly.

The Committee amended the bill to change its effective date to be upon publication in the Kansas Register and passed it favorably out of Committee, as amended.

House Federal and State Affairs Committee

(Rep. Will Carpenter, Chair)

On Tuesday, March 7, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2438, which would remove the requirement that a member of the Board of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) must be a certified instructor-coordinator and instead would require a member to be actively involved in teaching initial courses of instruction for certification as an emergency medical services provider. The instructor-coordinator’s certificate is associated with the teaching of emergency medical services courses. Proponent testimony was provided by Joseph House, Executive Director, Kansas EMS Board. Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants, who requested the Committee consider an amendment to update the language in the bill regarding the definition of a physician assistant. Committee members asked questions about challenges the bill would address, the effect the bill would have on the EMS workforce (increased number of training courses) and the deletion of language related to civil liability (provisions no longer needed if the requirement for the certification is removed).

On Wednesday, March 8, the Committee held a hearing on SB 116, which is the companion bill to HB 2304, and would provide that for the purposes of promoting the safety and protection of students and emphasizing how students should respond when encountering a firearm, school districts could provide firearm safety education programs. The State Board of Education would be required to establish curriculum guidelines for a standardized firearm safety education program that would include accident prevention. For students enrolled in kindergarten through grade five, the curriculum would be based on the “Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program” offered by the National Rifle Association. For grades six through eight, the curriculum would be based on the “Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program” or the “Hunter Education in Our Schools Program” offered by the Department of Wildlife and Parks. For grades nine through 12, the curriculum would be based on the “Hunter Education in Our Schools Program.” If a local board of education would elect to provide firearm safety education, the instruction would be required to be in accordance with the guidelines established by the State Board of Education. The local board of education also would be required to ensure that all students are provided the opportunity to take the course. Proponent testimony was provided by Rep. Patrick Penn and written-only proponent testimony was submitted by a member of the Kansas State Rifle Association. Written-only opponent testimony was submitted by a representative of the Kansas National Education Association. Committee members asked questions regarding the position of the Kansas State Board of Education on the bill (have not taken a position) and the availability of other curriculum options beyond the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program (yes).

House Welfare Reform Committee

(Rep. Francis Awerkamp, Chair)

On Tuesday, March 7, the Committee held an informational hearing regarding the concept of “good cause” related to exemptions from noncompliance with work requirements for welfare programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Tanya Keys, Deputy Secretary, DCF, presented the state’s policy and response when non-exempt persons who are receiving TANF or food assistance benefits may have failed or appear to be refusing to fulfill the work requirements for those programs without good cause. Keys and another DCF staff member described the process for contacting and engaging with these individuals to determine if there is good cause for their noncompliance, how individuals document their compliance with the requirements, the types of activities that qualify to meet the requirements, categories of reasons why DCF may determine there was good cause for noncompliance, and the circumstances that lead to termination of benefits when good cause is not determined. Committee members asked questions regarding options for volunteer work to satisfy the 30-hour work requirement, the verification process for determining whether the individual has satisfied the requirement, the two-month postpartum time period that allows mothers to be exempt from the work requirement to stay home with their infants, and whether the two-month postpartum period applies to individuals who have undergone an abortion procedure.

On Thursday, March 9 the Committee worked HB 2140, as amended by the Committee prior to Turnaround, which would amend law pertaining to eligibility requirements for SNAP. The bill would require DCF to assign registrants ages 50 through 59 without dependents who are not exempt under U.S.C. § 2015(d)(2) to an employment and training program as a condition of participation in SNAP. Under current law, only able-bodied adults ages 18 through 49 without dependents and individuals who are not employed at least 30 hours per week are required to participate in an employment and training program to receive SNAP benefits. U.S.C. § 2015(d)(2) is a federal law that exempts the following work registrants between the ages of 16 and 59 from a work requirement:

An individual currently subject to and complying with a work registration requirement under another federal program or the federal-state unemployment compensation system;
A parent or other member of a household with responsibility for the care of a dependent child under six years of age or of an incapacitated person;
A bona fide student enrolled at least half time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education (except that any such person enrolled in an institution of higher education must meet additional requirements);
A regular participant in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program;
An individual employed a minimum of 30 hours per week or receiving weekly earnings that equal the federal minimum hourly rate, multiplied by thirty hours; or
A person between the ages of 16 and 18 who is not a head of a household or who is attending school, or enrolled in an employment training program, on at least a half-time basis.

