Posts Tagged ‘California’
Medical Prices in Virginias Workers Compensation System Continued Rapid Growth in WCRIs Medical Price Index
Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) November 11, 2011
According to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI), Virginia had higher prices paid and faster growth compared to study states with fee schedule regulations.
The study, Medical Price Index for Workers Compensation, Third Edition (MPI-WC), shows that the price for non-hospital services in Virginia in 2010 was nearly 30% higher than the median price in states with fee schedules. Over the nine years covered in this study, the prices in Virginia grew nearly 30%, much faster than the typical growth rate of 11% in states with fee schedules.
If you are a policy maker or other stakeholder in Virginia and want to understand the growth of medical prices for injured workers in your state as well as how that compares to other states, this is the tool for you, said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI Counsel and Deputy Director.
The MPI-WC tracks medical prices paid in 25 large states from calendar year 2002 through June 2010 for non-hospital, non-facility services billed by physicians, physical therapists, and chiropractors. The medical services fall into eight major groups: evaluation and management, physical medicine, surgery, major radiology, minor radiology, neurological testing, pain management injections, and emergency care.
The 25 states included in the MPI-WC, which represent more than three quarters of the workers’ compensation benefits paid in the United States, are: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Click here to download a free copy of this report.
ABOUT WCRI:
The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Cambridge, MA. Since 1983, WCRI has been a catalyst for significant improvements in workers’ compensation systems around the world with its objective, credible, and high-quality research. WCRI’s members include employers; insurers; governmental entities; managed care companies; health care providers; insurance regulators; state labor organizations; and state administrative agencies in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
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U.S. Cyber Challenge Announces 2011 Cyber Foundations Competition
East Greenbush, N.Y. (Vocus/PRWEB) January 31, 2011
The U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC) today announced its Cyber Foundations competition, an online contest to identify talented high school students with the skills to pursue advanced education and job opportunities in the cyber security field.
The Cyber Foundations competition was piloted in California, Maryland, and Rhode Island and is now being officially launched, with a number of states conducting formal campaigns to encourage schools and students to participate. The deadline for high school and student registration is February 18, 2011. For more information and registration details, visit the USCC website at: http://www.uscyberchallenge.org
Cyber Foundations features a series of timed quizzes for high school students to test aptitude in the three most important foundational skills of effective cyber security: networking, operating systems, and system administration. Students are provided with tutorials and training materials to review in each of the three subject areas and then participate in a series of three quizzes taking place throughout March and April.
Top scoring students in each school and state will earn recognition, prizes and/or awards for their achievements. Additional awards and recognition, including ceremonies with government officials and industry leaders may be available. Award recipients will be announced April 30.
Cyber Foundations is conducted through collaboration with the SANS Institute, which developed the curriculum and competition.
Cyber Foundations is one of several initiatives underway through USCC, a national public-private partnership focused on identifying and developing cyber security talent to meet the countrys critical cyber security workforce needs. USCC, a division of the Center for Internet Security, develops and conducts competitions and on-site camps that enable individuals to develop their skills, gain access to advanced training and achieve recognition with scholarships, internships and jobs. USCCs goal is to find 10,000 talented Americans to fill the ranks of cyber security professionals where their skills can be of the greatest value to the nation.
The need to find creative solutions to protecting our information systems and digital infrastructure has never been greater. The Cyber Foundations competition will help us tap into the tremendous talent across our nations schools to identify those with a passion for security and a desire to put their skills to good use, said William Pelgrin, President and CEO of the Center for Internet Security. This program is the result of tremendous collaboration between the public and private sectors and we look forward to continued partnerships to strengthen our nations cyber security talent pool.
In order to address the ever-increasing cyber security challenges facing our interconnected society, we must focus on the next generation of Americans to make sure they have the skills necessary to defend our country, said U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper. Last year, I congratulated the first graduating class of the U.S. Cyber Challenge Delaware camp, which recognized some of our states best and brightest college students. I am pleased that Delaware is participating in the 2011 U.S. Cyber Challenges Cyber Foundations contest for high school students, which enables our students to gain vital skills while vying for awards, recognitions and a competitive edge in educational and job opportunities in the cyber security field.
In a world of ever-present threats to our homeland, it is imperative that we maintain a proactive approach in safeguarding our nations cyber-infrastructure, U.S. Senator John Cornyn said. This initiative will help prepare a new generation of students to protect critical aspects of our infrastructure and provide Texans with the resources to succeed.
