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Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Elects Ten New Members to Its Board of Directors

VIENNA, Virginia, Feb. 15 -- The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts issued the following news release:

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announces the election of ten new Members to its Board of Directors. The new Directors were confirmed during the Foundation's annual meeting February 14, 2019. Joining the Board are:

* Raj Ananthanpillai, CEO, Endera Systems, LLC; McLean, VA

* Bruce L. Caswell, President and Chief Executive Officer, MAXIMUS; Kensington, MD

* Jean Edelman, Co-Founder, Edelman Financial Engines; Great Falls, VA

* Kenneth R. Hayduk, Vice President, Taxes, ... Show Full Article VIENNA, Virginia, Feb. 15 -- The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts issued the following news release: Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announces the election of ten new Members to its Board of Directors. The new Directors were confirmed during the Foundation's annual meeting February 14, 2019. Joining the Board are: * Raj Ananthanpillai, CEO, Endera Systems, LLC; McLean, VA * Bruce L. Caswell, President and Chief Executive Officer, MAXIMUS; Kensington, MD * Jean Edelman, Co-Founder, Edelman Financial Engines; Great Falls, VA * Kenneth R. Hayduk, Vice President, Taxes,General Dynamics Corporation; Great Falls, VA

* Lesley A. Kalan, Corporate Vice President, Government Relations, Northrop Grumman Corporation; Alexandria, VA

* Alka M. Kesavan, Principal and Owner, ODEV Consulting LLC; Washington, DC

* James C. Reagan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Leidos; Reston, VA

* Kevin Robbins, Co-Founder, Blue Delta Capital Partners; McLean, VA

* Anu Saxena, Senior Vice President and Global Head, Hilton Supply Management; Great Falls, VA

* Julian M. Setian, President and CEO, SOS International LLC; Reston, VA

The new Directors join a diverse Board of business leaders and arts philanthropists serving under the leadership of Wolf Trap Foundation Board Chairman Daniel A. D'Aniello, Chairman Emeritus of The Carlyle Group. The Board of Directors is responsible for providing fiduciary and business oversight to support the Foundation's impact in the community as a national arts presenter and leader in early childhood arts education while ensuring the overall health of the nonprofit organization. To view all Board members, visit http://www.wolftrap.org/about/leadership/board.

"On behalf of the Foundation, it is my pleasure to welcome these ten outstanding leaders who truly embody the essential values of philanthropy and service to Wolf Trap's Board of Directors," said Arvind Manocha, president and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation. "These new members expand upon and strengthen an already gifted and generous Board that works tirelessly to advance Wolf Trap's role as a cultural leader in the greater Washington community and beyond."

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington area, as well as nationally. Wolf Trap features three performance venues: the outdoor Filene Center and Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, both located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and The Barns at Wolf Trap, located down the road from the national park and adjacent to the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. The 7,028-seat Filene Center is operated in partnership with the National Park Service and annually showcases an extensive array of diverse artists, ranging from pop, country, folk, and blues to classical music, dance, and theatre, as well as multimedia presentations, from May through September. The Barns at Wolf Trap is operated by the Wolf Trap Foundation year round, and during the summer months is home to the Grammy-nominated Wolf Trap Opera, one of America's outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers. Wolf Trap's education programs include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, a diverse array of arts education classes, grants, and a nationally recognized internship program.

The Power of Black History Month

GREENFIELD, New Hampshire, Feb. 15 -- The Crotched Mountain Foundation issued the following statement by President and CEO Michael Coughlin:

"In February we celebrate Black History Month. This period of reflection and remembrance is a critical and expanding piece of the American experience. The power of Black History Month is especially evident here at Crotched Mountain School. Nearly 40% of our direct care workforce-our most important staff!-are immigrants and refugees. And the vast majority of those folks are people of color.

"And let me be clear: none of the incredible work that takes place ... Show Full Article GREENFIELD, New Hampshire, Feb. 15 -- The Crotched Mountain Foundation issued the following statement by President and CEO Michael Coughlin: "In February we celebrate Black History Month. This period of reflection and remembrance is a critical and expanding piece of the American experience. The power of Black History Month is especially evident here at Crotched Mountain School. Nearly 40% of our direct care workforce-our most important staff!-are immigrants and refugees. And the vast majority of those folks are people of color. "And let me be clear: none of the incredible work that takes placehere every day, happens without them. Without the diversity we treasure-and rely upon-at Crotched Mountain, our mission is defeated.

