Health Care | Pro President Obama Blog

The Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) Hospital Cost Comparison & Peace Officers Memorial Day

05/14/2013

Administration offers consumers an unprecedented look at hospital charges

May 8, 2013 hhs.gov

Today, as part of the Obama administration’s work to make our health care system more affordable and accountable, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a three-part initiative that for the first time gives consumers information on what hospitals charge. New data released today show significant variation across the country and within communities in what hospitals charge for common inpatient services. Also today, HHS made approximately $87 million available to states to enhance their rate review programs and further health care pricing transparency. In an example of how these data might be used, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is planning a data visualization challenge which will further the dissemination of these data to larger audiences.

“Currently, consumers don’t know what a hospital is charging them or their insurance company for a given procedure, like a knee replacement, or how much of a price difference there is at different hospitals, even within the same city,” Secretary Sebelius said. “This data and new data centers will help fill that gap.”

The data posted today on CMS’s website include information comparing the charges for services that may be provided during the 100 most common Medicare inpatient stays. Hospitals determine what they will charge for items and services provided to patients and these “charges” are the amount the hospital generally bills for an item or service.

“Transformation of the health care delivery system cannot occur without greater price transparency,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., RWJF president and CEO. “While more work lies ahead, the release of these hospital price data will allow us to shine a light on the often vast variations in hospital charges.” These amounts can vary widely. For example, average inpatient charges for services a hospital may provide in connection with a joint replacement range from a low of $5,300 at a hospital in Ada, Okla., to a high of $223,000 at a hospital in Monterey Park, Calif.

Even within the same geographic area, hospital charges for similar services can vary significantly. For example, average inpatient hospital charges for services that may be provided to treat heart failure range from a low of $21,000 to a high of $46,000 in Denver, Colo., and from a low of $9,000 to a high of $51,000 in Jackson, Miss.

To make these data useful to consumers, HHS is also providing funding to data centers to collect, analyze, and publish health pricing and medical claims reimbursement data. The data centers’ work helps consumers better understand the comparative price of procedures in a given region or for a specific health insurer or service setting. Businesses and consumers alike can use these data to drive decision-making and reward cost-effective provision of care.

The Affordable Care Act also makes available many tools to help ensure consumers, Medicare, and other payers get the best value for their health care dollar. Medicare is beginning to pay providers based on the quality they provide rather than just the quantity of services they furnish by implementing new programs such as value-based purchasing and readmissions reductions. HHS awarded $170 million to states to enhance their rate review programs, and since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the proportion of insurance company requests for double-digit rate increases fell from 75 percent in 2010 to 14 percent so far in 2013.

The Health Care Law and You

Hospital Dataset http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/Medicare-Provider-Charge-Data/index.html

Funding Opportunity announcement http://www.grants.gov, and search for CFDA # 93.511 .

“ Because of the Affordable Care Act, insurers now have to justify double-digit rate increases publicly, for everybody to see. And most states have new authority thanks to incentives under this law to reject unjustifiable rate increases. Insurers are now required to spend at least 80 percent of the money you pay in premiums on actual health care -– not on profits, not on overhead, but on you. And if they fail to meet that target, they actually have to reimburse you — either with a rebate or lower premiums. Millions of Americans discovered this last year — they opened an envelope from their insurance company that wasn’t a bill, it was a check. That’s already happened. A lot of people don’t know it, but that’s what the Affordable Care Act is all about.

Beginning this week, as part of the law’s price transparency tools, we made public the prices that different hospitals charge you for most common services, so you can see if you’re getting what you pay for. And soon, bad actors in the insurance industry will never again be able to discriminate against you just because you’ve gotten sick in the past. They can’t discriminate against you because you’ve got a preexisting condition. And, by the way, they can’t charge you more just for being a woman. Pregnancy will no longer be considered a preexisting condition.

And finally, beginning this fall, if you’re one of the millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance, you’ll finally have the chance to buy quality, affordable care just like everybody else.

So here’s how this is going to work. We’re setting up a new online marketplace where, beginning October 1st, you can go online, or talk to organizations in every state that are going to have this set up, and you can then comparison shop an array of private health insurance plans. You can look at them side-by-side, just like you’d go online and compare cars. And because you’ll now be part of a new pool of millions of other Americans, part of this exchange, insurance companies will actually want to compete for your business the same way they compete for the business of a big company with a lot of employees.

So once these marketplaces are up and running, no one can be turned away from private insurance plans. Period. If you’re sick, you’ll finally have the same chance to buy quality, affordable health care as everybody else. If you can’t afford to buy private insurance, if it’s still too expensive — even though you’re getting much better prices through these exchanges than you would in the individual market, going out there by yourself, or if you work for just a small company that doesn’t have a lot of leverage with insurance companies you’re going to have a better deal through these exchanges — but if you still can’t afford it, then you’re going to get help reducing your out-of-pocket premiums with the largest health care tax cut for working families and small businesses in our history.

