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Trump administration makes another healthcare price transparency push with…
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationThe Trump administration thorn may be officially piercing the side of hospital administrators. As a result of a recent executive order by President Donald Trump, they will be required to make information concerning their negotiated rates with insurers public. Providers and payers will be ordered to give patients estimates for out-of-pocket costs for procedures in advance of the procedure, according to the order. Trump signed the order June 24. The idea is that if people can shop around, market forces may drive down costs.
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Fun alternatives to a 4-year college degree with the GI Bill
Roy Phillips Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityI would never discourage someone from pursuing a college degree. However, not every veteran is interested in obtaining a four-year degree. Also, many vets have completed academic degrees while they were on active duty. Many veterans, especially those who served in the Reserve component of their service branch, may be entitled to only a portion of the total benefit provided by the GI Bill. With vets who fall into these categories in mind; here are some fun ways to use up your GI Bill without committing to four years of full-time schooling.
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Travel2020: Global Entry program heads south, leaving travelers in a lurch
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementFor me, it started with a simple email. I was given a courtesy warning by the Department of Homeland Security that my Global Entry privileges were expiring. I had been a member of Global Entry since it launched in 2008, so I was not about to let my certification slip away. I clicked on the link to start the "re-application" process — apparently "renewals" would no longer serve — and that is when my nightmares began. The nonintuitive, if not purposely stonewalling, website kept taking me to the same place: the wall. I would land on the spot, say three or so pages deep, where my ask "Trusted Traveler" ID would be requested. It would then populate fields with my passport information. If something was not right, this was the page on which to fix it.
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Student debt remains a political hot potato
Michelle R. Matisons EducationStudent debt is a complex problem, to be sure. There have been many debt relief proposals in recent years, and now the issue is playing out on the presidential campaign trail. The biggest issues here are deciding how much to pay off, finding debt relief funding mechanisms, and implementing an existing federal relief rule. Free or reduced college and the opportunity to have faulty debt expunged are no small potatoes. These reforms would radically alter U.S. education culture and open opportunities up at a time when they are closing for many.
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Maintaining the edge: How much practice is enough?
Eric Lamberson Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityA good friend and I recently explored the topic of how much practice — dry practice and range time — is enough to maintain acceptable levels of defensive shooting skill. I define acceptable skill level from a self-defense perspective as the ability to fire Sharp Shooter on an IDPA classifier, pass the FBI qualification, or achieve similar performance on a state or nationally recognized course of fire. My friend Steve is an IDPA six-gun Master and his shooting skill level is well-documented; however, as a result of medical challenges, Steve was effectively unable to practice his pistol skills for six months.
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Proposed California plastics law could be a game-changer for fighting pollution
Seth Sandronsky Waste Management & EnvironmentalCalifornia is the most populous state in the U.S. and the world’s fifth biggest economy. If enacted, the proposed California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act could be a game-changer in reducing plastic production and promoting a clean recycling economy. "The legislation will establish a comprehensive framework to address the pollution and waste crisis, and sets a statewide goal that manufacturers reduce the waste generated by single-use packaging and products by 75% after 2030," according to a statement from state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica.
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Law enforcement agencies, lawmakers develop new steps to combat the opioid…
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe opioid crisis is real, and it's growing at an alarming rate. Authorities around the country are taking whatever steps necessary to avert further deaths. One example is the new opioid crisis response bill signed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Now, prescription drug manufacturers and distributors in Minnesota will have to pay increased annual licensing fees to do business in the state. Under the new law, the fee is set to jump from about $200 to up to $305,000 a year. The increased fees will raise $20 million per year, which will go towards addiction prevention and treatment and addressing the opioid epidemic in the state.
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Producers of CBD-infused food should brace for new inspection routines
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageOklahoma recently became one of the first states to put additional inspectors in place for CBD and THC food products sold in the state. Health inspectors will randomly visit medical marijuana businesses to ensure they comply with the law. Though it is one of the hottest and fastest-growing industries, concepts in safety for food and drink products infused with CBD or THC are still vague. Oklahoma agencies aim to add another layer of protection for these products.
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How will travel businesses be affected by new Cuba restrictions?
Seth Sandronsky Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe Trump administration has restricted travel to and trade with Cuba, reversing Obama-era policies that opened doors closed during the Cold War. What are the business impacts of the president’s decision? "Given the recent growth in legal U.S. travel to Cuba," Erika Richter, communications director for the American Society of Travel Advisors, told MultiBriefs in an email, "ASTA is concerned about the potential for disruption from these policy changes, especially as they relate to the operations of our cruise line, airline and hotel partners on the island." The travel restrictions took effect on June 5. According to the administration, the Cuban government's foreign policy is to blame.
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ICE tells local agencies they can bypass sanctuary city policies
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe new chief of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced that the agency plans to target more immigrant families for deportation. Additionally, a new ICE program will allow local law enforcement officers to "disregard" sanctuary policies. These cities are so named because they limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. But under the new ICE stance, local law enforcement officers can bypass sanctuary policies and make immigration arrests in jails and correctional facilities on behalf of the agency.
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