Oregon health overhaul makes financial promises

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — If Oregon's Democratic governor is right, the bill he signed Friday will improve health care and reduce costs so significantly that it could help fix the federal budget.

The Obama administration is watching with keen interest — and so are critics who say Gov. John Kitzhaber's plan is just another example of government overreach.

Oregon's new health care law would allow officials to assign certain Medicaid patients caseworkers to manage all aspects of a client's care, from medical to dental to mental, with the goal of eliminating redundant tests and procedures and reducing expensive hospital stays.

Proponents say if all 50 states adopt the approach, it would save the federal budget more than $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years — $300 billion more than Congress' failed "super committee" was trying to save over the same span.

"Today we set out on a path ... to create a system here in Oregon that will be good for our people, that will be good for our state budget," said Kitzhaber, a former emergency room doctor, before signing the bill.

Skeptics say the plan is bound to overpromise and under deliver. They criticize the idea as just another way to increase the government's control over health care, and some are not convinced of the plan's potential for significant savings.

A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office shows that pilot efforts of such coordinated care programs have yet to provide conclusive evidence of savings.

The plan requires federal approval to waive standard Medicaid requirements. Also, Kitzhaber is counting on federal money to help pay upfront costs.

Oregon officials have presented the concept to Obama administration officials.

Cindy Mann, a deputy administrator at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the concept holds "a lot of promise" for "improving care, improving health and lowering costs."

Kitzhaber's plan would focus on rewarding doctors for healthy patients, starting with 600,000 low-income patients on the state's Medicaid plan.

Proponents hope to expand the program to cover government workers and, eventually, the general public.

The overhaul would focus on patients with chronic diseases, mental illnesses and addictions who account for the largest share of health care spending.

Proponents envision new efforts to keep in touch with those patients, ensuring they're making appointments and taking medications so they don't need to visit an emergency room.

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Health Evolution Partners Makes Investment in Freedom Innovations, LLC

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Health Evolution Partners, a health care private equity firm, announced today that it has acquired a majority interest in Freedom Innovations, LLC (“Freedom”). Freedom, based in Irvine, California, is a leading provider of premium high-technology prosthetic devices and is focused on developing world-class solutions for individuals with lower limb amputations. Freedom’s senior management team will continue their leadership of the organization, and will remain significant shareholders in the company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are very excited to partner with Freedom,” said Ned Brown, Investment Partner of Health Evolution Partners. “Freedom develops, manufactures, and has successfully commercialized, a broad and attractive portfolio of proprietary lower limb prosthetic devices. The company provides a tremendous platform for expansion in a dynamic and growing market, and has a robust pipeline of new products. We have been impressed with Freedom’s strong management team and employees; they have an outstanding track record of innovation and development, along with superior commercial execution and customer service. We look forward to working with them.”

“Health Evolution Partners is an ideal partner for Freedom,” said Maynard Carkhuff, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom. “Their extensive background in the medical device industry, combined with their strategic insight, and the firm’s total-systems approach to healthcare investing will be extremely valuable to Freedom as we continue to execute our growth strategy. We believe that Health Evolution Partners will be able to help accelerate Freedom’s growth through their broad-scale healthcare systems, strategic, operational, reimbursement, and commercial sales and marketing experience. Furthermore, their strong relationships with key decision-makers in the healthcare industry, both in the U.S. and internationally, will be highly valuable.”

As part of the transaction, and to finance further growth opportunities for Freedom, Health Evolution Partners facilitated the successful completion of new senior credit facilities. The senior credit facilities were led by Madison Capital Funding LLC and included BMO Capital Markets as Co-Lead Arranger.

Health Evolution Partners focuses on creating strong partnerships with high growth companies and exceptional management teams in the healthcare industry. The firm seeks to invest in platforms where the expertise and experience of the firm’s operating and transaction principals can contribute to accelerating the growth and value of the businesses. Freedom is Health Evolution Partner’s ninth Growth Fund investment. Health Evolution Partner’s previous investments include AOS, CambridgeSoft, CenseoHealth, Halcyon Healthcare, Kisimul, Mollen Immunization Clinics, Optimal IMX, and Prolacta Bioscience.

“We are enthusiastic about Freedom Innovations, and look forward to working with them to continue their global growth,” said David J. Brailer, Ph.D., M.D., Chairman of Health Evolution Partners. “Freedom adds undisputed value to its patients and to the overall health care system. It is led by a strong and proven management team, and is poised to take major steps forward as a commercial leader in its space. It is, in short, the kind of company that we want to work with and to have in our portfolio.”

About Health Evolution Partners | www.healthevolutionpartners.com

Health Evolution Partners buys and invests in rapidly growing companies that are commercial leaders in the health care industry. We invest around the globe and across the health economy, including services, information technology, and life sciences. We form close working partnerships with outstanding management teams and connect our companies to our network of CEOs, policy makers, and thought leaders. For more information on Health Evolution Partners, visit www.healthevolutionpartners.com.

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After Pregnancy Weight loss makes life amazing

Women's is gaining weight after pregnancy, it is a natural and normal and don't get worried about such thing. After Pregnancy an entire body structure will be changed, and you will be surprised and stunned, especially those whoever is a newly mom.

Most women's wants to retain their body structure in a proper size. So, that you don't begin dieting procedure so early. Due to as your body needs and want to recover or overcome from the labor and delivery pain. Have patience for 6 weeks until your postpartum checkup before your start seeing your calorie intake and wants to active performance for slimming down. As experts recommended, if you are breastfeeding you have to wait until you child is grown up at least 2 months old, before you just start try to reduce your weight.

Follows some basic tips to lose your weight after pregnancy:

Breastfeeding:

One of the best ways to lose or reduce some of your pregnancy weight has to be done by breastfeed. Try to always pair with breastfeeding with other forms of post partum weight loss. During the pregnancy period, one of the reasons your body put on weight and help to store the caloric energy it takes to breastfeed your baby near about 200-500 extra calorie per day. Thus, take the benefit of losing calories, the process of naturally body deliberated breastfeeding.

Exercise:

There are various merits of exercise are available after your pregnancy. It will helpful for you to lose pounds that were secured at the time of pregnancy and make it lessen and convenient for the post-partum depression, and not like dieting, it wouldn't be interfere or obstruct with your breastfeeding.

It is an essential that again you can exercise ease and comfort level. You should maintain patience for six months after a vaginal birth and just eight weeks after C-section (Caesarean section) to start exercise. It is recommended by experts, that you can perform light exercise such as walking, swimming and yoga. Try to make personal exercise program that will easily you can continue and stick to a group of friends or new mother.

The procedure of exercise will be like; firstly, start exercise with slow movement and it carries for 10 minutes only, later on, when you feel more confident and comfortable, increased into 30 minute exercise time and stop it immediately if you feel dizziness or short level of breath.

Home based exercise:

Those women's who are unable to go to gym, for them there are various exercise available and suitable for the post birth period that can be done at home only. Yoga is considerable worthy exercise who wants to do at home.

Healthy Diet:

A healthy diet is the key factor to reduce your pregnancy pounds. Take an advice from your doctor about what kind of foods are important for good health for you and your baby on long term basis. Just focus and concentrate on nutrition and not weight loss diets! If you are breastfeeding, your child's nutritional requires balance your desire of a slim and fit body.

Walking:

Walking is regarded as one of the best exercise we have and it doesn't require a particular tools or equipments. All just need is of a good pair of shoes which feel comfortable while walking. This exercise is formed to start 6-7 weeks after giving birth to the child and is developed in this manner so that your child's requires for inspiration.

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