All posts by imreal

Business: Insurance

The IHC Group Strengthens its Partnership with Investment in Figo Pet Insurance

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The IHC Group

Making an investment in capital as well as providing ongoing resources support, only makes sense as we work together to grow our book of pet insurance business. At IHC, we strive to be true partners in the distribution of our products.


NEW YORK (PRWEB)

Independence Holding Company (“IHC”) and Figo Pet Insurance (“Figo”) are pleased to announce the expansion of their relationship as a result of IHC making a $5 million investment in Figo for a 4% equity stake ($125M valuation).

Figo, which has been named Top InsurTech Leader by A.M. Best’s Review,* and Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”), a member of The IHC Group which is rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company, Inc., are experiencing rapid sales growth since Independence American began underwriting pet insurance plans offered by Figo in August 2019. The partnership is now actively marketing in 46 states with the remaining states available in the coming weeks.

“We continue to be impressed by the leadership of Rusty Sproat and his team, as well as the innovative spirit and dedication to the pet insurance consumer demonstrated by everyone at Figo,” said Rick Faucher, President of Pet Insurance Division of IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc. “Making an investment in capital as well as providing ongoing resources support, only makes sense as we work together to grow our book of pet insurance business. At IHC, we strive to be true partners in the distribution of our products.”

“IHC’s progressive underwriting services enhance Figo’s core commitment to bring our customers the best product values possible,” said Rusty Sproat, CEO and founder of Figo Pet Insurance. “Combining Figo’s industry leading InsurTech platform with the IHC’s insurance expertise will be a significant factor in our growth and continued success.“

Figo, founded in 2015, is an InsurTech leader in the pet insurance industry that provides medical reimbursement plans and services for dogs and cats. Figo’s technology platform delivers a suite of highly personalized services under the Figo Pet Cloud, an innovative mobile app that enables access to pet medical records, Live Veterinarian texting, claim A.I. interface, and social media connections with compatible pet-friends via a smartphone application.

For more information on Independence American’s pet insurance, please contact Rick Faucher at 602-395-7083 or Rick.Faucher@IHCGroup.com. Please visit http://www.IHCGroup.com and http://www.FigoPetInsurance.com for additional resources.

*A.M. Best, Best’s Review, “Agents of Change” January 2017, pages 62, 71: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e8f79b79#/e8f79b79/1

About The IHC Group

Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC), formed in 1980, is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through its subsidiaries (Independence Holding Company and its subsidiaries collectively referred to as “The IHC Group”). The IHC Group consists of three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company), PetPartners Inc., our pet insurance administrator, IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., a technology-driven full-service marketing and distribution company that focuses on small employer and individual consumer products through its call center, IHC Specialty Benefit Advisors, general agents, independent agents, private label arrangements, and INSX Cloud, our wholly owned Web Based Entity. IHC also owns the following domains http://www.healthedeals.com; http://www.my1hr.com; http://www.healthinsurance.org; http://www.medicalresources.org; and http://www.petplace.com.

About Figo Pet Insurance

Figo is a Chicago-based InsurTech company founded in 2015. They offer a unique combination of comprehensive insurance policies to protect your pet in the event of injury or illness; as well as industry-leading technology. They have become one of the fastest growing start-ups in the country. Figo utilizes a highly engaging and mobile-friendly Pet Cloud that allows consumers to manage their pet’s healthcare, socially engage with fellow pet owners, and easily discover and locate services within the pet ecosystem. They provide simple, comprehensive, and transparent policies with an award-winning customer service staff, and are widely regarded as one of the leading pet insurance companies.

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Business: Executives

Prairie State Insurance Cooperative Agent of the Year 2019

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RIVERDALE, Ill. (PRWEB)

ARM of Illinois, Inc. recently announced that Brian Blough, Vice President and Cheri Plummer, Commercial Lines Sales Agent from Lee/O’Keefe Insurance Agency, Inc. in Springfield were named as Prairie State Insurance Cooperative (PSIC) Producers of the Year.

Blough and Plummer were recognized for their sales success and service commitment to PSIC.

PSIC is a full-service insurance and risk management program offered to public schools in Illinois. The comprehensive program gives members long-term stability as well as broader coverages and increased limits. In addition to workers compensation, coverages include property & casualty, automobile, excess liability, school board legal, student accident, cyber liability, pollution and more. The program is administered by Gallagher, the leading provider of risk management and insurance solutions for Illinois public school districts.

