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hari-100 · 9 months ago

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Enhancing Healthcare with Modern EHR Platforms

Enhancing Modern EHR Platforms Healthcare In the ever changing domain of health care, patient information must be managed well. These up-to-date electronic health record (EHR) systems have been constructed to smoothen operations in a bid to enhance patient treatment and make sure that health providers can access accurate data that is current. Let’s see how this software is making a difference in different states focusing on particular characteristics and advantages.

Mobile Responsive EHR Platform in Louisiana

Healthcare providers In Louisiana get lots of advantages from EHR systems that are responsive to mobile devices. They help doctors retrieve patient information while attending to their needs wherever they are for prompt treatments that save time effectively. Doctors need to be able to manage patient records, make appointments among others through mobile phones relatively quickly as it is described in the current healthcare speed.

Healthcare Information Systems in Oregon

In Oregon, efficient healthcare information systems that are advanced, enhance result of patient becoming being the important role of things. ⁤⁤For instance all other systems of healthcare information are at one with each other so as not to experience data exchange problems and to improve general efficiency ⁤⁤Such systems enable those working in the health sector to offer better services while at the same time making sure that patients’ records are not only accurate but also available. ⁤

Electronic Health Record Systems in Illinois

Electronic health record systems in Illinois, which are electronic, have made a huge difference in patient care. For health care providers to manage patient records well, the systems give them interfaces that are easy to use. Documenting all interactions with patients correctly with EHRs helps in enhancing care quality and simplifying administrative work.

Patient Appointment System in Oregon

Efficient appointment scheduling is vital to minimizing wait times as well as to increasing customer satisfaction throughout patient’s treatment time. In Oregon, health care providers are now able to better manage their schedules and reduce instances of missed appointments thanks to the emergence of sophisticated patient appointment systems. These innovative systems make sure that booking for appointments is done conveniently by patients, making them have better health care experience.

QMS Management in Oregon

Quality management systems (QMS) will be helpful in controlling the caring quality of the caregiving scenario related to healthcare settings. This will help in making the health provision procedure in Oregon streamlined and effective by integrating with an EHR platform. This integration will make sure that healthcare providers are being consistently quality-assured and are in compliance with administrative regulations.

Health Information Management in Oregon

Effective management of health information (HIM) will be very paramount for the optimal execution of patient care. Advanced EHR systems do feature way better tools of patient data handling in a secure and accurate manner, hence easy access to any health information by those allowed, therefore improving service provision in general quality.

Mental Health Solutions in Washington

Special tools that would help effectively manage the treatment of mental health solutions in Washington are provided for managing the patient's records in departments that are dependent on the solutions available for mental health. Comprehensive mental health care is supported, which pretty much ensures that the patients are treated and taken care of rightly.

Electronic Medical Record Systems in Washington

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems are at the core of handling patient information. This system in Washington is one of the most reliable and easy-to-use answers for health providers when it comes to health care facilities. In making patient record access and accuracy more reliable, the EMR systems improve patient care and the workflows of the medical processes.

Electronic Patient Record in Washington

In so far as the health care delivery in Washington is concerned, the switch over to electronic medical record has really proven to be helpful. Repetitive for patient records, the system guarantees a sort of security, and data can be retrieved easily and fast by only authorized personnel. The utilization of such systems hence enhances patient outcomes more because it offers more comprehensive and accurate information to health care providers.

Digital Health Records in Washington

Digital health records are the future of health care, and now Washington is leading the revolution for this transition. Enhanced electronic health records platforms advance efficiency and patient care by enabling information regarding patient health to be accessed easily and kept very securely. Enhanced information systems will do away with all the paper load, and there will be high accuracy of data.

Electronic Health Records in Hospitals in Washington

Hospitals in Washington have well succeeded in implementing Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems in integrating care coordination and patient outcomes. They assure accurate documentation for all the patients and the easy accessibility of information from any department. Integration helps the service providers to carry out services in a consistent and high-quality manner.

Conclusion

Modern EHR platforms are transforming healthcare across various states by improving efficiency, enhancing patient care, and ensuring accurate data management. From mobile responsive solutions in Louisiana to advanced healthcare information systems in Oregon and comprehensive electronic health records in Washington, these platforms are setting new standards in health information management.

For more information please contact.www.drcloudehr.com

#mobile responsive ehr platform in louisiana #healthcare information systems in oregon #electronic health record systems in illinois #patient appointment system in oregon #qms management in oregon #health information management in oregon #electronic medical record systems in washington #electronic patient record in washington #digital health records in washington #electronic health records in hospitals in washington #mental health solutions in washington #medical electronic record system in washington #medical emr systems in washington #electronic medical record vendor in washington

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theastrohub · 8 months ago

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what city you should live in based on your moon sign ⏾

astrology can help you make an informed decision for something as significant as where one will live. and especially if you are a more hedonistic person like myself, choosing a place to live with a focus on personal satisfaction is a guaranteed upgrade in quality of life. it also helps you narrow down what your true emotional needs are and live a life more in alignment with your truest self.

choosing what city to live in based on your moon sign helps an individual with emotional fulfillment, being able to create a sense of belonging, stress reduction, enhanced creativity and productivity, better romantic and platonic relationships, and so much more.

here are my thoughts on your ideal city based on your moon sign:

一

⏾ virgo moon 一

kobe, japan + washington, D.C. (USA) + zurich, switzerland

you likely prefer a clean, walkable city that is health-conscious. ideal cities have paved roads, a lack of industrial machines or well-regulated factories, and a structured, straightforward urban planning model. a city safe enough to raise babies and young children is your benchmark. you value a city that emphasizes logical aspects of life. air pollution and trash management are crucial, so you'd thrive in cities with high air quality indexes, like those mentioned above.

一

⏾ libra moon 一

florence, italy + brooklyn, new york + capetown, south africa + amsterdam, netherlands + paris, france

as one of my favorite moon signs, you truly appreciate beauty, harmony, and aesthetics in where and how you live. you love cultured cities with plenty of artistic experiences. perhaps you're an artist yourself, seeking communities where you can express that creativity. a city that offers a balance of cityscape, mountainscape, and access to bodies of water appeals to your sense of harmony. you’re drawn to colorful, multicultural environments where you can accumulate luxury goods.

一

⏾ scorpio moon 一

new orleans, louisiana + mumbai, india + providence, rhode island

this one is tricky because scorpio Moons are known for being extremely intense and private, which doesn't always translate to a livable city (think Bermuda Triangle). however, you likely value transformative experiences and a form of social power. you want to be in a city that matches your intensity—a place that might be politically involved, spiritually inclined, or even part of some controversy. communities where you can explore taboo subjects or rise within social hierarchies are ideal for you.

一

⏾ sagittarius moon 一

toronto, canada + prage, czech republic + krabi, thailand + dubai, UAE

as one of the more hedonistic moon signs, you crave freedom—to be, to do, to have, etc. you prefer cities with a lot of versatility for living, offering options like big homes, sprawling lofts, small cozy one-bedrooms, and everything in between. cultured and religious cities appeal to your belief system, which is crucial to you. You need a place where you can live your philosophies freely and have fun. a city with many opportunities for adventure and easy access to other exciting places is essential. think road trips, bungee jumping, scuba diving.

一

⏾ capricorn moon 一

london, england + manhattan, new york + melbourne, australia

one word: old-fashioned. capricorns are often seen as traditional, and there's a reason for that. as a capricorn moon, you value cities that operate like institutions—places that have stood the test of time without much change to their foundation. ambition and hard work are of utmost importance, so cities with a professional or hustle culture appeal to you. you are drawn to cities in countries with a strong identity or culture that gratify your sense of tradition. cities where you can network, accumulate wealth, and indulge in luxuries are your ideal.

一

⏾ aquarius moon 一

san francisco, california + rome, italy + new orleans, louisiana + portland, oregon

with pluto in aquarius, I anticipate more moves for aquarius moons, which is great because this is the most community-centered sign in my opinion. aquarius moons value living in cities where they can positively contribute, socialize, and build relationships based on shared interests. you are drawn to innovative, creative cities that are always ahead of trends. you also appreciate cities that are civically mindful and contribute to humanitarian efforts on both local and grand scales.

一

⏾ pisces moon 一

bali, indonesia + bora bora, french polynesia + rome, italy + paris, france

pisces moons are one of the moon signs that truly need to feel "drawn" to a place before visiting or residing there. emotional fulfillment, romance, and creativity are non-negotiable for pisces moons. because of this, beautiful, artistic cities with many opportunities to be near bodies of water are ideal. beach cities and honeymoon destinations are perfect for pisces Moons' empathic and sensitive nature. A city with a calm undercurrent is essential to satisfy your need for rest and peace.