"Diversity is the bedrock of our organization. It's not a buzzword. It's not a checkmark in a policy manual somewhere. It's a real and necessary and crucial element to what we do, borne out by the very nature of serving people with diverse needs.

"Every child, every student, every adult that Crotched Mountain serves is incredibly unique. When I walk through the halls of Crotched Mountain School I am consistently humbled and awed by the spectacular diversity on display. Some students have communication devices, some use accessible technology to get around, and every diagnosis is completely different.

"And there, right alongside our students, encouraging and supporting them, are our team members, among the most diverse workforces in New Hampshire, without whom none of this magic happens.

"At Crotched Mountain, we celebrate the unique gifts that our staff bring, no matter where they come from. We know that each person's culture, heritage, background and traditions bring a richness to the work they do every day, and help inform their professions. Now, more than ever, this celebration is vitally important. We need to see the life beyond someone's exterior, to the intrinsic value we all have, the potential for everyone to reach their own, unique peaks.

"That is the lesson I take from Black History Month. It is why this part of the calendar is so important-to our nation, to our neighbors, and to a little mountain in the wilds of southwestern New Hampshire, where every day we strive to live by the ideals this month imparts to us all."

Kay Coles James: 'An Unacceptable Resolution to a Genuine National Crisis'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- The Heritage Foundation issued the following statement by President Kay Coles Jamesin response to President Trump's declaring a national emergency on the border:

"Conservatives are disappointed in Congress and frustrated that its failure has led to today's action by the President. The omnibus legislation coupled with today's announcement is an unacceptable resolution to a genuine national crisis.

"For far too long, the United States' southern border has not been adequately secured, creating devastating and dangerous consequences. Congress has responded with apathy, negligence, ... Show Full Article

Hospital Employees Successfully Remove SEIU After NLRB Denies Union Officials' Objections

LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 15 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation issued the following news release:

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- USC Verdugo Hills workers' vote to oust union certified by Labor Board after union's lawyers ignore rules to challenge outcome

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Regional Director in Los Angeles has rejected union officials' objections to USC Verdugo Hills Hospital employees' election to remove the union as their monopoly bargaining representatives. The NLRB Regional Director ordered that the result of the election, in which a majority of the workers ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 15 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation issued the following news release: * * * - USC Verdugo Hills workers' vote to oust union certified by Labor Board after union's lawyers ignore rules to challenge outcome * * * The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Regional Director in Los Angeles has rejected union officials' objections to USC Verdugo Hills Hospital employees' election to remove the union as their monopoly bargaining representatives. The NLRB Regional Director ordered that the result of the election, in which a majority of the workersvoted to oust the union, be certified.

After Andrew Brown, a surgical buyer, and his coworkers at USC Verdugo Hills in Glendale, California, successfully held a decertification election to remove the unwanted Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU), union officials tried to challenge the employees' 118-107 victory. However, the NLRB Regional Director ruled that SEIU officials failed to follow the proper procedures by not serving their objections on all parties, as required by NLRB rules.

Ironically, SEIU lawyers had blocked an earlier petition filed by Brown for a decertification election on the grounds that, although he followed the misleading language on the NLRB's website, his petition was technically filed two days late.

In October 2018, Brown petitioned for a vote to remove the SEIU as monopoly bargaining agent for him and his coworkers. Despite having followed the NLRB website's instructions on union decertification petitions, including collecting signatures from over 30 percent of his colleagues as required, union officials claimed Brown's decertification petition was untimely.

Brown then sought free legal aid from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys to request a review. Foundation staff attorneys asked the NLRB to overturn the Regional Director's decision and permit Brown and his coworkers to vote on whether to oust the union. Before an appeal of the decision to reject the petition as untimely could be ruled on by the NLRB, it was made moot by a subsequent petition for a decertification vote that was clearly timely under the Board's rules.

The NLRB conducted a secret ballot decertification election in January, in which a majority of the workers voted to remove the union. After the SEIU's objections were denied by the NLRB Regional Director as untimely, the Regional Director issued an order officially certifying the election results.

"We congratulate Mr. Brown and his colleagues on exercising their right to remove an unwanted union," said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation. "However, this vote would have taken place months earlier without the red tape and restrictions hindering independent-minded employees and tipping the scales in favor of union bosses' gamesmanship. This shows that union officials should spend less energy trying to trap workers and instead focus on respecting the wishes and needs of the employees they claim to 'represent.'"