ARM of Illinois is the exclusive marketing agent of PSIC. A member of ARM International, the group provides a proven distribution platform for insurers, wholesalers, and program managers. ARM of Illinois has 24 independent agency members operating from locations throughout Illinois.

Lee/O’Keefe Insurance Agency is located at 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 100, Springfield. Email info@leeokeefe.com or call 217-528-5679 for more information.

For more information and local contacts, visit http://www.prairiestateinsurance.org.

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Health

Thalamus Secures New Funding for Premier Medical Residency Management Platform; Fresco Capital, 37 Angels, Kapor Capital, and Jason Calacanis’ LAUNCH Fund Lead Round

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Thalamus

With more than $80 million spent annually on residency application costs, and billions more on travel and hospital administrative expenses, we are confident that this is a marketplace suitable for innovation with a cloud-based solution


SANTA CLARA, Calif. (PRWEB)

Thalamus, (http://www.thalamusgme.com) a cloud-based SaaS company and creator of the premier platform for hospital residency application and interview management, has secured more than $1.5 million in early-stage funding from a group led by Fresco Capital, 37 Angels, Kapor Capital and Jason Calacanis’ LAUNCH Fund. The additional capital will support technology development, sales, and marketing efforts as Thalamus expands its footprint which already includes more than 125 of the country’s top teaching medical centers.

Thalamus is the foremost web-based, recruitment management and interview scheduling software specifically designed for application to graduate medical education (GME) training programs. The platform streamlines communication by allowing applicants to self-schedule interviews, eliminating unnecessary phone calls and emails. Thalamus handles all of the confirmations, cancellations, and rescheduling, functioning as a process-specific applicant tracking system saving healthcare institutions months of workflow management.

“We are delighted to receive the support from our investors, as we continue our mission to streamline the application and interview process for applicants and programs,” said Jason Reminick, M.D., founder and CEO of Thalamus. “The cost of training and placing doctors in residency programs in the United States is staggering for residents and those costs in time and money ultimately trickle down to affect patient care. A single hospital may spend millions of dollars recruiting residents, while shifting faculty from clinical duties to interview candidates. With more than $80 million spent annually on residency application costs, and billions more on travel and hospital administrative expenses, we are confident that this is a marketplace suitable for innovation with a cloud-based solution.”

Thalamus was created in 2013 by Dr. Jason Reminick, then a resident in pediatrics and anesthesiology, and Dr. Suzanne Karan, an anesthesiologist with more than 10 years of experience directing residency programs. The platform has already been proven to significantly reduce costs and increase efficiencies for residents and teaching hospitals engaged in the application process.

Thalamus is currently in use across more than 70 medical specialties at graduate medical education programs throughout the U.S. including Stanford, The Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Columbia University, Cornell University, Northwell Health, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yale University, University of California Los Angeles, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Chicago. Approximately 80 percent of all medical students applying to residency programs are already using Thalamus, including more than 100,000 newly minted physicians since 2013.

“Since we first piloted Thalamus more than five years ago, residency and fellowship applicants have overwhelmingly endorsed the platform for its convenience, allowing them to easily manage their search and interview scheduling process,” Dr. Karan said. “At the same time, residency and fellowship program administrators have lauded Thalamus as a significant cost-saving tool with direct benefit to the efficiency of their recruitment processes.”

The new investment coincides with the start of the 2020 Residency Application and Match season, administered by the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)/American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). This process is one of the most important and demanding periods in medical education. In total, the process typically costs medical students an average of more than $10,000 in application and out of pocket fees, as well as travel expenses, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). While teaching hospitals and medical centers spend a median cost of $14,162 in recruiting costs for each NRMP-matched position.

“Thalamus is positioned to be the dominant player in an emerging market for SaaS solutions in the medical administration space,” said Stephen Forte, managing partner of Fresco Capital. “Jason and his team have already secured relationships with the best teaching hospitals in the country. We are thrilled to be co-leading this round of capital raising and look forward to their continued growth.”

