Improved Learning Outcomes Will Speed New York’s Recovery From the COVID-19 Recession

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Improved math skills would raise the salary of New York workers by tens of thousands of dollars a year and would help the country rebound from a deepening COVID-19 economic freefall, according to research in a new white paper from The Learning Agency. 

The major findings of

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Improved math skills would raise the salary of New York workers by tens of thousands of dollars a year and would help the country rebound from a deepening COVID-19 economic freefall, according to research in a new white paper from The Learning Agency. 

The major findings of The Learning Agency’s white paper are:

  • Better high school math skills could increase worker incomes by $25,000 per year
  • Improved reading and writing skills could result in an $11,000 increase in pay annually
  • Graduating with a high school diploma nets a worker an additional $7,000 in annual earnings

As the U.S. economy continues to retract–second quarter GDP fell 9.5 percent–and with states and local governments looking to cut education budgets, the white paper argues that increased learning would have a dual effect: It would boost earnings for workers while increasing tax collections by trillions of dollars.

«Education is one of the best strategies for recovering from an economic downturn,» said Ulrich Boser, founder of The Learning Agency and the paper’s author. «Now is the time for governments to increase spending on things like tutoring, not making deep cuts to services.»

To better understand the benefits of improved learning from critical thinking to metacognition, The Learning Agency conducted a study to look at how Americans’ incomes would grow as a result of better skills and education. The white paper drew from a 2015 National Bureau of Economic Research study that demonstrated workers could expect impressive increases in salary.

Read the full white paper «Education and Income: How Learning Leads to Better Salaries» at: https://www.the-learning-agency.com/insights/education-and-income-how-learning-leads-to-better-salaries

The Learning Agency is a Washington DC-based education organization. Our mission is to help individuals and organizations harness the power of learning to solve problems. For more information, visit https://www.the-learning-agency.com/

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SOURCE The Learning Agency

UK Solar Power Market Report 2020-2025 – Demand from the Residential PV Segment Will Be Severely Affected due to the Financial Uncertainty Faced by Customers Amid COVID-19

DUBLIN, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The «UK Solar Power Market Outlook to 2025» report…

DUBLIN, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The «UK Solar Power Market Outlook to 2025» report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

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In the last decade, solar power capacity has grown tremendously to become the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in the world. However, in 2019, around 109 GW of new solar PV capacity was added worldwide, about the same as in 2018. The rapid installations were primarily due to policy support and a sharp decline in technology costs and growing environmental concerns.

However, with the economic downturn induced by the outbreak of COVID-19, demand from the residential PV segment will be severely affected due to the financial uncertainty faced by the customers. Commercial and industrial installations are expected to be negatively affected as discretionary spending will be delayed, and preserving short-term cash flow will become a priority. Further, in the utility segment, supply chain disruptions and weaker investment will lead to delays in project commissioning.

According to the report, despite the slowdown expected in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic’s challenges, the outlook for solar remains strong in the medium term, and the market is expected to expand during the forecast period as the cost of generation from solar PV is increasingly becoming cheaper than its alternatives.

Study Coverage

This report provides a comprehensive analysis on the historical development, the current state of solar power installation scenario, and its outlook. Most of the insights in the report are derived from our proprietary databases, and offerings. The insights include but are not limited to the market data, installation data and capacity additions data, policies and regulations, project data, company profiles, and competitive landscape analysis.

The report covers market dynamics, growth potential of the photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) markets, economic trends, and investment and financing scenario in the UK. Further, the report looks at the current state and assesses the potential of residential, non-residential, and utility-scale solar PV deployment.

Special attention is given to depicting the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, national solar PV production/manufacturing scenario, and the country’s imports and exports.

