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Send your inquiry to Ask Realty Times. Because of the volume of mail received, Mr. Miller cannot respond to questions individually or privately. Published letters may be edited for space and style. For comments regarding other Realty Times articles, please contact individual authors by pressing here. For past columns, please press Ask Realty Times. This column is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is made available with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal services or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Published: April 6, 2007 Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws -- http://www.loc.gov/copyright.
Doctor Shortage May Hurt Patients
A new report says Michigan will soon have a huge shortage of doctors. The Michigan Medical Physician Coalition says, by 2010, the state will be short by up to 6,000 doctors. Doctor Janet Eng has been working in the medical field for more than a decade. Currently, she works at Eaton Rapids Medical Center. The doctor says she handles countless patients every day, and that is drawing some concern. Dr. Janet Eng, Eaton Rapids Medical Center: "I know it's predicted they're going to be shortages on physicians." Doctor Eng says more people are now coming in the emergency rooms, because many of them don't have access to a family doctor. Dr. Janet Eng: "It's been kind of stated that the emergency department is becoming the safety net for healthcare." Doctor Eng says that's putting a strain on emergency room doctors.
Epileptic wins 2 fights:with insurer and illness
More specifically, it's about Sonya Hearn of West Islip, a bright and bubbly homemaker who has lived for most of her 42 years haunted and tortured by the curse of epilepsy.
But since July 18, when she had surgery to remove a portion of the right side of her brain the size of a man's thumb, she has been free of seizures for the first time since she was 8 years old.
"Words can't fully describe what that is like for me," she wrote in an e-mail. "I have been given a life that I never knew I could enjoy. My seizures really destroyed my quality of life, which, in turn, affected my girls' life. Forget the days where I would have more than one, sometimes four or five."
Hearn and her husband, Dean, who works as a technician for a marina in Bay Shore, have two daughters, Dana Lyn, 12, and Amber Lee, 8.
Rachel Beck: Texas fights new accounting rules to disclose future ...
The implosion of Enron Corp. rocked the state of Texas more than anywhere else, but some lawmakers in its home state still don't seem to get the lessons learned from that mess: The crucial need for financial transparency. Proposed legislation there seeks to block new national accounting rules that require state and local governments to disclose for the first time the projected costs of future retiree health care and other benefits. It's a potentially super-sized obligation that the public deserves to know. But in Texas and potentially elsewhere, they might not get it if some politicians have their way. In addition to traditional monthly pension payments, governments across the nation have long promised their workers what are known as other post-employment benefits (OPEB), covering at least part of the cost of retirees' medical, dental, disability and life insurance.
Darwin Introduces Pioneering Insurance Coverage for Clinical ...
FARMINGTON, Conn., April 04, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. (Darwin) announces the availability of its newest specialty liability coverage with the addition of clinical research liability insurance (CRLI). Darwin developed this insurance product to address the evolving needs of health care organizations, business entities, academic institutions, and individual professionals engaged in clinical research and human subject-related professional activities. .
Insurance Auto Auctions Announces Improved Fourth Quarter and Full ...
WESTCHESTER, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., a leading provider of automotive salvage and claims processing services in the United States, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2006. The Company's strong performance in 2006 was driven by successfully integrating acquisitions and greenfields along with increased buying activity as a result of the Company's live auctions combined with Internet bidding capability. The Company recorded revenues for the quarter of $92.6 million, compared to $69.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2005, an increase of 32.5%. Fee income in the fourth quarter increased to $79.2 million versus $59.6 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The Company reported Consolidated EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) consistent with the definition in the Company's senior credit agreement of $15.8 million during the quarter compared to $10.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, an increase of 56.4%.
What's the price of a pet? Ask my animal-crazed daughter
For those who are either clueless or Fido-less, on Friday a pet food maker called Menu Foods recalled 48 brands of dog food and 40 brands of cat food. 60 million containers.
The tainted food could kill pets by causing their kidneys to shut down. After Menu Foods received the first complaints of pets dying from kidney failure on Feb. 20, they began their own tests on 40 to 50 animals. And about 15 percent died.
To consider the impact of a 15 percent mortality rate, remember: The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are 73 million dogs and 90 million cats in the country.
If even a fraction of those ate the gravy-infused products made by Menu Foods, it could result in the deaths of tens or even hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats.
But there's one problem: It might not be so easy to know if the renal failure is tied to the food.