So what does all this mean? It means that if you lose your job, or you change your job, or you start that new business, you’ll still be able to purchase quality, affordable care that’s yours — and you’ll have the security and peace of mind that comes with it. If you’re a young person expecting to try many different jobs and careers until you find one that suits you, you’ll be able to buy insurance that goes with you, travels with you, that gives you the freedom to pursue whatever you want without the fear that illness or accident somehow derails your dreams.

So there’s a lot that this law is already doing for Americans with insurance, and there is a lot more that is going to happen for folks who don’t have insurance. But we’ve still got a lot of work to do in the coming months to make sure more Americans can buy affordable coverage. “

President Obama 5/10/13

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Peace Officers Memorial Day

Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and Federal peace officers. The Memorial takes place on May 15, and Police Week is the calendar week in which the Memorial falls.

John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 1, 1962. Amended in 1994, Bill Clinton, through Public Law 103-322, directed that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on May 15.

“Day after day, police officers in every corner of America suit up, put on the badge, and carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve. They step out the door every morning without considering bravery or heroics. They stay focused on meeting their responsibilities. They concentrate on keeping their neighborhoods safe and doing right by their fellow officers. And with quiet courage, they help fulfill the demanding yet vital task of shielding our people from harm. It is work that deserves our deepest respect — because when darkness and danger would threaten the peace, our police officers are there to step in, ready to lay down their lives to protect our own.

This week, we pay solemn tribute to men and women who did. Setting aside fear and doubt, these officers made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the rule of law and the communities they loved. They heard the call to serve and answered it; braved the line of fire; charged toward the danger. Our hearts are heavy with their loss, and on Peace Officers Memorial Day, our Nation comes together to reflect on the legacy they left us.

As we mark this occasion, let us remember that we can do no greater service to those who perished than by upholding what they fought to protect. That means doing everything we can to make our communities safer. It means putting cops back on the beat and supporting them with the tools and training they need. It means getting weapons of war off our streets and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals — common-sense measures that would reduce gun violence and help officers do their job safely and effectively.”

5/10/13 President Barack Obama

Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) – Donate

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Posted by CR

21st Century Drug Policy

04/25/2013

Drug Policy Reform In Action: A 21st Century Approach

Posted by Cameron Hardesty on April 24, 2013 at 10:16 AM EDT

The President has outlined his vision of an America built to last—where an educated, skilled workforce has the knowledge, energy and expertise to compete in the global marketplace. Yet–for far too many Americans–that vision is limited by drug use, which not only diminishes the potential of the individual, but jeopardizes families, communities and neighborhoods.

The economic costs of drug use are enormous: In 2007 alone, illicit drug use cost taxpayers more than $193 billion in lost productivity, healthcare, and criminal justice costs. But the human costs are worse. Nationwide, drug-induced overdose deaths now surpass homicides and car crashes as the leading cause of injury death in America.

We are not powerless to address these challenges. And as recent data has shown, we are not unable to reverse these trends. Prescription drug abuse is beginning to decline. Cocaine use and related overdoses are dropping. And recent data show the nation’s prison and jail population dropping for the third straight year.

Today we are releasing a science-driven plan for drug policy reform in America to build upon this progress. This 21^st century drug policy outlines a series of evidence-based reforms that treat our Nation’s drug problem as a public health issue, not just a criminal justice issue. This policy underscores what we all know to be true: we cannot arrest or incarcerate our way out of the drug problem.

For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/24/drug-policy-reform-action-21st-century-approach

Office of National Drug Control Policy
Policy and Research
Issues
Prevention
Prescription Drug Abuse
Enforcement
Treatment and Recovery
President Obama’s Plan
Sign Up to Learn More
Subustance Abuse & Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Treatment Locator app

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Fiscal Year 2014 WH Budget & Ch. (Capt) E.J. Kapaun, Medal of Honor Recipient

04/10/2013

April 10, 2013

Remarks by the President Announcing the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget

Rose Garden

11:00 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. Please, please have a seat. Well, as President, my top priority is to do everything I can to reignite what I consider to be the true engine of the American economy: a rising, thriving middle class. That’s what I think about every day. That’s the driving force behind every decision that I make.

And over the past three years, our businesses have created nearly 6.5 million new jobs. But we know we can help them create more. Corporate profits are at an all-time high. But we have to get wages and incomes rising, as well. Our deficits are falling at the fastest pace in years. But we can do more to bring them down in a balanced and responsible way.

The point is, our economy is poised for progress — as long as Washington doesn’t get in the way. Frankly, the American people deserve better than what we’ve been seeing: a shortsighted, crisis-driven decision-making, like the reckless, across-the-board spending cuts that are already hurting a lot of communities out there — cuts that economists predict will cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs during the course of this year.

If we want to keep rebuilding our economy on a stronger, more stable foundation, then we’ve got to get smarter about our priorities as a nation. And that’s what the budget I’m sending to Congress today represents — a fiscally responsible blueprint for middle-class jobs and growth.

For years, the debate in this town has raged between reducing our deficits at all costs, and making the investments necessary to grow our economy. And this budget answers that argument, because we can do both. We can grow our economy and shrink our deficits. In fact, as we saw in the 1990s, nothing shrinks deficits faster than a growing economy. That’s been my goal since I took office. And that should be our goal going forward.

