| On Wednesday, the CEO of one of the nation’s largest insurers echoed growing concerns that President Obama’s signature healthcare law is in a death spiral.
According to a Politico report, Aetna’s CEO argued that, “more insurers will pull out of the government-run marketplaces in the coming weeks and many areas will have no insurers to provide Affordable Care Act coverage in 2018.â€Â He went on to say, “It’s not going to get any better; it’s getting worse.â€
In response, physician and Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, who has repeatedly cautioned that Obamacare is failing, said:
“We continue to see signs that Obamacare is failing almost daily,â€Â said Bucshon. “The insurance market is unstable and on the brink of collapse driving up out-of-pocket costs on families and limiting access to Americans looking to get coverage. As I’ve said before, it would be irresponsible and unethical to ignore these facts and do nothing to bring relief to patients suffering as a result of this bad law. Republicans in Congress are working judiciously with the new Administration to repeal the Obamacare disaster and replace it with reforms that lower costs and expand access to quality, affordable healthcare to everyone.† Bucshon recently introduced legislation to help stabilize the insurance markets by giving states the flexibility to meet the needs of their unique patient populations. More on his legislation can be found by clicking here.   Aetna CEO: Obamacare markets are in ‘death spiral’ Obamacare is in a “death spiral,†the influential CEO of Aetna, Mark Bertolini, declared Wednesday morning. Bertolini’s doomsday prophesy: More insurers will pull out of the government-run marketplaces in the coming weeks and many areas will have no insurers to provide Affordable Care Act coverage in 2018. “It’s not going to get any better; it’s getting worse,â€Â Bertolini said in an interview at a Wall Street Journal event. But he declined to say whether Aetna would completely pull out of Obamacare markets next year. Humana, which had already significantly limited its exchange footprint this year, announced Tuesday that it would completely pull out of the exchange markets next year after determining its customer base would still be unprofitable. That followed major pullbacks this year from other national insurers, including Aetna and UnitedHealth Group. The full article can be accessed here. Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana’s 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties. |
ICYMI: Aetna CEO says Obamacare markets are in ‘death spiral’
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USI Women’s Basketball Eighth In First Regional Ranking
University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball debuted at No. 8 in the first NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings.
The Screaming Eagles, ranked No. 22 in the Division II Media Poll and No. 24 in the WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, are sporting a 15-4 regional record and a 17-4 mark against Division II competition this year.
Ashland University, the top-ranked team in the nation, opened as the No. 1 team in the regional rankings, while Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division leader Drury University is ranked No. 2.
Saginaw Valley State University, Ursuline College and Lewis University rounded out the top five teams in the rankings, while Michigan Tech University and Bellarmine University are ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. Grand Valley State University and Ohio Dominican University rounded out the rankings at No. 9 and No 10, respectively.
The NCAA II Midwest Region rankings are comprised of teams from the GLVC, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. USI was one of four GLVC teams in the rankings, while the GLIAC had five teams and the GMAC had one (Ursuline).
The NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament is comprised of eight teams, with the GLVC, GLIAC and GMAC Tournament winners receiving automatic bids and at-large bids going to teams from the top eight of the regional rankings.
USI, which has a one-game lead in the GLVC East Division, hosts the University of Illinois Springfield Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for its Play4Kay game, while Senior Day is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
ISP Welcomes Six New Motor Carrier Inspectors to the Ranks
On Monday, February 13, 2017 the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division graduated 6 new Motor Carrier Inspectors (MCI’s) from its 2016-2017 Motor Carrier Inspector Recruit Academy. An ISP MCI is a uniformed civilian employee with limited enforcement authority tasked with enforcing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) and certain Indiana state laws governing trucks and buses. During the 11 week academy the recruits received intensive technical training in the areas of emergency vehicle operations, first aid, defensive tactics, fire arms familiarization, radio communication, and court testimony. They were also instructed on FMCSR and Indiana traffic laws governing truck size, weight, registration, and permitting.
During the graduation ceremony the featured speaker, Mr. Gary Langston President of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, spoke on the importance the new MCIs will play in ensuring safety on the roads and how crucial it is that the trucking industry and enforcement work together to reach that common goal. Standing before friends, family, and future co-workers Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter administered the Oath of Office to the recruits and then welcomed them into the ISP Family.
On Tuesday, February 14th, the probationary inspectors reported to their areas of assignment and began a fourteen week field training phase. During this training phase the MCI’s will work with veteran inspectors to experience hands on, real world application of the materials they learned during the recruit school academy.
Gerald Farmer, Richard Wieczorek, and Chad Mysiewicz are assigned the Lowell Districts scale facilities while Donald Aldrich and Gerald Stump will be working at the Putnamville District’s West Terre Haute Scale facility. Michael Buckley is assigned to the Versailles District’s West Harrison Scale facility.
Captain Jon Smithers, Commander of the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division, closed the ceremony with the following comments. “You will be patrolling our state’s highways and manning our weigh stations ensuring the safety of the citizens of Indiana and our visitors. Not only to ensure that large commercial vehicles are operating and being maintained in a safe manner but also to identify potential criminal activities such drug smuggling, human trafficking, and terroristic activities. Stay vigil, stay safe, and utilize the training you have received to return home to the ones you love every night.â€
Further information on the Indiana State Police Motor Carrier Inspector program can be found at www.in.gov/isp and click on the link “Career Opportunities.”