Committee members continued to discuss whether there were concerns regarding whether the amendment approved prior to Turnaround creates a conflict with federal guidelines. Chair Awerkamp reported that he had consulted with an attorney who stated there should be no conflict. The Committee then passed the bill, as previously amended, favorably out of Committee.

March 17, 2023

At-home physical therapy program effective with Rett syndrome | Tailored exercises strengthen patients’ motor skills

Ladies and women with Rett syndrome who participated in a 3-thirty day period, at-house actual physical treatment application with occasional remote supervision met or exceeded most remedy ambitions and received in motor talents, a research stories.

“The proposed activity programs … improved gross and fantastic motor capabilities, and increased the daily physical action degree of girls and girls with RTT [Rett] across a huge assortment of ages and severity levels,” the researchers wrote.

The examine, “Individualized Remotely Supervised Motor Exercise Systems Boost Rehabilitation Purpose Accomplishment, Motor Operating, and Actual physical Action of People with Rett Syndrome—A One-Cohort Analyze,” was printed in the Worldwide Journal of Environmental Investigation and Community Wellness.

Advisable Reading

An illustration shows a group of hands giving the thumbs up sign.

1 complete hour of movement exercises, finished five days a week

People with Rett syndrome experience ubiquitous troubles with motor purpose. Physical therapy can assist to boost purpose, and for the finest results, treatment routines need to be continuously practiced at house, not just at the clinic. In the wake of pandemic-connected lockdowns, investigation interest is developing in applications that can facilitate treatment in a home environment.

A staff of scientists in Italy and Israel done a demo to appraise a personalized, distant-supervised actual physical remedy software for Rett syndrome patients.

The research enrolled 40 ladies and women of all ages with Rett (necessarily mean age, 15.7) and their people, which the scientists noted tends to make it “the most significant sample ever recruited in analysis about the motor treatment of people today with RTT.”

At an first go to, contributors achieved with a therapist to examine treatment objectives. 3 months later on, they met all over again and were being instructed in a personalised established of therapeutic workouts that could be done at the residence.

Routines focused on four places — motor functionality, hand purpose, array of motion, and bodily fitness — and have been to be executed for one particular hour, with time damaged up as required, 5 times a 7 days.

“The applications aimed to reach the determined therapeutic aims by means of very easily executed bodily functions done in just the girl’s everyday lifetime,” the scientists wrote. They famous that specific packages diverse broadly, based on the wants of the specific.

“The therapeutic intervention ought to be spouse and children-centered and constructed in strict cooperation with the person’s family to concentration on major objectives and enough guidance, maximizing adherence to the intervention,” the group wrote.

Participants had been instructed to execute the at-home method for a few months, and each and every other 7 days they obtained steering from a therapist by means of a 1-hour video meeting.

Individuals then underwent a a few-thirty day period washout interval, in which they did not carry out application routines. Both of those ahead of and right after the intervention, people underwent a number of standardized assessments of motor functionality.

Most of 176 determined treatment goals achieved or surpassed by people

Amid the 40 clients, a complete of 176 remedy plans were being discovered. By the conclude of the intervention, most (82.4{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f}) of these ambitions had been attained or surpassed. The scientists famous that practical goals, like increasing motor capabilities or hand function, were far more probably to be satisfied than goals linked to increasing joint assortment of movement or all round bodily health.

“More precisely,” the researchers wrote, “65.5{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} of these goal achievements exceed … anticipations, highlighting the efficacy of motor rehabilitation packages when used to clients’ day by day routines.”

In assessments, the scientists employed Goal Attainment Scaling (Fuel), a numeric score that assesses holistically how well an personal is assembly therapy targets. A Fuel rating lessen than 40 implies that the patient is failing to meet objectives, while a score in excess of 60 suggests the affected individual is overachieving.