一

⏾ aries moon 一

rome, italy + los angeles, california + tokyo, japan + cairo, egypt + mumbai, india

similar to capricorn moon, its cardinal sibling, aries moons need the opportunity to keep on the go wherever they live. For this reason, you're best suited to "cities that never sleep"—places where you can stay active, compete in major global industries, and reach newer heights. you're drawn to cities with fiery traditions and those that excel in national rankings. you also appreciate cities that are vocal about their value systems and embrace trends.

一

⏾ taurus moon 一

honolulu, hawaii + havana, cuba + las vegas, nevada + ibiza, spain + tokyo, japan

much like libra moons, venus-ruled moons love venus-ruled cities. taurus moons enjoy cities that are comfortable in every sense—materially, socially, politically, and aesthetically. you appreciate cities that are openly hedonistic—notorious vacation spots are actually great places for you to establish yourself. cities with strong tourism markets are good for your desire for material success as they are epicenters of culture and attract people from all walks of life.

一

⏾ gemini moon 一

chicago, illinois + boston, massachusetts + cairo, egypt + lisbon, portugal

as a gemini moon, cities that are versatile, education-centered, and logical are appealing to you. you thrive in places where "everyone knows everyone" and socializing is a priority. cities known for their educational institutions and vibrant social life satisfy your need for variety and communication. cities with a strong tourist presence are also appealing, as you enjoy the ability to feel like a tourist in your own city at any time.

一

⏾ cancer moon 一

sydney, australia + niagara falls , new york + instanbul, turkey + berne, switzerland + mogadishu, somalia

cancer moons love domestic cities that are more feminine in nature. Like their sister sign capricorn, they strongly value traditions, both cultural and social, but in a softer manner. they prefer cities with a strong influence by women and things traditionally associated with women, like fashion, beauty, and the arts. cities with beaches and a strong luminary presence are essential, as they are the water-bearers of the zodiac. cities with a balance between domesticity and capitalism appeal to their need for material security and a good home. a city with a strong real estate market and that is ideal for newlyweds and families is also preferred.

一

⏾ leo moon 一

los angeles, california + miami, florida + mexico city, mexico + marrakesh, morocco + ibiza, spain

much like aquarius moons, the need to be around people is prominent with leo moons. leo moons value being in cities that honor appearance and aesthetics. being seen, being talked about, romance, and play are priority for a leo moon when moving. a city where they can explore artistic pursuits and new cultures. cities that promote health and wellness and image. cities with social hierarchies and strong social networks. cities that are "popular" with the whole world. also cities that are known for night-life and social life. cities where you can regularly rub elbows with important people and indulge in the grandiosities of life.

⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎

the moon in astrology is a gateway to a deeper understanding of one's desires, needs, and motivations which can help in making better-informed decisions on where to move or establish a life. I highly suggest you take this into consideration on your next trip or relocation.

thank you for reading 💋

@astrobaeza

for more: [ paidservices ₊ masterlist ₊ tips ]

#astrobae #astro community #astrology tumblr #astrology #astro notes #astro observations #astrobaeza #astrology community #astrology notes #astrology observations #moon signs #fire moon #air moon #earth moon #water moon

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saywhat-politics · 4 months ago

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A group of high-level managers at the Louisiana Department of Health walked into a Nov. 14 meeting in Baton Rouge expecting to talk about outreach and community events.

Instead, they were told by an assistant secretary in the department and another official that department leadership had a new policy: Advertising or otherwise promoting the COVID, influenza or mpox vaccines, an established practice there — and at most other public health entities in the U.S. — must stop.

NPR has confirmed the policy was discussed at this meeting, and at two other meetings held within the department's Office of Public Health, on Oct. 3 and Nov. 21, through interviews with four employees at the Department of Health, which employs more than 6,500 people and is the state's largest agency.

Staffers were also told that it applies to every aspect of the health department's work: Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines. They also could not put up signs at the department's clinics that COVID, flu or mpox vaccines were available on site.

The new policy in Louisiana was implemented as some politicians have promoted false information about vaccines and as President-elect Donald Trump seeks to have anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And some public health experts are concerned that if other states follow Louisiana, the U.S. could face rising levels of disease and further erosion of trust in the nation's public health infrastructure.

#louisiana #npr #New Orleans public radio #public health

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justinspoliticalcorner · 4 months ago

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Rosemary Westwood at NPR:

A group of high-level managers at the Louisiana Department of Health walked into a Nov. 14 meeting in Baton Rouge expecting to talk about outreach and community events. Instead, they were told by an assistant secretary in the department and another official that department leadership had a new policy: Advertising or otherwise promoting the COVID, influenza or mpox vaccines, an established practice there — and at most other public health entities in the U.S. — must stop. NPR has confirmed the policy was discussed at this meeting, and at two other meetings held within the department's Office of Public Health, on Oct. 3 and Nov. 21, through interviews with four employees at the Department of Health, which employs more than 6,500 people and is the state's largest agency.

According to the employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they fear losing their jobs or other forms of retaliation, the policy would be implemented quietly and would not be put in writing. Staffers were also told that it applies to every aspect of the health department's work: Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines. They also could not put up signs at the department's clinics that COVID, flu or mpox vaccines were available on site. The new policy in Louisiana was implemented as some politicians have promoted false information about vaccines and as President-elect Donald Trump seeks to have anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And some public health experts are concerned that if other states follow Louisiana, the U.S. could face rising levels of disease and further erosion of trust in the nation's public health infrastructure.

[...]

A blow to public health practice

Staff at Louisiana's health department fear the new policy undermines their efforts to protect the public, and violates the fundamental mission of public health: to prevent illness and disease by following the science.

[...]

Experts fear consequences of undermining trust in vaccine

Last year, 652 people in Louisiana died of COVID, including five children. Louisiana currently is tied with DC for the highest rate of flu in the U.S. In 2022 alone, flu killed 586 people in Louisiana. Every health department staff member, former staff member, public health official and vaccine expert contacted by NPR repeated the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for preventing illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.

[...]

Policy change follows new governor's election

Until becoming Louisiana governor in early 2024, Republican Jeff Landry served as the state's attorney general for eight years. During the pandemic, he criticized the state's COVID response and filed lawsuits over federal and state vaccine mandates. On Dec. 6, 2021, Attorney General Landry spoke at a state committee hearing against adding COVID to the childhood immunization schedule. At his side was Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who presented false claims about COVID vaccines. This year the Republican-controlled legislature passed five bills — all signed by Gov. Landry — and two resolutions aimed at loosening vaccine requirements, limiting the power of public health authorities and sowing doubt about vaccine safety.

Gov. Landry also appointed Dr. Ralph Abraham, a family medicine doctor, to be the state's surgeon general. That position co-leads the Department of Health, and is tasked with crafting health policy that is then carried out by the departmental co-leader, the secretary. [...] Abraham said masking, lockdowns and vaccination requirements "were practically ineffective," that COVID vaccine adverse effects have been "suppressed," that "we don't know" whether blood from people who've been vaccinated is safe for donation and that "we hope and pray" COVID vaccines don't increase the risk miscarriages.

[...]

A slippery slope to future disease outbreaks

Experts told NPR they feared a policy that undermines COVID, flu and mpox vaccinations could have a spillover effect, reducing public trust in vaccinations overall, including those given to children to prevent a host of dangerous and deadly illnesses. "I believe that we will see measles cases. I believe we will see whooping cough cases. I believe we will likely see meningitis outbreaks," said Hood. In the Nov. 14 meeting, a staff member asked whether the ban on promoting vaccines applied to children's immunizations, but the answer was noncommittal, according to an employee with knowledge of the meeting's details. "My understanding was it's not clear to what extent we might be able to promote childhood vaccinations," the staff member said. (The Louisiana Department of Health's statement to NPR said the changes in policy and messaging do not apply to childhood immunizations.) Nationally, vaccination rates for serious childhood diseases have been falling in recent years, including in Louisiana.

[...]

The rise of public health officials promoting misinformation

Louisiana isn't the only state where public health officials have recently announced controversial decisions and repeated false or discredited health theories. Florida's surgeon general has made false claims about COVID vaccines, undermined school vaccine mandates for the measles and said local officials should stop adding fluoride to water supplies.

The consequences of anti-vaxxer extremism and anti-public health sentiments being normalized by Republicans: Louisiana bans the state's Department of Health from promoting COVID, flu, or mpox vaccines.

