FEMA Press Release:

Federal Aid Programs for Kentucky Declaration

Main Content

Release date: 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Release Number: 

HQ-14-083-FactSheet

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Assistance for the Commonwealth and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, taken to save lives and protect property and public health.  Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.  (Source: FEMA funded, commonwealth administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Application procedures for the commonwealth and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/commonwealth applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the commonwealth from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema  and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Related Content: 

President Declares Disaster for Kentucky

Last Updated: 

September 30, 2014 - 19:58

State/Tribal Government or Region: 

Kentucky

FEMA Press Release:

President Declares Disaster for Kentucky

Main Content

Release date: 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Release Number: 

HQ-14-083

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of August 18-23, 2014.

The President's action makes federal funding available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in Floyd, Johnson, Knott and Pike counties. 

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Michael Moore has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Moore said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. 

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Related Content: 

Federal Aid Programs for Kentucky Declaration

Last Updated: 

September 30, 2014 - 19:59

State/Tribal Government or Region: 

Kentucky

At UN Netanyahu challenges 'brazen lies' told by Obama, Abbas | Fox News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose not to let President Obama’s bold allegation that Israelis were not interested in peace go unanswered in his speech Monday at the UN. “Brazen lies spoken from this very podium against my country” is how Netanyahu described the remarks of previous speakers, when he addressed the U.N. General Assembly.

Just five days earlier, President Obama had made a shocking assertion in his role as president while speaking on the world stage. He claimed that there were “too many Israelis ready to abandon the hard work of peace.”  Obama scolded: “that’s something worthy of reflection within Israel.”

At UN Netanyahu challenges 'brazen lies' told by Obama, Abbas | Fox News

ATK Successfully Tests Orion Launch Abort Motor Igniter

ATK News Release:


ATK Successfully Tests Orion Launch Abort Motor Igniter
Igniter Integral to NASA's Space Launch System and Orion Crew Safety

Sep 30, 2014

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and ATK (NYSE: ATK) successfully completed a static test of the launch abort motor igniter for the Orion crew capsule's Launch Abort System (LAS). Conducted at ATK's facility in Promontory, Utah, this test is the next step toward qualifying the igniter for production.

ATK's launch abort motor igniter for the Orion crew capsule's Launch Abort System is one step closer toward qualifying for production.
The LAS will be placed on top of the Orion spacecraft, the first spacecraft capable of taking humans to multiple destinations in deep space. Orion will launch aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), and its LAS will include an escape rocket on top of the capsule that can carry the crew to safety if any anomalies occur during the launch. SLS and Orion provide an unmatched combination of mass, volume and speed that can deliver humans and cargo to deep space faster, safer and more affordably than any other existing vehicles or proposed options.

"As a former astronaut, I understand how critical the abort motor is to the safety of those flying aboard the Orion spacecraft," said Charlie Precourt, vice president and general manager of ATK's Space Launch division. "ATK is operating at the highest standard to ensure this motor will be ready and reliable, if needed."

For this qualification test, technicians exposed the igniter to vibrations and extreme temperatures to simulate pre-operating and flight conditions before firing it and at its hottest condition. Next year, the igniter will undergo a similar qualification test, but it will be fired at its coldest temperature. Previous tests include a development test that verified igniter performance analytical models prior to a static test of the launch abort motor, and Pad Abort-1, a ground launch test of the entire LAS.

This igniter design enables the abort motor to activate within milliseconds, lifting the crew module to safety with an acceleration over 10gs.

"Our employees have done an outstanding job in advancing the maturity of the launch abort motor by successfully executing several qualification tests this summer, including the manifold ultimate loads test, igniter closure hydro-test and this igniter static fire test," said Precourt. "This is real rocket science, and our employees are committed, intelligent people making our journey to deep space possible."

The next major abort motor milestone will be its Critical Design Review, scheduled for summer 2015.

SLS began welding the rocket's fuel tanks on the Vertical Assembly Center at the Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans last week, while NASA anticipates a test fire of the RS-25 engine by the end of the year at Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. This year's milestones will conclude with Orion's first test flight, Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), scheduled for December. Since this test flight is uncrewed, and the abort motor and attitude control motors will not be needed, the only live motor on the LAS will be the jettison motor.

EFT-1 will take Orion farther into space than a spacecraft built for humans has traveled in more than 40 years. The test flight is the next step on our journey to deep space.

A ground static firing of ATK's full-scale SLS booster, Qualification Motor-1 (QM-1), is planned for early 2015 at ATK's facility in Promontory, Utah.

