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THE NEW SYSTEM ALLOWS VETS TO SEE PATIENT SATISFACTION RATINGS FOR VA HOSPITALS

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THE NEW SYSTEM ALLOWS VETS TO SEE PATIENT SATISFACTION RATINGS FOR VA HOSPITALS

VETS

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A federal website now lets veterans compare patient reviews of care at VA and non-VA hospitals using industry-standard ratings.

The ratings for VA hospitals were recently published for the first time, according to USA Today, and a tool called Care Compare on Medicare.gov now lets veterans see the results alongside those of non-VA hospitals in their areas.

The VA discontinued its own ranking system, which used different standards from those of other hospitals, in late 2019 in an effort to increase transparency.

vietnam vet doctor va hospitals
A doctor examines a Vietnam veteran. Photo courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to USA Today’s review of the data, 60 out of 121 VA hospitals listed on Care Compare earned at least four out of five stars in patient satisfaction. VA medical centers with too few patients or data were not included.

Roughly 40% of the total 3,462 hospitals (not just VA medical centers) surveyed in 2019 were rated at least four stars, according to Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data.

Patient satisfaction is just one factor in the overall star ratings, which also take such quality measures as death and infection rates into account. Currently, overall star ratings are not available for VA or Department of Defense facilities. VA officials told USA Today they’re on track to include more measures on Care Compare and ensure the site features overall star ratings for veterans facilities by 2023.

Casey Jones Distillery To Expand With $1.9 Million Investment In Hopkinsville

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Casey Jones Distillery To Expand With $1.9 Million Investment In Hopkinsville, Creating 15 Full-Time Jobs

Bourbon And Spirits Company Has Operated In Kentucky Since 2014

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April. 28, 2022) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced further momentum in the state’s bourbon and spirits industry with the expansion of Casey Jones Distillery in Christian County, a $1.9 million investment that will create 15 full-time jobs for local residents.

“Kentucky’s bourbon and spirits industry are currently in a period of incredible growth and expansion,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are seeing example after example of companies choosing the commonwealth to expand their distilling operations, which is a testament to the resources, workforce, and communities that support this industry. I want to thank Casey Jones Distillery for their commitment to Kentucky and wish them nothing but success in the future.”

The nearly $2 million expansion will see the company add a 1,000-gallon distillation, fermentation, and mash cooking system to expand the production capacity of bourbon and other spirits. Additional support equipment such as a bottling line, distilled water system, and alcohol storage also will be installed. The project will include a nearly 3,800-square-foot barrel aging rackhouse that will support the increased barrel storage and aging necessary for the expanded operations.

“With the belief and commitment of our remarkable staff, and the many partners like South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, our dream and our goal of being the premier craft distillery in Western Kentucky is going to come true,” said Arlon “AJ” Jones, master distiller and co-founder of Casey Jones Distillery.

Casey Jones Distillery was founded in 2014 and is an independently owned, micro-craft distillery based in Hopkinsville. The company offers a full bourbon experience that includes tours, tastings, and various events throughout the year. In 2019, for the company’s fifth anniversary, the distillery released its first bourbon, starting a new chapter for the company and helping to establish it as a premier producer of highly sought authentic Kentucky spirits.

The bourbon and spirits industry remains one of Kentucky’s most prominent sectors. Today, spirits facilities employ more than 5,300 people throughout the state. Since the start of 2020, Kentucky’s spirits industry has seen roughly 50 new location or expansion announcements with over $980 million in planned investments and approximately 800 announced full-time jobs. Gov. Beshear also worked with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to remove harmful bourbon tariffs on trade with the United Kingdom and European Union, ensuring continuing strength in the export market.

Christian County Judge/Executive Steve Tribble welcomed the added economic impact the expansion will bring to the community.

“Christian County Fiscal Court is excited to support the continued growth of one of the county’s most successful businesses and tourism attractions,” Judge Tribble said. “With thousands of tourists visiting Casey Jones Distillery per year, the family-owned company is making a huge economic impact on the county and regional economy. I applaud Peg and AJ for their vision and investment and thank Gov. Beshear, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority and the Cabinet for Economic Development for their support of this important, job-creating expansion at Casey Jones Distillery.”

Carter Hendricks, executive director for the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council, lauded the company for its continued investment and impact in the region.

“Casey Jones Distillery continues to be an exemplar of local, family-owned business demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit of the Bluegrass State,” Hendricks said. “With Peg and AJ’s leadership and strong support from local, regional, and state government, Casey Jones Distillery will continue making a significant economic impact on our region for generations to come. We are thrilled to see their expansion come to life and look forward to supporting their continued success.”

Casey Jones Distillery’s investment and planned job creation further recent economic momentum in the commonwealth, as the state builds back stronger from the effects of the pandemic.

Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for 2021 recently placed Kentucky atop the South Central region, and third nationally, for qualifying projects per capita.

Gov. Beshear recently announced that on Jan. 28, S&P Global Ratings revised Kentucky’s financial outlook to positive from stable and affirmed its “A-” credit rating. S&P cited a reduced reliance on one-time items to balance the budget and a higher balance in the state’s rainy-day fund as primary factors influencing the change.

That follows a 2021 during which the commonwealth shattered every economic development record in the books. Private-sector new-location and expansion announcements included a record $11.2 billion in total planned investment and commitments to create a record 18,000-plus full-time jobs across the coming years. Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage for projects statewide in 2021 was $24 before benefits, a 9.4% increase over the previous year.

In recent months, the commonwealth has announced the two largest economic development projects in state history. In September, Gov. Beshear and leaders from Ford Motor Co. and SK Innovation celebrated a transformative $5.8 billion investment that will create 5,000 jobs in Hardin County. Last week, the Governor was joined by leadership at Envision AESC to announce a $2 billion investment that will create 2,000 jobs in Warren County. These announcements solidify Kentucky as the national leader in EV battery production.

Kentucky also saw an all-time, record-setting budget surplus in the fiscal year 2021 and entered 2022 with an estimated $1.9 billion more than budgeted.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $200,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $1.93 million and annual targets of:

  • Creation and maintenance of 15 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and
  • Paying an average hourly wage of $16 including benefits across those jobs.

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

In addition, Casey Jones Distillery can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. These include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training, and job training incentives.

For more information on Casey Jones Distillery, visit caseyjonesdistillery.com.

Indiana Shows Strong Conservation And Water Quality Improvement Trends

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Indiana Shows Strong Conservation And

Water Quality Improvement Trends

INDIANA (April 28, 2022) – The Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) announced its 2021 soil health and water quality accomplishments. The ICP works with Hoosier landowners to provide technical or financial assistance for the implementation of conservation projects. In 2021, landowners supported by the ICP installed more than 31,500 new conservation practices.

“Agriculture is big business in Indiana! Those words have always stood true, from the formation of our state to today,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Indiana. “I commend each of our Hoosier farmers and landowners who year after year break conservation records and ensure agriculture will continue to be a driving force in our state for many generations.”

The Indiana Conservation Partnership report showed that over the last year landowners helped prevent nearly one million tons of sediment, over 1.9 million pounds of nitrogen, and 991,446 pounds of phosphorus from entering Indiana waterways. Cover crops and no-till practices implemented with ICP’s assistance sequestered an estimated 42,000 tons of soil organic carbon, which is the equivalent to the carbon emissions of more than 30,000 cars.

While the term conservation practices can mean many things, in Indiana, some of our most common conservation best management practices are cover crops, nutrient management, residue and tillage management, conservation cover, early successional habitat development/management, and grassed waterways.

Over the last several years, data shows Hoosier farmers and landowners strive to improve their conservation of soil and increase water quality year over year. The table below shows Indiana’s living cover acres and best management practices installed since 2016.

Year Living Cover Acres Best Management Practices Installed
2016 1,180,000 17,970
2017 1,020,000 19,295
2018 1,080,000 22,338
2019 950,000 26,436
2020 1,590,000* 32,229
2021 Data is currently being collected and will be released in the summer 2022 31,505

“Despite the ongoing challenges we are facing with extreme weather patterns, a growing population and natural resource concerns, our farmers were still able to implement an impressive  31,000+ conservation practices throughout Indiana with the assistance of our conservation team,” said Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Jerry Raynor. “It’s partnerships like this that are the driving force behind great stewardship efforts. We look forward to continuing our collaborative conservation efforts and strengthening our commitment to the environment to best serve the needs of our producers.”

ISDA Director Bruce Kettler is proud of the achievements of our Hoosier farmers and landowners.

“The conservation practices installed each year are outstanding, but soil conservation and water quality initiatives of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without the landowners and farmers who assist and allow these practices to be implemented,” said Kettler.

The ICP is made up of public and non-profit groups, along with landowners, that work together for the betterment of soil health and water quality. ICP organizations include the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, ISDA, Indiana State Soil Conservation Board, Purdue Extension, USDA-Farm Service Agency and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Indiana Conservation Partnership is a crucial part of Indiana’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, this illustrates the continued success and challenges of conservation and serves as a tool to help set watershed priorities and reduction targets, manage conservation resources, and to further stakeholder involvement across Indiana.

To find more information on soil and water conservation in Indiana, soil and carbon sequestration, soil conservation trends, Indiana’s work in our three water basins, or partnerships between other states in the full report, click here or visit isda.in.gov.

