New Study: 10.3 million gained health coverage during the Marketplace’s first annual open enrollment period
|
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today the release of a new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, estimating that 10.3 million uninsured adults gained health care coverage following the first open enrollment period in the Health Insurance Marketplace. The report examines trends in insurance before and after the open enrollment period and finds greater gains among those states that expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act.
“We are committed to providing every American with access to quality, affordable health services and this study reaffirms that the Affordable Care Act has set us on a path toward achieving that goal,” said Secretary Burwell. “This study also reaffirms that expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act is important for coverage, as well as a good deal for states. To date, 26 states plus D.C. have moved forward with Medicaid expansion. We’re hopeful remaining states will come on board and we look forward to working closely with them.” According to the authors’ findings, the uninsured rate for adults ages 18 to 64 fell from 21 percent in September 2013 to 16.3 percent in April 2014. After taking into account economic factors and pre-existing trends, this corresponded to a 5.2 percentage-point change, or 10.3 million adults gaining coverage. The decline in the uninsured was significant for all age, race/ethnicity, and gender groups, with the largest changes occurring among Latinos, blacks, and adults ages 18-34 – groups the Administration targeted for outreach during open enrollment. Coverage gains were concentrated among low-income adults in states expanding Medicaid and among individuals in the income range eligible for Marketplace subsidies. The study finds a 5.1 percentage point reduction in the uninsured rate associated with Medicaid expansion, while in states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs, the change in the uninsured rate among low-income adult populations was not statistically significant. Today’s study also looks at access to care, and finds that within the first six months of gaining coverage, more adults (approximately 4.4 million) reported having a personal doctor and fewer (approximately 5.3 million) experienced difficulties paying for medical care. Today’s study does not include data from before 2012, as coverage was changing rapidly during this period. This means the results do not include the more than 3 million young adults who gained health insurance coverage through their parents’ plans. The analysis builds on previous studies by reviewing a larger sample size and taking into account changes in the economy and pre-existing trends in insurance coverage. Using survey data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for January 1, 2012, through June 30, 2014, the authors analyzed changes in the uninsured rate over time. This is also the first study to associate reductions in the uninsured rate with state-level statistics on enrollment in the Marketplaces and Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, as described in HHS enrollment reports, and to assess the impact of the improved coverage on access to care. To read the article visit: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/ |
星期四, 7月 24, 2014
New Study: 10.3 million gained health coverage during the Marketplace’s first annual open enrollment period
星期三, 7月 23, 2014
WOMEN & INFANTS HOSPITAL TO PAY $150,000 TO SETTLE DATA BREACH ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING MASSACHUSETTS PATIENTS
WOMEN & INFANTS HOSPITAL TO PAY $150,000 TO SETTLE DATA BREACH ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING MASSACHUSETTS PATIENTS
Hospital Allegedly Failed to Protect Personal Information and Protected Health Information of More Than 12,000 Massachusetts Patients
BOSTON – Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island (WIH) has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to protect the personal information and protected health information of more than 12,000 patients in Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.
The consent judgment, approved yesterday by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball, resulted from a data breach reported to the AG’s Office in November 2012 that included patients’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, dates of exams, physicians’ names, and ultrasound images.
“Personal information and protected health information must be properly safeguarded by hospitals and other healthcare entities,” AG Coakley said. “This data breach put thousands of Massachusetts consumers at risk, and it is the hospital’s responsibility to ensure that this type of event does not happen again.”
In April 2012, WIH realized that it was missing 19 unencrypted back-up tapes from two of its Prenatal Diagnostic Centers, one located in Providence, Rhode Island and the other located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The back-up tapes contained the personal information and protected health information of 12,127 Massachusetts residents.
In the summer of 2011, these back-up tapes were supposed to be sent to a central data center at WIH’s parent company, Care New England Health System and then shipped off-site in order to transfer legacy radiology information to a new picture archiving and communications system. However, due to an inadequate inventory and tracking system, WIH allegedly did not discover the tapes were missing until the spring of 2012. Due to deficient employee training and internal policies, the breach was not properly reported under the breach notification statute to the AG’s Office and to consumers until the fall of 2012.