For just about half of the people — 19 out of 40, or 47.5{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} — Fuel scores had been better than 60 next the intervention. This accomplishment suggests that “these individuals’ treatment method probable has been underestimated,” the scientists wrote.

Only just one of these 40 individuals experienced a Gas score lessen than 40, and she started to knowledge seizures shortly immediately after commencing the study, which interfered with the family’s capability to complete the system as developed. Just after the washout section, an additional two patients had Fuel scores reduce than 40. Once again, these minimal scores have been connected with overall health complications, like hip difficulties that brought about trouble strolling.

Over-all, “the acquired effects strongly assist the efficacy of [remote supervised physical therapy] programs in bettering the participants’ motor useful abilities and the achievement of rehabilitation plans,” the scientists wrote.

In 85{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} of individuals, scores on the Rett Syndrome Motor Evaluation Scale (RESMES) improved substantially following the intervention, reflecting much better motor purpose, and scores typically remained steady by means of the washout period. Physical action scores, as measured with the Modified Bouchard Exercise History (mBAR), elevated significantly with the intervention and dropped thereafter to the pre-intervention stage.

Collectively, analyze findings counsel that the at-house treatment plan can profit individuals with Rett syndrome, and the scientists invited clinicians caring for individuals with Rett to carry out related programs for their people.

“The proposed intervention may well also be beneficial to other folks with severe disabilities,” the researchers extra.

March 17, 2023

Mother asks for public’s help after car stolen with baby’s medical equipment inside

ST. LOUIS (KMOV) — It is been approximately two weeks since Taylor Emm’s vehicle was stolen from the Walmart parking great deal in Maplewood, but the 22-yr-outdated states it is still emotional to consider about.

“I’m just unhappy about it, seriously, seriously unhappy,” said Emm.

It took place on the evening of March 3. Emm, a new mother of a 15-month-old woman, suggests her 2011 Nissan Murano was stolen when she was inside Walmart in advance of heading to her mother’s household.

“It was Friday night, grandma experienced her,” reported Emm. “I was likely in to get stuff for the baby, diapers, all that stuff for the 7 days. I was in there only 40 minutes.”

Maplewood law enforcement shared surveillance online video Thursday of the night time it occurred. A individual can be faintly witnessed in the center row of the parking large amount hunting as a result of vehicle home windows. While the image is considerably grainy, the suspect eventually gains access into Emm’s automobile and drives off with it.

“They ensure that a person was hunting in windows, numerous other home windows right before mine. He attained accessibility to mine at 9:40 p.m. and he pulled off the good deal toward Hanley road at 9:42 p.m.,” she stated.

When Emm ultimately walked out, she panicked when she observed a diverse auto in her spot.

“That’s when I recognize it is absent. My motor vehicle is absent,” stated Emm.

Maplewood law enforcement convey to Information 4 they continue to have not been ready to locate the auto. Emm claims she has searched all around the metropolis for it, to no avail.

“My car was my only way of building cash. I Door Dash, Uber eats, Lyft, nearly anything I can do right now,” claimed Emm.

Nevertheless, it is what was within her automobile that has far more value to her and her household than the vehicle by itself. Her daughter Aaliyah’s medical equipment, which features a treatment chair, a unit for her g-tube and medication, had been all within the car or truck.

“My daughter, she has a good deal of doctor’s appointments. She has bilateral hip dysplasia and a g-tube, so her brain grows more compact than her cranium does ideal now,” explained Emm “Basically, her hips are born flat in its place of curved, so she’s been set in a entire human body cast to condition her hips from her waistline down.”

That remedy chair aids Aaliyah sit upright in the auto and at home, which she takes advantage of for up to eight hours a day, and her g-tube gear helps Emm examine how substantially food to pump into her human body.

“Both of those pieces have been donated to us to go away the NICU for the reason that Medicaid does not approve or include it,” she stated.

These products on your own could charge Emm close to $10,000 to swap in addition to obtaining a new automobile.

“I have no way to get to and from appointments,” she claimed.

Right now, Aaliyah is remaining mostly at her grandmother’s whilst Emm finds a way to recuperate her car and the machines within. She may well have to replace the devices entirely.