PHOTOS
- MCI Graduation Photo 1 – Newly appointed probationary Motor Carrier Inspectors (left to right)
Gerald L. Farmer (assigned to Lowell District, Lowell Scales I-65 SB)
Richard A. Wieczorek (assigned to Lowell District, Chesterton Scales, I-94)
Michael Buckley (assigned to Versailles District, West Harrison Scales)
Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter
Donald F. Aldrich (assigned to Putnamville District, West Terre Haute Scales)
Chad Mysiewicz (assigned to Lowell District, Chesterton Scales, I-94)
Gerald Stump, (assigned to Putnamville District, West Terre Haute Scales)
- MCI Graduation Photo 2: Guest Speaker, Mr. Gary Langston, President of the Indiana Motor Truck Association.
Police Action Shooting – Updated Information
Indiana State Police are releasing the names of those troopers involved in the police action shooting that occurred last night in Vincennes.
- Master Trooper Shaun Hannon, 25 years of service
- Trooper Korey Mauck, 9 years of service
- Trooper Justin Bean, 9 years of service
The Indiana State Police SWAT team and the U.S. Marshals Task Force were working together last night to locate and apprehend Zimmerman. The Indiana State Police and U.S. Marshals Task Force were both present during the police action shooting.
Police recover over 50lbs of K2, suspect arrested for dealing synthetic marijuana
Members of the Narcotics Task Force seized over 50lbs of synthetic marijuana during an investigation on Tuesday afternoon.
The suspect, 22 year old GABRIEL APPEL, was arrested for an active felony warrant during a car stop near Kratzville and Huber.
During the stop, officers found over 1lb of synthetic marijuana in the car. Officers also found over $2,000 during the stop.
A search warrant was issued for Appel’s home at 3005 Hawaii Drive. Officers found over 50lbs of synthetic marijuana in the house.
APPEL was charged with:
Dealing in Synthetic Cannabinoids (Level 6 Felony)
Possession of Synthetic Cannabinoids (Class A Misdemeanor).
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Aces win fourth in a row, defeat Drake by 87-70 final
Three score 20+ points to lead UEÂ
David Howard scored a career-high 21 points while Jaylon Brown and Ryan Taylor added 22 apiece to lead the University of Evansville men’s basketball team to its fourth win in a row, defeating Drake by a final of 87-70 on Tuesday night at the Ford Center.
It was the first time three players scored 20 or more points for UE since Dec. 30, 2006 against Bradley when Matt Webster, Kyle Anslinger and Bradley Strickland notched 20 apiece against Bradley.
“As a team, we were in attack mode tonight. Jaylon was driving to the basket, Ryan was hitting his outside shots and I was attacking down low,” Howard said. “It was a great win tonight.”
Howard hit six shots and was a career-best 9-for-9 from outside for the Purple Aces (14-14, 5-10 MVC). Brown and Taylor each hit nine shots apiece. Brown did his work inside the arc, with all nine field goals being 2-pointers.
“Those guys all had great nights; Jaylon did well driving to the basket and David has been on quite a roll,” head coach Marty Simmons said. “Christian (Benzon) and Dru (Smith) also played extremely well. We had a nice stretch there in the second half when Ryan hit that three. Our guys just played well.”
A 4-for-4 start from the floor saw the Purple Aces open the night with the first eight points over the first 2:40. Just as quick as the Aces opened up, Drake came right back as a triple from Billy Wampler saw them record five points in a row.
Evansville, who led for the duration of the first half, pushed its lead to double figures at 25-15 midway through the half on a Christian Benzon free throw. The lead for UE went as high as 13 points on a jumper from Ryan Taylor. His bucket made it a 32-19 game with 6:23 remaining in the half.
Over the final minutes, the Bulldogs cut into the UE lead, finishing the half on an 18-8 stretch to trail by just three at the break. Another Wampler trey got the run started while Reed Timmer notched eight in the run to make it a 40-37 game at the break.
The lead for the Aces quickly grew to seven points in the opening minute of the second half, but the treys kept coming for DU as De’Antae McMurray connected twice from outside to get the Bulldogs back within three. At that point, Evansville buckled down. An 18-6 run that saw Dru Smith notch six points saw UE open up its largest advantage at 71-55 with just over nine minutes remaining. Later, an and-one by Christian Benzon saw UE pull away even more, up 81-62 just five minutes later.
From there, the Aces held strong, taking their fourth game in a row by a final of 87-70.
UE takes to the road for the final time in the regular season. The stretch begins on Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Bradley before the Aces head to Wichita State next Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tilt. The home finale at the Ford Center will take place on Saturday, February 25. Fans are reminded that this game is now a noon tip off.
Officer Involved Shooting in Vincennes
The suspect has been identified as David Zimmerman, 35, of Princeton. A felony parole warrant for manslaughter had been issued earlier this month out of Gibson County. Tuesday evening, February 14, Indiana State Police had received information that Zimmerman was possibly in the area of Chuckles, located at 1744 Old Decker Road, Vincennes. At approximately 8:57 last night, troopers spotted Zimmerman’s Dodge Ram pickup truck at Chuckles. Troopers in unmarked vehicles pulled in behind his truck. Zimmerman placed his vehicle in reverse and collided into the front of one of the unmarked vehicles. Troopers opened fire when Zimmerman reached for a weapon. Zimmerman was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes where he died from his injuries. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun.
This is an on-going investigation and further information will be released as it becomes available.