The SLS and Orion programs are supported by a network of hundreds of suppliers from 47 states. ATK has 29 key SLS booster suppliers across 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

With SLS and Orion, ATK is embarking on a mission to deep space that leverages more than five decades of pushing boundaries. Recent SLS booster milestones include:           

Critical Design Review (August 7)
Forward skirt test (May 20)
Booster avionics test (April 3)
ATK is an aerospace, defense, and outdoor sports and recreation company with operations in 21 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atk, or on Twitter @ATK.

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company's competitive environment; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; and economic conditions. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Government Doesn’t Need to Charge You With a Crime to Seize Your Assets and Property | TheBlaze.com

Did you know you don’t actually need to be charged with a crime for the government to seize your financial and property assets?

Under U.S. law, it can take only the suspicion of a crime to turn lives upside down and seize the property of innocent citizens.

The Government Doesn’t Need to Charge You With a Crime to Seize Your Assets and Property | TheBlaze.com

Bristol-Myers Squibb News Release:

Bristol-Myers Squibb to Transfer $1.4 Billion in U.S. Pension Obligations to Prudential

• Transfers liabilities and related assets for approximately 8,000 U.S. retirees and their beneficiaries
• Benefits entrusted to a global financial institution with expertise in long-term management of retirement benefits

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 5:00 pm EDT

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today announced it will settle $1.4 billion in pension obligations through the purchase of a group annuity contract from The Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential) (NYSE:PRU) for approximately 8,000 U.S. retirees and their beneficiaries who started receiving their monthly retirement benefit payments on or before June 1, 2014. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s U.S. Retirement Plan (“the Plan”) is in a strong financial position, and the obligations associated with this transaction will require no additional cash contributions by the company. There will be no change to the monthly retirement benefit payments currently received by retirees and their beneficiaries. All other plan participants will stay in the company’s Plan, which is well-funded to ensure benefit payments to future retirees and beneficiaries.

The transaction reduces risk in the Plan and better manages the ongoing variations in cost associated with its maintenance while entrusting current retirees and their beneficiaries’ pensions to a financial institution with expertise in the long-term management of retirement benefits.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to the long-term financial health of the Plan and has taken steps to protect all participants of the Plan. As part of this transaction, the company’s Pension Committee engaged Fiduciary Counselors Inc., a leading independent fiduciary services firm, to represent the Plan and all of its participants and their beneficiaries, including those remaining in the Plan, to objectively select the safest available annuity as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor standards. Fiduciary Counselors selected a Prudential contract that provides an additional safeguard by segregating assets in a separate account dedicated to the payment of benefits to plan retirees and their beneficiaries.

All other participants and their beneficiaries in the company’s Plan with accrued benefits will remain in the current Plan, including retirees who participate in collectively bargained plans or the Puerto Rico plan as well as certain retirees with variable benefit payments. The transfer to Prudential is expected to occur in December 2014 and is subject to satisfaction of closing conditions. Upon completion of the transfer, Prudential will assume full financial responsibility for making the annuity payments provided under the group annuity contract.

Retirees and beneficiaries who will transfer to Prudential will be receiving individualized information packages with further details and answers to frequently asked questions.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please visit www.bms.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.

About Prudential

Prudential Retirement delivers retirement plan solutions for public, private, and non-profit organizations. Services include defined contribution, defined benefit and non-qualified deferred compensation record keeping, administrative services, investment management, comprehensive employee education and communications, and trustee services, as well as a variety of products and strategies, including institutional investment and income products, pension risk transfer solutions and structured settlement services. With over 85 years of retirement experience, Prudential Retirement helps meet the needs of over 4.0 million participants and annuitants. Prudential Retirement has $330.5 billion in retirement account values as of June 30, 2014.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1.1 trillion of assets under management as of June 30, 2014, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.

Retirement products and services are provided by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC), Hartford, CT, or its affiliates.) Insurance products are issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America (PICA), Newark, NJ, a Prudential Financial company solely responsible for its financial condition and contractual obligations.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Among other risks, there is no guarantee that the transaction will occur on the terms or within the time frame described in this release. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, including those identified in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol- Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Inhofe Questions Secretary of Defense Hagel and General Dempsey on ISIS - YouTube

Video (8:42)



Inhofe Questions Secretary of Defense Hagel and General Dempsey on ISIS - YouTube

Hong Kong protester: We're terrified - YouTube

Video (3:26)



Hong Kong protester: We're terrified - YouTube

FCC throws out NFL blackout rule - Sep. 30, 2014

The FCC just sacked the NFL's blackout policy.

