(NewsUSA) - Instilling healthy habits for both physical and emotional wellbeing begins during childhood, and, according to experts, one of the best ways to promote emotional wellness is through play.

With recent data suggesting that today’s children are more emotionally stressed than ever, The Genius of Play, a non-profit initiative dedicated to helping parents raise healthy and happy kids through the power of play, has developed a new “Emotional Wellness Playbook” for families.

“Studies show that children with high emotional intelligence earn better grades, stay in school longer, and make healthier choices overall, so it is more important than ever to talk about emotional development and how parents can help their kids build the skills needed to successfully navigate the increasingly complex world,” says Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association™, which spearheads The Genius of Play.

Written in collaboration with Talia Filippelli, a leading mental health expert, founder of Starr Therapy, and Certified Holistic Health Coach, the “Emotional Wellness Playbook” features a variety of play-based activities to help kids ages 3 and up develop emotional intelligence and learn to express their feelings in a healthy way while having fun.

“Play and toys are some of the most effective tools to help kids learn and practice the five key components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills,” says Filippelli. “What’s more, play provides the stress reduction and relaxation both kids and adults need to promote emotional wellbeing.”

The playbook's simple, yet effective activities help children develop their emotional skills in a variety of ways. Emoji Bingo offers a twist on a favorite game that helps improve emotional self-awareness by teaching kids to label their emotions and, therefore, not become overwhelmed by big feelings when they occur. Calming Bottle is a DIY activity that can help those who struggle with self-regulation. Puppet Play helps kids practice empathy and social skills and Vision Board helps build their motivation and self-confidence.

Families looking to capitalize on the emotional benefits of play can visit thegeniusofplay.org to download the “Emotional Wellness Playbook” for free.

(NewsUSA) - Many of us have every intention of making a positive and lasting impact on our community, but it can be overwhelming knowing how to get started or where the biggest need is. And busy days filled with professional and personal commitments can make giving back feel even more out of reach. Fortunately, many corporate leaders have an opportunity to help fill this gap – and it’s important that they do. 

Businesses are realizing the importance society places on giving back and have begun to elevate their commitments to develop initiatives that bolster community impact among their customer bases. And as people strive to find fulfillment in their lives and pursue ways to give back in meaningful ways, providing volunteer and generosity programs has become crucial in the corporate world.

Demonstrating the power of providing generosity programs, Thrivent, a Fortune 500 financial services organization, recently celebrated reaching the milestones of 1 million client-led volunteer teams and $1 billion raised for communities nationwide through its Thrivent Action Teams program. This program is helping reimagine the future of generosity and volunteering in partnership with Thrivent’s clients by harnessing the power of digital tools and community action. Through this effort, Thrivent has helped clients make a difference by placing resources and seed money directly in their hands so they can create the impact they want to see in their community. Since its debut in 2014, 9.6 million volunteers have given 93 million hours of their time to lead and support a generosity team—directly benefiting the causes and programs most important to them and their local communities.

“Companies that want to thrive both now and in the future, should recognize that their clients and stakeholders are eager to make a difference and want businesses to reflect these same values,” said Carolyn Sakstrup, chief growth and generosity officer at Thrivent. “For more than 120 years, Thrivent has instilled a deep sense of purpose throughout our organization so our clients and employees can pursue their passions and lead lives of meaning and gratitude. We believe in the idea of serving a higher purpose and we’re proud of our long legacy of mobilizing people to come together and take care of their community.”

Here are four reasons why companies should create accessible and affordable pathways for people to give back and help them engage in their communities.

1. Addresses the Needs of the Community

Accessible philanthropic and volunteer initiatives provide new opportunities for community members to partake, regardless of their financial position. This means that people can proactively participate in a program, such as a fundraiser or food drive, and make a difference without facing a financial burden.

2. Enhances Brand Purpose and Reputation

By making philanthropy programs available to their customers, companies demonstrate their commitment to the overall community’s well-being. This, in turn, attracts new customers who are more likely to support a brand that aligns with their values and enhances the company's reputation as a purposeful brand. These activities help to build relationships with the community and strengthen corporate reputation.

3. Boosts Customer Engagement

People are increasingly looking to give their business to companies that reflect their values. By offering hands-on community engagement programs, people are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and pride when they collaborate with a company that is making a positive impact. This can lead to increased loyalty and engagement. The key is to ensure that these programs are turnkey for them to be effective as an ongoing, repeatable effort.

4. Leads to Innovation and Creativity

When companies engage with their customers and community, they gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by those they serve. This understanding can lead to the development of new and innovative products and services that address these needs, which can ultimately lead to business growth and bigger impactful.

In today’s socially conscious world, community engagement has become an important tool for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to making a difference. As brand purpose takes on even greater importance, it’s critical to build trust and credibility with customers and stakeholders. As Thrivent’s recent milestone demonstrated, when companies engage with and invest in the community in meaningful ways, they help humanity thrive.

Learn more at https://www.thrivent.com/.

(NewsUSA) - The Sava Steps by Lee Lindauer

Twenty-five years after the Srebrenica Massacre, the worst genocide in Europe since World War II, survivor Melika Žbanić encounters two vicious men from her past. Intent on revenge, her plans are derailed by disgraced FBI agent Thorne Hightower, who has personal reasons to involve himself in her affairs.

