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Syrian government services come to ‘complete halt’ as workers stay at homeIn his first address after being declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, President-elect John Dramani Mahama urged Ghanaians to transform their frustrations into constructive actions, stressing the importance of unity and collaboration to rebuild the nation. Speaking to jubilant supporters on December 9, Mahama called for collective effort to restore the country’s progress and address its foundational challenges. Grateful for the historic mandate, Mahama began his speech by thanking the Almighty God for what he described as a divinely orchestrated victory. He also praised Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his statesmanship in conceding defeat before the official results were announced by the Electoral Commission. Mahama noted that Bawumia’s early concession helped diffuse tensions and ensured a smoother electoral process. The President-elect shared that he had received a congratulatory call from outgoing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during which they agreed to inaugurate a joint transitional team by December 11 to facilitate a smooth handover of power. Highlighting his victory as one of the most emphatic in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, Mahama emphasized that the mandate was a rejection of bad governance, corruption, and arrogance. He expressed gratitude to the electorate for their decisive action, calling it a call for change and a commitment to restoring good governance. Mahama also praised the election of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female Vice President, celebrating her leadership as a trailblazer for women in the country. He lauded her humility, decency, and dedication to breaking barriers, noting that she had opened the door for future generations of women to follow. Looking forward, Mahama vowed to prioritize governance reforms and the well-being of every Ghanaian, committing to provide affordable housing, healthcare, and sustainable jobs. He emphasized the need for unity in tackling the nation’s economic and social challenges, stressing that “we want a Ghana that works for everyone, not just a privileged few.” Addressing reports of vandalism in some areas, Mahama called for calm and urged Ghanaians to direct their frustrations into positive efforts for nation-building. “Let us be brief in our celebrations. The expectations of Ghanaians are high, and we cannot afford to fail them,” he said. In closing, Mahama reiterated his commitment to serve all Ghanaians, regardless of their political affiliation, and expressed confidence that Ghana’s best days were ahead of it. “Together, we will achieve the Ghana of our hopes and dreams,” he said, looking forward to a united and prosperous future.Renuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Health | US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Summary: LOS ANGELES , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VCA Animal Hospitals , a leader in comprehensive veterinary services and Antech , a leader in veterinary diagnostics, today published its Six-Step Framework for Companion Animal Public Health Collaboration, detailing how One Health organizations can integrate pets into a nationwide health response. This innovative framework outlines the necessary considerations and steps to quickly activate this response lever as part of public safety efforts. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between veterinary professionals, public health officials, and diagnostic experts to create a seamless and effective response system. Prior to the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approaches to understand the impacts of infectious disease outbreaks such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, on pets were limited and fragmented. A recent VCA study published in Viruses highlights the effectiveness of this new six-step framework in action with VCA and Antech working together to implement rapid-response monitoring and disease detection protocols. This collaboration enabled swift identification and management of COVID-19 cases, demonstrating the potential of the framework to address a critical knowledge gap bridging human and pet health during an emerging public health pandemic. "Traditionally, pets have largely been ignored in public health surveillance, but we want to change that," said Anne Kimmerlein DVM, MPVM, DACVPM, Veterinary Epidemiologist for VCA Animal Hospitals. "Thanks to the participation of our Associates and their pets, we were able to show the impact that the private veterinary sector can have when we come together to address an emerging public health threat. Based on that initial work, we've created a framework for continued and expanded One Health collaboration." The study involved a nationwide approach, focusing on households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans. Pets in these households were monitored for clinical signs consistent with SARS-CoV-2, and samples were collected for PCR and serological testing. The study included 747 dogs and 253 cats. The study highlighted the significance of being watchful of close human-animal contact and preventive measures to reduce transmission risks. The results indicated that pets can contract SARS-CoV-2, primarily through close contact with infected humans. While most pets showed mild or no symptoms, the study nonetheless underscored the recommendation for preventive measures such as good hand hygiene around pets to minimize transmission risks. The findings also demonstrated the potential for pets to seroconvert and develop antibodies, indicating exposure to the virus. "The results of this study show a significant step in advancing our understanding of how closely human and animal health are intertwined – and it was only possible through close collaboration between VCA and our team at Antech," said Christian Leutenegger , Dr. Med. Vet., Ph.D., FHV, Vice President of R&D, Assay Development at Antech Diagnostics . "The research provides a blueprint for continued ongoing collaboration to examine other types of infectious diseases that could impact our pets." VCA and Antech's six-step framework for One Health collaboration sets a new standard for integrating pets into nationwide health responses. By fostering collaboration and leveraging advanced diagnostic tools, this approach helps deliver a swift and effective response to public health crises. The success of the COVID-19 study serves as a testament to the potential of this innovative strategy. "Our commitment to One Health principles has never been stronger," said Marie Kerl , DVM, MPH, MBA, DACVIM, DACVECC and Chief Medical Officer for VCA Animal Hospitals. "By integrating pets into our nationwide health response, we can ensure a more comprehensive approach to public safety and health." To learn more about this groundbreaking framework, visit " Six-Step Framework for Companion Animal Public Health Collaboration ." About VCA Animal Hospitals A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to caring for the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people, and our communities. From general practice to emergency and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine to more than four million pets each year. Our national network of hospitals invests in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enables our Associates to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 430 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed veterinary technicians and more than 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, VCA is committed to its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. To learn more about VCA, visit vca.com . About Mars Veterinary Health Mars Veterinary Health is a global division of Mars Petcare dedicated to delivering high-quality pet healthcare to further its collective Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Mars Veterinary Health's 70,000 Associates across 3,000 global veterinary clinics put pets, people, and the planet first. The Mars Veterinary Health family includes Associates at AniCura, Banfield, BluePearl, Creature Comforts, Gentle Oak, Hillside, Linnaeus, Mount Pleasant, Tai Wai , VCA, VES, and VSH who demonstrate compassion and expertise while enabling 35 million pet visits each year. Learn more at marsveterinaryhealth.com . About Antech Antech is a leader in veterinary diagnostics, driven by our passion for innovation that delivers better animal health outcomes. Our products and services span 90+ reference laboratories around the globe; in-house diagnostic laboratory instruments and consumables, including rapid assay diagnostic products and digital cytology services; local and cloud-based data services; practice information management software and related software and support; veterinary imaging and technology; veterinary professional education and training; and board-certified specialist support services. As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, Antech is committed to its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Learn more at AntechDiagnostics.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vca-animal-hospitals-and-antech-advocate-for-more-comprehensive-pet-data-in-public-health-reporting-recommend-six-step-framework-for-one-health-collaboration-302326701.html SOURCE VCA Animal Hospitals

HIAWATHA, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 22, 2024-- Crystal Group, Inc., a trusted designer and manufacturer of rugged high-performance edge compute solutions in Eastern Iowa, announced today that Cale Stephens has been selected as its next VP, Advanced Technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122015505/en/ Cale Stephens has been appointed Crystal Group's VP, Advanced Technology. (Photo: Business Wire) Throughout Stephens’ 23-year tenure at Collins Aerospace, he held many engineering leadership roles, most recently as Senior Director, Collins Digital Technologies Engineering Enablement Solutions. "We’re thrilled to welcome Cale as our new VP, Advanced Technology. His extensive experience and proven track record in innovative technology management aligns perfectly with the demands of this role,” said Aaron Maue, President at Crystal Group. “Beyond his technical expertise, Cale embodies our core values—he’s committed to excellence, innovation, and collaboration, and he’s dedicated to helping others succeed. I’m confident that his leadership will play a key role in advancing Crystal Group’s mission to deliver unparalleled rugged tech solutions to our customers." In Stephens’ previous roles, he seamlessly led large international teams tasked with product lifecycle management, advanced product design, development, and support in the commercial and defense industries, providing resources for multiple simultaneous programs. His skill in integrating teams with a wide range of capabilities and responsibilities will be invaluable to Crystal Group’s employee-owners. "I’m excited to join Crystal Group at a time when technology innovation, program performance, and product quality, are driving the future of our industry,” said Stephens. “I’m committed to advancing our cutting-edge solutions and collaborating with our partners and customers to push the boundaries of what is possible. Together, we’ll build on Crystal Group’s legacy of delivering exceptional products for our customers’ demanding needs and requirements.” About Crystal Group, Inc. Crystal Group, Inc. is a leading provider of high-performance, rugged compute solutions for defense, government, commercial and industrial markets. Founded in 1987, this fast-growing, employee-owned business specializes in the design, customization, build and testing of rugged servers, embedded computers, networking devices, displays, and data storage for high reliability in harsh environments. Their integrated solutions meet or exceed IEEE, IEC, and military standards, including MIL-STD-810, 167-1, 461, and MIL-S-901, to bring seamless, real-time artificial intelligence, autonomy and cybersecurity to demanding edge applications. All products are manufactured in the company’s U.S. facility, certified to ISO 9001:2015/AS9100D standards and are backed by a five-plus-year warranty. ©2024 Crystal Group, Inc. All rights reserved. All marks are property of their respective owners. Design and specifications are subject to change. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122015505/en/ CONTACT: Ellie Gretter Phone: 319.294.3453 Email:ellie.gretter@crystalrugged.com KEYWORD: IOWA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING MILITARY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DEFENSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE NETWORKS HARDWARE OTHER MANUFACTURING DATA MANAGEMENT SECURITY GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SOURCE: Crystal Group, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/22/2024 01:00 PM/DISC: 11/22/2024 01:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122015505/enRelief, defiance, anger: Families and advocates react to Biden's death row commutations

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