Key Topics Covered

1. Executive Summary

2. Research Scope and Methodology

3. Market Analysis
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Market Dynamics
3.2.1. Drivers
3.2.2 Restraints
3.3 Market Trends & Developments
3.4 Analysis of COVID-19 Impact
3.5 Market Opportunities
3.6 Key Projects
3.7 Government Policies and Regulations

4. Market Outlook
4.1 Annual Solar Power Installed Capacity, 2001-2025, in GW
4.2 Cumulative Solar Power Installed Capacity Forecast, 2001-2025, in GW

5. Business Activity Analysis
5.1 Supply Chain Analysis
5.2 PESTLE Analysis

6. Market Segmentation & Analysis
6.1 By Technology
6.1.1 Photovoltaic (PV)
6.1.2 Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
6.2 PV Deployment by Segment
6.2.1 Residential
6.2.2 Non-Residential
6.2.3 Utility

7. Competitive Landscape
7.1 List of Notable Players in the Market
7.2 M&A, JVs, Partnerships and Agreements
7.3 Strategies of Key Players

8. Key Company Profiles

9. Conclusions and Recommendations

Companies Mentioned

  • JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd.
  • JA Solar Holdings
  • Trina Solar Limited
  • LONGi Solar
  • Canadian Solar Inc
  • Hanwha Q Cells Co. Ltd.
  • Risen Energy
  • GCL System Integration Technology
  • First Solar Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3w0i6

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets

SCAN Health Plan Launches an Interactive Member Engagement Platform, Coinciding With Rise in Digital Use Among Older Adults

LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — SCAN Health Plan®, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage health plans, today announced it has launched Rally®, an interactive member engagement platform from digital health company

LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — SCAN Health Plan®, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage health plans, today announced it has launched Rally®, an interactive member engagement platform from digital health company Rally Health, Inc.  Working in collaboration with Rally, SCAN is offering its members a digital solution that enables them to engage in online social communities, set and meet wellness goals and get information about the health topics of interest to them.

«At SCAN we’re committed to evolving the use of technology to best suit the needs of older adults,» said Josh Goode, SCAN Chief Information Officer. «And at a time when seniors are thrust into the use of technology for a variety of reasons, the Rally platform can serve as an alternative source for staying engaged and connected.»

The introduction of an online interactive experience for health, wellness and social connectivity comes as seniors’ lives have been impacted significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheltering in place has forced many to become more familiar with tech platforms for everything from doctor’s appointments to ordering groceries to staying in touch with loved ones.

«Now more than ever, technology is a vital link in helping older adults remain healthy and independent while staying safe at home,» explained Eve Gelb, senior vice president of member and community health at SCAN. «While tech can’t replace in-person interaction, we hope it will support our members by providing some of the connection they may be missing during this time.»

The easy-to-use platform allows SCAN members to get information on topics such as managing chronic conditions and mental wellbeing. Members are also able to join online social communities where they can interact with their peers, providing an option to in-person socializing and expanding their social circle beyond physical distancing limitations.

«We’re proud to collaborate with SCAN to offer a platform that helps older adults get engaged in their health online,» said Stephen Olin, senior vice president of product at Rally Health. «As more and more SCAN members participate, we’ll be customizing the Rally content and offerings to best serve their wants and needs. We’re confident the insight gained from this tool will allow SCAN to expand the personalized support they already offer their members.»

About Rally Health, Inc.
Rally Health, Inc. is a consumer-centric digital health company that makes it easy for individuals to take charge of their health and collaborates with health plans, health care providers, and employers to engage consumers. The company’s flagship offering is Rally®, a leading digital health platform that delivers web and mobile solutions to help people manage their employee benefits, health and well-being, and health care needs. Nearly 55 million consumers have access to the Rally platform through more than 200,000 employers, and health plans including UnitedHealthcare and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. With eight offices across the U.S., Rally Health has been working since 2010 to transform the consumer health experience. Rally Health is part of the Optum business of UnitedHealth Group. For more information, please visit www.RallyHealth.com.

About SCAN Health Plan
SCAN Health Plan is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, serving more than 220,000 members in California. Since its founding in 1977, SCAN has been a mission-driven organization dedicated to keeping seniors healthy and independent. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, provides vitally needed services and support to seniors and their caregivers. SCAN also offers education programs, community funding, volunteer opportunities and other community services throughout our California service area. To learn more, visit scanhealthplan.com or facebook.com/scanhealthplan or follow us on Twitter @scanhealthplan.