As online opportunities grow, unfortunately so do our vulnerabilities. Thats why it is critical to make strengthening and improving cyber security a priority in both the public and private sectors, said Congressman Mac Thornberry, who will be leading an unprecedented cyber security initiative in the U.S. House of Representatives. While many talented people are already hard at work to protect our systems, we also need to be recruiting our next generation of cyber security experts, especially in states like Texas. That is why I am encouraging students across our state to participate in the U.S. Cyber Challenge Cyber Foundations competition, which offers a creative and interactive way to identify talented individuals who want to play a key role in strengthening the countrys cyber security, Thornberry continued.
“We must act now to develop a competent workforce that can support the needs of securing our cyber networks, which is quickly becoming a national priority,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “I’m so proud of our students in Rhode Island who piloted the U.S. Cyber Challenge Cyber Foundations competition last fall, and I look forward to expanded participation from more schools and students. By partnering with others in the cyber community, I hope this challenge will grow into a national model for inspiring and harnessing our young cyber talent.”
If we are to be successful in protecting our critical infrastructure systems from cyber threatswhether intentional attacks or unintentional compromiseswe must address our nations shortage of skilled cyber security professionals, said James A. Lewis, Director and Senior Fellow, Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The U.S. Cyber Challenge provides a range of opportunities to identify and nurture talented Americans to meet this national priority.”
“Cyber Foundations is an exciting program that provides high school students with access to cutting edge training, allows them to have some fun competing against their peers across the country and gives them the opportunity to be recognized for their talent in a positive way,” said Alan Paller, Director of Research, SANS Institute. “As importantly, it identifies the young people who can become America’s future cyber guardians and cyber warriors.
For information about becoming a sponsor to support school participation in the Cyber Foundations competition, contact Renee Mclaughlin, USCC Executive Director at renee(dot)mclaughlin(at)cisecurity(dot)org.
About U.S. Cyber Challenge:
U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC), a division of the not-for-profit Center for Internet Security, is focused on recruiting and training the next generation of Americans to fill the critical need for a skilled national cyber security workforce.
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Online Counseling Therapy for Anxiety & Depression
Online Counseling is a very effective and also very convenient option for many people. Convenience is one of the main factors – people are often too busy to take the time to drive to and from a therapist’s office. It is much more time-efficient to simply turn to your computer and make that Skype video call at the scheduled time. Also, many people, such as mothers with young children and the disabled or elderly, find it hard to make the special arrangements necessary to leave home to travel to their therapist’s office. There is also the issue of availability. People living in the country or isolated communities, those living abroad in non-English speaking countries, and even those living in cities such as New York or LA where the cost of counseling therapy is unaffordable for many people.
Online Counseling Therapy is also very convenient for those who are suffering from agoraphobia and social anxiety and thus find it extremely challenging to leave the security of their home.
Is Online Counseling Effective? There have been several studies that show that online counseling can be as effective as in-person counseling, especially for non-clinical neuroses such as anxiety, panic attacks and depression.
The Online Therapy option is becoming more accepted by the established mental health communities and recently was recommended to be made available on the NHS (see my blog site http://mindfulnessmeditationtherapy.blogspot.com/). Of course, effectiveness depends very much on the kind of psychotherapy being offered. The online format works best for cognitive-based forms of psychotherapy such as CBT and Mindfulness Therapy. Actually, it has been my experience that the online format using Skype video actually enhances the therapeutic process. People enjoy the process and definitely feel less intimidated and more at ease, especially since they can organize their sessions from the comfort of their own home.
But, for me, as a therapist, I am very excited at anything that gives the client more options and choices in getting the help that they need for managing their anxiety, depression or stress. The Online Counseling arena certainly offers a huge range of choices – especially as it is not geographically limited. Living in New York I can seek help from a therapist in Colorado, California or even abroad. Many of my clients live in foreign countries and find it difficult to find a therapist who speaks English or who shares the same culture.
Many clients are also very particular in the kind of psychotherapy counseling that they want and that may not be available locally. For example, many people know that Boulder is a world-class center for Buddhist Psychotherapy, which may not be available in Wisconsin!
All you need is a laptop with Skype and PayPal and you are ready to start! But, be sure to get a free email consultation first and ask all your questions.