*As conservation work has changed over time, the conservation survey has been modified to better measure current conservation goals. At its inception, the transect was designed to measure tillage and residue cover. In 2011 the survey efforts were expanded to include collecting data on cover crops. In 2014, a second fall survey was started as a specific effort to measure cover crops. In 2020, the timing and collection categories were adjusted to further fit the effort to measure cover crops. Click here to learn more.

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ABOUT ISDA
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Administratively, ISDA reports to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.

ABOUT NRCS
NRCS is helping private landowners improve the health of their operations while protecting our natural resources for the future. We are working to ensure the long-term sustainability of American agriculture. Our mission and vision statements serve as the foundation for our work and help guide our efforts when faced with competing demands, exciting challenges, and new opportunities that stem from complex Farm Bills and fluctuating industry needs. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Vanderburgh County Clerk Announces Vote Center Change, Other Changes

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Vanderburgh County Clerk Announces Vote Center Change, Other Changes

Evansville, Ind.— Vanderburgh County Clerk Carla Hayden recently announced  a change to the list of Election Day vote centers. “Due to the sale of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, we had to find a new location,” Hayden said, “Fortunately for us, nearby Simpson United Methodist Church stepped up to the plate.” Hayden indicated that attempts by her office to establish communication with the new owner of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ had been unsuccessful. St. Paul’s United Church of Christ was located at 2227 W. Michigan Street and Simpson United Methodist Church is located at 2201 W. IllinoisStreet. Both are located just off of Franklin Street on the west side of Evansville.

Hayden would also like voters who vote by mail to know that they may notice a slight change in the envelope for returning their ballot. “Paper shortages have forced many clerks to make changes due to stock not being available to the printers. In our case, the side load envelopes that we have traditionally used were not available, so we had to switch to a conventional top flap,” Hayden said. Indiana law does not require a specific type of envelope and several different types are used by clerks around the state. Hayden said that they would exhaust their old stock before switching to the new stock.

Something that will not change is the use of the Old National Events Plaza for in-person absentees, commonly referred to as “early voting“. “Old National Events Plaza proved to be very popular with voters for early voting during the 2020 Presidential Election so it will again serve as the designated location of the clerk’s office,” Hayden said. Indiana law requires in-person absentee voting to be in one location of the clerk’s office as designated by the clerk for the 28-day period prior to Election Day.

Voting at Old National Events Plaza will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday beginning April 5th and ending at noon on Monday, May 2nd. Voting will also take place on Saturday,

April 23rd and 30th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old National Events Plaza and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cedar Hall Community School and Northeast Park Baptist Church. Voters are reminded to bring a photo ID with them when voting in person.

In-person absentee voting at the library locations will begin on April 25th and continue through April 29th. Hours are Monday through Thursday from Noon to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Please note that voting at the libraries is for one week in the Primary Election and two weeks in the General Election.

NEW HARMONY GAZETTE FOR MAY-2022

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New Harmony Gazette May 2022

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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Durbin & Braun Introduce Legislation To Improve Safety And Ensure Transparency For Dietary Supplements 

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 Durbin & Braun Introduce Legislation To Improve Safety And Ensure Transparency For Dietary Supplements 

 (9 out of 10 American adults support listing requirements for dietary supplements)  

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation to require dietary supplement manufacturers to list their products with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which provided FDA with authorities to regulate dietary supplements.  However, DSHEA did not require dietary supplement companies to register their products with FDA—leaving the agency without the much-needed authority or information to properly understand or oversee the market.  In 1994, there were 4,000 dietary supplements marketed in the United States.  Today, there are anywhere between 50,000 and 80,000.

“FDA—and consumers—should know what dietary supplements are on the market and what ingredients are included in them,” said Durbin, “There are tens of thousands of products on the market and we don’t know about many of them.  Americans deserve a transparent dietary supplement market, and it’s past time that we deliver it for them.  I’m grateful to Senator Braun for working with me on this important legislation.”

“A large majority of Americans take dietary supplements daily, yet there is little transparency into this industry to allow patients and providers access to information needed to make decisions around dietary supplement consumption,” said Braun. “I am proud to introduce this legislation to improve visibility into the dietary supplement industry because American consumers deserve to know what they’re taking. Having this information will enhance Americans’ health care options.”

“Today, FDA has few tools to spot and address dangerous supplement ingredients, and risky products are often found only after people have been harmed,” said Liz Richardson, director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ health care products project. “This bipartisan, pragmatic proposal would bring transparency and stronger safety oversight to the vast dietary supplement marketplace. Nine in 10 adults support requiring manufacturers to inform the agency of all supplements they make and their ingredients. This bill would answer that call, and Congress should pass it without delay to ensure that FDA knows which products are being sold—and what’s in them.”

“Transparency is the best disinfectant, and a mandatory product listing will give FDA and consumers visibility into the dietary supplement marketplace,” said Steve Mister, President & CEO of Council for Responsible Nutrition. “CRN member companies produce a large portion of the dietary supplements marketed in the United States, so we know responsible industry supports mandatory product listing for supplements. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Sens. Durbin and Braun on this critical legislation.”