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SOURCE SCAN Health Plan

Ivanti Integrates Ivanti Neurons Platform with Splunk Security Operations Suite to Further Enable the Self-Healing Autonomous Edge

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ivanti, the company that automates IT and Security Operations to discover, manage, secure and service from cloud to edge, today announced that the Ivanti Neurons™ Platform now integrates with the

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ivanti, the company that automates IT and Security Operations to discover, manage, secure and service from cloud to edge, today announced that the Ivanti Neurons™ Platform now integrates with the Splunk Security Operations Suite. Together, the solution enables organizations to realize an autonomous edge, which offers hyper-automated self-healing, self-securing and self-service capabilities. The solution is enabled by Ivanti’s integrations with Splunk Enterprise Security (SIEM) and Splunk Phantom (SOAR), two core components of the Splunk suite.

Ivanti Neurons integrates with the Splunk Security Operations Suite to allow for automated workflow from the endpoint into Splunk for analytics, correlation and response, culminating in automatic ticket creation in Ivanti® Service Manager. The end-to-end workflow also automates the discovery, security and servicing of endpoints by leveraging data analytics and correlations from Splunk Enterprise Security with Ivanti Unified Endpoint Manager. The Ivanti Service Manager App for Splunk provides dashboard visualizations to discover insight into incidents, problems, tasks, change requests and configurable items.

«With the explosive growth of endpoints, edge devices and remote workers, IT operations and security teams need to apply advanced automation to improve workflow, auto-remediate security issues and enhance the remote user experience,» said Nayaki Nayyar, executive vice president and chief product officer, Ivanti. «By integrating the hyper-automated Ivanti Neurons platform with Splunk Security Operations Suite, we are taking a big step towards enabling truly self-healing autonomous edge so that enterprises can increase speed and accuracy of services delivered to end users.»

The Ivanti Neurons integration with the Splunk Security Operations Suite automates the discovery, management and security of broadly heterogeneous endpoint environments. Triggered alerts for endpoint events are analyzed, correlated with other security data and visualized in Splunk Enterprise Security. Prioritized endpoint events are automatically passed on to Splunk Phantom for enhancement and the automated generation of enriched remediation tickets in Ivanti Service Manager. This enables teams to fully automate the discovery, monitoring and servicing of a broad array of traditional and modern endpoints. 

This Ivanti Neurons integration with the Splunk Security Operations Suite is available now for customers licensed on both solutions. Announced last month, Ivanti Neurons converges service management, endpoint management and security through a hyper-automation platform that lowers the cost, risk and complexity of delivering IT services, support and security while improving the user experience. For more information, visit: www.ivanti.com/neurons.

About Ivanti: Better Experiences, Better Outcomes.
Ivanti automates IT and Security Operations to discover, manage, secure and service from cloud to edge. From PCs to mobile devices, VDI, and the data center, Ivanti discovers IT assets on-premises, in cloud, and at the edge, improves IT service delivery, and reduces risk with insights and automation. The company also helps organizations leverage modern technology in the warehouse and across the supply chain to improve delivery without modifying backend systems. Ivanti is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and has offices all over the world. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow @GoIvanti.

Copyright © 2020, Ivanti.  All rights reserved.

 

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SOURCE Ivanti

The Future of Music Education is Here, and Tonara is Leading the Way With it’s Latest Launch, Tonara Connect

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tonara, the makers of the popular music practice app Tonara Studio, announced the launch of Tonara Connect, a music education marketplace that connects music teachers and students worldwide.

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tonara, the makers of the popular music practice app Tonara Studio, announced the launch of Tonara Connect, a music education marketplace that connects music teachers and students worldwide.

Technology around music education often looks to cut teachers out of the picture, while Tonara puts teachers right at the center. Tonara’s game-changing app, Tonara Studio, launched in 2018, helps thousands of teachers to stay connected and engaged with their students while motivating practice in between lessons.

«The future of music education is being driven by innovation, connectivity, and empowerment. We strive to deliver on all three in the products, content, and global communities that we build.» – Cara Katzew, VP Marketing of Tonara.

While Tonara Studio helps teachers manage and motivate their students, the newly released Tonara Connect, allows music teachers to grow their studios by removing geographical limitations and making it easy for students from around the world to find them.