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in more than 250 cases nationwide per year.

Health Foundation: Performance Against the 4 Hour A&E Target Has Fallen to Its Lowest Level on Record

LONDON, England, Feb. 15 -- The Health Foundation issued the following statement by senior policy fellow Tim Gardner:

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- Health Foundation response to NHS England's monthly performance statistics

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"Today's data highlights the fragility of a health service after nearly a decade of austerity, with insufficient staff or funds to keep pace with rising need.

"Despite lower rates of flu and winter vomiting viruses than last year, the NHS is under more pressure than ever. Over 100,000 more people attended emergency departments in January 2019 than in the same month last year, and performance ... Show Full Article

Everglades Foundation Issues Statement on Appointment of Valenstein as DEP Secretary

PALMETTO BAY, Florida, Feb. 15 -- The Everglades Foundation issued the following statement by CEO Eric Eikenberg regarding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' decision to appoint Noah Valenstein to lead the Florida Department of Environmental Protection:

"We applaud Governor Ron DeSantis' decision to appoint Noah Valenstein to this crucial position.

"Secretary Valenstein understands the critical link between cleaning up our water and the economic viability of our state.

"With Governor DeSantis' transformative and bold leadership, Secretary Valenstein's long-standing commitment to Florida's natural resources ... Show Full Article

Analysis Finds That Medications for Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS are Costliest Group of Outpatient Prescription Drugs for Medicaid

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation issued the following news release:

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- While Diabetes Drugs Have Posted Sharpest Rise in Costs

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Antiviral medications, including those that treat hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, cost the Medicaid program more money (before rebates) than any other group of outpatient prescription drugs for each year from 2014 to 2017, according to a new KFF analysis.

The analysis of utilization and spending trends finds that antivirals accounted for more than 13 percent of the $63.6 billion in Medicaid outpatient drug spending pre-rebates in 2017 ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation issued the following news release: * * * - While Diabetes Drugs Have Posted Sharpest Rise in Costs * * * Antiviral medications, including those that treat hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, cost the Medicaid program more money (before rebates) than any other group of outpatient prescription drugs for each year from 2014 to 2017, according to a new KFF analysis. The analysis of utilization and spending trends finds that antivirals accounted for more than 13 percent of the $63.6 billion in Medicaid outpatient drug spending pre-rebates in 2017-- a level disproportionate to their utilization and a reflection of the high cost of these drugs. Drugs for diabetes were the second most costly group that year, accounting for 10 percent of Medicaid outpatient drug spending before rebates. Spending for diabetes drugs rose faster than for any other group, nearly doubling from 2014 to 2017 -- largely due to the rising price of insulin.

Although outpatient drugs account for a small share of all Medicaid spending (6%, net of rebates), spending on this service is expected to grow faster than most other Medicaid services in the next decade, prompting policymakers at the national and state levels to explore new ways to curb such costs.

Over the recent four-year period, and with implementation of Medicaid expansion in many states, outpatient drug utilization in Medicaid increased 21 percent, from 621.7 million prescriptions in 2014 to 752.9 million prescriptions in 2017. The ten most frequently prescribed drug groups were the same every year, although the order changed. Antidepressants, asthma drugs and opioids (including medications used to treat addiction) nearly always ranked in the top three.

Amid an ongoing national fight against the opioid epidemic, the number of opioid prescriptions was lower in 2017 than in 2014. A greater share in 2017 were for buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction as well as pain, the analysis finds.

Generic drugs accounted for the vast majority of Medicaid outpatient drug prescriptions each year, while brand drugs accounted for the vast majority of spending. Biologics, a type of drug or vaccine derived from living organisms, accounted for less than one percent of prescriptions but more than 10 percent of spending before rebates each year from 2014 to 2017.

In return for Medicaid coverage of their products, manufacturers must enter into a rebate agreement with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Manufacturers pay these statutory rebates quarterly to states, who share the savings with the federal government. States also may negotiate supplemental rebates with manufacturers.

The Medicaid prescription drug benefit is an optional benefit that all states provide. Outpatient prescription drugs are an important component in the management of acute and long-term health issues. Without Medicaid, many prescription drugs would be prohibitively expensive to beneficiaries the program serves.

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