“The dietary supplement marketplace is an uncertain place for consumers — so little transparency, so much confusion. The American Medical Association appreciates the bipartisan effort of Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Braun (R-IN) to introduce some clarity to this situation. The Dietary Supplement Listing Act would create a much-needed electronic database so consumers can access vital product information. We urge Congress to be on the side of consumers and pass this legislation,” said AMA President Gerald E. Harmon, M.D.

The Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022 would require companies to provide FDA with vital information about their products, including product names; a list of all ingredients; an electronic copy of the label; allergen statements; health and structure/and function claims, and more. This information would be made public to Americans.

More than 75 percent of American adults use a dietary supplement.  No product is without risk, which is why greater oversight is needed.  In 2021, FDA received more than 2,400 adverse event reports related to dietary supplements.  However, due to significant underreporting, FDA estimates the actual annual number of adverse events is 50,000.  Over the last 27 years, annual dietary supplement sales increased from $4 billion to more than $50 billion.

FOOTNOTE: This legislation is endorsed by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, Pew Charitable Trusts, the American Medical Association, and U.S. Pharmacopeia.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Up In 28 States

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COVID SHOT
COVID SHOT

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Up In 28 States

Molly Gamble 
BECKER HEALTHCARE

COVID-19 hospitalizations are ticking up in 28 states and Washington, D.C.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases increased 61 percent over the past 14 days, according to HHS data collected by The New York Times. Cases of COVID-19 have increased in the last 14 days in 44 states and Washington, D.C. Reported case counts may be directionally helpful at this point of the pandemic, given the use of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests that result in under-counting.

“I think that we’re dramatically undercounting cases,” former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, told CBS News on April 11. “We’re probably only picking up one in seven or one in eight infections.”

Hospitalizations are up 6 percent nationwide over the last 14 days, with a daily average of 15,908 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of April 27. Here are the 14-day changes for hospitalizations in each state and Washington, D.C., reporting an increase, along with their daily average hospitalizations:

New Hampshire: 80 percent (78 hospitalizations)

Vermont: 66 percent (52)

Massachusetts: 60 percent (443)

New York: 41 percent (1,923)

Connecticut: 39 percent (221)

Hawaii: 34 percent (51)

Wyoming: 30 percent (8)

New Jersey: 27 percent (562)

Iowa: 24 percent (82)

Minnesota: 24 percent (307)

Michigan: 20 percent (555)

Rhode Island: 18 percent (59)

Oregon: 15 percent (229)

Pennsylvania: 13 percent (704)

Illinois: 13 percent (634)

North Dakota: 12 percent (51)

Maryland: 11 percent (343)

Washington: 11 percent (543)

South Carolina: 10 percent (108)

Colorado: 9 percent (146)

Delaware: 9 percent (133)

Wisconsin: 8 percent (216)

Florida: 6 percent (1,031)

Virginia: 6 percent (274)

Maine: 5 percent (121)

Indiana: 4 percent (250)

Nebraska: 4 percent (74)

Washington, D.C.: 2 percent (69)

Alabama: 1 percent (172)

The 14-day changes for cases in each state reporting an increase, along with their daily average cases, can be found through HHS data collected by The New York Times here. Seven-day changes for cases in each state can be found here.

The more contagious omicron subvariant BA.2 makes up 68.1 percent of new cases in the U.S., according to the latest estimates from the CDC. New Jersey has the highest proportion of BA.2 cases of all states, according to the latest ranking of states by the subvariant’s prevalence.

President Joe Biden signed into law on March 15 a sweeping $1.5 trillion bill that funds the government through September. The legislation did not include the COVID-19 funding the White House had requested from Congress because of partisan disagreement about offsetting the funding.

Senate negotiators agreed to a $10 billion COVID-19 aid package April 4, repurposing earlier unused COVID-19 funds. The legislation’s package is now complicated by conflict over President Biden’s immigration policy. Republican senators now want a vote on an amendment that would keep in place the Title 42 border restrictions, which allow limits on immigration because of the pandemic. The bill can’t proceed without the vote, they say.

U.S. lawmakers began their two-week recess on April 8 without acting on the $10 billion COVID-19 relief package. They returned to the session this week.

The current lack of funding is affecting resources for COVID-19 testing and treatment. The Health Resources and Services Administration stopped accepting providers’ claims for COVID-19 testing and treatment of the uninsured on March 22 because of a lack of sufficient funds and stopped accepting claims for the vaccination of uninsured people on April 5. The federal government is also cutting back shipments of monoclonal antibody treatments to states by 30 percent, and the U.S. supply of those treatments could run out as soon as May.

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