On Connect, music teachers are able to create rich, professional profiles, showing potential students who they are, and how they can help them achieve their goals. Music students entering the marketplace can then find the teachers that match their music learning needs, and initiate lessons.

The marketplace currently boasts over 800 teachers and is growing every day, connecting people worldwide through music education.

«We have the potential to do something truly big here. Not just in scale, but in impact. We’ve all witnessed the power of music education, how it unites, and how it heals. This is something that everyone in the world should have access to and Tonara is here to reshape the future of music education and make that possible».  – Tonara CEO, Ohad Golan.

You can learn more about Tonara at https://tonara.com and via their global social community channels now in Spanish, Russian, and soon, Portuguese.

 

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SOURCE Tonara

Chad Gobel: The New York Times Proves the Importance of Gratitude to Giving

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ten years ago I started Gobel Group with the premise that people give, not because of their wealth, but because of their gratitude to the institution and people at that institution. Nowhere is that gratitude more present and powerful than in healthcare. Over the past decade, Gobel Group…

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ten years ago I started Gobel Group with the premise that people give, not because of their wealth, but because of their gratitude to the institution and people at that institution. Nowhere is that gratitude more present and powerful than in healthcare. Over the past decade, Gobel Group has been fortunate to work with more than 350 healthcare clients to support their efforts of putting gratitude first.

When I founded Futurus Group in early 2019, bringing together our President, Nathan Chappell, and an incredible team of talented and experienced technical and philanthropic professionals, it was with the goal of harnessing cutting-edge technology from the worlds of AI and machine-learning to empower nonprofits, including hospitals, to identify their most grateful constituents and drive successful philanthropic efforts.

At both Gobel Group and Futurus Group, we believe philanthropy is not about finding the richest person in your community and convincing them to give to your institution, but about receiving the gift of gratitude because you created or provided an extraordinary experience to your constituent. Philanthropic donations do not make hospital executives rich; instead, they help healthcare organizations positively impact human lives — whether they are nine minutes old, or 90-years-old.

For this reason, I was surprised to read how, in its July 21st piece, the New York Times reported on a national survey published in JAMA concerning fundraising in hospitals. The Times infers there are dark clouds gathering over philanthropy in medicine, calling into question the future of the healthcare industry.

To put the bottom line at the top, the Times missed the mark on its analysis. Consider the numbers they didn’t report on. What the survey data shows in actuality is a proof of concept of both Gobel Group and Futurus Group’s approach of centering on gratitude, not wealth.

The Times piece, titled «Patient, Can You Spare a Dime?» is a disheartening representation of a new paper published in JAMA titled, «Public Attitudes Regarding Hospitals and Physicians Encouraging Donations From Grateful Patients.» Reporter Gina Kolata labels seeking philanthropic donations from patients as an «increasingly common tactic,» stating «most patients are repelled by these solicitations.»

One point the survey data does make clear is Americans, retaining the streak of our forefathers, are repelled by a difference in care based on donor status. The JAMA survey poses a series of hypothetical benefits for donors to gauge if the general public finds such benefits acceptable. Examples include room upgrades, which 50% of respondents were comfortable with, but those figures drop off quickly. For example, only 20% of respondents support increased access to physicians. But as Alice Ayres, CEO of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy notes, «While concierge benefits vary by organization, the commitment to delivering the same quality of care for all patients does not.»

So, are patients really repelled by being asked to give back to the hospital that has cared for them or their family? Consider the survey results left out by the Times. According to the JAMA article, 85.2% of respondents from the general population sample agreed patients feel good when they donate to the hospital where they received medical care. 77% agreed patients feel good by donating to support the physician who cared for them.

As AHP’s Alice Ayres notes, «expressing gratitude through giving is part of the emotional healing process for many donors and their families.» It is difficult to line up these results, showing overwhelming belief in the positivity of patient donations, with the idea being asked to donate turns off these same respondents.