#Anti Vaxxer Extremism #Vaccines #Coronavirus Vaccines #mpox Vaccines #Flu Vaccines #Flu #mpox #Coronavirus #Louisiana #Public Health #Louisiana Department of Health #Jeff Landry #Ralph Abraham #Anti Vaxxers

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anim-ttrpgs · 9 months ago

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Some History of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

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Brandon and I have played a lot of TTRPGs, from nearly every edition of Dungeons & Dragons to half-finished playtests of things you’ve never heard of. Our history with TTRPGs is a love story, but one pockmarked with frustration. We found ourselves enjoying D&D 3.5’s vast character creation options, but wishing it focused more on grounded characters and historically informed combat; being drawn in by Call of Cthulhu’s horror and existential dread, but disappointed in its investigation mechanics for actually getting the investigators to those moments of horrifying revelation; being intrigued by Monster of the Week’s juxtaposition of both normal and supernatural PCs (for horror and/or comedy), but finding its lack of character options and reliance on genre tropes a hindrance; being unable to find anything that would be good for a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. inspired TTRPG campaign. We eventually found the OSR movement and AD&D1e and 2e to be far closer to what we wanted on the medieval fantasy front, but we still had nothing on the modern horror or urban fantasy front, and Shadowrun is… Shadowrun.

So, with around 20 years of TTRPG experience between us, we set out to make the game we wanted a reality.

The story of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy’s creation really starts in late 2021, when Brandon asked me to help playtest a very early rough draft of an investigative horror game he thought up. Living isolated, impoverished, and unable to find work in England at the time, I readily agreed. Noticing that the game didn’t have a combat system and desperate to set my mind to something constructive in between tedious job applications, I offered to write a combat system for it. I soon had to use the last of my money to move back home to Louisiana where I eventually did find work despite a variety of health issues, and continued to work on Eureka as a system for our personal use.

As 2023 drew near, it became clear that my current job wasn’t going to be a permanent career, and I needed a fall back plan. Work towards making Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy a professional release began in earnest, with Brandon and I founding A.N.I.M. a few months later. It was initially set to go to Kickstarter in April of 2023, then May, then June, but each time we realized it just wasn’t ready. No one had ever heard of us, and we wanted to break into an industry and customer base increasingly financially hostile to any TTRPG that wasn’t D&D5e compatible. We needed to build an audience, and build a greater appreciation for independent and small-budget TTRPGs within the community at large.

Thanks to some assistance from one of the team members from Tuesday Knight Games (makers of Motherhship), the first beta copies went public in September of 2023 to a splash of instant (relative) success, and the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club was founded on Discord two months later, a community dedicated to buying, playing, and analyzing less well-known TTRPGs - which includes almost everything except Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.

Ash became friends with us through the book club, and after offering an increasing amount of assistance, joined the team proper in January of 2024, adding much needed copy-editing skills as well as another 15 years cumulative TTRPG experience.

The Kickstarter campaign for Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy launched on April 10th, 2024, was fully funded within 3 hours, and by the end of the campaign had reached a total of $15,455, 486% of the goal. That is where we are at now, working every day to put the finishing touches on the game and complete the stretch goals to the best of our ability before our tentative deadline of January 2025.

This is a far more ambitious project than a super-small team like ours should have attempted for our debut game, but with a mix of talent, luck, skill, and a whole lot of help, we have somehow managed to pull it off. We think the resulting game is a deep, robust, professional-quality TTRPG that provides a one-stop shop and extensive toolbox for any investigative or mystery game you’d like to run. A dark and moody noir, a classical British whodunnit, the lighthearted sleuthing hijinks of Scooby-Doo, Eureka does it all. (You can also get the latest PDF for FREE for a limited time by joining the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club!)

Elegantly designed and thoroughly playtested, Eureka represents the culmination of three years of near-daily work from our team, as well as a lot of our own money. If you’re just now reading this and learning about Eureka for the first time, you missed the crowdfunding window unfortunately, but our Kickstarter page is still the best place to learn more about what Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy actually is, as that is where we have all the fancy art assets, the animated trailer, links to video reviews by podcasts and youtubers, and where we post regular updates on the status of our progress finishing the game and getting it ready for final release.

Beta Copies through the Patreon

If you want more than just status updates, going forward you can download regularly updated playable beta versions of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy and it’s adventure modules by subscribing to our Patreon at the $5 tier or higher. Subscribing to our patreon also grants you access to our patreon discord server where you can talk to us directly and offer valuable feedback on our progress and projects.

The A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club

If you would like to meet the A.N.I.M. team and even have a chance to play Eureka with us, you can join the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club discord server. It’s also just a great place to talk and discuss TTRPGs, so there is no schedule obligation, but the main purpose of it is to nominate, vote on, then read, discuss, and play different indie TTRPGs. We put playgroups together based on scheduling compatibility, so it’s all extremely flexible. This is a free discord server, separate from our patreon exclusive one. https://discord.gg/7jdP8FBPes

Other Stuff

We also have a ko-fi and merchandise if you just wanna give us more money for any reason.

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dandelionsresilience · 6 months ago

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Dandelion News - October 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. Arctic ozone reaches record high in positive step for climate

“Above-average ozone levels continued to persist through September 2024. This is significant as, previously, spring has been associated with ozone depletion[….] The March 2024 ozone average peaked at 477 Dobson units (DU), which is 6 DU higher than the previous record in March 1979 and 60 DU higher than the average for the study period (1979 to 2023).”

2. Why Massachusetts loves Nibi the beaver and [won the fight] to keep her out of the wild

“Nibi, now 2 years old, is roughly the age when wild beavers embark on their journey to find a mate and build a home. [… But] if Nibi is released in October, she would be ill-prepared for the winter[…. The governor has] issued a permit for Nibi to remain at a wildlife rescue as an educational beaver and inspire folks to protect our natural world."”

3. In Madagascar, Taniala Regenerative Camp aims to heal deforestation scars

“Residents of the villages around Lambokely manage the nursery and market garden crops. “Local communities receive training in agroecology and agroforestry, benefit from improved soil fertility, and earn additional income from intercropping in the agroforestry plots. In addition, community members are incentivized to participate in tree-planting activities.””

4. Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Breaks Ground on $6.4 Million Affordable Housing Project

“The project’s first phase will create three-bedroom homes designed for multiple purposes, including elderly housing, emergency shelter, and support for displaced and low-income Tribal citizens. These homes will be built to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, ensuring accessibility for all.”

5. Scientists say painting roofs this colour could save lives: How does it keep cities cool?

“[Researchers] found that cool, light-coloured roofs installed across all of London’s roofs could have cooled the city by around 0.8C [in 2018]. [… Solar panels] could have cooled the city by around 0.3C, preventing the deaths of 96 people [… while generating] more than half the energy [used by] London during the entire year of 2018.”

6. Travis County [TX] opens center to help keep people experiencing a mental health crisis out of jail

“The walk-in urgent care facility is open 24/7 and provides immediate support for people experiencing mental health crises. From there, some patients may be referred to a residential facility[… where] patients will be able to stay for up to 90 days[….] Jailed individuals may also work with their legal teams to coordinate admission to the facility.”

7. Spain’s first transgender soccer team makes debut in regional men’s league

“A soccer team consisting entirely of transgender men has[…] become the first all-trans squad to achieve federated status in Europe. […] Spain passed a pioneering trans rights bill last year designed to make it easier to change a person’s legal gender identity. […] Players may also choose to use a name that’s different from their legal one[….]”

8. Green Status of Species: Pushing Conservation Ambitions Beyond Preventing Extinction

“[… T]he Green Status of Species [is] a new part of Red List assessments that helps tell “a species’ full conservation story.” […] In addition to quantifying species recovery, the Green Status of Species […] will help to better inform future conservation actions by shedding light on which past actions have contributed most to species recovery.”

9. Hell froze over in Texas – the state will connect to the US grid for the first time via a fed grant

“[The projects will] boost grid reliability, lower energy costs, and support the clean energy transition. […] They’ll also generate nearly 9,000 jobs, supporting local economies[…. In particular, the Texas portion is] designed to prevent outages like the ones during Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas hard in 2021.”

10. Pine martens released to be reintroduced to Devon

“Work to release 15 pine martens into woods across Dartmoor has been completed[….] The eight females and seven males have all been fitted with a radio collars to allow their movements to be tracked. […] They were kept in soft-release pens for three days to get them used to their surroundings before being allowed to run wild, staff said.”

September 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

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tomorrowusa · 4 months ago

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A reminder: Get up to date with your vaccines before January 20th.

In a taste of things to come, Louisiana has apparently forbidden public health workers from promoting vaccines – even flu vaccines.

While they are not outlawing vaccines outright, the Louisiana GOP state government doesn't want citizens of the state to know that vaccines are available.

As with other states, people are still dying of COVID-19 in Louisiana. Flu is also taking its toll.

If RFK Jr. is confirmed as HHS secretary, we can see practices like this becoming federalized.