At a time when too many Americans are still looking for work, my budget begins by making targeted investments in areas that will create jobs right now, and prime our economy to keep generating good jobs down the road. As I said in my State of the Union address, we should ask ourselves three questions every day: How do we make America a magnet for new jobs? How do we give our workers the skills they need to do those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?

To make America a magnet for good jobs, this budget invests in new manufacturing hubs to help turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs. We’ll spark new American innovation and industry with cutting-edge research like the initiative I announced to map the human brain and cure disease. We’ll continue our march towards energy independence and address the threat of climate change. And our Rebuild America Partnership will attract private investment to put construction workers back on the job rebuilding our roads, our bridges and our schools, in turn attracting even more new business to communities across the country.

To help workers earn the skills they need to fill those jobs, we’ll work with states to make high-quality preschool available to every child in America. And we’re going to pay for it by raising taxes on tobacco products that harm our young people. It’s the right thing to do. (Applause.)

For the entire speech: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/10/remarks-president-announcing-fiscal-year-2014-budget

Mid-Session Review

The Budget

Analytical Perspectives

Historical Tables

Supplemental Materials

Appendix

Past Budgets

Deficit reduction picks up speed

May 14, 2013 4:05 PM EDT By Steve Benen – maddowblog

This is just astounding.

If the current laws that govern federal taxes and spending do not change, the budget deficit will shrink this year to $642 billion, CBO estimates, the smallest shortfall since 2008. Relative to the size of the economy, the deficit this year — at 4.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) — will be less than half as large as the shortfall in 2009, which was 10.1 percent of GDP.

Thanks in large part to higher taxes on the wealthy, which Republicans said would not reduce the deficit, deficit reduction is picking up speed at a pace few could have predicted. We’re now looking at over $400 billion in deficit reduction in just one year, and about $800 billion in deficit reduction since President Obama took office.

Let’s say this plainly: for those who saw the federal budget deficit as a “problem,” it’s fair to say this problem has been largely fixed.

And while we’re at it, let’s also not forget that Republican talking points on fiscal policy have effectively been left in tatters, and every conservative political figure who’s declared “Socialist Obama is turning America into Greece!” looks incredibly foolish right now.

The president took some heat for failing to cut the deficit in half in his first term, and the criticisms had merit, at least insofar as he didn’t reach his original goal. That said, Obama’s on track to cut it by well over half — both in real terms and as a percentage of GDP — in five years.

It’s time to stop worrying a shrinking deficit and start worrying about creating a more robust economic recovery.

White House Press Secretary Annoucement on the CBO’s Deficit Report:

“the CBO report yesterday, the so-called baseline reestimate. And the improvements in the CBO’s report show that the President’s policies of cutting the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion in a balanced way are contributing to the most rapid deficit reduction since World War II. The most rapid deficit reduction since World War II.

While there is still more work to be done to cut the deficit, this is important progress because we strengthen America by growing the economy from the middle out. Working with leaders from both parties, President Obama has cut the deficit by more than half when measured as a share of GDP. This is a balanced deficit reduction that cuts waste, asks millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share in taxes, and preserves investments we need in energy, education, and manufacturing to grow the economy and create jobs.

The administration is committed to continuing to work with Congress to create jobs, reduce the deficit, and replace the sequester in a balanced way.

Later this week, we understand that CBO will be putting out a reestimate of the President’s budget, which includes, as you know, his plan to replace the economically damaging sequester with a balanced approach to deficit reduction that would help drive stronger economic growth in the short.”

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney at the 5/15/13 White House Press Conference

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The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President in the name of Congress on members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.

Members of all branches of the armed forces are eligible to receive the medal, and there are three versions; one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon an individual by the passing of a Joint Resolution in the Congress; and is then personally presented to the recipient or, in the case of posthumous awards, to next of kin, by the President of the United States, on behalf of the Congress, representing and recognizing the gratitude of the American people as a whole.

On April 11, President Barack Obama will award Chaplain (Captain) Emil J. Kapaun, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.

Chaplain Kapaun will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his extraordinary heroism while serving with the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea and as a prisoner of war from November 1-2, 1950.

54 Comments | Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Tagged: Economy, Education, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense, Technology | Permalink
Posted by CR

BRAIN Initiative

04/03/2013

Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative

WHAT IS THE NIH BRAIN INITIATIVE?

The NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative is part of a new Presidential focus aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative technologies, researchers will be able to produce a revolutionary new dynamic picture of the brain that, for the first time, shows how individual cells and complex neural circuits interact in both time and space. Long desired by researchers seeking new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, this picture will fill major gaps in our current knowledge and provide unprecedented opportunities for exploring exactly how the brain enables the human body to record, process, utilize, store, and retrieve vast quantities of information, all at the speed of thought.

For more: http://www.nih.gov/science/brain/?sf11140127=1

What is the NIH Brain Initiative?

Why is the NIH BRAIN Initiative needed?

Why is now the right time for the NIH BRAIN Initiative?

How will the NIH BRAIN Initiative work?