Under the terms of the settlement, WIH has agreed to take steps to ensure future compliance with state and federal data security laws and regulations, including maintaining an up-to-date inventory of the locations, custodians, and descriptions of unencrypted electronic media and paper patient charts containing personal information and protected health information. The hospital also agreed to perform a review and audit of security measures and to take any corrective measures recommended in the review.
According to the settlement, WIH will pay a $110,000 civil penalty, $25,000 for attorney’s fees and costs, and a payment of $15,000 to a fund to be used by the Attorney General’s Office to promote education concerning the protection of personal information and protected health information and a fund for future data security litigation.
The AG’s Office is focused on ensuring that health care practices and their business associates abide by the state’s date security laws and federal data privacy requirements under HIPAA and the HITECH Act. Efforts include the $750,000 settlement with South Shore Hospital in May 2012, resolving allegations that it failed to protect the personal information and protected health information of more than 800,000 patients. In 2013, the AG’s Office reached a $140,000 settlement with medical billing company Goldthwait Associates and its client pathology groups over allegations that sensitive medical records and confidential billing information for tens of thousands of Massachusetts patients were improperly disposed of at a public dump in Georgetown.
This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Shannon Choy-Seymour of the Health Care Division.
AG COAKLEY APPLAUDS SIGNING OF FLOOD INSURANCE LEGISLATION INTO LAW
AG COAKLEY APPLAUDS SIGNING OF FLOOD INSURANCE LEGISLATION INTO LAW
BOSTON – Following Governor Patrick’s signing of legislation, filed by Attorney General Martha Coakley and House Speaker Robert DeLeo to prevent dramatic increases in flood insurance premiums, AG Coakley issued this statement:
“The proposed federal flood insurance changes were inherently unfair to thousands of Massachusetts families. This new law, combined with recent changes to the National Flood Insurance program, will offer greater protection to families who could face unsustainable rate increases through no fault of their own. I extend my thanks to Speaker DeLeo for his leadership and partnership on this important bill, to members of the House and Senate for their support, and to the Governor for signing this into law. ”
BACKGROUND:
AG Coakley testified with Speaker DeLeo on their legislation, An Act Relative to Flood Insurance before the Joint Committee on Financial Services on February 27. The legislation was filed by AG Coakley and Speaker DeLeo, and co-sponsored by Representatives Cantwell, Bradley, Josh Cutler, Bruce Ayers, Tim Madden, David Vieira, Vinny deMacedo, Senator Robert Hedlund, and Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who previously served as a state senator. In March 2014, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation. The bill passed the Senate in June 2014.
The new law prohibits creditors from requiring homeowners to purchase flood insurance in an amount that exceeds the outstanding balance of a mortgage, or the value of a home equity line of credit. Additionally, it prevents creditors from requiring flood insurance to cover contents of a home, and bars policies from having deductibles less than $5,000.
Tying the amount of required coverage to the outstanding mortgage balance, instead of a higher amount, will keep premiums lower for homeowners in the National Flood Insurance Program. Homeowners will still have the option of purchasing a greater amount of insurance.
The law requires, in each instance flood insurance is required, a notice to be provided to homeowners explaining that insurance coverage will only protect the creditor or lender’s interest in the property, and may not be sufficient to pay for repairs or property loss after a flood.
The new law will take effect 120 days after being signed by the Governor.
In March, President Obama signed into law bi-partisan legislation that limits rate increases to 18 percent per year, and calls on FEMA to limit premiums to 1 percent of the total coverage of each policy.