Historically, efforts by the American medical community to improve the residency and fellowship recruitment experience, while reducing administrative costs, have been elusive. Since the development of the NRMP in 1952, the recruitment and match process has remained largely static. A recent study of the residency application process published in The Journal of Graduate Medical Education noted that scheduling interviews and engaging with potential matches in a time-sensitive manner creates “a cumbersome and labor-intensive step for the residency staff, which is associated with long delays in interview date confirmation after preferences are sent by applicants.”

“Thalamus is developing and deploying technology to create new ways for teaching hospitals and residents to connect with each other” said Angela Lee, founder and CEO of 37 Angels. “We applaud their novel approach to simplifying this entire process and are proud to be among the first investors to validate their bold strategic vision.”

About Thalamus

Established in December 2013 and based in Santa Clara, California, Thalamus was created through a grassroots collaboration of program directors, program coordinators and applicants/medical students to address the inefficiencies in the residency and fellowship application and interview process. Founded by a pediatrics-anesthesiology resident and an anesthesiology residency program director, Thalamus provides a comprehensive online interview reservation and travel experience via a real-time scheduling system – online and mobile. For more on Thalamus, please visit https://thalamusgme.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook or Twitter

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Science: Biology

ZRT Laboratory Launches a New LCMS Saliva Profile to Expand Saliva Test Offerings

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“While dried urine testing for steroid metabolites shows the end result of hormone metabolism – the ‘garbage dump’ of inactive hormones – the new LCMS Saliva Steroid Profile shows the bioavailable levels, giving a clear window into how they are affecting health.”


BEAVERTON, Ore. (PRWEB)

ZRT Laboratory is pleased to announce the launch of a new LCMS Saliva Steroid Profile to be added to the existing suite of saliva test offerings. While ZRT’s salivary hormone immunoassays continue to provide highly accurate results, there are some analytes that cannot be tested using this methodology because there are no available immunoassays. ZRT has therefore developed an assay using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, or LCMS). This profile tests a broad range of bioidentical hormones, ethinyl estradiol, and several synthetic hormone synthesis inhibitors, which are all reported together from one convenient saliva sample collection.

David Zava PhD, ZRT’s Founder and Chief Scientist, explains, “While dried urine testing for steroid metabolites shows the end result of hormone metabolism – the ‘garbage dump’ of inactive hormones – the new LCMS Saliva Steroid Profile shows the bioavailable levels of active hormones and hormone synthesis inhibitors that are currently circulating around the body and acting at hormone receptors or hormone synthesis enzymes, giving a clear window into how they are affecting health.”

The addition of this new LCMS Profile gives ZRT the distinction of being the first and only lab to offer providers a test for ethinyl estradiol, the most common component of oral contraceptives. Testing ethinyl estradiol along with the other estrogens in the profile helps providers assess the total body burden of estrogens on their patients using most oral birth control formulations, and thereby assess symptoms in the light of their overall hormone picture. LCMS testing also allows for accurate reporting of hormones often present and active at very low levels, such as estrogens and androgens seen in men, children, postmenopausal women, and people using aromatase and 5a-reductase inhibitors of hormone synthesis.

ZRT’s LCMS saliva steroid profile also gives providers a comprehensive range of androgen tests that can be used for a full assessment of women with hair loss or acne. Saliva melatonin was also added to this new profile to give providers an assessment of real-time waking melatonin production and help identify possible sleep problems. Finally, to complete the hormone picture, ZRT includes the hormone blockers anastrozole, letrozole and finasteride to evaluate the effects of these drugs on steroid hormone metabolism in terms of buildup or deficiency of key hormones, as well as treatment compliance.

To learn more about ZRT’s new LCMS Saliva Steroid Profile or to order yours today, visit ZRT’s saliva page or contact customer service at 866.600.1636 or email info@zrtlab.com.

About ZRT Laboratory

ZRT Laboratory is a CLIA-certified commercial and research laboratory founded in 1998 by breast cancer researcher David Zava, Ph.D. ZRT has pioneered innovative testing methods for hormones, neurotransmitters, heavy metals and more, offering health care professionals convenient and simple at home options for collection of different body fluids including saliva, dried blood spot, and dried urine. With over 10 million clinical tests performed over the past 20+ years, coupled with our signature personalized test report, ZRT Laboratory has become a world recognized leader in hormone and wellness testing. Individuals, health care providers in all 50 states and in over 100 countries, as well as research-oriented government, private, and academic organizations worldwide use our testing. Learn more at zrtlab.com.

