Mes: agosto 2020

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, issued the following statement in response to the newly released Calendar Year (CY) 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule. Among other policy changes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to eliminate the Inpatient Only List beginning with nearly 300 musculoskeletal-related services, adjust the criteria for procedures covered in the ambulatory setting, and remove certain restrictions on the expansion and development of physician-owned hospitals.

«The AAOS believes that the setting where patients receive their care is best decided by physicians and thus, we support policies which give orthopaedic surgeons and their patients greater choice. While we are cautiously optimistic about CMS’ attempt to offer these flexibilities by promoting site neutrality and lifting restrictions on high-value physician-owned hospitals, we are concerned about the potential for unintended consequences associated with eliminating the Inpatient Only List.    

«In pushing forward such a drastic change, CMS may exacerbate many of the same unresolved issues that our surgeons continue to face as a result of hip and knee arthroplasty being recently removed from the Inpatient Only List. Payers, including Medicare Advantage and commercial carriers often misinterpret the policy change to mean that these procedures must be performed exclusively in the outpatient setting. This confusion adds even more delay and paperwork to existing prior authorization requirements and, most importantly, jeopardizes patients’ safe, timely access to care.

«The AAOS believes that determining the appropriate setting of care should be done through the lens of patient safety and peer-reviewed evidence, and that physicians are best qualified for leading this individualized decision-making process with their patients. We strongly encourage CMS to carefully reassess this aspect of the proposal in light of these concerns, and we look forward to offering our formal comments on behalf of the musculoskeletal community.»

About the AAOS
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Office of Government Relations promotes and advocates the viewpoint of the orthopaedic community before federal and state legislative, regulatory, and executive agencies. Based in Washington, DC, with additional staff in the Academy’s headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois, the Office of Government Relations identifies, analyzes, and directs all health policy activities and initiatives to position the AAOS as the trusted leaders in advancing musculoskeletal health.

For more information on all AAOS advocacy efforts, visit http://www.aaos.org/dc.

Follow the AAOS Office of Government Relations on Twitter.

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SOURCE American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Pillsbury’s renowned Global Sourcing and Technology Transactions practice is pleased to unveil a first-of-its-kind technology service contracting model designed to support the distinct needs of organizations relying on mainframe technology. Teaming with IBM, Atos and Ensono, the firm is offering clients a comprehensive system maintenance program—dubbed SilverFox—that grants users access to sustainable managed mainframe services at a reasonable, set price.

For more than half a century, mainframes have served as the primary means of data storage for organizations the world over. But while the mainframes themselves show no signs of stopping, the system administrators and programmers familiar with mainframes are reaching retirement age, making ongoing upkeep increasingly difficult. Large-scale outsourcing deals can be implemented to address this challenge but those transactions have not been economically viable for all but the largest corporations. Pillsbury’s new SilverFox model is intended to directly address this issue.

This proprietary contracting model is unique in that it streamlines the many «standard» components of mainframe operations while still providing flexibility to accommodate an organization’s specific operational needs. By pre-negotiating these standardized contractual elements with leading mainframe maintenance service providers, Pillsbury can more efficiently draft and negotiate terms for the remaining tailored components of service agreements. SilverFox allows clients to move from supplier engagement to finalized contract in as little as 60 days, versus a minimum of six months for a typical managed services transaction of this magnitude.

«SilverFox affords clients the risk allocation expertise of Pillsbury’s sourcing practitioners at significantly reduced contracting costs and much shorter procurement timelines,» said Pillsbury consulting principal Joseph Nash. «It is a gamechanger for the many entities that continue to depend on mainframes.»

Among the most experienced advisory practices worldwide, Pillsbury’s Global Sourcing & Technology Transactions team has architected more than 1,000 strategic outsourcing and technology transactions over the past 30 years, with an aggregate value exceeding half a trillion dollars. With more than 50 professionals, our unified team of consultants and lawyers is the largest customer-focused sourcing team worldwide, bringing decades of experience in IT, service agreements, pricing, and risk management.

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SOURCE Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Commercial real estate executives recognize the various challenges in the current market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, while remaining optimistic about future market conditions, according to The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q3 2020 Economic Sentiment Survey released today.  The report emphasizes the importance for developing, testing, and distributing a vaccine in the coming months in order for market conditions to show further improvements.

«As our Q3 index shows, commercial real estate markets continue to suffer from the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on businesses and residential tenants,» said Real Estate Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer. «Hospitality, senior housing, and retail commercial real estate tenants in particular are struggling currently, as are CMBS loan pools consisting of these asset types. Other commercial real estate sectors, notably office and multifamily, also are facing challenges related to the overall economic hit from the health care crisis and are very cautious in their activities. However, generally balanced CRE market conditions and responsible leverage prior to the crisis positions the industry to stabilize and move forward positively once a vaccine is available,» DeBoer added.

The Roundtable’s Q3 2020 Sentiment Index registered at 42 – a four point increase from the previous quarter.  [The Overall Index is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging Current and Future Indices; any score over 50 is viewed as positive]. This quarter’s Current Conditions Index of 21 increased eight points from the previous quarter, while this quarter’s Future Conditions Index of 63, is an increase of one point compared to last quarter, and a 13-point increase compared to Q1 2020. 