"It's reckless," said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University. "I think it's a sign of what is about to happen under the second Trump administration." If U.S. senators confirm Kennedy to run HHS, he said, "we're going to see the fomenting of public distrust of vaccines so we lose precious herd immunity, and we're going to see major outbreaks of disease that are fully preventable over the next four years."

#vaccines #vaccinations #public health #louisiana #louisiana department of health #anti-vaxxers #rfk jr.#republicans #donald trump #covid-19 #influenza #mpox

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embodiedfutures · 2 years ago

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Hey! Better Future Program, Inc. (BFP) is officially looking for youth volunteers between the ages of 14 and 25 for our Administrative Staff! If you don't see a role that fits your interests, don't worry, we've got more positions listed in our Linktree!

And if you don't know who we are? Welcome! BFP is Black-, queer-, and woman-owned nonprofit, entirely run by youth! Since 2016, we've been accepting volunteers not just from Bulbancha (so-called New Orleans, Louisiana), but WORLDWIDE! Our mission is to globally expand peer-led political education, support, and imagination for marginalized youth!

To fulfill this goal, we offer over 3,000 free resources through our Liberation Library, design and execute mutual aid-based projects, and offer the safe space young activists need to ask questions and grow. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, check out our International Youth Leadership Positions page in our bio!

Image description below.

[ID: All slides share the same background. There is a repeating list of BFP's guiding principles and core beliefs in translucent, all-white, capitalized letters. BFP's guiding principles include youth-centricity, self-liberation, transparency, accountability, horizontality, community, and intersectionality. BFP's core beliefs include the right to organize, educational equity, youth liberation, anti-racism, religious liberty, disability justice, climate action, decolonization, gender equity, queer/LGBTQ+ liberation, bodily autonomy, fat liberation, abolition, caste abolition, anti-authoritarianism, and anti-capitalism. A lime green to sky blue gradient overlays this list. A bold, white square frames the image with a white arrow pointing right in the bottom right corner.

Slide 1 reads: “LINK IN BIO. APPLY NOW! INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP POSITIONS! REMOTE & IN-PERSON.” There is a BFP logo in the lefthand corner and the words “Part One” in the righthand corner, as this is the first of multiple posts showcasing open leadership positions.

Slide 2 reads: “Administrative Staff: Executive Assistants.

Responsibilities Include:

Co-facilitate communication and decision-making across volunteer committees

Note-taking during Zoom and Discord meetings on Notion

Interview and evaluate potential BFP applicants

Host virtual orientations for incoming youth volunteers

Time Commitment:

Other than our weekly 1.5-2 hr meeting, usually on Sundays, you're free to design your schedule around your tasks!

Requirements/Eligibility:

BFP prioritizes the leadership of marginalized communities. Tap the International Leadership Positions page in our Linktr.ee for more information! Link in bio @bfpnola :)" Slide 3 reads: "Administrative Staff: Communications Coordinators.

Responsibilities Include:

Develop and execute advertising campaigns

Manage BFP social media accounts (ex. Threads)

Establish brand recognition and awareness

Help design and distribute custom BFP merchandise

Plan and execute promotional events

Time Commitment:

Other than our weekly 1.5-2 hr meeting, usually on Sundays, you're free to design your schedule around your tasks!

Requirements/Eligibility:

BFP prioritizes the leadership of marginalized communities. Tap the International Leadership Positions page in our Linktr.ee for more information! Link in bio @bfpnola :)" Slide 4 reads: "Administrative Staff: Health Coordinators.

Responsibilities Include:

Develop and implement wellness and community bonding workshops for both volunteers & supporters

Provide resources and peer support to marginalized youth

Assess the successes and failures of our workload balance to prioritize the health of our volunteers, and develop alternatives with the help of our Chief Health Officer

Time Commitment:

Other than our weekly 1.5-2 hr meeting, usually on Sundays, you're free to design your schedule around your tasks!

Requirements/Eligibility:

BFP prioritizes the leadership of marginalized communities. Tap the International Leadership Positions page in our Linktr.ee for more information! Link in bio @bfpnola :)" Slide 5 reads: "Administrative Staff: Assistant Fundraising Managers.

Responsibilities Include:

Ensure that philanthropy and fundraising are kept consistent with our core values & beliefs

Develop and execute creative fundraising campaigns

Manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors

Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and laws concerning giving

Time Commitment:

Other than our weekly 1.5-2 hr meeting, usually on Sundays, you're free to design your schedule around your tasks!

Requirements/Eligibility:

BFP prioritizes the leadership of marginalized communities. Tap the International Leadership Positions page in our Linktr.ee for more information! Link in bio @bfpnola :)"

/End ID.]

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dailyanarchistposts · 7 months ago

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Another Present is Possible

These examples of events in the recent past give us a terrifying image if we extrapolate them into the future. Assuming they will only intensify with climate change they in no way show us the collapse of civilization as we know it - i.e. a world order of economic and political inequality (inside and between nations), domination and exclusion. On the contrary, this "realist" model shows us that it is not the collapse of order we need to fear but its continuation. But the picture I have presented of the present is only partial and therefore misleading. In recent years we have seen many other social reactions to disasters which point towards a completely different future.

During Hurricane Katrina thousands of volunteer activists arrived in New Orleans, not to distribute charity but to offer their solidarity. They helped the communities who were already coming together to set up local information centers where people could find their loved ones, offer their skills, leave or take supplies, etc. The same happened during the other disasters mentioned here. This spontaneous "disaster communism" or "disaster anarchism" has a long history: when the imposed order of the state and capital retreats people rarely react the way Leviathan assumes - when people find themselves in shared circumstances they are at least as likely to start helping each other as they are to start fighting.[54] A crucial difference over the recent years is that it is no longer spontaneous: communities are learning from past events are preparing for the next; they are practicing the skills required and building communities and networks that prepare them for the future by changing how they relate to each other in the present.

This is about more than surviving during a disaster. In New Orleans the organizations Common Ground Relief and the Common Ground Health Clinic were established to provide immediate relief and mutual aid, but they continue to this day long after the disaster as community led organizations for social justice and self-management. They are now part of the growing network Mutual Aid Disaster Relief which help communities prepare for disasters before they happen, using principles of mutual aid and self-empowerment instead of dependence-creating, top-down "charity."

During Hurricane Sandy in New York, thousands of volunteers came together to organize the relief effort. Their efforts were helped by existing networks of communication and trust established during the Occupy Wall Street protests. The movement Occupy Sandy organized around 60,000 volunteers in an effective relief effort that outperformed both the Red Cross and the government agency FEMA.[55] A report from the Department of Homeland Security praised the decentralized, horizontal and transparent model: "We can learn lessons from Occupy Sandy's successes to ensure a ready and resilient nation."[56]

When the state's branch of repression has such praise for decentralized structures there is reason to be weary of co-optation. Governments could use the potential for community self-organizing to justify neoliberal austerity policies. But since top-down government "rebuilding" efforts have also been used to implement neoliberal policies this is only a reason to further insist on strengthening and radicalizing the grass roots movement and combining the emergency relief and post-disaster rebuilding with an egalitarian anti-capitalist practice. The activists in Occupy Sandy had seen what happened after New Orleans and were from the beginning focused on preventing and resisting the gentrification that often follows with the recovery process.

Furthermore, these movements are not merely reacting to emergencies, trying to survive in the disaster. They are also engaged in climate mitigation by focusing on the environmental surroundings of their communities. Common Ground in Louisiana runs a program for wetlands restoration which is necessary for mitigating the effects of climate change (the wetlands protect against hurricanes and land-loss) and play a part in reducing climate change (by storing CO2). Most importantly though, these movements are building new praxises and social relations that are necessary parts of a different social order beyond capitalism and the Leviathan.

This is not political idealism as in the opposite of "realism" - I have again merely pointed out things that actually exist in the real world and many more examples could be given from many other parts of the globe. As Martin Buber noted,[57] all societies contain to some degree both the "political principle" (organization characterized by domination) and the "social principle" (association based on common needs) and any realistic analysis would be lacking if it merely focused on one, not merely because it would miss part of reality but because it would affect our actions and thus shape reality. The two narratives give us radically different affective states and have the potential to shape our ideals for the future and our capacities in the present. Both principles will likely be intensified with climate change; which one will be stronger depends on what we do.

The movements described may not today be big enough to replace the system in its entirety and stop climate change but they do provide us with a lived and "concrete utopia"[58] which can give us the hope and trust necessary to break the paralysis caused by an overpowering fear of climate induced societal apocalypse. They show us that it is not the breakdown of the current order we need to fear. If we are to avoid climate catastrophe the social order must be radically changed. Communities and movements like these are part of determining the direction of that change - they allow us to prepare for the future by changing the present, thereby expanding our collective imagination of what is possible. Their most important function might be to dispel the Hobbesian fantasy.