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Technology: Electronics

CompoundTek Collaborates with Cadence and Lumerical to Deliver Integrated Electronic-Photonic Design Automation PDK for Silicon Photonics ICs

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Our strategic collaboration with Cadence and Lumerical enables customers to leverage an integrated EPDA PDK, which features an open SiPh manufacturing platform to accelerate the adoption of SiPh solutions for various applications


SINGAPORE (PRWEB)

CompoundTek, a global foundry services leader in emerging silicon photonic (SiPh) solutions, today announced that it has collaborated with Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and leading photonics design and simulation provider, Lumerical, on the delivery of a new CompoundTek process design kit (PDK) for SiPh ICs. The PDK consists of a new, advanced electronic-photonic design automation (EPDA) flow with features aimed at further advancing the development of differentiated SiPh solutions.

The PDK is based on the Cadence® Virtuoso® custom IC design platform, utilizing the Cadence CurvyCore engine, Cadence Spectre® simulation platform and the electrical-optical co-simulation capability in Lumerical’s photonic integrated circuit simulator INTERCONNECT. The kit includes active and passive devices such as optical waveguide devices, fiber-to-waveguide couplers, high-speed waveguide Ge photo-detectors and high-speed modulators to enable SiPh designers to design and verify their photonics products more quickly and efficiently before fabricating physical prototypes.

“Our strategic collaboration with Cadence and Lumerical enables customers to leverage an integrated EPDA PDK, which features an open SiPh manufacturing platform to accelerate the adoption of SiPh solutions for various applications ranging from datacom transceivers, smart sensor, bio-medical, automotive lidar, quantum computing and artificial intelligence,” said KS Ang, chief operation officer of CompoundTek.

SiPh mask geometries and their curvilinear shapes introduce unique challenges for layout designers. Using the Cadence CurvyCore™ technology, users of the CompoundTek PDK can systematically manage curvilinear shapes within the Cadence Virtuoso design environment. Similarly, having an ecosystem that supports simulation of electrical and optical parts of large systems together, including complex electro-optical effects that must be co-simulated, facilitates the development of larger and more complex integrated electronic-photonic circuits and systems. This PDK helps customers overcome both of these challenges.

“As the market moves toward more highly integrated electro-optical designs, accurate co-simulation of electrical and optical components becomes critical,” said Dr. James Pond, chief technology officer of Lumerical. “CML Compiler allows foundries and end users to easily build and maintain accurate photonic compact models for co-simulation with Cadence Spectre Simulator and Lumerical INTERCONNECT. Our collaboration with CompoundTek and Cadence is enabling these key capabilities for our customers.”

“Through our collaboration with CompoundTek and Lumerical, customers can now design photonics IC chips, leveraging the complete Virtuoso platform, from high-performance curvilinear shape generation with CurvyCore-based PCells to entire system-level thermal and EM analysis,” said Glen Clark, corporate vice president research and development, in the Custom IC & PCB Group at Cadence. “The PDK incorporates the Cadence schematic and layout-driven photonics design flow, enabling mutual customers to achieve SoC design excellence and deliver products to market faster.”

CompoundTek, based in Singapore, boasts of an operation that includes strategic partnerships with a leading fabrication service provider in Malaysia and renowned global SiPh research institutes. Backed by wide-ranging capabilities – from process technology, product design support by expert design partners and manufacturing know-how, CompoundTek’s solution is increasingly sought after by SiPh players globally from Fortune 500 entities to start-ups.

About CompoundTek Pte Ltd

Founded and supported by industry veterans and technologists, Singapore-based CompoundTek combines world-class commercial foundry with leading silicon photonics (SiPh) research institutes to provide cutting-edge SiPh technologies that enhance foundry services capabilities. As one of the elites offering SiPh solutions internationally, CompoundTek brings to the marketplace revolutionary semiconductor applications designed to meet critical requirements in high bandwidth and high data transfer solutions particularly in emerging connectivity driving Industry 4.0. The company’s in-depth know-how includes end-to-end technologies – from proprietary fabrication process expertise to product design support with strategic partners and extended services for end-product manufacturing. CompoundTek’s global customers span leading brands and FORTUNE 500 companies in high-growth industries including artificial intelligence, automotive, bio-medical diagnostics, data centre, lidar, smart sensor, telecommunication and quantum optical computing. Visit http://www.compoundtek.com for more information.