The report’s Topline Findings include:

• The Q3 2020 Real Estate Roundtable Sentiment Index registered a score of 42, an increase of four points from the second quarter of 2020. Many respondents expressed optimism about future market conditions as they feel current market conditions are the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as opposed to poor underlying market fundamentals. However, until a vaccine or treatment is released and the general populace regains its confidence, responders felt the market would stay in its current challenged state.
• Survey responders expect a challenging market for at least the next six to nine months while a vaccine is created, tested, and distributed. Assuming a vaccine is released, most responders assume the market will be in recovery by this time next year.
• Transaction volume has been down since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in most markets. Anticipated asset price discounts for most property types have yet to materialize as property owners are not willing to capitulate to market pressures if they can keep hold of their assets until a post-vaccine market.
• Many responders described the capital markets as open, but challenging to access. Construction and permanent financing options have increased since the beginning of the pandemic, but are still selective, relative to the projects they will finance. Institutional equity has continued to enter the market where it has an existing relationship with a manager; otherwise, investors are reluctant to enter the market at this time.

DeBoer noted, «While a vaccine continues to be explored, it is imperative that Congress and the Administration soon come to an agreement on the next round of COVID-19 relief. Extending added unemployment benefits, additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and a rental assistance program to help impacted people as well as struggling small businesses is needed. Moreover, property owners, hospitals, schools and others need liability protection against frivolous lawsuits and businesses need assistance as they seek to cover new and unusual expenses related to safety and cleaning protocols.» 

Data for the Q3 survey was gathered by Chicago-based FPL Associates on The Roundtable’s behalf.  For the full Q3 report, visit here.

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SOURCE Real Estate Roundtable

ZEELAND, Mich., Aug. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Herman Miller (NASDAQ: MLHR) was awarded a substantial victory over Blumenthal Distributing Inc. dba Office Star Products in a fight against trademark infringement of some of the company’s most iconic products—the Thin and Soft Pad Eames Chairs. The June 25, 2020 decision, made by the Ninth Circuit Court, upheld an earlier jury decision that concluded that the Eames Aluminum Group trade dress was infringed by Office Star. 

The decision marks an important point in Herman Miller’s ongoing quest to protect its iconic furniture designs from infringement and being produced as knockoffs, a problem they have been fighting for decades. «The economic devastation to corporate revenue, shareholder return, and job losses caused by infringers and knockoffs is unacceptable and must be stopped. Our fight against infringers is about more than protecting the intellectual property, legacy, customers, and future of Herman Miller, it’s about protecting companies, designers, and consumers around the world from knockoff products,» stated Herman Miller President and Chief Executive Officer, Andi Owen. «These practices steal the rightful credit that is due to the original designer, many of whom have dedicated their lives to perfecting these products only to see frauds popping up in the marketplace.»

In total, the Court upheld $3.3M in damages that Herman Miller was awarded during the original 2017 trial. In addition, the Court mandated a retrial of the company’s Aeron Chair trade dress claim based on incorrect jury instructions in the earlier trial. «We are encouraged that the courts continue to rule in our favor, and we will remain vigilant in protecting our customers against knockoff Herman Miller products while ensuring the integrity and value of the iconic designs that are such an important part of our company’s unique legacy,» said Owen.

Herman Miller has successfully defended trade dress on several of its iconic designs and continues to be an outspoken advocate for authentic design everywhere. The company is a charter member of Be Original Americas, a 501(c)6 non-profit committed to informing, educating, and influencing manufacturers, design professionals, and consumers about the economic, ethical, and environmental value of authentic design. 

About Herman Miller  

Herman Miller is a globally recognized provider of furnishings and related technologies and services.  Since its inception in 1905, the company has relied on innovative design to help people do great things. The global design leader has evolved into Herman Miller Group, a family of brands that collectively offers a variety of products for environments where people live, learn, work, and heal. The family of brands includes Colebrook Bosson Saunders, Design Within Reach, Geiger, HAY, Maars Living Walls, Maharam, naughtone, Nemschoff, and Herman Miller. For more information visit www.hermanmiller.com/about-us  

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SOURCE Herman Miller, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Ideanomics, Inc. («Ideanomics» or the «Company») (NASDAQ: IDEX) common stock between March 20, 2020 and June 25, 2020, inclusive (the «Class Period»). Ideanomics investors have until August 27, 2020 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

On June 25, 2020, Hindenburg Research issued a series of tweets stating that Ideanomics «is an egregious & obvious fraud.» Hindenburg claimed that it found evidence that Ideanomics «doctored photos in its PR to suggest it owns/operates» a facility. Hindenburg further stated that it had an investigator who visited Ideanomics’ «supposed MEG sales center,» and that the «facility is actually operated by almost 100 sales groups,» that had never heard of Ideanomics. Additionally, Hindenburg claimed that its investigator called five of Ideanomics’ purported electric vehicle customers, and that none were aware of Ideanomics, nor could they confirm doing business with Ideanomics.

The same day, J Capital Research published a report, corroborating Hindenburg’s allegations. Specifically, J Capital «called all the ‘buyers’ named in [the Company’s] press releases this month. Not a single one had made a purchase. One of them thanked us for alerting them to ‘fake news.'»

On this news, the Company’s share price fell $0.65, or more than 21%, to close at $2.44 per share on June 25, 2020, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on June 26, 2020, the Company issued a press release, seeking to «clarify the status» of its purported hub in Qingdao, China. Therein, Ideanomics walked back certain of its prior statements regarding the MEG Center, stating its as launching three phases of its MEG Center that will eventually total one million square feet. The first phase occupies only 215,000 square feet.

On this news, the Company’s share price fell $0.98, or 40%, to close at $1.46 per share on June 26, 2020, thereby injuring investors further.

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Ideanomics’ MEG Center in Qingdao was not «a one million square foot EV expo center»; (2) that the Company had been using doctored or altered photographs of the purported MEG Center in Qingdao; (3) that the Company’s electric vehicle business in China was not performing nearly as strong as Ideanomics had represented; and (4) that, as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Ideanomics securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than August 27, 2020 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff.  To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class.  If you purchased Ideanomics securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com.  If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

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SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles