In a statement issued Sept. 28, the Department of Veterans Affairs warned that funding for veterans benefits “will run out by late October” if the federal government shuts down. “At that point, VA will be unable to make any payments.” While claims processors at the Veterans Benefits Administration would continue working after a shutdown, funding… Keep reading →
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Almost 85 percent of the health plans offered in the Exchange Marketplaces launching October 1 are accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a strong presence confirming NCQA’s role as a leader in health care quality. “The overwhelming preference for NCQA Accreditation is a gratifying reminder that NCQA is the gold standard in… Keep reading →
National security cannot be diminished in the event of a federal government shutdown, American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger said Monday. “The political impasse that is threatening to shut down the U.S. government cannot and must not compromise the readiness and welfare of our armed forces and their support personnel,” said Dellinger, who leads… Keep reading →
The political showdown developing in Congress regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could bear negative implications for the U.S. healthcare industry, according to Fitch Ratings, especially if these debates dampen the early benefits of expanding health insurance coverage through the ACA. Fitch believes the implementation of the ACA’s health insurance expansion elements in early 2014… Keep reading →
Obama’s Justification for Closing the Small Business Administration Doesn’t Add Up, According to the American Small Business League
By businesswireASBL President Lloyd Chapman issued the following: Ronald Reagan tried to permanently close the Small Business Administration (SBA) during his administration. His plan to permanently close the SBA was to combine it with the Department of Commerce. In November of 2008, I predicted President Obama would try and close the SBA by combining it with… Keep reading →
ION Engineering (ION) today announced that the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (DOE-FE) will provide $15 million to support a CO2 (carbon dioxide) capture one megawatt equivalent (1 MWe) pilot project at Nebraska Public Power District’s Gerald Gentleman Station in Sutherland, Neb. ION and partners will contribute another $4 million in matching funds… Keep reading →
SolarWorld, Coalition for U.S. Solar Manufacturing Respond to SEIA Proposal Regarding U.S.-China Solar Trade Dispute
By businesswireThe following statement is from Gordon Brinser, the U.S. president of manufacturing for SolarWorld Industries America Inc., leader of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), in response to a proposal from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) regarding settlement of the U.S. solar trade cases against China: “While we appreciate the efforts of the… Keep reading →
Purdue University Software Toolkit Provides Visual Analytics to Aid Law Enforcement, First-Responders
By businesswirePurdue University researchers have developed a new tool for law enforcement officers and disaster assistance first-responders to reduce crime and assist people. The tool is called the Visual Analytics Law Enforcement Toolkit, or VALET. Developed at Purdue’s Homeland Security Center of Excellence, the toolkit software provides real-time data so officers can analyze high-volume criminal, traffic… Keep reading →
Health Care Spending Growth Slowed in 2012, But Consumers Continued To Spend More Out-of-Pocket, Says New HCCI Report
By businesswireFor the third consecutive year, the growth rate of health care spending among privately insured people under age 65 remained low at 4.0 percent, says the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI). Health care spending averaged $4,701 per person with employer-sponsored coverage in 2012, up $181 from the year before. In addition, out-of-pocket spending rose more… Keep reading →
Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. announced today that the United States Coast Guard has awarded a $5.3 million task order to install and implement energy-conserving upgrades at the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Using an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) from the Department of Energy, the cost of the project will be… Keep reading →