So, if patients understand the positivity and healing potential of giving, and hospitals are committed to providing the same quality of care to all, then what is their real concern? It is the same issue expressed by many doctors, that wealth and donor status will create problems — or the appearance of problems. The lead author of the JAMA study, Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., expressed this dilemma herself, saying: «As a practicing physician asked to engage my patients around philanthropy, it’s occurred to me that this could be a potential conflict of interest. I want guidance to navigate this, to understand what I should do to encourage philanthropy, but also to protect my patients and maintain their trust.»

To be sure, I agree with the overwhelming majority of survey respondents who state doctors and nurses should not solicit donations – this should be done by a gift officer. We also take great effort to partner with hospitals to remove wealth from the equation.

So why not focus on wealth? Because we have found a better way. Employing AI and Big Data to achieve greater philanthropic outcomes, our custom algorithm focuses on patient gratitude, not the size of a patient’s checkbook. By gauging patient gratitude using experience, a hospital system can better tap into the sense of belonging and identity grateful patients possess — leading to a positive virtuous cycle paying far better dividends in the long run.

It turns out our «Gratitude to Give» (G2G) approach is resonating just as strongly with physicians as patients. Derek Groves, Chief Development Officer at Essentia Health, had this to say on the topic. «I absolutely love G2G. One of our clinician champions came to thank me today — he had recently met with his major gift officer and reviewed names from the G2G list. I’ve never had a physician come to me and thank me for the work I’m doing. More often than not, the tendency is for them to come to me and tell me that my work is unethical.»

Ultimately, Gina Kolata and the New York Times set out to paint a picture of philanthropy in medicine as an idea rejected by the general public. But what the survey data actually shows quite clearly is our approach to fundraising is the correct path forward for hospitals. And judging by so many positive outcomes, it is evident the future focus of giving must shift from wealth screening towards the accurate measurement of patient gratitude for greater success. If you want to learn more about our G2G model and how it could be applied to your organization to increase philanthropic revenue, I encourage you to read about us in Forbes and click here to schedule a 15-minute call.

About Gobel Group

Gobel Group is the leading consulting firm working exclusively in healthcare philanthropy, and the experts in helping clients build meaningful partnerships with physicians and nurses to create a robust grateful patient program. Gobel has expanded its scope of services and now supports clients with strategic planning, campaign planning and management, and board and volunteer leadership training, among other areas.

Gobel Group has worked with over 350 hospitals across the nation and around the world. More information on Gobel Group’s services and career opportunities can be found at www.gobelgroup.com.

About Futurus Group

Backed by Gobel Group’s 300+ years of collective experience in healthcare fundraising, Futurus Group is revolutionizing healthcare philanthropy by leveraging AI capabilities to increase philanthropic support. As an enterprise software company focused on artificial intelligence, Futurus partners with its clients to ensure that their philanthropic data is accurate and actionable. More information about Futurus Group can be found at www.futurusgroup.com.

CONTACT: Lauren Kline, lauren@gobelgroup.com, 585-598-1174

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SOURCE Gobel Group; Futurus Group

Ten New Police Departments and Municipalities Sign On With PropertyRoom.com to Auction Off Stolen and Seized Items

FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — In the second quarter of 2020, ten (10) Police Departments and Municipalities signed on with PropertyRoom.com to auction off their unclaimed stolen, seized or surplus assets and goods.

FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — In the second quarter of 2020, ten (10) Police Departments and Municipalities signed on with PropertyRoom.com to auction off their unclaimed stolen, seized or surplus assets and goods. PropertyRoom.com is an online auction site offering «$1 No Reserve» online auctions; bringing more deals to the community and generating income for their partners.

  • Indiana: Gary Police Department
  • Massachusetts: Braintree Police Department
  • Mississippi: City of Hattiesburg
  • North Carolina: Haywood County, NC
  • New Hampshire: New Boston Police Department
  • Nevada: City of Mesquite Police Department
  • Ohio: Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office
  • Texas: Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
  • Utah: Cedar City Police Department
  • Wisconsin: Menomonee Falls Police Department

Items available cover a wide range, varying from collectible coins and smartphones to handbags and vehicles, with more in between. The website also regularly auctions surplus municipal cars, trucks and heavy equipment as well as seized vehicles, with all assets open to public bidding nationwide.