“She has to be capable to get to a hospital inside of a few minutes if she is to pull her very own g-tube out, and I just can’t get her to that in that time with no motor vehicle,” explained Emm. “I believe she’s much better off with her at this time until I can sort of determine out what I’m likely to do for function and how I can change the vehicle.”

There is a GoFundMe designed to assistance help Emm and her spouse and children with the costs she could encounter considering the fact that shedding her car or truck. Everyone with facts on exactly where her automobile can be positioned can get in touch with Maplewood Law enforcement.

March 16, 2023

Education Department Memo Targets OPMs In $74 Billion Online Learning Industry

Education Department Memo Targets OPMs In Billion Online Learning Industry

On-line studying can direct to enhanced achievements for minority college students in greater instruction.

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The US Office of Education reported a whopping 84 per cent of America’s undergrads had some or all of their classes moved to on-line-only instruction all through the pandemic in spring 2020. The Division depends for on the web instruction for dozens of courses for K-12, special schooling, disabilities rights and access, continuing schooling for older people, occupation development, and so on. Nonetheless a new Office release noted worries about “online programs managers” (OPMs) for on the internet college student recruitment and retention, software platforms and the provision of educational content material and instruction. It appears the Office responds to a Government Accountability Place of work report calling for strengthening of the checking of OPMs for incentive payment for recruitment and sum of content furnished by spouse corporations.

The Chronicle of Increased Education termed the new assistance, helpful straight away a “shock” and “a spectacular expansion of its interpretation of federal regulations that appears to place a massive swath of colleges’ ed-tech suppliers on the hook for pursuing more procedures, and place the vendors less than closer scrutiny.” The on-line instruction marketplace is envisioned to deliver US$74.80bn in 2023 and increase some 13.08{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} as a result of 2027, resulting in a projected current market quantity of US$122.30bn by 2027.

The debate: need to universities have interaction in partnerships to recruit and retain pupils?

It wasn’t so long ago that an unparalleled and unexpected world-wide pandemic slammed the doorway on in-human being studying for learners of all ages. When colleges and universities closed, online training technological know-how was all set to action into the void and try, versus all odds, to preserve students on monitor. Pretty much precisely 3 a long time later, the Section of Education and learning appears bent on driving the pretty on the web training companies that saved the day throughout the pandemic out of company.

At concern is new guidance that could revise the “bundled services” exception that has enabled colleges and universities to spouse with OPMs to build and grow the on the web curricula offered to write-up-secondary pupils in the United States. By way of years of shut collaboration and an efficient, mutually beneficial income sharing model, OPMs have labored together with American colleges and universities to make on line schooling a mainstay of the fashionable education method. In common bundled products and services give bigger worth and efficiencies for shoppers and finish people via economies of scale, quantity reductions, and diminished transactions expenditures.

In other phrases, there is maybe a dread of lost regulatory control when dad and mom and high school learners tailor education and learning to their tastes by doing work with OPMs and other on the net companions.

Do not deal with what is not broken

The electronic transformation underway in larger education and learning is not a uncomplicated byproduct of the necessity driven by the pandemic. On the web schooling has progressed significantly from its early times, providing a adaptable, user-pleasant encounter to students who may perhaps have otherwise confronted limitations to pursuing a diploma.

On line instruction technology has empowered pupils to established and achieve targets that might have felt out of achieve in advance of. College students are no extended limited by social, economic, monetary, physical, or geographic causes not to discover. In simple fact on the net choices improve the ability of learners to master, enabling them to just take more classes than they can in-individual.

Over and above pupil gains, OPMs also reward training providers. Many thanks to innovations in on the web instruction, schools and universities can provide college students with coursework that aligns with their ambitions much much more conveniently and at a much decrease price. With price range shortfalls commonplace across the better education technique, the effectiveness afforded by online education can help empower universities to carry on to offer you various classes and a quality training with no considerable cost.

Online training reaches spots and men and women in-human being courses simply can’t, creating the instruction program a lot more inclusive and advertising and marketing social mobility.

It’s unfortunate that the Education and learning Department would scrutinize a growth which has worked so well. Without a doubt, much of the achievements of on the web education has been the authorities preserving its arms off. Let us hope the Office will not check out to deal with what is not damaged and leaves the bundled services exception by itself so that more learners, specifically the deprived, can advantage.