About Lumerical

Lumerical develops photonic simulation software—tools which enable product designers to understand light, and predict how it behaves within complex structures, circuits, and systems. Since being founded in 2003, Lumerical has grown to license its design tools in over 50 countries and its customers include 13 of the top 15 technology companies in the FORTUNE Global 500 index, and 46 of the top 50 research universities as rated by the Times Higher Education rankings. Lumerical’s substantial impact on the photonic design and simulation community means its tools are among the most widely cited in the scientific press, with references in more than 10,000 scientific publications and patents. Lumerical enables its customers to achieve more with light and establish a leading position in the development of transformative technologies employing photonics.

About Cadence

Cadence enables electronic systems and semiconductor companies to create the innovative end products that are transforming the way people live, work and play. Cadence software, hardware and semiconductor IP are used by customers to deliver products to market faster. The company’s Intelligent System Design strategy helps customers develop differentiated products—from chips to boards to intelligent systems—in mobile, consumer, cloud, data center, automotive, aerospace, IoT, industrial and other market segments. Cadence is listed as one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn more at cadence.com.

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Industry: Healthcare

Highmark, Boehringer Ingelheim Announce Value-Based Contract for COPD Medication Stiolto® Respimat®

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PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)

Highmark and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced a new value-based contract for Boehringer Ingelheim’s Stiolto® Respimat® (tiotropium bromide & olodaterol) Inhalation Spray for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This marks the second value-based contract between the two companies. It is also the first contract for Highmark to include Medicare plans in addition to commercial health plans.

This contract confirms the commitment of both companies to improving patient care and lowering overall health care costs by linking reimbursement to patient outcomes. Using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline-based care as a benchmark, Highmark will evaluate whether Stiolto Respimat reduces the total cost for both in-patient and out-patient COPD care for members compared to the costs for members who use other drugs to treat the health condition.

COPD is a progressive respiratory disease that affects more than one in 20 adults in the U.S. The condition is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and it is projected to cost the U.S. health care system about $49 billion in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates that more than 16.4 million work days are lost each year due to the complications of COPD.

The new agreement, which expands Highmark’s efforts to address high prescription drug costs and enhance patient care, is the second agreement between Highmark and Boehringer Ingelheim. The first agreement focused on a drug from Boehringer Ingelheim that treats adults with type 2 diabetes who have cardiovascular disease.

“We at Highmark are committed to ensuring that our members and patients have access to effective and affordable treatments,” says Sarah Marchè, senior VP of pharmacy services for Highmark. “Value-based contracts are a pillar of that strategy, along with site-of-care initiatives and condition-specific care pathways that improve and streamline treatment for chronic, high-cost diseases. We believe that our agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim will benefit our Medicare and commercial members by validating the overall value offered by Stiolto Respimat.”

“Boehringer Ingelheim continues to lead our industry by seeking more outcomes-focused solutions to help rein in health care costs and remains committed to finding the best value for our patients,” said Christine Marsh, senior vice president, market access, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “We are proud of Stiolto Respimat, and this agreement is the first-of-its-kind for Boehringer Ingelheim in respiratory care. We hope this agreement with Highmark helps to improve outcomes for patients by emphasizing quality of care over quantity of care.”

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION for STIOLTO RESPIMAT

Do not use STIOLTO if you have asthma. People with asthma who take long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) medicines, such as olodaterol, (one of the medicines in STIOLTO), without also using a medicine called an inhaled corticosteroid, have an increased risk of serious problems from asthma, including being hospitalized, needing a tube placed in their airway to help them breathe, or death.

Do not use STIOLTO if you are allergic to tiotropium, ipratropium, atropine or similar drugs, olodaterol, or any ingredient in STIOLTO.

Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including: rash, hives, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, and difficulties in breathing or swallowing.

Get emergency medical care if your breathing problems worsen quickly or if you use your rescue inhaler but it does not relieve your breathing problems. Call your healthcare provider if breathing problems worsen over time while using STIOLTO.

Do not use STIOLTO more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not use STIOLTO with other LABAs or anticholinergics.