Andrew J. Nash, CEO of PropertyRoom.com shared, «Our focus is to provide the best online auction services to our clients to meet their needs. We are excited to be able to provide our services to our newest clients so that they may focus on more mission critical during these challenging times.»

About PropertyRoom.com
PropertyRoom.com makes it remarkably easy for our 4,100+ clients to manage and sell surplus assets. We streamline the entire auction process on a client’s behalf and deliver to the winning bidder. There is always a unique deal to be found, with hundreds of new auction listings added daily. Top categories include jewelry, watches, collectible coins and consumer electronics along with cars, trucks, heavy equipment, and firearms through a partner website, eGunner.com. Working with law enforcement agencies, municipal surplus departments, state/county fleet programs, airports and even museums, PropertyRoom.com has generated and distributed millions of dollars to local communities nationwide.

 

SOURCE PropertyRoom.com

Compliance Unveils RelativityOne and Nuix Discover Instances for United Kingdom Clients

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Compliance, an integrated eDiscovery services and managed review provider, today announced the expansion of their hosting capabilities by opening dedicated instances of Relativity One and Nuix Discover in London, England. As their first expansion outside of the United States, Compliance is proud to empower their client base with the ability to utilize these secure eDiscovery platforms for…

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Compliance, an integrated eDiscovery services and managed review provider, today announced the expansion of their hosting capabilities by opening dedicated instances of Relativity One and Nuix Discover in London, England. As their first expansion outside of the United States, Compliance is proud to empower their client base with the ability to utilize these secure eDiscovery platforms for United Kingdom-based work and data.

Privacy laws are constantly evolving and altering how user data is stored, organized, and transmitted. The increase in client demand for UK data hosting was significant, and Compliance responded quickly with this new capability. Compliance is now positioned exceptionally well to meet regional data security standards.

«In a time where many businesses are scaling back, Compliance has been able to execute on our expansion plans, due in part to our automation and efficiencies,» said Marc Zamsky, CEO of Compliance. «We’re listening to our clients and investing in their future by putting their needs first and providing invaluable services that keep their data safe and secure. We couldn’t be more thrilled to metaphorically break ground into international territory.»

About Compliance
Compliance is an ISO 27001 certified eDiscovery services and managed review provider and innovator of DaaS (Discovery-as-a-Service), a powerful toolkit of the most advanced eDiscovery software, analytics, and data security available. Through a combination of cutting-edge technology, state-of-the-art development, and secure, certified data centers, Compliance supports corporate legal departments, law firms, and public entities in managing critical and complex legal matters with control, innovation, and ease. Compliance is a System One division. Discover Compliance: http://www.complianceds.com.

 

SOURCE Compliance

Can the Airline Industry be Herded to Safety? Building the Case for Health Safety Regulations During COVID

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — In 1978, the Airline Deregulation Act (ADA), in large part, was meant to reduce bureaucracy, equal the playing field for start-up airlines, and lower ticket prices for consumers. Today, most will agree, airfares are more affordable, which has resulted in more people flying than ever before. It should be emphasized that while the ADA liberated the airlines to run their companies based on market-driven decisions, it did not alter the FAA’s broad authority to…

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — In 1978, the Airline Deregulation Act (ADA), in large part, was meant to reduce bureaucracy, equal the playing field for start-up airlines, and lower ticket prices for consumers. Today, most will agree, airfares are more affordable, which has resulted in more people flying than ever before. It should be emphasized that while the ADA liberated the airlines to run their companies based on market-driven decisions, it did not alter the FAA’s broad authority to regulate safety. Then why, after more than four months of pandemic health and financial destruction, don’t we have a consistent, straightforward air travel safety policy?

To answer this, ExpertFlyer.com went One-on-One with Airlines for America (A4A), a trade association and lobbying group that represents major North American airlines, and Consumer Reports’ aviation adviser William J. McGee to discuss what’s happening, and what should be happening, to protect air travelers and rebuild consumer confidence in the airline industry.