March 16, 2023

12 Biggest Health Insurance Companies in the World

In this article, we discuss the 12 biggest health insurance companies in the world. If you want to see more companies in this selection, check out the 5 Biggest Health Insurance Companies in the World.

According to Allied Market Research, the size of the global healthcare insurance industry stood at $1.98 trillion at the end of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased demand for health insurance around the world. The size of the industry is expected to compound annually at an average rate of 9.7{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} to reach $4.15 trillion by 2028. People consider health insurance services as an integral tool to share medical costs during accidents, illnesses, and injuries. The impact of the delay in routine healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic played favorably for health insurance companies. However, this effect was also offset by the increase in demand for COVID-19-related testing and treatment claims.

The Protection Gap: Addressing Economic Losses in Health Insurance and Beyond

Experts believe that health insurance companies that can innovate and transform their offerings according to customers’ demands will be able to grow during these uncertain times. The uncertainty related to geopolitical and macroeconomic outlook has made business stability the top priority amongst health insurance companies such as Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), and Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV).

In addition, the protection gap is growing with every passing day as the insurance related to natural disasters, cyber attacks, and health, only partially covers the actual economic losses related to these events. For instance, in 2019, more than 400 natural disaster events resulted in an economic loss of $232 billion, but only $71 billion of the loss was insured. This gap is expected to increase as the global population and life expectancy rise. These factors would provide the health insurance industry with a bigger market to target.

According to the Swiss Re Institute, the insurance industry could increase its bottom line by $60 – $80 billion annually if it works on reducing the insurance protection gaps. As of 2021, the global insurance protection gap stood at $1.4 trillion, while the global health protection gap was estimated at $737 billion. Experts believe the higher government spending on healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic helped reduce the health protection gap; however, it is expected to increase again as the pandemic has eased and governments around the world are shifting their focus towards other activities. Experts also highlight the low level of insurance literacy as a major challenge in gaining widespread market penetration. According to research conducted by French insurer SCOR, a significant number of people do not purchase insurance because they cannot comprehend the terms and conditions. The study comprised 12,000 consumers from around the world. Governments, regulators, insurance companies, and employers must come together to address the challenges to boost the adoption of health insurance.

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Our Methodology

We carried out thorough research utilizing a variety of dependable sources, including company and industry reports and financial databases, to determine the largest health insurance companies in the world. We took into account pertinent aspects, like the company’s consumer base, product offerings, business models, and global reach, to assess its scale of operations. The companies have been ranked in ascending order of their trailing twelve months (ttm) revenue. The list includes both private and public limited companies.

Biggest Health Insurance Companies in the World

12. MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

TTM Total Revenue: $68.95 billion

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) is a New York-based provider of annuities, employee benefit programs, and insurance. The company provides a wide range of health insurance products like accident insurance, disability and absence services, hospital indemnity, critical illness, and cancer insurance.

In a research note issued on January 6, Jimmy Bhullar at JPMorgan increased the target price for MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) from $77 to $80 and maintained an Overweight rating on the stock. The analyst anticipates the company’s life and health insurance segment to perform well in 2023 as the benchmark interest rates are expected to rise further. However, this could be offset by a weak economy that could dent demand along with a higher risk of credit losses.

11. Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in München (MUV2.DE)

TTM Total Revenue: $71.50 billion (€67.09 billion)

Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in München (MUV2.DE), more commonly known as Munich Re Group, is a German insurance company established in 1880. The company provides a wide variety of reinsurance products related to healthcare.

Munich Re has established an ambitious roadmap for the next five years called the Munich Re Group Ambition 2025. While preserving and reinforcing the core of its business model, the company aims to drive the transition towards new business models. The company plans to enhance its market position in Germany and achieve profitable growth in international business, B2B operations, and direct customer offerings.

10. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) [ Owner of Aetna]

TTM Total Revenue (Aetna): $82.2 billion

CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is a Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based healthcare company that is also a provider of health insurance services.