How will the NIH BRAIN Initiative be supported?

NIH Director’s Blog: Welcoming the BRAIN Initiative, April 2, 2013

Charge: NIH BRAIN Working Group (106KB – PDF)

Roster: NIH BRAIN Working Group (114KB – PDF)

NIMH Director’s Blog: Brain Awareness, March 11, 2013

NIH Director’s Blog: The Symphony Inside Your Brain, November 5, 2012

Center for Brain Science: Brainbow

April 02, 2013

Remarks by the President on the BRAIN Initiative and American Innovation

East Room
10:04 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. Well, first of all, let me thank Dr. Collins not just for the introduction but for his incredible leadership at NIH. Those of you who know Francis also know that he’s quite a gifted singer and musician. So I was asking whether he was going to be willing to sing the introduction — (laughter) — and he declined.

But his leadership has been extraordinary. And I’m glad I’ve been promoted Scientist-in-Chief. (Laughter.) Given my grades in physics, I’m not sure it’s deserving. But I hold science in proper esteem, so maybe that gives me a little credit.

Today I’ve invited some of the smartest people in the country, some of the most imaginative and effective researchers in the country — some very smart people to talk about the challenge that I issued in my State of the Union address: to grow our economy, to create new jobs, to reignite a rising, thriving middle class by investing in one of our core strengths, and that’s American innovation.

Ideas are what power our economy. It’s what sets us apart. It’s what America has been all about. We have been a nation of dreamers and risk-takers; people who see what nobody else sees sooner than anybody else sees it. We do innovation better than anybody else — and that makes our economy stronger. When we invest in the best ideas before anybody else does, our businesses and our workers can make the best products and deliver the best services before anybody else.

And because of that incredible dynamism, we don’t just attract the best scientists or the best entrepreneurs — we also continually invest in their success. We support labs and universities to help them learn and explore. And we fund grants to help them turn a dream into a reality. And we have a patent system to protect their inventions. And we offer loans to help them turn those inventions into successful businesses.

For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/02/remarks-president-brain-initiative-and-american-innovation

April 02, 2013

Fact Sheet: BRAIN Initiative

In his State of the Union address, the President laid out his vision for creating jobs and building a growing, thriving middle class by making a historic investment in research and development.

Today, at a White House event, the President unveiled a bold new research initiative designed to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. Launched with approximately $100 million in the President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative ultimately aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

The BRAIN Initiative will accelerate the development and application of new technologies that will enable researchers to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show how individual brain cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought. These technologies will open new doors to explore how the brain records, processes, uses, stores, and retrieves vast quantities of information, and shed light on the complex links between brain function and behavior.

This initiative is one of the Administration’s “Grand Challenges” – ambitious but achievable goals that require advances in science and technology. In his remarks today, the President called on companies, research universities, foundations, and philanthropists to join with him in identifying and pursuing the Grand Challenges of the 21st century.

The BRAIN Initiative includes:

* Key investments to jumpstart the effort
* Strong academic leadership
* Public-private partnerships
* Maintaining our highest ethical standards

For more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/02/fact-sheet-brain-initiative

BRAIN Initiative Challenges Researchers to Unlock Mysteries of Human Mind

Francis Collins and Arati Prabhakar April 02, 2013 10:15 AM EDT

Today at the White House, President Obama unveiled the “BRAIN” Initiative—a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.

The BRAIN Initiative — short for Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies — builds on the President’s State of the Union call for historic investments in research and development to fuel the innovation, job creation, and economic growth that together create a thriving middle class.

The Initiative promises to accelerate the invention of new technologies that will help researchers produce real-time pictures of complex neural circuits and visualize the rapid-fire interactions of cells that occur at the speed of thought. Such cutting-edge capabilities, applied to both simple and complex systems, will open new doors to understanding how brain function is linked to human behavior and learning, and the mechanisms of brain disease.

In his remarks this morning, the President highlighted the BRAIN Initiative as one of the Administration’s “Grand Challenges” – ambitious but achievable goals that require advances in science and technology to accomplish. The President called on companies, research universities, foundations, and philanthropies to join with him in identifying and pursuing additional Grand Challenges of the 21st century—challenges that can create the jobs and industries of the future while improving lives.

In addition to fueling invaluable advances that improve lives, the pursuit of Grand Challenges can create the jobs and industries of the future.

“If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas… Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy… Today, our scientists are mapping the human brain to unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s… Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the Space Race.”