After a unanimous 5-0 vote Tuesday, the FCC ended a 40-year-old ruling that blacked out NFL games in local broadcast areas.

FCC throws out NFL blackout rule - Sep. 30, 2014

Afghanistan Road Project Tells Story of Taliban Violence and Failure - SPIEGEL ONLINE

It was to be a symbol of reconstructed Afghanistan: a paved highway from Kabul to the beautiful valley of Bamiyan. Construction has long been underway, but the project may never be completed -- a victim of the realities in present-day Afghanistan.



Afghanistan Road Project Tells Story of Taliban Violence and Failure - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Rouhani on Congress and the nuclear negotiations – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

Rouhani on Congress and the nuclear negotiations – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

UPS Continues Tradition of Global Community Service - UPS Pressroom

Since its founding in 1907, UPS® (NYSE: UPS) has established a strong legacy of supporting the communities it serves around the world. During the month of October, UPS's nearly 400,000 employees will aim to donate 315,000 volunteer hours to community service efforts through the company's annual Global Volunteer Month. This goal is a 5 percent increase over last year's monthly hours total.



UPS Continues Tradition of Global Community Service - UPS Pressroom

ISIS recruiting tactics: Apple pie and video games - Sep. 30, 2014

He says his favorite dessert is hot apple pie with ice cream on top. That he maintains his beard using shampoo, scented oils, and a comb. And that the day he fell in love was the day he embraced Islam.

These personal details are part of a Q&A with an ISIS recruiter on Ask.fm, a popular site where people can ask questions anonymously.

ISIS recruiting tactics: Apple pie and video games - Sep. 30, 2014

Bank of America Leaders to Discuss Impact Investing Trends and Initiatives at Upcoming Conferences | Bank of America Newsroom

Bank of America executives will share insights on the latest social impact investing trends this fall through participation in several industry conferences. The events share a common goal of increasing awareness of the growing demand for and industry focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing through an exchange of ideas, innovative approaches and best practices. Leaders from the company’s Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM) businesses have been invited to speak at the following conferences:



Bank of America Leaders to Discuss Impact Investing Trends and Initiatives at Upcoming Conferences | Bank of America Newsroom

U.S. has already spent nearly $1 billion fighting ISIS - Sep. 30, 2014

The first wave of U.S. military attacks against ISIS has cost nearly $1 billion, according to a military think tank.

And costs could rise to as much as $1.8 billion a month if the U.S. military presence grows to 25,000 ground troops, as some have suggested, said the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment (CSBA).

U.S. has already spent nearly $1 billion fighting ISIS - Sep. 30, 2014

Duke Energy announces 2014 Urban Revitalization Grant recipients - Duke Energy

CINCINNATI, OHIO -

Duke Energy today announced the 2014 grant recipients for the Urban Revitalization Program.

This year pushes Duke Energy’s donations to the $1 million mark since the program was established in 2011. Awards were presented to the 10 recipients during a news conference this morning at Duke Energy’s Regional Headquarters.

Duke Energy announces 2014 Urban Revitalization Grant recipients - Duke Energy

Senator Jim Inhofe News Release:

Inhofe Statement on Oklahoma’s Challenge to ObamaCare Subsidies

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the decision from U.S. District Judge Ronald White which ruled in favor of Oklahoma’s challenge to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule that provides subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. The IRS rule was announced in May 2012 and Oklahoma District Attorney Scott Pruitt first challenged the subsidies in September 2012. 

“Today is a victory for Oklahoma and the nation. Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s case has exposed that ObamaCare is more than an unsecured website to shop for more expensive healthcare, but that it is also a big-government bureaucratic program that is eroding states’ rights,” said Inhofe. “Today’s decision is a reminder that the President's broken promises of affordable, accessible health care are the result of broken policy. The Obama Administration has tried to make the law work with waivers and exemptions, but the courts continue to confront the legality of this legislation that was rushed through a Democrat-controlled Congress. It is long past time for ObamaCare to be repealed and replaced with the common-sense solutions that will make healthcare truly affordable. While it will undoubtedly take time for Oklahoma’s case to play out in the federal court system, I am confident in Attorney General Scott Pruitt and that our state’s argument will prevail."