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nursingwriter · 12 days ago

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¶ … Technologies Involved in Telemedicine and Its Role in Future Medicine TELEMEDICINE Issues in Telemedicine The Institute of Telemedicine defined telemedicine as the "use of electronic information and communications technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants." (Field, 1996.) Telemedicine were established almost 40 years ago, but the technology has grown considerably in the past decade. This paper will discuss the benefits, challenges, and technologies involved in telemedicine and its role in future medicine. Benefits Telemarketing benefits are as follows: 1): Telemedicine can provide and improve access to health care in previously un-served or under-served areas; 2) Telemedicine allows the consultation to take place among the referring physician, the consulting physician, the patient, and the patient's family through interactive video with critical information of the patient available online; and 3) The travel cost of the patients for specialty care, the travel cost for health care professionals for continuing education or consultation, the personnel / equipment cost for not having to keep specialty care facility in rural hospitals, and other costs can be either eliminated or reduced. (Grisby & Sanders, 1998) Patients 1. Populations Served Populations that telemedicine serves include the following: rural populations, urban underserved populations, for example, the homeless or inner city; the homebound; the elderly; institutionalized populations; military personnel; trauma patients, and international customers Some of these categories overlap. For example, many of the homebound are elderly people living in rural areas. (Bower, 1998) B. Healthcare providers number of major metropolitan medical centers offer telemedicine services to rural clinics as well as to hospitals overseas. A number of major medical centers have established telemedicine facilities to extend their expertise beyond the campus. C. Payers Most people have health insurance paid for partly or entirely by their employers, and many others have individual insurance policies. The corporate health plan may be fee-for-service or managed care. The policy specifies what services are covered and reimbursable. The elderly have Medicare, a form of health insurance provided by the federal government. The poor are eligible for Medicaid, a cooperative program of the federal government and the states. II. Challenges A. Acceptance. Physicians have taken to it also, and professional associations such American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association have endorsed it. They find videoconferencing a boon even for ordinary meetings; rather than spending a whole day and fighting traffic for a one-hour weekly meeting, they can attend meeting simply by walking down the hall to the conference room, or even with a personal video conferencing system on their desktops. Many radiologists, for example, even have computer imaging equipment installed in their homes so that they can do readings while at home. For example, in a trial project at the Pregnancy Institute in Louisiana also laid to rest concerns about acceptance. Patients and their families get nervous without the presence of the physician; the telemedicine station put them at ease by enabling them to maintain real-time contact with the doctor throughout the labor. (Automation: Starting Small, LA Organizers Hope Telemedicine Will Boost Access to Care, "1996). B. Training/Education. Telemedicine provides a peer and specialist contact for patient consultations and continuing education. For consultations between colleagues and between patients and physicians, it has been found that color, full motion video is critical as it creates a simulated face-to-face communication where verbal and visual communication. Also, the physicians or other personnel at remote locations can be educated during the consultations with specialty physicians and other experts, increasing their ability to treat other similar cases in the future. C. Legal Issues 1. Federal/OIG Legislation. Since the 1960's, the federal government has supported the development of telemedicine through grants, contracts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense budget line items that total several hundred million dollars. Several agencies provide support and their representatives (Bowers, 1998) 2. State Legislation Several states have passed legislation mandating private payer reimbursement of telemedicine services. These states include: Louisiana, California, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kentucky. More private insurers are funding limited telemedicine coverage in certain states. For example, the California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board awarded $1.8 million to Blue Cross California to expand their telemedicine technology and help to encourage expansion of telehealth services. Blue Cross plans to use the money to help serve the medically underserved populations and provide equipment and support to 22 new telemedicine sites in 18 counties. (Telemedicine Reimbursement Report, 2003 3. Medical Errors. Some providers are concerned that the use of telemedicine may increase their risk (for example, a technical failure) could lead to an adverse patient outcome, or telemedicine could provide an image of inferior quality that hinders a physician's ability to make an accurate diagnosis. Interactive video may be used with narrower bandwidths if data compression algorithms are used, but the images are sometimes too jerky to permit resolution of detail or subtle movements and this can cause problems (Grisby & Sanders, 1998) 4. Malpractice. One of the impediments to the growth of telemedicine applications is liability and malpractice (Granade, 1995). Conversely, some physicians are concerned that if the use of telemedicine provide high-quality medical care, that they might be liable for failure to use it. The situation is compounded by interstate variability in the handling of malpractice claims. Because no one has been sued yet for malpractice related to telemedicine, it is possible to assess the validity of these concerns. III. Technologies A. Reliability, performance, quality Healthcare professionals have been concerned about the technicalreliability of equipment employed in telemedicine, particularly when real-timeobservation and monitoring are required. Through hard use of equipment, thetechnology has proved itself to be highly reliable, and confidence in it isincreasing.Complementing the performance and reliability of the equipment arethe customer service and support that the vendors provide. Vendors offerdesign and installation, maintenance and training, service and on-site repair, and may even take the responsibility of network operation. B. Image/data transmission The concept of a telemedicine system is very simple: 1)• Video conferencing system and Imaging/diagnostic peripherals to gather data from a patient; • Computer hardware and software to record data; • Communications lines to send the data from one location to another; Auxiliary equipment may be employed to exchange information electronically, such as graphics stands, facsimile machines, and telewriters, so that the participants can clarify points of the discussion by exchanging documents or other material. In addition, with medical peripherals such as electronic stethoscopes, dermascopes, otoscopes, etc., close-up images of body areas and even internal organs can be transmitted. C. Applications 1. Clinical healthcare delivery. The clinical applications of telemedicine are even more varied than the technologies, although considerable attention has been focused on the application of interactive video for specialty and subspecialty consultation in rural areas. The generic interactive video telemedicine system typically uses a fixed, studio-type video equipment to link a rural facility with an urban tertiary care center. Almost every clinical specialty has used telemedicine in some ways, although some have used it more than others have. Radiologists, for example, have embraced the technology on a large scale. Cardiologists, dermatologists, and psychiatrists long have been the clinical specialists most actively involved in telemedicine. The reasons for this are unclear, but this distribution may represent a kind of "founder's effect" because physicians practicing these specialties were among the clinicians to first become involved with telemedicine. 2. Image/data readings. When a physician examines a patient, the process generally includes taking the patient history and conducting a physical examination, and perhaps an electrocardiogram and x-rays. The physical examination includes auscultation (listening to sounds emanating from the body's organs such as heart, lungs, and gastric system) with a stethoscope, looking at the skin, checking the eyes with an ophthalmoscope, examining ears, nose and throat (ENT), and perhaps employing various instruments for invasive examination (e.g., laparoscope, sigmoidoscope, colonoscope, gastroscope, rhinolaryngofiberscope). All of these things can be accomplished via telemedicine. 3. Teleconsultation. One of the most important applications of telemedicine is teleconsulting. Consultants communicate with patients and often with their primary care providers in an interactive situation. The precise configuration of these networks varies, ranging from a single source of referrals (for example, a rural community hospital) and a single source of consultants (such as academic medical center) to complex "hub-and-spoke" networks involving many referring and consulting facilities. IV. Information Management A. Confidentiality Confidentiality problems that may arise include the inappropriate disclosure of individual patient information to persons who are unauthorized to receive it. Disclosure of information about a specific patient maybe be as likely with electronic records as with conventional paper records. Certain types of disclosure, such as the sale of lists of individual patients with a specific diagnosis to marketer, mailing-list brokers, or insurance salespersons, may be facilitated by the use of electronic databases. Access to electronic records must be carefully restricted to those who have must have access to provide care. Even encryption and firewalls may be only temporary barriers to a person motivated to obtain unauthorized care. (Gilbert. 1995) B. Privacy and HIPAA In 1996, Congress sought to streamline electronic medical record systems while protecting patients, improving health care efficiency, and reducing fraud and abuse. Passing Congress with bipartisan support, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, Public Law 104-191) became the legislative vehicle to address those issues. Your health information cannot be used or shared without your written permission unless this law allows it. Because telemedicine allows medical information to be sent anywhere in the world, there is a possibility that protected patient information may fall into unauthorized hands. For example, the information could be sent to the wrong addressor left out on the telemedicine desk for unauthorized personnel to look at. Extra security must be built into the telemedicine system to prevent information falling into the wrong hands. V. Reimbursement The absence of consistent, comprehensive reimbursement policies is often cited as one of the most serious obstacles to total integration of telemedicine into health care practice. This lack of an overall telemedicine reimbursement policy reflects the multiplicity of payment sources and policies within the current United States health care system. A. Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement Partial Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services was authorized in the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997. The narrow scope of this reimbursement prompted efforts towards expansion and revision of the Medicare reimbursement regulations. The Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) included amendments to the Social Security Act and removed some of the prior constraints, yet maintained substantial limitations related to geographic location, originating sites, and eligible telehealth services. Unlike Medicare, most state Medicaid programs provide reimbursement for health care-related transportation costs. A number of states with telemedicine programs entered into collaboration with state Medicaid programs to develop telemedicine reimbursement policies, often with the anticipation that telemedicine could offer transportation cost savings. Currently, 27 state Medicaid programs acknowledge at least some reimbursement for telehealth services. B. General Reimbursement Another barrier to the expansion of telemedicine is a lack of reimbursement for services from private insurance providers. In addition to Medicare and Medicaid payments for telemedicine, several Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans, as well as other private insurers, pay for telemedicine services. The telehealth market operates on the assumption that private payers do not pay for telemedicine and will resist any kind of claims if asked. However, AMD Telemedicine conducted a survey that found that there is a critical mass for private payer reimbursement. According to their findings, 38 programs in 25 states currently receive reimbursements from private payers. Three programs receive reimbursement for store and forward, and seven programs receive reimbursement for facility fees. While the market assumption is that private payers do not reimburse for telemedicine, in reality over 100 private payers currently reimburse for telemedicine. As with Medicaid, regulations for telemedicine reimbursement by private insurers are set by the states. Five states have enacted laws requiring that services provided via telemedicine must be reimbursed if the same service would be reimbursed when provided in person. Some insurance programs cover specific telehealth services, e.g., behavioral health. Even in the absence of a definitive policy, some insurers and Medicaid agencies will reimburse for telemedicine services as long as the rationale for using telemedicine is justified to the agency's satisfaction. State waivers or special programs offering remote diagnostics, remote monitoring for specific disease entities or for particular populations, allow additional coverage of telemedicine services. A few states simply pay claims regardless of whether the encounter was in person or via telemedicine. C. Cost Even a few years ago, however, a console video conferencing system cost approximately $100,000, but now the cost has decreased due to the availability and lower cost of components, including the increased use of very large scale integration semiconductor technology. In recent years, entry-level systems were introduced that brought the cost down to about $30,000 for a rollabout console, and recently new compact systems have been introduced that begin at under $10,000. Now desktop systems are coming to the fore, which can cost only a few thousand dollars. (Grisby & Sanders, 1998) D. Funding/Financing Federal agencies, state governments, and other organizations fund telemedicine programs. However, more and more, hospitals and other private institutions are designing telemedicine programs and facilities to be selfsustaining.The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) identified nine federal departments and independent agencies that invested a total of at least$646 million in telemedicine projects from fiscal years 1994 to 1996. State-supported telemedicine initiatives are growing. Frequently a program combines federal funds with funding from state governments and/or other organizations, such as the UT South Texas program and the Missouri Telemedicine Network. The private sector is also involved in funding telemedicine programs. The Missouri Telemedicine Network, for example, is a public-private partnership. In addition to money, companies may contribute equipment or telecommunications. A problem arises when telemedicine projects are funded from external sources. If the funding is withdrawn, the project often falls by the wayside. Many telemedicine projects have been effective and satisfied the users, but the project could not be sustained when funding was withdrawn. (Bowers, 1998) VI. Licensure A. Credentialing and Privileging Licensure is regulated by the individual states and bill have been introduced or passed in some states that limit the intestate practice of medicine through telemedicine. Examinations assessing the competence of physicians are conducted using national standards, and patient outcome studies are conducted and practice standard guidelines are being developed on a national level. State licensure -- considered archaic by many -- will continue to delay the spread of telemedicine. (Shannon, 1997).Also, there is the problem of the accredition of telemedicine program by JCAHO.. JCAHO (Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Organizations) evaluates the quality and safety of care for more than 15,000 health care organizations. To maintain and earn accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of Joint Commission health care professionals, at least once every three years. B. Medical Records Widespread implementation of telemedicine raises issues about the security of medical records. The present system of medical records is already insecure, but there are additional concerns about the ability of the electronic medical record to maintain an adequate level of security. In general, electronic records are probably more secure than paper-based charts, although a possible breach of security may mean that more unauthorized persons can gain access to the data. VII. Summary and Conclusions: Telemedicine eliminates distance as a factor in receiving medical care by allowing a patient to stay close to home while receiving the quality of care to which they would usually have to travel large distances in order to receive. Although there are many policy issues that need to be solved (for example, reimbursement, assuring the privacy of information, and malpractice), telemedicine has proven itself effective in serving traditional underserved medical population and reducing the medical costs involved in serving these populations. References Bower, L. L (1998) Strategic Directions InTelemedicine. MegaTech Resources:Dallas, TX. Field, M.J. Telemedicine: a guide to assessing telecommunications in health care. Washington, D.C.:: National Academy Pr, 1996. Granade, P.F. Malpractice Issues in the practice of telemedicine. Telemed Journal 3: 269-96. Grisby, J. And Sanders, J.H. (1998) Telemedicine: Where it is and where it is going. Ann Intern Med, 129: 123-127. HIPAA's Privacy Rule Summarized: What Does It Mean For Telemedicine? Retreived February 3, 2005 from http://telehealth.hrsa.gov/licen/index.htm Other Benefits of Telemedicine." (n.d). Retrived February 3, 2005 from. http://www.ncjrs.org/telemedicine/c4.html Provider Automation: Starting Small, LA Organizers Hope TelemedicineWill Boost Access to Care," (1996).iHealth Data Network News, Special Reprint, November 20, 1996. Telemedicine reimbursement report" (2003). Retrieved February 3, 2005 from Isssues in Telemedicine Read the full article