President Barack Obama, 2013 State of the Union

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Posted by CR

Building A Healthier Future 2013

03/05/2013

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BUILDING A HEALTHIER FUTURE SUMMIT

March 6-8, 2013
Grand Hyatt Washington, DC

March 6, 2013
12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Registration

March 7, 2013
7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Independence Ballroom, Opening Plenary
Keynote Presentations, End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge, Sponsored by Sanofi
Physical Activity Break, Sponsored by WellPoint
9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Expo Open
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.Networking Coffee Break in Expo
Sponsored by WellPoint
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Independence Ballroom, Cooking Light Presents The Great American School Lunch Challenge
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Reception

March 8, 2013
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Wake Up Workout Sponsored by BOKS
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Expo Open
9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Grand Hyatt Hotel (11th St.)
1:00p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Lisner Auditorium, GWU Closing Plenary Session, Announcing End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge Winner, Sponsored by Sanofi
1:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker: First Lady Michelle Obama

Let's Move - 5 Steps to Success

Learn The Facts

Eat Healthy

Get Active

Take Action

Join Let’s Move

For Parents

Parents and caregivers can set a great example for the whole family by creating a healthy environment at home. Any combination of steps-making fruits and vegetables part of every meal, limiting treats, walking and playing, even shopping together—can add up to make a real difference in children’s lives and help build healthy habits for life.

For Kids

Let’s Move! is dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation so that every child born today—grows up healthy. This is ambitious, but it can be done—so we’re asking everyone to do their part, especially kids like you. By eating right and being active, you can be healthy and achieve your dreams.

For Schools

Principals, teachers and parents can help make schools healthier places to learn by providing quality nutrition, integrating physical activity during the day and teaching children about the importance of embracing a healthy, active lifestyle. Follow the 5 steps below for more, or check out our teacher toolkit.

Learn More:

Helpful tips and step-by-step strategies for families, schools and communities to help kids be more active, eat better and grow up healthy.

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Posted by CR

Celebrating US Soccer 100th Anniversary ~ 1913-2013

01/24/2013

100 Years of US Soccer ~ 1913-2013

U.S. Soccer was originally known as the United States of America Football Association. It formed on April 5, 1913 and on August 15 of that year was accepted as one of the earliest member organizations of FIFA and the first from North and Central America.

U.S. Soccer was originally known as the United States of America Football Association. It formed on April 5, 1913 and on August 15 of that year was accepted as one of the earliest member organizations of FIFA and the first from North and Central America. The affiliation was temporary and at the following year’s FIFA Congress in 1914, the USFA, as it was abbreviated at the time, was accepted as a full FIFA member along with the Spanish federation. The governing body of the sport in the United States did not have the wordsoccer in its name until 1945, when it became the United States Soccer Football Association. It did not drop the word football from its name until 1974, when it became the United States Soccer Federation.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_soccer#History

The US Men’s Soccer Team at the 1930 World Cup

The United States men’s national soccer team, often referred to as the USMNT, represents the United States of America in international association football (soccer) competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). The team is ranked 28th in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings, and 26th in the World Football Elo Ratings.

Source: .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_men%27s_national_soccer_team

The US Women’s Soccer Team – 1991 World Cup Champions

The United States women’s national soccer team, often referred to as USWNT, represents the United States of America in international association football competitions. It is controlled by United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). The U.S. team won the first ever Women’s World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women’s soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world by the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.The team has also won the 1999 Women’s World Cup, four Olympic women’s gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012) and eight Algarve Cups (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_women%27s_national_soccer_team

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FIFA Coach of the Year 2012 - Pia Sundhage
(US Women’s Natl Soccer Team Coach 2008-2012)

FIFA Women’s World Player 2012 – Abbey Wambach

.Centennial Celebration Underway on ussoccer.com

In commemoration of its 100th anniversary, U.S. Soccer is embarking on a year-long celebration honoring the history and setting a path for the future of the sport throughout 2013.

Jan. 2, 2013 ussoccer.com

CHICAGO (Jan. 2, 2013) – In commemoration of its 100th anniversary, U.S. Soccer is embarking on a year-long celebration honoring the history and setting a path for the future of the sport throughout 2013.

The Centennial will be marked by a number of different initiatives, including the creation of a commemorative book featuring articles, interviews and photos from U.S. Soccer’s archives, historic content on ussoccer.com with rare photos, unique videos and engaging interviews, and several unique grassroots activities in conjunction with its membership to help celebrate the milestone.

Fans can also look forward to specific Centennial events in 2013, including a celebration of the Federation’s 100^th anniversary on April 5, 2013, and a weekend this summer that will include a U.S. Men’s National Team match, U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting and a number of activities for supporters. Overall, the Centennial will be a focus during all of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s matches, and the U.S. Men’s National Team’s campaign to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

For more: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Centennial/01/Centennial-Celebration-Underway.aspx

U.S. Soccer’s Facebook Page

U.S. Soccer’s Twitter

U.S. Soccer YouTube

USMST & USNT 2013 Schedule

Let’s Move – Soccer Tips for Beginners from U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Nicole Barnhart

Pass, Shoot, Score

Posted by Lea Prohov on October 19, 2012

Editor’s note: The U.S. Soccer Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the health and well-being of children in urban economically disadvantaged areas using soccer as a vehicle for social change.

This past summer, the U.S. women’s soccer team brought home the gold from the 2012 London Olympic Games–showing America the true spirit of team work, and amazing us with their athletic abilities. They played a series of challenging games, but pulled together to win.