The decision ruled that the IRS acted beyond the intent of Congress or the law by providing ObamaCare subsidies in states with a federal exchange. Oklahoma and thirty-five other states have an exchange that is at least federally-funded in part.

###

Message from Senator David Vitter to 4th Source

Facebook Post from Senator David Vitter:


Congratulations to 4th Source, a large information technology company, for choosing Jefferson Parish as their corporate headquarters, bringing around 300 good-paying jobs to the region. My staff was there as they officially cut the ribbon for their new office in Kenner today. Great news for Louisiana!

Bank of America Begins Rollout of Chip Debit Cards | Bank of America Newsroom

Bank of America today announced that beginning this week it will include chip technology on all new and reissued consumer and small business debit cards. Bank of America already includes chips on the majority of its credit card programs and is the first major U.S. bank to add the chip technology to debit cards.

Cards with chip technology, which are also referred to as EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) cards, are embedded with a microprocessor chip that encrypts transaction information. Each time the chip card is used, the transaction data changes, making it more difficult to copy or counterfeit the card.

Bank of America Begins Rollout of Chip Debit Cards | Bank of America Newsroom

5 investing secrets of the wealthy that everyone should follow - Sep. 30, 2014

Just because you can't afford the lifestyle of the super rich doesn't mean you can't invest like them.

"Money doesn't guarantee you are a better investor than someone with less money," says Mindy Rosenthal, president of the Institute for Private Investors, which provides wealth management education to those who have at least $30 million in investable assets.

5 investing secrets of the wealthy that everyone should follow - Sep. 30, 2014

Home prices rise, but more slowly - Sep. 30, 2014

Home prices rose in July but at a slower rate, as the real estate market's rebound continues to cool off.

National home prices were up 5.6% annually, down from a 6.3% gain in June according to the S&P/Case-Shiller index. The pace of price gains has slowed for seven straight months.

Home prices rise, but more slowly - Sep. 30, 2014

Johnson Controls announces its intention to divest its Global Workplace Solutions business

Johnson Controls News Release:

Johnson Controls announces its intention to divest its Global Workplace Solutions business

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) today announced its intention to divest its Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) business. The action reflects the company's previously stated intention to invest in businesses that are core to its long-term growth strategy and multi-industrial portfolio.

"The global facilities management outsourcing market is very healthy and continues to grow," said Alex Molinaroli, chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls. "GWS is a strong business and a leader in its market with tremendous potential to grow. As we've focused on it this past year to understand what is needed to win long-term, it is clear that GWS is really an exclusively service-based business and not core to our manufacturing, engineering and product-based portfolio. This is a win-win all around."

The GWS business is a leading provider of facilities, corporate real estate and energy management. It has been part of Johnson Controls' portfolio for more than 20 years, and currently manages more than 1.8 billion square feet of corporate real estate. It will continue to be a close partner to Johnson Controls as both a supplier and a customer.

"We have a strong reputation in the market, an incredibly talented team of employees, and a portfolio of long-standing high-quality clients," saidJohn Murphy, vice president and president, Johnson Controls Global Workplace Solutions. "Our business has only just begun to realize its full potential. With a new owner we will have access to the capital and resources required to continue to strengthen our business and be a formidable force in the market."

Johnson Controls has retained Bank of America Merrill Lynch as exclusive financial advisor to assist in the initiative. Johnson Controls will know more about timing after it identifies potential buyers. In the meantime it is committed to working through the process as quickly as possible to ensure minimal disruption to the business.

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

About Global Workplace Solutions:

Johnson Controls Global Workplace Solutions is a leading provider of facilities, corporate real estate and energy management. Our more than 16,000 employees have delivered over $3 billion in savings for our customers over the last 10 years and ensure the business continuity of the 1.8 billion square feet of real estate that we manage for some of the world's largest companies in more than 75 countries. Learn more athttp://www.johnsoncontrols.com/globalworkplacesolutions.

CONTACT:	Fraser Engerman (media)	Glen Ponczak (investors)
	414-524-2733	414-524-2375
	Fraser.Engerman@jci.com	Glen.L.Ponczak@jci.com

SOURCE Johnson Controls, Inc.