Do not use STIOLTO for treating sudden breathing problems. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden symptoms.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures, thyroid problems, diabetes, kidney problems, glaucoma, enlarged prostate, and problems passing urine.

STIOLTO can cause serious side effects, including sudden shortness of breath that may be life threatening, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, chest pain, tremor, headache, nervousness, high blood sugar, or low blood potassium that may cause muscle weakness or abnormal heart rhythm. If any of these happens, stop taking STIOLTO and seek immediate medical help.

STIOLTO can cause new or worsening eye problems including narrow-angle glaucoma, and can increase the pressure in your eyes, which can cause the following symptoms: eye pain, blurred vision, seeing halos or colored images along with red eyes. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking STIOLTO and call your doctor right away.

STIOLTO can cause new or worsened urinary retention. Symptoms of urinary retention may include difficulty passing urine, painful urination, urinating frequently, or urinating in a weak stream or drips. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking STIOLTO and call your doctor right away.

The most common side effects of STIOLTO are runny nose, cough, and back pain.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, eye drops, vitamins, and herbal supplements. STIOLTO and certain other medicines may affect each other.

STIOLTO is for oral inhalation only.

The STIOLTO cartridge is only intended for use with the STIOLTO RESPIMAT inhaler.

Do not spray STIOLTO into your eyes. Your vision may become blurred and your pupils may become larger (dilated).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the step-by-step patient Instructions for Use for STIOLTO RESPIMAT before you use your inhaler.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, Patient Information, and Instructions for Use for STIOLTO RESPIMAT.

APPROVED USE for STIOLTO RESPIMAT

STIOLTO® RESPIMAT® (tiotropium bromide and olodaterol) Inhalation Spray is a prescription medicine used long term, 2 puffs 1 time each day, in controlling symptoms in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a chronic lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

STIOLTO is not for treating sudden symptoms of COPD. Always have a rescue medicine with you to treat sudden symptoms.

STIOLTO is not for asthma.

About Highmark Inc.

One of America’s leading health insurance organizations and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc. (the Health Plan) and its affiliated health plans (collectively, the Health Plans) work passionately to deliver high-quality, accessible, understandable, and affordable experiences, outcomes, and solutions to customers. As the fourth-largest overall Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization, Highmark Inc. and its Blue-branded affiliates proudly cover the insurance needs of 4.5 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance, vision care and other related businesses. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, Conn., is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with approximately 50,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the company has remained family-owned, and today our goal is to improve the lives of humans and animals through its three business areas: human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

Boehringer Ingelheim concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend patients’ lives. As a research-driven pharmaceutical company, it plans in generations for long-term success. Its research efforts are focused on diseases with high, unmet medical need. In animal health, the company stands for advanced prevention.

In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around $20.7 billion (17.5 billion euros). R&D expenditure of almost $3.7 billion (3.2 billion euros) corresponded to 18.1 per cent of net sales. Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and strengthening our communities. Please visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us/csr to learn more about Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

For more information, please visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, or follow us on Twitter @BoehringerUS.

Business: Insurance

New Level Partners, LLC Launches ‘My Agency Campus’ Online Learning Site

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https://www.myagencycampus.com/

Learning Solutions for Agents

My Agency Campus is the best resource for new hire on-boarding and training.


PRINCETON, N.J. (PRWEB)

New Level Partners, LLC (NLP) announces the launch of new educational technology – ‘My Agency Campus’ – for distribution of on-demand Online Learning Curriculums. The ‘My Agency Campus’ portal offers expanded curriculum-purchase options and an upgraded, shopping cart purchase experience.

“The intuitive design of the My Agency Campus site incorporates new e-commerce best practices including suggestions from our long-term clients. New Level Partners existing e-commerce sites have provided on-demand new hire, coverage and business skill online learning since 2011. New Level Partners 25+ State I Association relationships fueled terrific growth and adoption of our online and virtual curriculums,” Nancy M. Langton, NLP co-founder and president.

New Level Partners provides diverse instructional design and learning solutions for the insurance industry. NLP’s premier consulting services encompass a wide array of custom offerings such as eLearning development, LMS and hosting applications, instructor-led and extended development programs, and industry-leading new hire onboarding curriculums.

New Level Partners’ extensive insurance industry background translates to efficient collaboration with industry subject-experts and specialists.