The company acquired Aetna in 2018 to expand its presence in the health insurance segment. Based on 2021 total health plan enrollments, CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) secured the sixth position with 2,574,348 enrollments. In a note issued to investors on February 9, Brian Tanquilut at Jefferies increased the target price for CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) from $130 to $143 and maintained a Buy rating on the stock following the strong Q4 2022 results. The company also disclosed that it intends to acquire Chicago, Illinois-based healthcare company Oak Street Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSH) for a sum of $10.6 billion. The analyst anticipates the earnings from Oak Street to contribute towards the company’s bottom-line growth after 2024.

Vltava Fund shared its outlook on CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) in its Q3 2022 investor letter. Here’s what the firm said:

“CVS is a leader in the provision of healthcare services in the USA. It has three main businesses: an enormous network of pharmacies, a health insurance company, and “prescription benefit management”, which is a kind of intermediary between insurance companies and pharmacies. This is the result of large acquisitions over the past 15 years – most notably of Caremark (2007) and Aetna (2018). The markets had deemed its acquisition of health insurer Aetna too expensive (and we agree), so CVS stock then fell into disfavour for a few years.

We took advantage of this in the summer of 2020 and brought the stock into our portfolio at a time when its price was pressed down still further by the coronavirus pandemic. CVS is a giant. It has revenues of USD 300 billion, making it one of the largest companies in the world. It is a relatively stable and highly profitable company with strong free cash flow. Over the past few years, CVS has focused primarily on reducing debt.

This is already much lower than it had been after the Aetna acquisition, and most of the cash is now likely to go to shareholders through share buybacks or be used for smaller acquisitions to grow the company further. CVS trades at about 11 times annual earnings, which is a very appealing valuation given the expected future growth in profitability and overall modest cyclicality in its business.”

10. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM)

TTM Total Revenue: $92.87 billion

Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is a Louisville, Kentucky-based health insurance company founded in 1961.

The corporation occupies the 114^th position on the 2023 America’s Best Large Employers list curated by Forbes. Furthermore, based on the total health plan enrollment data for 2021 compiled by Forbes, Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) is the 11^th biggest health insurance company in the US, with an enrollment of 887,612 members. Following the Q4 2022 results, George Hill at Deutsche Bank assigned Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) stock a target price of $562 along with a Buy rating on February 28. The analyst highlighted the company’s decision to exit the Employer Group Commercial Medical Products business company. The business segment included the Federal Employee health benefit plans and rewards programs that are fully insured and self-funded.

Here’s what Renaissance Investment Management said about Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:

“In September, We added a new position in the Health Care sector with Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM), one of the largest managed care providers in the U.S. with a focus on medical insurance for the Medicare Advantage market. We believe Humana is poised to see a reacceleration in Medicare Advantage membership growth after making large investments in its program benefits earlier this year. In addition, we like the demographic tailwinds for the entire Medicare Advantage market, as the next four years should provide the highest number of baby boomers yet qualifying for Medicare benefits.”

9. Kaiser Permanente

TTM Total Revenue: $95.4 billion

Kaiser Permanente is an Oakland, California-based healthcare organization founded in 1945.

The company provides a variety of healthcare services, including health insurance, to individuals and families. Kaiser Permanente is a managed care organization, which means that it provides healthcare services through a network of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. Kaiser Permanente health insurance plans typically offer a range of benefits, including preventative care, medical treatment, prescription drug coverage, and other health services. Some plans may also include dental and vision care. The company occupied the first position in terms of total health plan enrollment in 2021, with 8,228,765 accounts.

8. AXA SA (CS.PA)

TTM Total Revenue: $103.7 billion (€97.25 billion)

AXA SA (CS.PA) is a Paris, France-based insurance company that was founded in 1946. The company has a presence in 50 countries and a headcount of 149,000 employees and distributors. AXA SA (CS.PA) provides insurance and financial management services to 95 million clients around the world.

AXA health insurance plans vary by region and country, but they generally offer a range of benefits, such as hospitalization, outpatient services, preventative care, and prescription drug coverage. The company also offers additional benefits, such as dental and vision care, alternative medicine, and wellness programs. Some plans may also provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, depending on the specific policy. CEO Thomas Buberl shared that in 2023, AXA SA (CS.PA) aims to achieve continuous growth in earnings, propelled by all regions, and a transparent route to increasing dividends. This will be backed by improved cash flow and prudent capital management. AXA SA (CS.PA) stock offers an attractive dividend yield of 5.78{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} as of March 13.