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market-research-report-arizton · 1 month ago

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The Evolving Landscape of Pharmacy Benefit Management in the U.S.

The U.S. pharmacy benefit management market continues to transform the healthcare landscape, influencing how Americans access and afford prescription medications. With projections showing growth from $491.88 billion in 2023 to $680.73 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 5.56%, this sector represents one of the most significant components of America's healthcare system.

Know More: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/pharmacy-benefit-management-market-in-united-states

Market Drivers: Why PBMs Matter More Than Ever

Several factors are fueling the expansion of the U.S. pharmacy benefit management market. The aging baby boomer population, increasing healthcare expenditure, and rising prevalence of chronic conditions like heart disease have created greater demand for medication management services. Additionally, specialty pharmacies have experienced remarkable growth, as they provide comprehensive support services including medication management and patient education for those with complex conditions.

Pharmacy benefit trends indicate a move toward more innovative approaches as the industry adapts to changing healthcare needs. For instance, 58% of payers had entered outcomes-based contracts as of 2022, demonstrating the industry's shift toward value-based care models.

Regional Market Insights

The South dominates the U.S. pharmacy benefit management services market, accounting for over 29% of the market share in 2023. States like Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and Louisiana have high percentages of insured residents, with approximately 90% of the total population covered by government or non-government insurance.

The Midwest region also holds a significant portion of the U.S. pharmacy benefit management market, with Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin leading in insurance coverage rates. Minnesota's Medical Assistance program serves as a prime example of comprehensive healthcare coverage in the region.

Emerging Pharmacy Benefit Trends

Innovative Pricing Strategies

One of the most notable pharmacy benefit trends is the evolution of pricing strategies. To counter high specialty drug prices, PBMs are increasingly adopting outcomes-based contracting models. This approach ties payment to the effectiveness of medications, potentially reducing costs while improving patient outcomes.

Another emerging trend involves advanced utilization management tools. By leveraging technology to optimize medication use, PBMs can identify cost-saving opportunities while enhancing patient care and adherence.

Real-Time Performance Optimization

Plan sponsors in the U.S. pharmacy benefit management market are seeking better understanding of PBM contracts while implementing new data analytics solutions. According to Milliman, identifying areas for improvement within PBM contracts can significantly reduce pharmacy program costs without altering members' benefits.

Real-time performance optimization represents one of the most transformative pharmacy benefit trends, as it enables more responsive and efficient management of prescription benefits. By incorporating AI and automation tools, PBMs can make more informed decisions and improve overall plan performance.

Market Segmentation

By Health Plan

Commercial health plans dominate the U.S. pharmacy benefit management market, with approximately 66% of Americans having commercial health insurance, primarily through employers. Preferred provider organizations (PPOs) remain the most common type of health plan.

However, Medicare plans represent the fastest-growing segment, driven by shifts toward virtual care delivery, increased home care options, and the adoption of value-based care models.

By Business Model

Insurance companies and retail pharmacies hold the largest share of the U.S. pharmacy benefit management services market. Major players like CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, Walmart, Kroger, and Rite Aid accounted for 70% of U.S. prescription dispensing revenues in 2022.