Soccer is a great sport that lets you be active while playing outside with your friends! Listen to U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Nicole Barnhart and Becky Sauerbrunn share why they love soccer, and offer some tips for beginners:

Last May, U.S. Soccer Federation teamed up with Let’s Move! and the Partnership for a Healthier America to engage 12,000 youth in 13 cities through their Soccer for Success program, providing free, afterschool programming to urban youth. In 2011, the program reached 8,000 kids in 8 cities. Visit the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Olympics Page to learn more.

SOCCER 411

* Soccer allows kids the chance to build relationships with other players; having players with different responsibilities encourages communication and cooperation while developing a sense of team.

* Keep the ball on the ground: A ball on the ground is easier to control and can be moved more effectively by the team.

* Playing soccer combines basic motor skills like walking, running or jumping with soccer skills like dribbling and shooting. It is great for cardiovascular endurance and strength, helping to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

* Soccer can be a great family activity, whether you’re coaching your child’s team, supporting from the sideline or helping your child practice, spend quality time together and enjoy the sport as a family.

* Soccer is very simple to start playing and anyone can participate right away. Whether it’s a recreational or competitive league, there are opportunities available to all ages and skill levels.

* The 1999 Women’s World Cup Final between The United States and China was the most watched soccer game in the U.S. ever. The United States defeated China on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie, culminating with Brandi Chastain’s iconic celebration.

* Abby Wambach has attracted attention on the soccer field since early childhood. (FIFA Women’s World Player 2012) Growing up in Rochester, NY, she played in her first youth league at age four but only lasted three games with her team. After scoring 27 goals in three games she was transferred to the boys’ team! The youngest of seven children, Abby felt right at home with the boys’ team, since she spent her childhood roughhousing with her four older brothers.

* The Boxx sisters have won four gold medals between them. Older sister Gillian won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in softball before Shannon went on to win three gold medals as part of the U.S. Women’s National soccer team at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

To learn more: U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success Curriculum

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President Obama’s 2013 – 2017 Cabinet

01/06/2013

President Obama’s Cabinet

The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet’s role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member’s respective office.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

The 15 Secretaries from the executive departments are appointed by the President, and they must be confirmed by a majority vote (51 votes) of the Senate. They cannot be a member of Congress or hold any other elected office. Cabinet appointments are for the duration of the administration, but the President may dismiss any member at any time, without approval of the Senate. In addition, they are expected to resign when a new President takes office.

Over the next few days President Obama will be nominating his choices to fill the vacancies for his 2013-2016 Cabinet.

In order of succession to the Presidency:

Vice President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden

Department of State
Secretary John Kerry
www.state.gov

Department of the Treasury
Secretary Jack Lew
www.treasury.gov

Department of Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel
www.defense.gov

Department of Justice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
www.usdoj.gov

Department of the Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell
www.doi.gov

Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
www.usda.gov

Department of Commerce
* Acting Secretary – Rebecca Blank
www.commerce.gov

Department of Labor
* Acting Secretary – Seth D. Harris
www.dol.gov

Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
www.hhs.gov

Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
www.hud.gov

Department of Transportation
__________
www.dot.gov

Department of Energy
Secretary Ernest Moniz
www.energy.gov

Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
www.ed.gov

Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
www.va.gov

Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet A. Napolitano
www.dhs.gov

The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank:

White House Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough

Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives
* Acting Director (due to Senate approval controversy) - B. Todd Jones

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
John O. Brennan

Environmental Protection Agency
* Acting Administrator - Bob Perciasepe
www.epa.gov

Office of Management & Budget
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
www.whitehouse.gov/omb

United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Ronald Kirk
www.ustr.gov

United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Ambassador Susan Rice
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/

Council of Economic Advisers
Chairman Alan B. Krueger
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea/

Small Business Administration
Administrator Karen G. Mills
www.sba.gov/

* Acting Directors

For All Nominations & Appointments: http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/nominations-and-appointments

49 Comments | Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense | Tagged: Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Military, PBO, Security & Defense | Permalink
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Dealing With Holiday Stress

12/15/2012

Tips On Dealing With Holiday Stress

Get Through the Holiday Blues

The holidays aren’t joyous for everyone. This time of year can bring stress and feelings of loneliness. Exercise, focusing on positive relationships, and doing things that you find rewarding can help with depression. Get tips on what to do if you feel depressed. Keep in mind that winter depression could be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is caused by the lack of sunlight. Treatment for SAD is much like other forms of depression, but may also involve light therapy.

Grief and Mourning

Overviews
* Diagnosis/Symptoms
* Children
* Teenagers
* Seniors

Learning to Live Through Loss: Grief and the Mourning Process

Grief, Bereavement, and Coping with Loss (PDQ)

How to Deal with Grief

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Find Seasonal Employment
Even in a tough economy, businesses need extra help around the holidays. Seasonal employment can help supplement your income and potentially lead to a permanent position. If you need to update your resume, check out resume and interview tips to help you stand out in the job market. Get online tools and resources to help with your job search.

Celebrate on a Budget
The holidays can be expensive, but you don’t have to break the bank to celebrate. Take a few minutes to decide how much you can afford to spend on gifts, travel, parties, decorations, and other holiday expenses. Once you’ve created a spending plan, keep track of your purchases.