6. China Life Insurance Company Limited (601628.SS)

TTM Total Revenue: $115.98 billion (¥804.12 billion)

China Life Insurance Company Limited (601628.SS) is a Beijing, China-based provider of health insurance and other annuities products founded in 2003.

The company has a headcount of 103,262 employees and ranks at the 71st position in the Forbes Global 2000 list for 2022. The Forbes Global 2000 list ranks the biggest companies globally based on revenue, earnings, total assets, and market capitalization. China Life Insurance Company Limited (601628.SS) claims that once a consumer enrolls in the voluntary health insurance services successfully, the company will continue to renew the plan till 100 years of age without taking into consideration the underlying health condition of the insured person or the historical claim record. The company also provides annual coverage of $10,191 (HKD 80,000) for prescribed diagnostic imaging tests, psychiatric treatments, and prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments.

In addition to China Life Insurance Company Limited (601628.SS), companies such as Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), and Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) are also some of the biggest health insurance companies in the world.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Biggest Health Insurance Companies in the World.

Philips and Champalimaud Foundation partnership – News

“The health care sector is a important contributor to CO₂ emissions and thus has an essential role to participate in in mitigating local weather alter,” said Leonor Beleza, President of the Champalimaud Basis. “This partnership will allow for us to carry on to guarantee the greatest care for our sufferers although at the exact same time helping to minimize the health care sector’s environmental impact.”

“Alongside increasing affected individual results and raising effectiveness, health care companies are ever more concentrating on mitigating their influence on the local climate and producing additional sustainable selections,” said Peter Vullinghs, Industry Chief Western Europe for Philips. “We have a strong track file in embedding sustainability in our answers, our operations, and across our provide chain. Leveraging that deep know-how, we are partnering with the Champalimaud Foundation to make a step-alter in their environmental effect, even though enabling them to pursue their goal of advancing the prevention, early diagnosis and cure of most cancers.”

Philips will aid Champalimaud Foundation’s sustainability targets as a result of a variety of health systems and improvements built to decrease the foundation’s dependency on pure means and energy intake. This consists of the installation of Philips Spectral CT 7500 which utilizes 62.5{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} less power [3]. The set up of Philips’ MR helium-cost-free operations’ system, Philips MR – Ingenia Ambition 1.5T that makes use of a breakthrough design and style where the magnetic components are absolutely sealed and only have to have 7 liters of helium about its lifetime compared to approximately 1,500 liters with other Philips’s programs. Also, with Philips MR SmartSpeed, the Ingenia Ambition 1.5T utilizes up to 53{08cd930984ace14b54ef017cfb82c397b10f0f7d5e03e6413ad93bb8e636217f} significantly less ability per individual scan [4].

Philips will also consider back again the at the moment-mounted Philips tools and be certain accountable end-of-use management, to stay clear of waste heading to landfill. In addition, Philips will enable the Champalimaud Basis put into practice hybrid working area remedies, furnishing its experts with a wide range of graphic-guided minimally-invasive interventional procedures with increased precision and patient security, resulting in shorter hospitalization in comparison to traditional surgical interventions.

[1] Overall health Care With no Hurt (2019). Well being care’s weather footprint: How the wellbeing sector contributes to the worldwide weather disaster and chances for motion (p.22). https://noharm-world-wide.org/paperwork/well being-treatment-climatefootprint-report Scope 1 immediate emissions originate from the hospitals’ very own functions: emissions from the setting up and transportation. Scope 2 oblique emissions are created by the generation and distribution of power that is eaten by the healthcare facility. Scope 3 are indirect CO2 emissions brought about by the manufacturing and transportation of items and providers wanted by hospitals this kind of as medications, food items, machines, clothing and squander procedure.
[2] https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5560
[3] When compared to an equivalent CT design of one of the marketplace leaders
[4] Relevant to Ambition S. Philips SmartSpeed power usage versus Philips Perception based mostly scanning. Based mostly on COCIR and in-property simulated surroundings. Benefits can fluctuate centered on site circumstances.