‘State Government’ Articles
Written by Laura on 19 October 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2011 |
Contact: HRSA Press Office
(301) 443-3376
|
HHS Announces New National Health Service Corps Awardees in California, Record Number of Members throughout the U.S.
More than 10,000 Primary Care Providers in the U.S. Supported by Obama Administration Investments in National Health Service Corps — Largest Number in History
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that the number of participants in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has nearly tripled throughout the nation. Today, more than 10,000 National Corps members – doctors, nurses and other health care providers – care for Americans in communities nationwide. California has 1640 National Health Service Corps approved sites in both rural and urban areas. In 2011, 537 new scholarship and loan repayment awardees were announced in California to further expand the program.
Thanks to investments in the National Health Service Corps through the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and annual appropriations, the NHSC has awarded nearly $900 million in scholarships and loan repayment to health care professionals across the country. This funding will help expand the country’s primary care workforce and meet the health care needs of communities nationwide.
Because of these critical investments in our nation’s health care workforce, there are nearly three times the number of NHSC clinicians working in communities across America than there were three years ago–increasing access to health care and supporting local jobs. In 2008, 3,600 providers served approximately 3.7 million patients. Now, in 2011 with a field strength of more than 10,000 clinicians, the National Health Service Corps provides health care services to about 10.5 million patients.
“Thanks to the National Health Service Corps, more Americans can see a doctor and get the health care they need,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius. “The investments we made are improving health and creating access to care, fueling economic activity nationwide.”
Established in 1972, the National Health Service Corps, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has provided health care to communities across the country through the service of more than 41,000 primary health care practitioners over its nearly 40-year history. The NHSC provides financial, professional and educational resources to medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health care providers who bring their skills to areas of the United States with limited access to health care.
“Eighty-two percent of NHSC clinicians continue to serve in high-need areas after they fulfill their service commitment,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D, R.N. “These awards help ensure that underserved communities across the country have access to quality health care both today and in the future.”
There are currently more than 17,000 National Health Service Corps sites across the country. In California, there are 1640 NHSC-approved rural and urban sites (431 sites currently have an NHSC clinician).
In FY 2011, competitive awards totaling $29,818,662 were made to 537 new awardees in California through the following programs:
- The NHSC Loan Repayment Program. 505 new awards were made to providers in California in FY 2011. These awards were funded by the Affordable Care Act, Recovery Act, and FY 2011 base appropriation investments. The loan repayment program provides an initial, tax-free award of up to $60‚000 for two years of service in an underserved community and the opportunity to pay off all health professional student loans with continued service.
- The NHSC Scholarship Program. 32 new awards from Affordable Care Act investments were made to providers in California in FY 2011. The scholarship program pays tuition, required fees, and other education costs for as many as four years. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients serve as primary care providers between two and four years at an NHSC-approved site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area.
The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is the primary Federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. For more information about NHSC programs, please visit http:/www.NHSC.hrsa.gov.
For more information about the Department’s Recovery Act programs, see http:/www.hhs.gov/recovery.
Jack Cheevers
Public Information Officer, Region IX
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
90 Seventh St., Suite 5-300 (5W)
San Francisco, CA 94602
415-744-3723
Do you know someone who has been denied health insurance due to a pre-existing condition? If so, they may be eligible for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. Call toll free 1-866-717-5826 (TTY 1-866-561-1604) or visit www.pcip.gov and click on “find your state” to learn more.
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Written by Laura on 19 October 2011
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Region IX
_________________________________________________________________________________
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period begins Saturday, Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, 2011. This is the time of year when people with Medicare are urged to check their Medicare health and prescription drug plans to make sure their plan still meet their needs.
Two things are new this year: the open enrollment time frame has been moved up and lengthened (to seven weeks from six) and Medicare will begin using its Five-Star Rating System to rate Medicare health plans based on quality and service.
David Sayen, Medicare’s regional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii will hold a press call at 12 p.m. noon on Friday, Oct. 14 to explain these changes and to answer questions from reporters.
The toll-free call-in number is: 877-267-1577.
The meeting ID number is: 9496.
(If you have trouble getting on the call, please redial the call-in number and the meeting ID number.)
I hope you can join this call.
Cheers,
Jack
Jack Cheevers
Public Information Officer, Region IX
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
90 Seventh St., Suite 5-300 (5W)
San Francisco, CA 94602
415-744-3723
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Written by Laura on 19 October 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: HHS Press Office
October 13, 2011 (202) 690-6343
Medicare Open Enrollment begins Saturday — seniors have more benefits, better choices, lower costs
Affordable Care Act gives seniors with Medicare cheaper prescription drugs, free preventive services, and lower costs
With more benefits, better choices and lower costs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging people with Medicare and their families to begin reviewing drug and health plan coverage options for 2012. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period — which begins earlier this year on Saturday, October 15 – has been expanded to last seven weeks and will end on December 7. This will give seniors and people with disabilities more time to compare and find the best plan that meets their unique needs. Across the country, HHS officials will hold 150 events in the days leading up to Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period to inform and educate people with Medicare.
“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, people with Medicare can get certain preventive services for free and can get more affordable prescription drugs,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Open enrollment is seniors’ chance to review their Medicare choices and pick the plan that works for them, or keep the plan they have today.”