孫琰角逐羅德島州東格林威治鎮學校委員
 |
| 羅德島大學副教授孫琰（右）參選東格林威治鎮學校委員會委員， 已徵得丈夫（左）支持。（周菊子攝） |
羅德島大學電腦工程副教授孫琰（Yan Sun），已於六月底宣布參選羅州東格林威治鎮學校委員會委員，並遞交了比規定要求的五十個還多一倍的支持簽名，鐵定成為八名候選人之一，角逐該鎮學校委員會的四席空缺之一。
 |
| 羅德島大學副教授孫琰（中）參選東格林威治鎮學校委員會委員， 緣起於張耀華（左）的推動，以及也住在東格林威治村的 吳子平鼓勵。（周菊子攝） |
孫琰來自中國北京，約十年前來美深造，從馬里蘭大學取得博士學位。她認為自己的執教經驗，電腦工程專業，都能為學校委員會的改革學區發揮大作用。
 |
| 羅德島州州長候選人馮偉杰（左二）稱讚孫琰（右）一級棒。 （周菊子攝） |
孫琰和丈夫搬到羅德島州已逾十年，大約一年多前才遷居東格林威治鎮，並加入當地一個約有兩百多人的“東格林威治追求卓越家長會（East
Greenwich Parents for Excellence）”。
孫琰自己有兩個分別六歲，八歲，正在讀小學的小孩，深感校委會應和更多家長溝通，再做決策。她坦言自己決定參選，這也是原因之一。她的競選網站是https://www.facebook.com/YanSun4SC。
對東格林威治鎮學校委員會計劃很有意見的“東格林威治追求卓越家長會“，在孫琰之外，今年還推出了Michael Fain，Kristin
Lehoullier 和 David Osborne等人，以獨立無黨派身份參選。
東格林威治鎮的學校委員會共有七名委員，一任兩年，每年改選三席，四席，以確保傳承。今年輪到改選四席。其他的候選人包括競選連任的共和黨籍委員Mary
Ellen Winters，校委會主席David
Green，以及獨立無黨派的 Jack Sommer 。學校委員會有任期最長十二年的限制。
東格林威治鎮成立於1677年，是羅德島州的一個小鎮，根據2010年的人口統計調查，在13,146名居民中，有亞裔538人，佔總人口4.1%，其中有華人204名。鎮內有一所高中，一所中學，四所小學。
波士頓臺大校友夏日聚餐比做甜點競跳Zumba 樂
大波士頓地區台灣大學校友會十九日假波士頓華僑文教中心旁的海德社區中心舉辦年度郊遊野餐。八，九十名校友扶老攜幼到會，欣賞才藝表演，大跳Zumba舞，歡聲笑語，情誼更深。
臺大校友會早年是大波士頓最活躍的華人社團，其後因為資深校友凋零，遷居他州或回台者日增，一度沉寂。最近這幾年，歷經陳翠玲，陳盈靜，張維鈞，以及本屆的范美蓉等新一代會長攜手努力，又見欣欣向榮，人氣大旺。
十九日這天該會還別出心裁的舉辦“甜點趣味競賽”。五名捧場校有，費心設計，製作出的精美甜點，讓駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠，波士頓僑務委員馬滌凡，以及資深僑領蔣宗壬等三人，決定人人有獎，來個皆大歡喜。
比賽結果，倪鐵桃的龍眼糕第一名，王月娥的地瓜麻糬第二名，冉榆平的杏仁豆腐，陳盈靜的櫻桃甜點，柯又升的輕乳酪蛋糕，同得第三名。
當天的音樂表演，也另有特色，先由電機系畢業的張楊明演唱義大利民謠Santa
Lucia，資深校有任中立，羅芬夫婦合唱“相逢夕陽下”，再由羅德島大學教授孫瓔和他的作曲家妻子，四歲女兒孫翊庭，一家三口，先後表演彈吉他，演奏新作鋼琴曲“星星的誕生“，演唱，彈鋼琴等。
來美已逾三十年的校友張揚明在演唱Santa Lucia前表示，他小學時就喜歡上這首歌，但當年覺得那歌的中文翻譯不對，雖然喜歡，卻從來沒唱。如今拜網路之賜，他把原文找了出來，才開始唱。
網路上的維基百科指這首歌應是那不勒斯民歌，在義大利統一過程中，翻譯成義大利文，當做船歌出版。歌名桑塔露琪婭指的是在北歐被尊為光明女神的基督教殉教聖女聖露西，也有光明的意思。
黃思瑜彈奏時，一名校友透露，黃思瑜曾於2013年在義大利IBLA國際大賽中贏得作曲最傑出獎，最近還又應邀赴外國演出，臺大校友們當天能聽到她演奏新曲，挺有福氣。
臺大校友會這次的夏日聚會，現場活力最充沛的時段，是2000級經濟系的蔡孟儒帶跳Zumba舞。下場舞動的人都跳上了癮，不少校友還向蔡孟儒索要聯絡方式，探問開班的可能性。
當天有許多久未出席的校友，紛紛結伴而來。如今一半時間在台灣，一半時間在美國的許千美，牛正基夫婦就笑說自己正好趕上，既見到老朋友，又認識了諸如王啟恆等年輕校友，很是開心。
查詢臺大校友會詳情，可上網http://gbaantu.org。
圖片說明：
大波士頓地區台灣大學校友會會長范美蓉（中）邀經文處長洪慧珠，以及馬滌凡（左一），蔣宗壬（右一）頒獎給甜點比賽得獎人，右起，王月娥，倪鐵桃，柯又升，陳盈靜，冉榆平。（菊子攝）
大波士頓中華文化協會前任會長黃淑英（前右三），候任會長周映秋（前右二）和史美芳（前左二）等台大校友共舞同歡。（菊子攝）
紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長游子揚（右二）陪同他的台大校友妻子陳楷雯負責校友報到，接待前任會長張維均（左一），陳盈靜夫婦。（菊子攝）
黃思瑜（左起），孫瓔，陪著女兒孫翊庭表演。（菊子攝）
牛正基（左），許千美（右）夫婦，剛從台灣回來，正好趕上校友聚會。（菊子攝）
Patrick Administration Announces Joint Enforcement Task Force on the Underground Economy Recovered $15.6 Million from Fraudulent Employment Practices
Patrick
Administration Announces Joint Enforcement Task Force on the Underground
Economy Recovered $15.6 Million from Fraudulent Employment Practices
BOSTON –July 23,
2014-Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rachel Kaprielian today
announced that the Joint Enforcement Task Force on the Underground Economy and