Australian home loans go carbon-neutral
SYDNEY: There's been much talk about reducing your carbon footprint and now the mortgage industry claims that buying a home can even become a green-friendly experience, by taking out a carbon-neutral home loan. Many companies are choosing to go carbon neutral by offsetting their emissions by buying carbon credits. Now, the mortgage industry has joined the march against climate change, with direct lender MyRate.com.au today announcing Australia's first carbon-neutral home loan. MyRate.com.au has been certified "NoCO2" by the Carbon Reduction Institute, which provides certification for businesses that would like to be carbon neutral, or which have already achieved it. Businesses certified as NoCO2 are carbon neutral and have accounted for their total operational emissions, as well as the emissions embodied in the products that they sell and use.
COLUMN: Young people hold promise for strong Iowa future
This building we call the "Golden Dome" is a curious place. An enigma if you will. Often, the moment I arrive at the capitol we are off and running. COLUMN: Young people hold promise for strong Iowa future By TOM RIELLY Iowa Senate District 38 This building we call the "Golden Dome" is a curious place. An enigma if you will. Often, the moment I arrive at the capitol we are off and running. The activity is exhilarating, chaotic, informative, and, from time to time, exhausting. A huge buzzing human beehive of legislators, staff, lobbyists, guests, tourists, dignitaries, press, and, most important, school children. It is amazing to me how a conversation on a $50 million appropriation for research and development can morph into the real need for deer contraceptives or helping small business owners gain easier access to health insurance for their employees — all in the span of five minutes.
Variable Annuities Survive and Thrive After Track Record of Struggles
Variable annuities are no strangers to controversy. VAs have been thrashed by many advisors as complex and expensive investment vehicles. Some analysts predicted withering sales ahead after peaking in 2000. But more than five years later VA products are proving they have the temerity to thrive under these unsympathetic conditions. In spite of state and federal investigations Market Audit found that VA product purchases made by seniors through brokers or other investment professionals climbed to 57% in 2004 from 52% in 2003. Paradoxically it is the financial advisor community that remains largely standoffish to VAs. According to Ann Hughes, ING U.S. Financial Services senior vice president, only about 20% of financial advisors believe in the investment value of VA products. The non-believers' sentiments for VAs range from "detestable," "absurd," and "nuts," to "foolish," "big mistake" and with "no earthly use." Ilene Davis, principal of Financial Independence Services, used to but stopped selling VA products.
State Farm to accelerate settlements in Mississippi
NEW YORK, March 19 (Reuters) - State Farm Mutual, Mississippi's largest insurer, said on Monday it has started reviewing claims by as many as 35.000 Gulf Coast residents whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, in order to speed up the payment process. The company said it would use criteria set out in a failed settlement of a class-action lawsuit. It said the move resulted from a deal, which makes millions of additional dollars available to homeowners in three coastal counties, between the insurer and State Insurance Commissioner George Dale. "The process will put dollars into people's hands more quickly," according to a statement read by company spokesman Fraser Engerman. State Farm said it was beginning an immediate revaluation and payment program for the claims of Mississippians whose homes had been completely destroyed by the August 2005 hurricane, the most expensive storm in history.
Punishment for a traitor
Protected by a podium, thousands of thorns in the worlds most beautiful rose garden, and a cordon of Secret Service agents, President Bush continued his retreat into a bunker mentality. The House and Senate had just passed a $122 billion war-funding bill that demanded U.S. troops begin a systematic withdrawal from Iraq. Sen. Harry Reid, majority leader, had said that Congress had finally acceded to the will of the people. President Bush defiantly told the people that he would veto the bill and continue his war in Iraq. Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than in providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq, said the president. If anyone could be accused of not providing soldiers what they need, its the president and his administration.
TRANZACT Taps Steven Dexter as Vice President of New Business ...
FORT LEE, N.J., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- TRANZACT, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital and the market leader in fully integrated, end-to-end, on- and off-line customer acquisition solutions for large brands, announced that it has hired Steven Dexter as Vice President of New Business Development. "Steve is an effective and energetic business development leader with a track record of success in the financial services, insurance, and telecommunications markets," said David Graf, TRANZACT's President and CEO. "He has hit the ground running to help us grow both our on- and off-line lead generation and customer acquisition efforts." Prior to joining TRANZACT, Dexter was most recently Vice President, Sales and Business Development for ChoicePoint Precision Marketing where he was responsible for a 20-person business development team with a substantial revenue budget.
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