Independent PBMs like MedImpact, Navitus, and PerformRx are also gaining ground as plan sponsors increasingly seek direct contracts to manage high drug costs.

By Service

Specialty pharmacy services represent the largest segment of the U.S. pharmacy benefit management market. This growth stems from new medications entering the pipeline, expanded treatment indications, and increasing chronic condition diagnoses.

Claims processing is projected to be the fastest-growing service segment, as plan sponsors recognize the importance of verifying accurate claims adjudication according to plan specifications and contractual agreements.

Key Market Players

The U.S. pharmacy benefit management market is dominated by several key players, including CVS Health, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, Prime Therapeutics, MedImpact, and Humana Pharmacy Solutions. However, new entrants continue to challenge established companies, creating a more competitive landscape.

CVS Health stands out as a leader in the U.S. pharmacy benefit management services market, offering comprehensive healthcare and retail pharmacy services alongside PBM solutions, disease management services, and prescription drug plans.

Looking Ahead

As pharmacy benefit trends continue to evolve, the U.S. pharmacy benefit management market will likely face increased scrutiny and competition. Consumer pressure, political attention, legal challenges, and innovative new players are reshaping the industry landscape.

For stakeholders in this space, staying ahead of emerging pharmacy benefit trends and adapting to changing market conditions will be essential for success in this dynamic sector. Those who can leverage data analytics, embrace value-based care models, and improve patient outcomes will be well-positioned for growth in the expanding U.S. pharmacy benefit management market.

#U.S. pharmacy benefit management market #pharmacy benefit trends #U.S. pharmacy benefit management services market

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batonrougeinformatiques · 1 month ago

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Hurricane Season in Baton Rouge: How to Stay Prepared

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is no stranger to the challenges posed by hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30 each year. The city's geographical location makes it susceptible to tropical storms and hurricanes that can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure. Understanding the history of such events and implementing effective preparedness strategies are crucial for residents and businesses alike.

Historical Impact of Hurricanes on Baton Rouge

Over the years, Baton Rouge has experienced several hurricanes that have left lasting impacts on the community. One notable example is Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which, while causing catastrophic damage primarily in New Orleans, also affected Baton Rouge. The city saw an influx of evacuees, leading to increased demand for housing and services. Additionally, Baton Rouge experienced power outages and infrastructure strain during this period.

In 2010, the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie brought heavy rainfall to West Baton Rouge Parish, resulting in the flooding of over 100 homes and the destruction of 20 bridges and roads.

These events highlight the importance of being prepared for both the direct and indirect effects of hurricanes.

Government Initiatives and Policies in Baton Rouge

The local government of Baton Rouge has implemented several initiatives to enhance hurricane preparedness and response:

Red Stick Ready Program: This initiative provides residents with resources and information to prepare for emergencies, including hurricanes. The program emphasizes staying informed, having an emergency kit, and creating a family communication plan. Residents are encouraged to download the Red Stick Ready app for real-time updates and tips.

Emergency Preparedness Guides: The East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority offers essential tips for hurricane preparedness, such as securing property, understanding evacuation routes, and staying informed through official channels.

Collaboration with State Agencies: The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) works closely with local authorities to ensure coordinated responses during hurricane season. GOHSEP emphasizes the importance of having an emergency game plan, especially during the peak months of the season.

Expert Recommendations for Hurricane Preparedness

Experts in emergency management and disaster preparedness offer several recommendations to mitigate the risks associated with hurricanes:

Develop a Comprehensive Emergency Plan: Residents should create a detailed plan that includes evacuation routes, communication strategies, and designated meeting points. This plan should be reviewed and practiced regularly to ensure all family members are familiar with it.

Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit: A well-stocked kit should contain essentials such as water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, and important documents. It's advisable to have enough supplies to last at least 72 hours.

Secure Property and Structures: Homeowners should take measures to protect their properties, such as installing storm shutters, reinforcing garage doors, and trimming trees to prevent branches from causing damage during high winds.

Stay Informed: Utilizing local resources like the Red Stick Ready app and following official social media channels can provide timely updates on weather conditions, evacuation orders, and shelter locations.

Review Insurance Policies: Understanding the specifics of homeowner’s insurance policies, especially regarding wind and flood damage, is crucial. Residents should ensure they have adequate coverage and are aware of the claims process.

Prepare for Post-Storm Hazards: After a hurricane, risks such as mold growth due to water damage can pose health threats. It's essential to address moisture issues promptly and consult professionals for remediation if necessary.

Conclusion

Hurricane season in Baton Rouge requires vigilance, preparation, and community collaboration. By learning from past events, adhering to government guidelines, and implementing expert recommendations, residents can enhance their resilience against future storms. Staying informed, prepared, and proactive is the key to safeguarding lives and property during these natural events.

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Haywood Roofing

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At Haywood Roofing, we specialize in high-quality roof repairs, replacements, and inspections to protect your home or business. As the go-to roofing company Baton Rouge homeowners rely on, we deliver expert craftsmanship and durable materials for long-lasting results.

About us:

At Haywood Roofing, we proudly offer top-quality commercial and residential roofing repair services to the communities of Denham Springs and Baton Rouge, LA. With years of experience and a commitment to excellence, we’ve built a reputation as the go-to roofing experts for homes and businesses alike.

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nadrehabtherapycovington · 2 months ago

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Covington Addiction Treatment: Your Path to Recovery Starts Here

Addiction is a powerful force that can take control of a person’s life, but the good news is that recovery is possible. In Covington, Louisiana, there are a variety of addiction treatment options that can help individuals reclaim their lives, offering the support and resources necessary to break free from the cycle of substance use. Whether you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, Covington’s treatment centers provide a holistic approach to recovery, addressing the root causes of addiction and offering a path to long-lasting healing. Click here for more information covington addiction treatment

1. Personalized Care for Every Individual

One of the most important aspects of addiction treatment in Covington is the personalized care offered to each person. Addiction affects everyone differently, which is why treatment plans are tailored to address the unique needs of the individual. Every treatment center in Covington understands that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Personalized care is key to long-term success.

From the moment a person enters treatment, they are assessed to determine the best course of action for their recovery. This includes creating a customized treatment plan that takes into account not just the addiction itself, but also any underlying mental health issues, trauma, or environmental factors that may have contributed to the substance use. By addressing these factors head-on, treatment becomes more effective and helps individuals begin to heal on a deeper level.

2. A Comprehensive Approach to Recovery

Addiction recovery is not just about stopping substance use; it’s about healing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Covington treatment centers are known for their comprehensive approach to recovery, which involves a variety of therapies designed to address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of addiction.

Medical detox is often the first step for those with physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Detoxification, done under medical supervision, ensures that withdrawal symptoms are safely managed. Once detox is completed, the focus shifts to therapy and counseling. Treatment often includes individual therapy, group counseling, and family therapy, all of which play a significant role in understanding the root causes of addiction and working through emotional and mental barriers.

Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are commonly used to help individuals develop healthier thought patterns, cope with stress, and avoid triggers that could lead to relapse. Additionally, Covington’s centers often incorporate holistic therapies such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices, which help individuals address stress and anxiety while developing emotional resilience.

3. Long-Term Recovery Focus

Addiction recovery doesn’t end after completing an initial treatment program. Successful recovery requires ongoing support and care, which is why Covington’s treatment centers emphasize long-term recovery strategies. Whether it’s through outpatient programs, continued therapy, or sober living arrangements, the goal is to ensure that individuals have the resources they need to stay sober and live fulfilling lives after treatment.

Long-term recovery programs help individuals transition from intensive inpatient care back to daily life, equipping them with tools for managing challenges and maintaining sobriety. Recovery isn’t a quick fix; it’s a lifelong journey, and Covington’s centers are committed to providing the continued support necessary for lasting success.

4. A Supportive Environment

A positive and supportive environment is crucial to the healing process. Covington treatment centers offer safe, nurturing spaces where individuals can focus on their recovery without distractions. Many of these centers are located in peaceful, serene settings that help reduce stress and promote clarity. The calm environment allows individuals to reflect, focus on their goals, and engage in their healing process without the pressures of everyday life.

In addition to the physical environment, the community aspect of treatment is equally important. Treatment centers in Covington foster a sense of belonging and accountability. By connecting with others in recovery, individuals form lasting relationships with people who understand their struggles. This support network is invaluable, as it provides encouragement, understanding, and motivation throughout the recovery process.

5. Family Involvement

Addiction doesn’t only affect the individual; it impacts families as well. Many treatment centers in Covington recognize the importance of family involvement in the recovery process. Through family therapy and educational programs, family members gain a better understanding of addiction and how to support their loved ones through recovery.