«What we have right now is the Wild West,» said William J. McGee during his podcast interview with ExpertFlyer. «Individual airlines have their own policies and the authority to change those policies day to day while at the same time creating obvious health concerns, and confusion, for consumers.» Even if you’re only looking at air travel purely from a dollars and cents – and admittedly cold – perspective, McGee says that not having any across-the-board health regulations is simply bad business. «It just doesn’t make sense, because until consumers are confident that it’s safe to fly and that the airlines and airports and everyone is doing everything they need to do, they’re not going to fly. At least not in the numbers that airlines want to see.»

But Rebecca Spicer, senior vice president of communications at A4A, explained that U.S. airlines have proactively taken extraordinary measures to protect passengers and employees, including mandatory face coverings, enhanced cleaning, and health acknowledgements.

«The intensive cleaning protocols that U.S. airlines have implemented include electrostatic cleaning and fogging procedures, for example, and the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that our carriers use completely recycle the air in the passenger cabin within two or three minutes while filtering out 99.9 percent of airborne particles. And of course, we’re encouraging travelers to utilize mobile check-in on their smartphones,» she added.

In response, McGee agrees that HEPA filters are very good but warns consumers about how airlines are touting its use within their fleet. «Although every airline in the U.S. has aircraft with HEPA filters, not every aircraft operating on behalf of those airlines has them,» he said. McGee also added that the filters will not impact direct exposure to germs. «Experts I’ve spoken with said that having 10 HEPA filters in the cabin still can’t protect you if the person sitting next to you sneezes or coughs. Germs have to reach the filter before they reach you. So, we’re back to the basics – wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing.

«If you look at this in terms of what needs to be done, I think you can come up with a couple of quick bullet points,» says McGee. «Each one of those bullet points is problematic and each one comes with a lot of questions. I am not holding myself out by any means as an expert on pandemics. None of us are. What we’re saying is just as after 9/11, all the experts were put in a room and told to come up with something. That’s what we’re saying needs to be done now.

«In order to regain consumer confidence, there needs to be some level of health safety consistency across airlines, and aircraft, so consumers know they are getting at least a minimum standard of safety when they fly, regardless of the airline name or aircraft model,» said Chris Lopinto, president of ExpertFlyer.com.

To read more about this fascinating and important debate regarding government regulation of the airline industry and hear the entire interview with Bill McGee from Consumer Reports, visit ExpertFlyer’s blog.

About William J. McGee
William J. McGee is the Aviation and Travel Adviser for Consumer Reports Advocacy, and the former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter. In 2010, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation chose him as the lone consumer advocate on the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee, and he is regularly called upon to testify before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies as an expert witness on airline safety, aviation security, and consumer protection issues. Prior to becoming a journalist, McGee spent nearly seven years in airline flight operations management and is an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher. He is the author of the books Attention All Passengers and Half the Child.

About Airlines for America (A4A)
Airlines for America (A4A) members are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and UPS. Air Canada is an associate member.

A4A advocates on behalf of the leading U.S. airlines, both passenger and cargo carriers. A4A works collaboratively with industry stakeholders, federal agencies, the Administration, Congress, labor and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public.
For more information about the airline industry, visit our website airlines.org and our blog, A Better Flight Plan, at airlines.org/blog.

About ExpertFlyer.com
Each month, ExpertFlyer’s One-on-One blog goes face-to-face with the travel industry’s leading decision makers to discuss and address topics relevant to many of today’s business and frequent travelers.

ExpertFlyer.com was conceived and created by an eclectic team consisting of a veteran elite tier frequent flyer, an airline captain and corporate travel manager, and information technology professionals to deliver a 24/7 real time powerful air travel information service. The company provides its subscribers and corporate travel managers alike with a complete, concise and efficient way to access the ever-changing details of worldwide air travel information. For more information, please visit expertflyer.com.

Stuck in the middle seat again? Download the free Seat Alerts app from ExpertFlyer and get the window or aisle seat without hassle or frustration.