Optum to Acquire MedSynergies to Help Physician Groups Enhance Patient Care, Improve Practice Performance

UnitedHealth Group News Release:

Optum to Acquire MedSynergies to Help Physician Groups Enhance Patient Care, Improve Practice Performance

• Combination brings additional, innovative practice management capabilities to Optum’s leading clinical services and analytic tools;
• Establishes Optum’s end-to-end capabilities, addressing the most complex requirements across clinic, ambulatory and acute care settings

Eden Prairie, Minn. and Irving, Texas (Sep. 30, 2014) — 

Optum, a leading information and technology-enabled health services business, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MedSynergies, Inc., which provides physician practice management, revenue management, physician referral management and other business services to physician groups aligned with large health systems, serving more than 9,300 care providers across the U.S. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

MedSynergies will provide Optum with innovative physician practice management capabilities that complement and advance the company’s focus on helping care providers improve patient care and outcomes, and reduce health care costs. In addition, MedSynergies’ proven revenue cycle management capabilities for physician practices will build upon Optum’s leading revenue management solutions for large hospitals and health systems. The combination will enable care providers across the care spectrum to improve financial performance, deliver better patient experiences and grow their practices.

“MedSynergies is a proven innovator in helping physician practices improve performance, and shares our commitment to supporting care providers in continually elevating the quality of patient care in the communities they serve,” said Larry Renfro, chief executive officer, Optum. “This relationship will position Optum to be an even stronger, more valued partner to care providers as they evolve, adapt and pursue new opportunities in a changing environment.”

Using Optum’s existing relationships and expertise, MedSynergies will enhance its services for large health systems across the country by providing deeper, more customized solutions that help their physician practices manage patient panels and perform targeted patient outreach. Through this partnership, Optum will be uniquely positioned to integrate revenue management services, clinical analytics and clinical workflow tools to serve the needs of large, sophisticated health systems and their employed and affiliated physicians. In addition, Optum’s industry-leading analytic capabilities can help physicians better understand their patients through precise metrics, allowing them to focus care to affect positive patient outcomes.

“MedSynergies’ strong leadership team and creative, execution-focused employees have built an innovative, scalable technology platform and driven strong, profitable growth by providing distinctive financial results for large, sophisticated integrated health systems like Catholic Health Initiatives and Texas Health Resources,” Renfro added. “MedSynergies’ capabilities fill out our revenue management offerings and enable us to now serve care providers across their care continuum from ambulatory and outpatient through inpatient and critical care services.”

“Optum has a strong vision of a better future for health care, and by joining together, we will be even better positioned to achieve that vision and help our care provider clients and partners successfully transform to meet the changing needs of the their patients, communities and practices,” said J. R. Thomas, chief executive officer, MedSynergies.

About Optum
Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With approximately 65,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that help to modernize the health system and improve overall population health. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH).

About MedSynergies
MedSynergies partners with health care organizations and physicians to align their operations by providing revenue cycle management, practice management, consulting services, business process analysis and software integration solutions. Leveraging its knowledge and experience in hospital-physician alignment, MedSynergies improves processes, optimizes technology and builds on trusted patient relationships, enabling hospitals and physician practices to offer quality health care. Founded in 1996, MedSynergies is privately held and headquartered in Irving, Texas. MedSynergies currently partners with hospitals and health networks and serves more than 9,300 providers across the United States. For more information, please visit www.MedSynergies.com.

  Tags: Optum, Press Release, Mergers and Acquisitions

BofA Merrill Introduces Digital Disbursements | Bank of America Newsroom

Bank of America Merrill Lynch today announced the launch of Digital Disbursements, a new payment solution that enables companies to make payments to their customers digitally, eliminating the need to issue a check. The payments are directly routed to the bank account of the individual payee’s choosing using either a mobile phone number or email address as the identifier. The solution leverages the technology behind person-to-person payments, a capability currently available to individual customers of Bank of America’s consumer business.



BofA Merrill Introduces Digital Disbursements | Bank of America Newsroom

Report: Practical and Scalable Solutions Can Overcome Worsening Shortage of Primary Care Access and Capacity, Improve Service Delivery

UnitedHealth Group Press Release:

Report: Practical and Scalable Solutions Can Overcome Worsening Shortage of Primary Care Access and Capacity, Improve Service Delivery

• UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization finds adding primary care physicians leads to fewer hospitalizations/ER visits; but supply limited in areas with lower incomes and higher rates of uninsured
• In-market experience demonstrates nurse practitioners, team-based care and health information technology can better leverage existing primary care providers;
• Innovative payment models that pay for value over volume are essential to achieving meaningful results

WASHINGTON (Sep. 30, 2014) — 

With 50 million Americans lacking adequate access to primary care – a shortfall set to worsen in coming years – UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) Center for Health Reform & Modernization issued a report today highlighting practical and scalable solutions that can increase primary care capacity and access to needed services, and improve care delivery. 