Employee Misclassification (JTF) recovered $15,658,226 in unpaid wages, back
taxes, unemployment insurance premiums, fines and penalties through thousands
of compliance checks and investigations in 2013.
Governor Deval Patrick established the JTF through Executive Order 499
in March 2008. Since then, the JTF has grown to 17 agencies including the
Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Department of Revenue (DOR), Department of
Unemployment Assistance (DUA), Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) and
Department of Labor Standards (DLS) and has collected nearly $56 million from unlawful
businesses by enforcing labor, licensing and tax laws.
“The coordinated investigations and comprehensive enforcement efforts of
the JTF have paid off in better protections for more workers and millions of dollars
recouped from unscrupulous businesses,” said Governor Patrick. “The task force
has proven to be an effective mechanism for enhancing cooperation between state
agencies, sharing information and prosecuting violators.”
“Companies and individuals who
willfully avoid the law by misclassifying employees as independent contractors
or engage in the fraudulent employment practices of the underground economy put
workers’ safety at risk, place legitimate businesses at a disadvantage and burden
taxpayers,” said Secretary Kaprielian.
“The Joint Task Force works
aggressively to end the underground economy, which undermines our state's
economy and workers' rights,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said. “This
ongoing effort ensures that we are protecting workers by combatting fraud and
abuse, returning significant funds to the Commonwealth, and leveling the
playing field for all businesses that play by the rules.”
As detailed in the JTF 2013 Annual
Report, the JTF received 176 direct tips through the tip line and online
referral service along with hundreds of complaints made directly to partner
agencies. In addition to the compliance
checks, the JTF’s investigative work included 103 stop work orders issued by
DIA, 32 civil citations through the AGO and 124 DOR investigations.
“When the underground economy is
allowed to flourish, workers are denied basic workplace rights and protections,
legitimate businesses find they cannot compete, consumers are subject to
unregulated goods and unlicensed services and Massachusetts is cheated out of
revenue that could otherwise fund worthy programs and services,” stated Heather
Rowe, Director of the Department of Labor Standards and the Joint Task
Force. “Working together, the partner
agencies of the Task Force are committed to addressing fraudulent employment
practices using our existing resources.”