“My Agency Campus brings learners into the next generation for professional development for your team. FAIA’s partnership with My Agency Campus has provided new tools not just for new hires, but those that want to expand their insurance knowledge. Using this platform is easy, so give My Agency Campus a try, you will not be disappointed,” Dave Newell, FAIA Director of Education & Workforce Development.

My Agency Campus offers a seamless buying experience for Independent Agents. Visit http://www.myagencycampus.com to learn more.

About New Level Partners: New Level Partners (NLP), founded in 2001, specializes in training solutions for the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry. NLP designs, develops and delivers customized and interactive training programs, both instructor-led and web-based. A wide range of instructional design tools and technologies ensure NLP’s programs are the most interactive and effective on the market. Learn more at newlevelpartners.com.

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Business: Executives

Lurn Receives 2019 Best of Gaithersburg Award

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The fact is marketing Lurn is easy because we’re serving a mission bigger than ourselves


ROCKVILLE, Md. (PRWEB)

Each year, the Gaithersburg Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Gaithersburg area a great place to live, work and play.

“The fact is that marketing Lurn is easy because we’re serving a mission bigger than ourselves,” said Lurn CEO Anik Singal. “We’re empowering hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs around the world to take the initiative to improve both their own lives and the lives of those around them instead of waiting for someone else to do it for them.”

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2019 Gaithersburg Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Gaithersburg Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Gaithersburg Award Program

The Gaithersburg Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Gaithersburg area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Gaithersburg Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

CONTACT:

Gaithersburg Award Program

Email: PublicRelations@organizationnotice-2019.org

About Lurn

Lurn is the transformational home for entrepreneurs. We provide a virtual and in-person training center to teach, coach and guide entrepreneurs all over the world.

Founded by Anik Singal in 2004, Lurn’s approach has always been a straightforward one:

1. To empower others to create & grow passion-based businesses

2. To encourage big ideas that will change the world

3. To educate people about how to be the best entrepreneur they can be – no matter where they are on their journey

For more about Lurn, please visit http://www.lurn.com.

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Health

Annual Eduventures® Transfer Student Research Report Examines Preferences, Motivations, and Barriers to Success for College Students in the Transfer Process

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Students often enter a community college or other two-year school with the strong intention of eventually transferring to a four-year school…if these schools sit back and let students find them, they are missing key opportunities to engage them early.


BOSTON (PRWEB)

ACT® | NRCCUA®, an educational data science and research organization, announced today the publication of the 2019 Eduventures Transfer Student Research Report. The annual report explores the transfer process from the perspective of students who are currently enrolled at post-secondary institutions and are considering transferring to a different institution. In particular, it explores two distinct segments of the transfer market, those transferring from two-year institutions and those currently enrolled at four-year schools.

Increasing Competition for Transfer Students

Prospective transfer students are a little-understood population that is often treated as a homogeneous group by institutions—many of whom have come to rely on them to make enrollment targets. As community college enrollment has dropped by 20% and the transfer-in enrollment at private schools has risen 23% over the past decade, an increasing number of colleges are faced with more competition amid dwindling numbers of transfer applicants. This report outlines the primary motivations, priorities, and concerns among key transfer segments that could impact how they are best identified and cultivated, with implications for a successful transition to their new institutions and, ultimately, academic success.

Key Research Findings Include:

1. 62% of students at two-year schools solidify their transfer plans before enrolling at their original institution. About half of these students are highly sensitive to cost and are greatly concerned about receiving less financial aid (51%) and having to take on more debt as a result of their transfer (53%). These students also appear to have a greater need for support by others in the transfer process.

2. 74% of students at four-year schools start thinking about potential transfer schools while enrolled at their original enrollment institution, indicating less certainty about their transfer plans. Transfer motivations are driven by dissatisfaction with their current institution. While financial considerations are a top priority in the search process, four-year transfers worry much more about the credit transfer process (55%) and a delayed graduation timeline (35%). These students tend to be more self-sufficient in their search process.

3. Students at four-year institutions approach the transfer school search with a do-it-yourself mindset. 45% start their search on online search engines and 40% start on institutional websites, while those at two-year institutions seek help from trusted advisors (33%) and family and friends (39%).