Beginning today, people with Medicare can begin reviewing the 2012 quality ratings for Medicare Advantage health plans (Part C) and prescription drug plans (Part D) for the upcoming year.
This year CMS is highlighting plans that have achieved an overall quality rating of 5 stars with a high performer or “gold star” icon so people with Medicare can easily find high quality plans. People with Medicare can switch to an available 5-star plan at any time during the year.
Using Medicare’s Plan Finder – available at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan – people will see the enhanced star ratings for 2012. In addition to the enhanced star ratings for 2012 and new “gold star” icon, Plan Finder users will see an icon showing which plans received a low overall quality rating for the past three years.
“Over the past year, we have worked to improve health coverage choices for people with Medicare, and make it easier for people to find a plan that is both a good value and meets their health care needs,” said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D. “Due to these efforts, people with Medicare have good, meaningful choices for their 2012 plan options.”
In 2012, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, additional benefits to people with Medicare include lower prescription drug costs through a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the coverage gap (also referred to as the “donut hole”), wellness checkups, and access to certain preventive care with no copayments – a benefit that all Medicare Advantage plans will offer starting in 2012.
Resources for Medicare Beneficiaries
People with Medicare, their families and other trusted representatives can review and compare current plan coverage with new plan offerings, using many proven resources, including:
- Visiting www.medicare.gov, where they can get a personalized comparison of costs and coverage of the plans available in their area. The popular Medicare Plan Finder tool has been enhanced for an efficient review of plan choices. Spanish Open Enrollment information is available.
- Calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for around-the-clock assistance to find out more about coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Multilingual counseling is available.
- Reviewing the 2012 Medicare & You handbook. It is also accessible online at: http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf — and it has been mailed to the homes of people with Medicare.
- Getting one-on-one counseling assistance from the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Local SHIP contact information can be found:
o At http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/organization-search-criteria.aspx or
o On the back of the 2011 Medicare & You handbook or;
o By calling Medicare (contact information above).
o Through a listing of national stand-alone prescription drug plans and State specific fact sheets can be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/openenrollment.asp
People with Medicare who have limited incomes and resources may qualify for Extra Help paying for their prescription drug costs. There is no cost to apply for Extra Help, also called the low-income subsidy. Medicare beneficiaries, family members, trusted counselors or caregivers can apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778) to find out more.
Protecting Against Fraud and Identity Theft
During this Open Enrollment Period, Medicare recommends that people treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. People with Medicare should never give their personal information to anyone arriving at their home uninvited or making unsolicited phone calls selling Medicare-related products or services. Beneficiaries who believe they are a victim of fraud or identity theft should contact Medicare (contact information above). More information is available at www.stopmedicarefraud.gov
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
Keya Joy-Bush
CMS Office of Communications /Media Relations Group
(202) 690-7702 direct
(202) 690-6145 Media Office
(443) 324-9144 BB
keya.joy-bush@cms.hhs.gov
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Written by Laura on 19 October 2011
Here are the California fact sheets, providing big picture data like overall economic impact in the state and counties, local jobs supported, etc. Scroll down to Kern County’s specific fact sheet: http://investors.devryinc.com/Theme/DeVry/files/doc_presentations/CA_Economic_Impact_FS_Oct2011_v001_b1qud3.pdf
All other resources on the report are available here: http://investors.devryinc.com/Investor-Relations/Presentations-and-Reports/DeVry-Inc-Economic-Impact-Report/default.aspx
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Written by One Bakersfield on 03 September 2011
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. swore in Goodwin Liu to the Supreme Court of California today at the State Capitol.
The Governor was joined by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and leadership from the judicial, legislative and executive branches for this event.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 04 June 2011
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the death of veteran San Francisco Fire Department Firefighter Lt. Vincent Perez:
“Anne and I were saddened to learn of the death of Lt. Vincent Perez, a veteran firefighter who has bravely served his community for more than 20 years. Our thoughts are with those mourning this tragedy and we will continue to keep his colleague, Firefighter Anthony Valerio, in our prayers as he remains in critical condition.”
Lt. Vincent Perez, 48, was critically injured in a house fire in the Diamond Heights district of San Francisco yesterday. He was a 21 year veteran of the San Francisco Fire Department and previously served in the United States Marine Corps and as a Deputy Sheriff with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.
In honor of Lt. Perez, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 03 June 2011
Governor Brown Attends Brevetting Ceremony in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. today attended a California National Guard brevetting ceremony at Mather Airfield to honor Brigadier General David S. Baldwin as he was brevetted to the rank of major general. Governor Brown joined with members of Brigadier General David S. Baldwin’s family for the ceremony
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Written by One Bakersfield on 02 June 2011
SACRAMENTO – On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Capt. Joseph W. Schultz, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation. The Governor and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
In memorial, Governor Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol. Capt. Schultz’s family will receive a letter of condolence from the Governor.
Capt. Joseph W. Schultz, 36, of Sacramento, CA, died May 29 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC. Schultz was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 01 June 2011
SACRAMENTO – On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation. The Governor and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
In memorial, Governor Brown ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol today. Sgt. Blasjo’s family will receive a letter of condolence from the Governor.
Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo, 25, of Riverside, CA, died May 29 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rdSpecial Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC. Blasjo was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
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Written by One Bakersfield on 01 June 2011
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. will deliver remarks today at the 2011 California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Legislative Conference.
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