Shopping online can help you stick to a budget as you’ll avoid the temptation of store displays and may be able to use coupons and promotion codes. Before you buy, look for free shipping offers; check ordering deadlines to ensure that your gifts will arrive on time; and read the return policy.

Buy Safe Toys
If you plan to buy toys for the kids in your life, choose age-appropriate toys and look for labels with safety advice. For young children, avoid toys with small parts, sharp edges, and electric toys that can heat up. Always purchase safety gear in addition to sports-related gifts or ride-on toys, such as bicycles or skateboards. Get additional toy safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (PDF).

Pay Attention to Food Portions and Physical Activity
The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, but celebrations sometimes involve over-indulging in sweet treats and heavy foods. Even if you only gain one or two pounds during the holidays, these gains can add up over the years. The holidays are probably not the ideal time to try to lose weight, but you can take steps to maintain your weight.

Read 10 tips on how to enjoy your food, but eat less of it (PDF) and learn how to make exercise and physical activity a regular part of your day.

Keep Food Safe
Holiday buffets are convenient ways to entertain a crowd, but leaving food out for long periods of time can invite bacteria that cause foodborne illness. To keep your holiday foods safe, cook them thoroughly; use shallow containers; never leave them sitting out for more than two hours; and keep them at the appropriate temperature. Get more food safety tips to help keep your guests healthy.

For additional information on safely preparing a variety of meats and side dishes, order a FREE print kit of Top Food Safety Tips.

Reduce Holiday Waste
The holiday season includes many opportunities to reduce waste, recycle, and reuse items. Did you know that about 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season? Consider buying rechargeable batteries (and a charger) for electronic gifts to help reduce the amount of harmful materials thrown away. After the holidays, look for ways to recycle your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. If you plan to send greeting cards, consider purchasing ones that are made of recycled paper or sending electronic greetings.

Get more ideas on how to reduce waste, save money, and help the environment.

Pack for Hassle-Free Air Travel
You can get through the airport security line faster by traveling with unwrapped gifts and following the “3-1-1 rule” when carrying on liquids. You may have favorite liquid food items (like cranberry sauce or special dips) that you want to share during the holidays, but it’s best to put such items in your checked bag or ship them ahead of time. If you need last-minute information about what you can and can’t bring through security, use the My TSA app or mobile website. Get more helpful hints for holiday travelers.

Give the Gift of Service
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give to others is service. Studies show that reading to a child just three hours a week significantly improves his or her reading skills. If you help out at a local soup kitchen or food bank, you are directly providing meals to hungry individuals.

Find volunteer opportunities in your area, or create your own and recruit others.

23 Comments | Economy, Faith, Family, Health Care, PBO | Tagged: Economy, Faith, Family, Health Care, PBO | Permalink
Posted by CR

World AIDS Day 2012

11/29/2012

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap

* Download the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (PDF)
* Download the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Plan (PDF)
* Key activities ONAP has undertaken so far
* Next steps in developing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Obama Biden

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GOP Govs Oppose Obamacare & Deny It For Their Residents

11/25/2012

Republican governors face law of the land on Obamacare

Deciding whether to take part in health insurance exchanges confronts them with a difficult decision.

November 11, 2012 By CHRISTINE VESTAL/Stateline.org

Since the day it was enacted, many of the Affordable Care Act’s opponents have preferred to treat it as provisional. First, they argued, the Supreme Court might overturn the whole law. When that didn’t happen in June, opponents turned to the hope that maybe Mitt Romney would win the presidency and repeal it.

Now, there are no more maybes.

“With an Obama victory one has to come to terms that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land,” says Henry Aaron, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “Maybe it’s time to start living in reality rather than fantasy.”

Still, in the new reality, there remain some significant uncertainties in the immediate future of the ACA, particularly in how Republican governors, who have vociferously opposed the law until now, will react in the wake of President Obama’s victory.

The ACA is indeed the law of the land and will remain so for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean that Republican governors have to be full participants.

If they decline to be involved, however, they have to be willing to forgo billions of federal dollars while at the same time inviting more federal involvement in their state health policies.

At issue is whether states will be willing and able to run their own health insurance exchanges — the ACA’s envisioned online marketplaces where some 30 million Americans will be able to comparison shop for private insurance plans and apply for Medicaid and federal tax credits. If states choose not to run their own exchanges, the law requires the federal government to do it for them.

States must also decide whether they want to accept generous federal funding to expand their Medicaid programs to cover millions more people. In addition to the political liability that may represent for Republicans, the expansion also comes with a future price tag some states are taking very seriously.

States were expected to make the initial decision on establishing exchanges by Nov. 16, but the Obama administration announced Friday it was extending the deadline to Dec. 14. There is no deadline for states in considering whether to participate in the ACA’s expanded Medicaid program, but it is a decision many of them will want to make sooner rather than later. Choices made on both health exchanges and Medicaid expansion will have major effects on consumers and the entire health care industry, as well as state budgets, for years to come.

From here on out, states will be the primary drivers of the health law’s implementation. To achieve its intended goal of covering 30 million uninsured people with affordable health care, the Obama administration will have to engage in some give-and-take in order to ensure the cooperation of as many states as possible.