“The Joint Task Force on the Underground
Economy seeks to help both employers and employees comply with Massachusetts
employment laws in a manner that ensures a level economic playing field,” said
Brad MacDougall, VP for Government Affairs of Associated Industries of
Massachusetts. “AIM participates because the fair enforcement of employment
laws and regulations impacts the business climate and employers’ ability to
create jobs.”
Among the more notable accomplishments of the JTF was the outcome of a
two-year state and federal investigation into two farm labor camps operated by
Chang & Sons Enterprises Inc. in Western Massachusetts where workers and
their families were exposed to unsafe and unhealthy living conditions and
workers toiled long hours with little pay. In April 2013, the U.S. Department
of Labor ordered Chang &Sons to pay workers $305,500 in back wages, fined the
company $10,267 and permanently enjoined it from exploiting future workers.
Governor Patrick recently signed
legislation making the JTF a permanent investigatory unit. Among the goals and
objectives, the JTF will focus on increasing the volume and impact of cross-agency enforcement
by maximizing future potential cooperation
between agencies and creating educational material for businesses and workers.
“I am very happy with the Joint Task Force’s continuous work on bringing
fraudulent employment practices to light, and their tireless efforts to provide
a fair playing field for business competition in the Commonwealth,” said
Senator Dan Wolf (D-Harwich), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and
Workforce Development. “That it will now be a permanent fixture in the
Department of Labor Standards will ensure that those who are treated unfairly
or face undue risks at their jobs have a dependable advocate to fight for
them.”
To learn more about the Joint
Enforcement Task Force on the Underground Economy and Employee
Misclassification go to www.mass.gov/lwd/jtf.
Workers who believe that their rights
have been violated and businesses who suspect they are at an economic disadvantage
because of unscrupulous competitors are urged to call the Attorney General’s
Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or the Joint Task Force Referral Line at
(877) 965-2267, email tips to jtftips@state.ma.us, or visit the Joint Task Force website
at www.mass.gov/lwd/jtf to submit complaints.
Below are additional comments about the work of the JTF
from member agencies and advocates.
William F. Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth:
“The office of the
Secretary of State is proud to assist the Task Force in its important
efforts to eliminate fraudulent employment activity, promote workplace rights
and protections and to level the playing field for legitimate business. The
Corporations Division has assisted the Task Force by pursuing entities
organized under the laws of other states or countries that are doing business
here but have failed to register to do so, thereby avoiding disclosing
information to the public, paying taxes and workers compensation and otherwise
failing to comply with the laws of the Commonwealth. Communication among
the more than 15 participating state agencies is the key to the success of the
Task Force.”
Carole Cornelison, Commissioner for the Division of
Capital Asset Management and Maintenance:
“DCAMM holds
businesses that perform public work to the highest standards for compliance and
employee protection, and we take that role very seriously,” said Carole
Cornelison, Commissioner for the Division of Capital Asset Management and
Maintenance. “The Joint Task Force is an important collaboration across
state agencies and serves as the initial check point, ensuring that businesses
are law-abiding and treating their employees fairly. This effort has resulted
in more businesses rising to meet these expectations of excellence.”
Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, Executive Director, Massachusetts
Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health
“Each week at MassCOSH,
workers laboring long hours in dangerous jobs report that their wages were
stolen or that their employer tried to deter them from reporting an injury
because the employer lacked workers compensation. Some workers
aren’t even sure who their employer is – because they are paid through a third
party, be it a temp agency or subcontractor. The JTF has been critical in
being able to investigate these situations, identify who is responsible and
ensure that they comply with all of our state’s laws.”
Monica Halas, Lead
Attorney, Employment Law Unit, Greater Boston Legal Services
On behalf of legal aid clients, many of whom are the victims
of wage theft by unscrupulous employers and fly-by-night temporary staffing
agencies in the underground economy, we are so appreciative of the work of the
Joint Task Force.
