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Memorial Day 2016
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Healthcare in the News
Insurance Options Dwindle
in Some Rural Regions
Health Insurers Quit Rural Exchanges
Courtesy - Wal Street Journal
By Anna Wilde Mathews and Stephanie Armour
May 15, 2016
Health-insurance customers in a growing number of mostly rural regions will have just one insurer's plans to choose from on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges next year, as some companies pull out of unprofitable markets.
The entire states of Alaska and Alabama are expected to have only one insurer on the health law's signature online marketplaces next year, according to state regulators. The same is expected to be true in parts of several other states, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arizona and Oklahoma, state regulators said.
So far, more than 650 counties appear on track to have just one insurer on the exchanges in 2017, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is tracking withdrawals as they become public. That would be up from 225 in 2016, when the state of Wyoming, among other areas, already had just one ACA marketplace competitor. Of the counties in jeopardy of having only a single exchange insurer next year, 70% have populations that are mostly rural, said Cynthia Cox, a researcher at the foundation.
Disclosures of new market entries or further pullbacks will change the totals in coming months, Ms. Cox said. Filings in many states aren't yet public, and insurers can tweak their approaches until September.
Kori Allen, a bookkeeper in Kodiak, Alaska, this year has an exchange plan from Moda Health Plan Inc., which will pull out of the state's ACA marketplace next year. Ms. Allen, 36 years old, who receives a federal subsidy that helps with her premiums, worries about what will happen when there is only one insurer, Premera Blue Cross, offering exchange products: "It's going to be a monopoly, basically; 'here's the price, take it or leave it.'"
Premera Blue Cross, which had steep losses in Alaska's exchange last year, said it is committed to the market there. "We have been working very closely with regulators and legislators to establish a long-term solution to make the market more sustainable and attract more insurers to the state," said a spokeswoman.
The occurrence of only one insurer in a market poses a challenge for the Obama administration, which has sought to help restrain costs by encouraging competition, and could provide fodder for Republicans intent on dismantling the law. An official with the federal Department of Health and Human Services said that the law has improved the quality of health plans and reduced the number of uninsured in rural and other parts of the U.S. For next year, "we would expect a rise in one-issuer counties," he said, as insurers adjust their approaches. He said the still-new market is evolving toward "stability and success."
The federal official said he is "pretty confident" there won't be any areas with no ACA marketplace insurers, but he couldn't completely rule out the possibility.
Indeed, the patchwork of coverage reflects continued instability in the individual insurance market, as companies shift their geographic footprints to avoid areas that have turned out to generate steep losses, and focus on places where they believe they can get their ACA business into the black.
HHS Finalizes Rule to Improve Health Equity Under ACA
Final rule prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability;
enhances language assistance for individuals with limited English proficiency; and protects
individuals with disabilities
Courtesy - HHS.gov
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule to advance health equity and reduce health care disparities. Under the rule, individuals are protected from discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity and sex stereotyping. In addition to implementing Section 1557's prohibition on sex discrimination, the final rule also enhances language assistance for people with limited English proficiency and helps to ensure effective communication for individuals with disabilities. The protections in the final rule and Section 1557 regarding individuals' rights and the responsibilities of many health insurers, hospitals, and health plans administered by or receiving federal funds from HHS build on existing federal civil rights laws to advance protections for underserved, underinsured, and often excluded populations.
The Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities final rule implements Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which is the first federal civil rights law to broadly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded health programs. Previously, civil rights laws enforced by HHS's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) broadly barred discrimination based only on race, color, national origin, disability, or age.
"A central goal of the Affordable Care Act is to help all Americans access quality, affordable health care. Today's announcement is a key step toward realizing equity within our health care system and reaffirms this Administration's commitment to giving every American access to the health care they deserve," said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell.
The final rule helps consumers who are seeking to understand their rights and clarifies the responsibilities of health care providers and insurers that receive federal funds. The final rule also addresses the responsibilities of issuers that offer plans in the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Among other things, the final rule prohibits marketing practices or benefit designs that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. The final rule also prohibits discriminatory practices by health care providers, such as hospitals that accept Medicare or doctors who participate in the Medicaid program.