In the report “Advancing Primary Care Delivery: Practical, Proven and Scalable Approaches,” new research shows a clear relationship between more primary care physicians practicing in a local health care market and lower rates of avoidable hospital admissions and emergency department visits. However, even with an aging and sicker population and reductions in the uninsured, primary care office visits declined between 2012 and 2013.

The report also finds that the lowest concentration of primary care physicians occurs in areas with the lowest incomes and highest rates of uninsured, as well as in rural areas, indicating that focusing on physician supply alone may not address the largest gaps in primary care capacity.

The report examines existing best practices and key solutions that – if expanded at scale – can help close the primary care gap and improve care delivery, including:

• Implementing innovative payment models that reward value. In recent years, reforms that recognize the value of the care a patient receives, rewarding physicians for their effectiveness and positive medical outcomes, have taken root. Government programs and private health plans should continue partnering with physicians, hospitals and other care providers to emphasize primary care in an effort to improve quality and reduce costs. 
   
• Expanding the roles of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Primary care practices led by physicians can expand capacity by better leveraging a diverse clinician workforce. While laws governing scope of practice vary by state, there are opportunities to better utilize these skilled care providers to boost capacity and improve access to primary care.  
   
• Assembling multidisciplinary care teams to deliver care more efficiently. It would take 17 hours per day for a primary care physician to provide all recommended care to a panel of 2,000 patients – and many have larger panels than that. In addition to nurse practitioners and physician assistants, care teams should expand the role of medical assistants and health coaches.
   
• Using electronic health records and other health information technology (HIT) to share information across the delivery system in real time. Though HIT alone will not achieve dramatic improvements in primary care delivery, it is an essential building block, enabling practices to use resources as efficiently and effectively as possible. Electronic patient health records that travel through a single, user-friendly, interoperable system designed to share information systemwide are critical to achieving this goal.

Since 2009, the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization has released research and offered practical solutions to critical health care challenges, drawing upon United Health Group’s clinical and research expertise and data analytics capabilities.

“Primary care is essential to building a higher-performing health care system that promotes personal well-being and saves consumers and taxpayers money,” said Richard Migliori, M.D., executive vice president of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealth Group.  “This research shows the value of improving primary care capacity, not only in terms of improving patients’ health but also in catching problems early and avoiding unnecessary and costly hospital services.”

“The Center for Health Reform & Modernization has identified a broad range of practical, scalable solutions that can be tailored to local health care markets and policy environments,” said Cory Alexander, executive vice president of External Affairs at UnitedHealth Group. “These approaches, if embraced and adopted at scale, can meaningfully increase primary care capacity, improve quality and reduce health care costs.” 

The report identifies several examples of primary care providers that have boosted quality and reduced costs by partnering with private and government health plans in a “pay for value” model.

• New evidence from UnitedHealthcare’s medical home programs in four states shows average third-year net savings of 6.2 percent of medical costs, resulting in a return on investment of 6 to 1, largely due to a payment model that rewards value. 
   
• By adopting a pay for value model, WESTMED in New York increased patient satisfaction, achieved an 8 percent reduction in emergency department use, and saw overall reduction in health care costs for privately insured patients. 
   
• Similarly, Monarch in California improved physician-patient communication, patient satisfaction, and prevention of hospital admissions that can be avoided with more timely care – while lowering costs for Medicare patients by more than 5 percent in just one year. 

“Through more effective use of existing resources and smarter incentives, we can bolster primary care capacity, increase access to the underserved and improve the effectiveness of care delivery across the health care system,” said Dr. Migliori. “WESTMED and Monarch represent successful models that can and should be scaled across the entire health care system, acknowledging the unique needs of each payer, provider, patient population and policy environment of each local market.” 

To read the full report, go to: http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/reform.

About UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & ModernizationDrawing on our internal expertise and data and extensive external experiences and partnerships, the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization analyzes key health care issues and develops innovative policies and practical solutions for the health care challenges facing our nation.  We share this information in the U.S. and internationally with policy-makers, academicians, researchers, providers, health plans, employers, the public, and other key health care stakeholders.  In January 2009, UnitedHealth Group launched the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization to present proven strategies to contain costs and improve quality and care, and today, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to health care modernization by offering solutions based on proven policies and best practices.

For more information, visit www.unitedhealthgroup.com/reform.

  Tags: UnitedHealth Group, Press Release, Reports, Announcements, Health Reform