Family therapy provides a safe space for loved ones to address any issues or misunderstandings caused by addiction. It helps rebuild trust, improve communication, and strengthen the family unit. When family members are educated about addiction, they can offer more effective support, creating a healthier home environment for the individual in recovery.

6. Experienced Professionals Dedicated to Your Recovery

Covington’s addiction treatment centers are staffed by experienced professionals who are committed to helping individuals achieve lasting recovery. The teams often include doctors, therapists, counselors, and addiction specialists who work together to provide the best possible care. These professionals are trained to identify the underlying causes of addiction, provide therapeutic support, and ensure that clients receive comprehensive care throughout the treatment process.

For individuals dealing with co-occurring mental health disorders, Covington’s centers offer dual diagnosis treatment. This ensures that both addiction and mental health issues are treated simultaneously, giving individuals the best chance for recovery.

Conclusion: Your Path to Recovery Starts Here

The journey to recovery can be challenging, but with the right support and treatment, it is entirely possible. Covington’s addiction treatment centers provide a holistic, personalized approach to recovery, addressing the root causes of addiction and offering long-term support. Whether you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Covington’s centers offer a safe, supportive, and healing environment where you can start your path to recovery. With the help of compassionate professionals and a comprehensive treatment plan, your path to a healthier, sober life begins here.

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marketinsur748 · 3 months ago

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Marketplace Insurance

Why You Need Marketplace Insurance: Access to Affordable Coverage for Every Stage of Life

Marketplace insurance, also known as health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, is a crucial option for individuals and families seeking affordable healthcare coverage. Whether you're self-employed, working part-time, or experiencing life changes, marketplace insurance offers a flexible and accessible way to ensure that you have health coverage when you need it most. With the complexities of health care costs and the unpredictability of life, having access to a reliable, comprehensive insurance plan is essential for managing your health, financial security, and overall well-being.

In this article, we will explore the reasons why you need marketplace insurance, how it benefits you and your family, and how it can offer a solution to some of the most common healthcare challenges. If you are considering your healthcare options, this guide will help you understand the value of marketplace insurance and why it’s an essential tool for securing your future health.

Introduction

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established the Health Insurance Marketplace to provide an accessible platform where individuals and families can compare and purchase health insurance plans. For those who are ineligible for employer-sponsored insurance or government programs like Medicaid, the marketplace offers a wide range of plans designed to meet diverse health needs and budgets.

Whether you’re new to the workforce, starting a family, or transitioning to a new stage of life, marketplace insurance is an essential option to ensure continuous and affordable healthcare coverage. Understanding the ins and outs of marketplace insurance, its eligibility requirements, and the benefits it offers can empower you to make informed decisions that will benefit both your health and your financial future.

Why You Need Marketplace Insurance

Marketplace insurance provides many benefits that go beyond simply covering medical expenses. From offering affordability to promoting access to a wide range of healthcare services, marketplace plans provide individuals with the flexibility and security they need. Below are some key reasons why marketplace insurance is vital.

1. Affordable Coverage for All Income Levels

One of the most significant advantages of marketplace insurance is its affordability. The marketplace was designed to make healthcare more accessible to people who do not have employer-sponsored insurance or who don’t qualify for government programs like Medicaid. It does so by offering subsidies or tax credits based on your income.

If your household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, you may be eligible for subsidies that help reduce the cost of your monthly premiums. Additionally, the marketplace provides plans with different levels of coverage (bronze, silver, gold, and platinum), so you can choose one that fits your budget while ensuring that you receive adequate coverage. These options give you the flexibility to find a plan that balances both cost and coverage based on your specific health needs.

2. Access to Essential Health Benefits

Marketplace insurance plans are required to cover a set of essential health benefits that include services such as hospitalization, outpatient care, prescription medications, mental health services, maternity and newborn care, preventive services, and pediatric care. These core benefits ensure that you have access to comprehensive healthcare without having to pay out of pocket for essential treatments.

The inclusion of these services helps protect you from unexpected medical expenses and provides peace of mind, knowing that a wide range of healthcare services is available when you need them. With marketplace insurance, you won't have to worry about being underinsured or facing high medical bills for necessary services.

3. Financial Protection and Reduced Risk of Bankruptcy

One of the main reasons to have health insurance is to protect yourself financially from unexpected healthcare costs. Without insurance, a serious illness, emergency surgery, or a trip to the hospital can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. For many people, these high costs can result in significant financial hardship or even bankruptcy.

Marketplace insurance provides financial protection by covering a substantial portion of your healthcare expenses. You will still be responsible for copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs, but marketplace insurance reduces the burden by making the overall costs more predictable and affordable. Additionally, marketplace plans often include a cap on how much you can pay out of pocket each year, giving you peace of mind knowing that there is a limit to how much you'll need to pay in the event of an emergency.

4. Preventive Care and Health Maintenance

A key component of marketplace insurance is its emphasis on preventive care. Preventive services, such as vaccinations, screenings, and wellness check-ups, are covered without additional cost. Preventive care is crucial because it helps detect health problems early when they are easier and less expensive to treat. Marketplace insurance makes it easier to stay on top of your health and catch potential issues before they become major concerns.

By focusing on prevention, marketplace insurance can help you maintain better health and avoid costly treatments later on. Regular visits to the doctor for screenings and check-ups can help you stay healthy, manage chronic conditions, and reduce the likelihood of developing more severe health issues in the future.

5. Comprehensive Coverage for Your Health Needs

Health insurance through the marketplace offers comprehensive coverage for a wide variety of healthcare needs. Whether you need routine doctor’s visits, mental health counseling, emergency care, or a prescription for chronic conditions, marketplace plans cover it all. Marketplace plans also offer coverage for dental and vision care in many cases, either as part of a plan or as an optional add-on.

By enrolling in a marketplace insurance plan, you are ensuring that you have access to the full spectrum of healthcare services. Whether you are facing a health crisis or simply need to maintain your health over time, marketplace insurance can provide the resources you need to stay well.

6. No Denials for Pre-existing Conditions

Under the Affordable Care Act, marketplace insurance plans cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions. This is a critical benefit for individuals with chronic conditions or a history of medical issues. Before the ACA, individuals with pre-existing conditions often faced higher costs or were excluded from coverage altogether. With marketplace insurance, you can rest assured that you will have access to coverage, regardless of your medical history.

This protection allows individuals to receive the care they need, no matter their current health status, and helps ensure that no one is left uninsured due to pre-existing conditions.

7. Protection During Life Changes

Life is unpredictable, and many events—such as losing a job, getting married, or having a baby—can impact your healthcare needs. Marketplace insurance provides flexibility during these life transitions, allowing you to enroll or change your plan during specific enrollment periods, such as the open enrollment period or through special enrollment periods (SEPs) triggered by life changes.

For example, if you lose your job and the health coverage provided by your employer, you can apply for marketplace insurance to continue coverage without a gap. Similarly, if your income changes or if you experience other qualifying events, the marketplace allows you to adjust your coverage to better suit your new circumstances.

8. Simplified Enrollment and Comparison of Plans

Marketplace insurance provides a convenient platform for individuals to compare health plans, find coverage options, and enroll in a plan that meets their needs. The marketplace offers an easy-to-use website where you can browse different insurance plans, compare prices, and learn about the benefits of each option.

Whether you’re looking for a low-cost plan with minimal coverage or a more comprehensive option with a higher premium, the marketplace allows you to make an informed choice. Additionally, trained professionals are available to assist you through the enrollment process, ensuring that you select the best plan for your unique healthcare needs.

How Marketplace Insurance Contributes to Your Long-Term Health and Security

Marketplace insurance provides more than just financial protection—it offers long-term security by ensuring that you always have access to necessary healthcare. Whether it’s routine check-ups, emergency care, or treatment for chronic conditions, marketplace insurance ensures that you are covered at every stage of your life.

By providing financial security, access to preventive care, and comprehensive coverage for a wide range of health services, marketplace insurance supports both your immediate healthcare needs and your long-term well-being. This protection enables you to focus on living your life without the constant worry of unaffordable medical bills or the consequences of being underinsured.

Conclusion

Marketplace insurance offers an affordable and comprehensive solution for individuals and families who need access to healthcare. With its wide range of coverage options, financial protection, and essential benefits, marketplace insurance ensures that you are prepared for whatever life throws your way. Whether you’re self-employed, between jobs, or simply seeking better coverage, the marketplace provides a wealth of options to suit your unique needs.

Don’t wait until you face a medical emergency to consider your insurance options. Explore the Health Insurance Marketplace today and secure the coverage you need to protect your health and financial future. With marketplace insurance, you have the tools and resources to ensure that you and your family can live a healthier, more secure life.

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