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SOURCE ExpertFlyer

Prescription Justice Introduces New 2020 Congressional Report Card on Drug Prices

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Prescription Justice, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to lowering drug prices in America, today introduced its new 2020 Congressional report card on drug prices. Using a dynamic, multi-factor methodology, members of the House and Senate are scored and assigned a letter grade, A through F. The grades, which are based on data from votes taken, bills sponsored and co-sponsored, money received by pharmaceutical manufacturers and…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Prescription Justice, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to lowering drug prices in America, today introduced its new 2020 Congressional report card on drug prices. Using a dynamic, multi-factor methodology, members of the House and Senate are scored and assigned a letter grade, A through F. The grades, which are based on data from votes taken, bills sponsored and co-sponsored, money received by pharmaceutical manufacturers and reviews of policy positions on congressional websites, are accessible at http://www.PrescriptionJustice.org. Congresspersons who take the Prescription Justice Pledge can increase their grades.

The drug prices grade is designed to empower voters, advocacy groups and political organizations to determine who they want to support in upcoming elections based on their records on prescription drug prices. Using the share feature on the web site, grades can easily be shared on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and by email.

«High drug prices have long been a public health crisis in our country, and the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly aggravated the problem,» said Prescription Justice founder, Gabriel Levitt. «In too many cases, such as with insulin, people are dying because they can’t afford common life-saving treatments. Americans deserve to know whether their elected officials are working to solve the problem of drug prices or they are part of the problem, and our new report card will help them find out.»

«Most congressional report cards rely on simple vote tallies on a given issue,» said Michael Walker, political data analyst at Data Made Useful. «Prescription Justice’s report card takes a much deeper dive into analyzing congressional behavior on drug prices. This was in part a matter of necessity, because votes on drug prices are few and far between, but also a matter of substance, because our multidimensional approach can best show voters how committed their elected officials are to this issue.»

Unlike most other issues where voters split along ideological lines, Democrats and Republicans agree that prescription drug pricing is a huge problem. Overall, about eighty percent of Americans believe drug prices are unreasonable. Ninety percent of Democrats and 80% of Republican voters want to empower Medicare to negotiate drug prices. The report card reflects the fact that far more Republican members of Congress are out of touch with the electorate, but so are many Congressional Democrats.

In the House of Representatives, there were of 12-As, 210-Bs, 8-Cs, 33-Ds, and 166-Fs. In the Senate there were 15-As, 17-Bs, 14-Cs, 29-Ds, and 24-Fs.

Grade Breakdown by Party in the House and Senate:

-House Democrats: 12-As, 207-Bs, 8-Cs, 3-Ds, 3-Fs
-House Republicans: 0-As, 3-Bs, 0-Cs, 30-Ds, 163-Fs
-Senate Democrats: 14-As, 14-Bs, 7-Cs, 7-Ds, 5-Fs
-Senate Republicans: 1-A, 3-Bs, 7-Cs, 22-Ds, 19-Fs

Total: 27-As, 227-Bs, 22-Cs, 62-Ds, 190-Fs

«Politicians who want to take a stand on drug prices can fill out the Prescription Justice questionnaire. We call it the Prescription Justice Pledge» said Jodi Dart, Executive Director of Prescription Justice. Members of Congress can raise their grades by going on the record on the organization’s policy platform. «For each yes answer they give, members are awarded 2 raw score points toward a new or higher grade. Members who entirely commit to the pledge go up a full grade. As a long-time Republican voter, I would like to see members of my party begin to move on this issue and give their voters the relief they need on drug prices.»

In addition to the grade which is available at https://prescriptionjustice.org/, Prescription Justice will also offer an online presentation for journalists, members of Congress, advocacy groups and voters to explain how the report card works. For access to the presentation, please contact Jodi Dart. The full press release is also available on the Prescription Justice website, here: https://prescriptionjustice.org/resources/press-releases/press-release-august-4-2020

About Prescription Justice
Prescription Justice, a 501c4 nonprofit organization, is dedicated to ending the crisis of high drug prices in America. Bringing together doctors, lawyers, public health and consumer advocates, and concerned citizens from across party lines, Prescription Justice advocates for serious regulatory and legislative reforms that will substantially lower the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans and expand access to lower-cost medication from abroad. Learn more at: https://www.prescriptionjustice.org/

 

SOURCE Prescription Justice