The final rule prohibits sex discrimination in health care including by:
Requiring that women must be treated equally with men in the health care they receive. Other provisions of the ACA bar certain types of sex discrimination in insurance, for example by prohibiting women from being charged more than men for coverage. Under Section 1557, women are protected from discrimination not only in the health coverage they obtain but in the health services they seek from providers.
Prohibiting denial of health care or health coverage based on an individual's sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotyping.
It also includes important protections for individuals with disabilities and enhances language assistance for people with limited English proficiency including by:
Requiring covered entities to make electronic information and newly constructed or altered facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities and to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities.
Requiring covered entities to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to individuals with limited English proficiency. Covered entities are also encouraged to develop language access plans.
While the final rule does not resolve whether discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation status alone is a form of sex discrimination under Section 1557, the rule makes clear that OCR will evaluate complaints that allege sex discrimination related to an individual's sexual orientation to determine if they involve the sorts of stereotyping that can be addressed under 1557. HHS supports prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination as a matter of policy and will continue to monitor legal developments on this issue.
The final rule states that where application of any requirement of the rule would violate applicable Federal statutes protecting religious freedom and conscience, that application will not be required.
Agriculture News
U.S. Farmers Reap Gains from Brazil's Shrinking Crops
Courtesy - AgWeb.com
Despite the impeachment of Brazil's president last week, the country's weather, not its politics, remains the driving force for agricultural commodities right now.
"Politics did not drive soybeans up $2," explains Don Roose of U.S. Commodities.
"Brazil's corn crops are shrinking and will continue to shrink," says Michael Cordonnier, of the Soybean and Corn Advisor. "There could be a washout of corn by the second half of this year."
That's good news for American farmers.
"Brazil is our number-one competitor. This means we can export more to the world," Cordonnier says.
With the start of the dry season underway, and a rainy season that ended three months early, Brazil's corn crop is already down 7 MMT to 78MMT and is expected to fall further, according to Cordonnier.
Soybean production also has dropped by 3% to 97.5 MMT because of the drought, Cordonnier says. Brazilian meteorologists blame the shift from El Nino to La Nina for the drought-stricken corn situation.
Still, in the middle of the challenging weather, the South American country is also dealing with a political crisis.
Brazil's Senate voted Thursday to suspend Dilma Rousseff, 68, Brazil's first woman president, and start her impeachment trial. The move promoted her business-friendly vice president Michel Temer, 75, to interim president, ending 13 years of Workers Party rule in Brazil.
The country faces daunting problems, with projected zero GDP for next year, inflation, rising unemployment, and port and road infrastructure problems. The drop in prices for the commodities that fuel Brazil's economy and sparked discontent is still an issue, according to Cordonnier.
There also is a lot of uncertainty, with a looming impeachment trial for the former president and the elevation of a deeply unpopular vice president to the presidential spot.
There have already been some changes to the cabinet, with Blairo Maggi taking over as Brazil's agriculture minister.
That might not be a plus for American farmers. "Maggi knows the world market," Roose says. "With or without currency problems, Brazil will probably have an advantage over us."
Brazil raises the same amount of soybeans as the U.S., and Roose expects Brazil's farmers, now winding down the harvest, to plant 3% to 5% more soybeans, thanks to newly higher prices. The recent soybean rally "opened up production," Roose notes.
Healthful Hint
Nutrition Tips for a
Healthy Summer
Courtesy - coreperformance.com
The "unoffical" start of summer is around the corner! With Memorial Day weekend, comes the beginning of summer weekends at the beach, backyard barbecues, and outdoor dinners, but these gatherings are often loaded with high-calorie pasta salads, chips, ice cream, cocktails and beers. It is possible to enjoy your warm weather favorites while keeping your nutrition in check with the tips below.
1. Drink green tea instead of sweet tea. Green tea has a natural component that helps speed up your metabolism. Skip the box tea and opt for the brew-it-yourself with boiling water and a tea-bag-type tea.
2. Serve seafood. Summer is the ideal time to get the freshest catch from your local grocer. Grill salmon, tuna, lobster, steamer clams, and calamari for a low-calorie, protein-packed lunch or dinner.