Robert Hooper,
Assistant Regional Administrator, Region I, OSHA
“This cooperative
effort helps enhance the safety and well-being of workers who might otherwise
be exposed to injury, illness or exploitation,” said Robert Hooper, OSHA’s
acting regional administrator for New England. “Our sharing and exchange of
information enables us and the other task force members to reach and assist
vulnerable workers and increase compliance by employers.”
Carlos Matos, US DOL, Wage and Hour Division, District
Director
“Worker
misclassification is a serious issue and there are various business models that
attempt to make employment relationships cloudy in order to evade compliance
with labor laws. The classification of a worker as either an “employee”
or an “independent contractor” has significant implications on compensation for
hours worked,” said Carlos Matos, the Wage and Hour Division’s district
director. “That is why The Wage and Hour Division and The Massachusetts
Joint Task Force will coordinate enforcement efforts to ensure employers review
their pay practices to ensure full compliance and employees receive the
protections to which they are entitled under federal and state laws.”
Michael Felsen, US DOL, Regional Solicitor of
Labor for New England
“The U.S. Department of Labor values greatly its ongoing collaboration
with the Massachusetts Joint Task Force,” said Michael Felsen, regional
Solicitor of Labor for New England. “By working together to address the
multiple problems presented by misclassification of employees as independent
contractors, USDOL and Massachusetts are leveraging their resources to ensure
that workers’ rights are protected, and that law-abiding employers are able to
do their business on a level playing field.”
中華成棒隊抵麻州培訓 今起七場友誼賽
(駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處新聞稿）
中華成棒代表隊一行40人由呂明賜總教練率領，在結束荷蘭哈連盃比賽後，於本(2014)年7月21日飛抵波士頓進行移地訓練，將與麻薩諸塞州Worcester、Lynn、Brockton、North Adams及新罕布夏州Portsmouth及Rindge等地球隊舉行7場友誼表演賽，該代表隊預訂於8月1日搭機返國。檢附賽程活動資料如附件，歡迎僑胞、留學生屆時踴躍前往觀賽加油。
中華成棒代表隊一行40人由呂明賜總教練率領，在結束荷蘭哈連盃比賽後，於本(2014)年7月21日飛抵波士頓進行移地訓練，將與麻薩諸塞州Worcester、Lynn、Brockton、North Adams及新罕布夏州Portsmouth及Rindge等地球隊舉行7場友誼表演賽，該代表隊預訂於8月1日搭機返國。檢附賽程活動資料如附件，歡迎僑胞、留學生屆時踴躍前往觀賽加油。
另麻州Worcester地區商會為歡迎該隊來訪，特別於本(7)月28日（週一）上午11時30分至下午5時假烏斯特州立大學(Worcester
State University)舉行促進台灣與烏斯特地區經貿及教育交流座談會，麻州前副州長Timothy
Murray、本處洪處長慧珠、經濟組石組長大玲及教育組黃組長薳玉等均將到場致辭。座談會結束後，該商會將於College
of the Holy Cross之Fitton球場舉行酒會。檢附該活動資料如附件，歡迎有意者踴躍向該商會報名參加。報名方式：聯絡人：Sam Johnson，電郵：sjohnson@worcesterchamber.org，電話：1-508-753-2924。
日期
|
時間
|
地點
|
比賽隊伍
|
7月22日
|
6:35p.m.
|
Leary Field Portsmouth, NH
|
Seacoast Mavericks
|
7月23日
|
7:00p.m.
|
Fraser Field, Lynn, MA
|
Area Code Team
|
7月25日
|
7:00p.m.
|
Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, NH
|
Lunnenburg Phillies
|
7月27日
|
4:30p.m.
|
Joe Wolfe Field, North Adams, MA
|
North Adams SteepleCats
|
7月28日
|
7:00p.m.
|
Fitton Field, College of the Holy Cross
|
Worcester Bravehearts
|
7月29日
|
7:00p.m.
|
Fitton Field, College of the Holy Cross
|
New England Elite All-Stars
|
7月30日
|
7:00p.m.
|
Campanelli Stadium, Brockton, MA
|
Cranberry League All-Stars
|
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)