“Students often enter a community college or other two-year school with the strong intention of eventually transferring to a four-year school,” commented Johanna Trovato, Eduventures Senior Analyst at ACT | NRCCUA, and author of this report. “If these schools sit back and let students find them, they are missing key opportunities to engage them early.” Trovato added, “National Student Clearinghouse data on non-enrolling student choices provides a comprehensive list of potential future transfers who may already be open to outreach from prospective transfer schools. This is the time to continue fostering relationships that institutions have already started to build when these students were still in high school.”

About ACT | NRCCUA

Now part of ACT, The National Research Center for College and University Admissions™ is an educational data science and research organization serving over 1,900 member institutions comprised of public and private colleges and universities across the nation. Since 1972, NRCCUA has been a leading provider of data, technology, and programs serving students, high school educators, colleges and universities from its offices in Lee’s Summit, MO, Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Austin, TX. These solutions represent the link between students making important life decisions and those providing the resources and information they need to succeed in their post-secondary educations and careers. With the launch of Encoura™ Data Lab, the company now combines data science, advanced analytics, Eduventures research, predictive modeling and omnichannel enrollment services in one platform to enable institutions to make real-time strategic and operational decisions to meet their unique enrollment goals and create the highest probability of student success. For more information, visit https://encoura.org.

Members of the media who would like to speak to the author of this report or obtain a copy of the report can contact Ellen Slaby at eslaby@eduventures.com.

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Technology: Computer

Users Can Now Take Advantage of Zero-Commission Crypto Trading

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Now, Ledger Nano S owners can plug directly into the new ShapeShift Platform, earn 100 FOX tokens and take advantage of the industry’s only free crypto-to-crypto trading option. We hope this further encourages people away from custodial alternatives.” — Erik Voorhees, ShapeShift CEO


LONDON (PRWEB)

ShapeShift, one of the world’s leading self-custody crypto exchanges, announced today that its much anticipated integration with Ledger Nano S devices is now live on the ShapeShift Platform. Ledger Nano S users can plug their hardware wallet into ShapeShift.com and enjoy zero-commission crypto trading from their device. They also receive 100 FOX tokens after signup.

The integration gives Ledger Nano S users free access to ShapeShift’s simple web interface and powerful dashboard for portfolio management. Users can track, send, receive, and secure their crypto without an account at Beta.ShapeShift.com. Users can also buy and trade crypto with a verified account.

“The crypto revolution is meaningless if people don’t control their own keys,” said ShapeShift founder and CEO, Erik Voorhees. “Ledger’s hardware wallet is the most popular in the world. Now, Ledger Nano S owners can plug directly into the new ShapeShift Platform, earn 100 FOX tokens and take advantage of the industry’s only free crypto-to-crypto trading option. We hope this further encourages people away from custodial alternatives.”

Having pioneered a self-custody model with its original crypto trading service, the new ShapeShift.com expands that same ethos into an integrated web platform for digital asset management. Users retain complete control of their crypto assets and private keys through their hardware wallet, but now have the convenience and ease-of-use typically found in centralized solutions.

“Both Ledger and ShapeShift uniquely understand the importance of crypto users having complete control of their digital assets and private keys, which makes this partnership a perfect fit,” said Ledger’s CEO Pascal Gauthier. “This integration gives Ledger users free access to ShapeShift’s platform, providing yet another option for managing their assets with the security peace of mind that Ledger is known for.”

The Ledger integration for Nano S comes as the latest feature addition to the ShapeShift Platform. In November, ShapeShift brought zero commission trading to its platform through its highly anticipated FOX token. Each FOX token provides $10 of free trading volume on a rolling 30-day basis. The tokens aren’t spent or consumed; customers hold them in their wallets. New users can create an account in minutes and receive 100 FOX tokens, enabling $1,000 of commission free trading every 30 days.

Learn more about ShapeShift’s Ledger integration at ShapeShift.com.

About ShapeShift

Founded in 2014, ShapeShift is an internationally renowned cryptocurrency trading platform. It is guided by four business principles, all of which focus on serving users: security and self-custody, free trading and high liquidity, 24/7 customer service, and an effortless user experience. The ShapeShift Platform allows users to buy crypto with fiat, trade, track, and secure their crypto through a simple web interface. Learn more about ShapeShift at http://www.shapeshift.com.

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