The federal health law originally required states to expand their Medicaid programs, starting in 2014, to people with incomes at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, about $31,000 for a family of four and $15,000 for an individual. That expansion by itself was expected to take in some 16 million uninsured people nationwide, about half of the population the law aimed to cover.

But this year’s Supreme Court decision, which largely upheld the law, made the Medicaid expansion optional for the states. That spawned a series of refusals to participate by GOP governors who opposed the law. Most Democratic governors are expected eventually to agree to implement the provision.

For states that take up the Medicaid option, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the costs for the first three years; after that states are responsible for up to 10 percent of the costs. Although the offer seems generous, some states genuinely worry that the increased expenses in the fourth year and beyond will strain their already costly Medicaid programs.

But the real decision will come early next year when state legislatures weigh in on the issue. In the meantime, many analysts expect the objections by GOP governors to fade away. Aaron, for example, maintains that the offer “is so hugely attractive to each state financially that refusal to expand coverage … (would be) an act of fiscal self-mutilation.”

For more: http://www.pressherald.com/news/nationworld/in-focus-obamacare_2012-11-11.html

Ezra Klein Slams Boehner for Pretending They Can Still Repeal

Published on Nov 24, 2012 by Buzz sourse

Ezra Klein took a shot at John Boehner and the Republicans for pretending that they can still repeal Obamacare through the congressional oversight process. As ridiculous as that assertion is, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to do their best to still attempt to chip away at it where possible, but at this point, pretending that they can use the oversight process to somehow repeal the law, is just ludicrous.

Can’t Afford Healthcare? Obamacare ‘On the Table’

Published on Nov 21, 2012 by TheYoungTurks

“After Mitt Romney lost on Election Day, it appeared that the health care law was here to stay. States are scrambling to meet federally-imposed deadlines to implement state exchanges and the administration announced coverage mandates. But House Speaker John Boehner signaled Tuesday that he is not giving up efforts to repeal the bill.

In an op-ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Boehner wrote that “we can’t afford” the Affordable Care act, and said, “That’s why I’ve been clear that the law has to stay on the table as both parties discuss ways to solve our nation’s massive debt challenge.”

Congress and the White House are involved in negotiations over the so-called “fiscal cliff.” Spending cuts are a major component of the talks as Republicans are pushing for less spending in lieu of raising taxes. Boehner has spoken in general terms about his priorities for deficit reduction; this op-ed signals that health care is another element he wants thrown in the pot.

The Congressional Budget Office, however, has estimated that the cost of the main component of the health care law, the health insurance exchanges, will lower the government’s share of health care costs because fewer people will be enrolled in the Medicaid program. Another CBO report says repealing the health care law would cost taxpayers $109 billion.”*

Steve Oh (COO of The Young Turks) and Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show) break down Boehner’s claims that “we can’t afford healthcare.” Should Obamacare be on the table in fiscal cliff negotiations? Should it be decided upon state by state?

How the Health Care Law Benefits You

The Affordable Care Act forces insurance companies to play by the rules, prohibiting them from dropping your coverage if you get sick, billing you into bankruptcy because of an annual or lifetime limit, or, soon, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition.

All Americans will have the security of knowing that they don’t have to worry about losing coverage if they’re laid off or change jobs. And insurance companies now have to cover your preventive care like mammograms and other cancer screenings.

Health reform is already making a difference by:

Increasing Access to Affordable Care

Millions of Americans have gained new access to more affordable health coverage and care.

Coverage for young adults: 3.1 million young adults who were uninsured have gained coverage by being able to stay on their parent’s health plan, giving their families peace of mind.
Access to free preventive services: 54 million additional Americans now receive coverage through their private health insurance plan for many preventive services without cost sharing such as copays or deductibles. That means that more Americans will receive wellness visits, cancer screenings and other services that will help them get and stay healthy. Women can now get coverage— without cost-sharing—of even more preventive services they need. Approximately 47 million women now have guaranteed access to additional preventive services without cost-sharing for policies renewing on or after August 1, 2012.
Coverage for people with pre-existing conditions: 86,000 Americans with pre-existing conditions have gained coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. This temporary program makes health coverage available and more affordable for individuals who are uninsured and have been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
Investing in primary care: The health care law invests in training and supporting thousands of new primary care doctors and nurses by providing bonus payments, scholarships and loan repayment, and new training opportunities.
Community Health Centers: Community Health Centers improve the health of the nation and assure access to quality primary health care services at more than 8,500 service delivery sites around the country. Since the beginning of 2009, health centers have increased the total number of patients served on an annual basis by 3.1 million

“I think it [affordable healthcare] should be a right for every American. In a country as wealthy as ours, for us to have people who are going bankrupt because they can’t pay their medical bills–for my mother to die of cancer at the age of 53 and have to spend the last months of her life in the hospital room arguing with insurance companies because they’re saying that this may be a pre-existing condition and they don’t have to pay her treatment, there’s something fundamentally wrong about that.”

Barack Obama 10/7/2008

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