3. Don't skip breakfast. When you wake up in the morning, your body is running on fumes. Eating a breakfast with protein, carbs, and healthy fat kicks your metabolism into high gear and provides energy for the day.
4. Enjoy summer fruits and veggies. It's easy to sink into a vegetable rut, eating the same boring veggies week after week, but with summer comes fresh choices. Including a mix of in-season colorful veggies in your meals gives your body a nutrient kick.
5. Snack at work. Bring snacks to work and graze throughout the day. When you eat more often-five to six times per day-you're far less likely to overeat and more likely to stay energized.
6. Grab a sports drink. For workouts lasting longer than 45 minutes, drinking a sports drink every 15 to 20 minutes can help you maintain energy, increase endurance, and stay hydrated.
7. Drink healthier beers. If you're going to indulge, opt for antioxidant-packed craft brews like Fuller's Organic Honey Dew Ale or Stoudt's Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout. To save calories, choose beers with less than 100 calories like Select 55 and Miller Lite.
8. Hydrate often. The summer heat makes you more susceptible to dehydration. Start off your day by drinking two glasses of water and keep drinking at each meal, as well as before and after your workout, to stay hydrated. Carry a water bottle with you as a reminder to stay hydrated.
9. Cook meals together. Involve your friends and family in your healthy lifestyle this summer. A simple way to start: Plan meals, shop, and cook with your spouse and kids.
10. Downsize your dinnerware. We're not talking about buying new plates, just using the smaller ones in your set for meals like lunch and dinner. Cornell University researchers found that by switching from 12- to 10-inch plates anyone can reduce calorie consumption by 20 to 22 percent and lose nearly two pounds per month. And that's without changing any other aspect of your diet.
11. Recover with a post-workout shake. After exercising, blend your favorite summer fruits and a scoop of whey protein into a shake to kickstart the muscle-building process, help your body recover from training, and boost your energy levels. Try one of these shake recipes.
12. Pre-plan your meals. You plan your weekend getaways and activities for summer. Why not your meals? Make it easy by preparing all of your food on Sunday so that you have enough meals for the week. The best part: You'll save money.
13. Eat healthy at the beach. Ice cream stands and high-calorie barbecues are bound to put a damper on your diet, so stay clear of these temptations by being prepared. Pack a cooler with ice, bottled water, sandwiches on whole grain breads, pita chips, hummus, yogurt and lots of fruit. You'll feel healthier and happier after your day at the beach.
14. Give your house a summer cleaning. You need an environment that reflects your healthy way of living and your summer fitness goals. To start, remove unhealthy foods from your home (so you're not tempted). While you're at it, stock your office with fruit, nuts, and other healthy snacks.
15. Build a better burger. Create a healthier burger with whole wheat buns, lean meats, and delicious toppings like pineapple, wasabi, guacamole, and feta cheese.
Jim Turner, Chairman Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association
Dalhart, TX
Bret Brown, Secretary/Treasurer Ag Producers Co-op Sunray, TX
Craig Rohrbach
Parmer County Cotton Growers
Farwell, TX
Dean Sasser
Farmers Coop Elevator Levelland, TX
Tony Williams Texas Cotton Ginners' Association Austin, TX
Paul Wilson
United Cotton Growers Levelland, TX
Texas Ag Coop Trust
is endorsed by:
Texas Grain & Feed
Association
Texas Cotton Ginners Association
Triangle Cooperative Service Company
Texas Corn Producers
Texas Agricultural
Cooperative Council
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Health-insurance customers in a growing number of mostly rural regions will have just one insurer's plans to choose from on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges next year, as some companies pull out of unprofitable markets.
The "unoffical" start of summer is around the corner! With Memorial Day weekend, comes the beginning of summer weekends at the beach, backyard barbecues, and outdoor dinners, but these gatherings are often loaded with high-calorie pasta salads, chips, ice cream, cocktails and beers. It is possible to enjoy your warm weather favorites while keeping your nutrition in check with the tips below.
in your healthy lifestyle this summer. A simple way to start: Plan meals, shop, and 