Melika escapes Hightower’s pursuit only to be kidnapped and taken somewhere in the Balkans where a grim fate looms. With the clock ticking, a persistent Hightower follows clues to her whereabouts—and by chance meets Melika’s daughter Valery, a physically impaired but gifted young woman determined to confront her own existence—and soft-spoken Victor Alvarez, whose sole purpose is to keep his wife alive. Amid the splendor of a desolate mountaintop nouveau riche hotel, they find themselves locked on an emotional collision course. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3RXL4Ce.

The Hunt for the Peggy C by John Winn Miller

Laced with nail-biting tension and heartwarming moments, this semifinalist in the Clive Cussler Adventure Writers Competition captures the breathless suspense of early World War II in the North Atlantic. Captain Jake Rogers, who runs his tramp steamer through U-boat-infested waters, takes on his most dangerous cargo: a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution.

Drawn to the family's warmth and faith, Rogers can't let his guard down when Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, a brutal U-boat captain, sets his sights on the Peggy C. Rogers must evade Brauer's stalking, face a mutiny among his crew, and grapple with feelings for young Miriam of the Jewish family. When Rogers is wounded, Miriam must prove she is as tough as her rhetoric to save everyone as the U-boat closes in for the kill. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3IfDPRC.

Man Eating Plants: How a Vegan Diet Can Save the World by Jonathan Spitz

Over the past two million years, humans evolved from an obscure herbivorous species living in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa to become the world’s most populous carnivorous apex predator species. In the 21st century, this fateful change in the human diet from plant- to animal-sourced foods is the leading cause of chronic degenerative disease, runaway climate change, and mass species extinction.

“Man Eating Plants: How a Vegan Diet Can Save the World” weaves together published works by the world’s leading scientists and historians to narrate how we arrived at these three interrelated crises and how we can save the world by transitioning back to our natural plant-based diet. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3ljHAxz.

Blood on the Badge by John Good

It’s 2016 and decorated Navy Seal Matt O’Neil has moved on as a police officer in Greenfield, IL. For Matt and his wife Kelly, life has never been better. With only a few months left in Matt’s probation period, his entire world is turned upside down when his best friend on the force is killed while conducting a routine traffic stop.

Soon after, a second rookie is found dead in Door County, WI. Matt takes these deaths personally and all evidence points to the possibility of a serial killer. This information comes with a price. The closer Matt gets to help solving these deaths, the more his life is unraveling. He must make a choice between saving his marriage, his career, or his freedom. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3EepgMR.

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA Staff Writer) - Miami, Jersey City and other municipalities leading the way to establish health leadership across their public building portfolios.

Citing the need to better protect the health of residents and workers in a post-pandemic world, U.S. cities are embracing important health and safety improvements to public buildings.

Last month, Jersey City, NJ, announced it earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating for facility Operations and Management, a leading healthy building designation now used in more than 125 countries, for six municipal buildings including City Hall.

To earn the rating, Jersey City made numerous upgrades to its facility operation and management protocols, including efforts to address indoor air quality and implementing science-based procedures for emergency preparedness and response, facility cleaning, hygienic hand washing, and reduction in hand contact of high-touch surfaces, among other measures.

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop said in a statement that earning the rating was a “critical investment” in the city that will “positively impact our residents for decades to come.”

The healthy buildings movement is gaining traction among local governments. Last year, the City of Miami became the first U.S. city to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating for a portfolio of municipal facilities, achieving the designation across 10 buildings and facilities in public parks totaling about 800,000 square feet.

“In Miami, and in cities across the country, we are looking much closer at the outsized role buildings play in keeping us safe and healthy,” said Mayor Francis Suarez upon achieving the milestone. “I hope other cities will replicate what Miami is doing to advance WELL buildings, so we can deliver the benefits of healthy buildings to communities everywhere.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the advocacy organization representing more than 1,400 mayors nationwide, has adopted two resolutions since 2020 encouraging its members to improve the health and safety of public buildings as a key strategy to safeguard the well-being of residents and workers.

In 2022, the City of Austin, TX, achieved full WELL Certification for its new Permitting and Development Center. This was the first WELL achievement in the city at the Gold level.

“The Center was built with wellness and sustainability at the forefront,” said Lucia Athens, the City’s then Chief Sustainability Officer. “By focusing on WELL principles like abundant natural light, good air quality, and healthy food availability, the City of Austin is leading the way in people-centric building design.”

Other cities demonstrating health leadership through WELL programs in one or more public buildings or referenced the WELL Standard in local guidelines include Chicago, IL; San Francisco and Sacramento, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Washington D.C.; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Denver, Aspen, CO; Seattle, WA;  and Austin and Dallas, TX. More than 20 additional local governments have signaled interest in strengthening the health and safety of public buildings, said Jason Hartke, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the organization that created and administers WELL ratings and certifications.

“Our public buildings have a special obligation to be out in front when it comes to health leadership,” Hartke said. “The actions by cities like Jersey City and Miami will inspire other cities and states nationwide to grow the movement for people-first places that improve our communities.”

Elected leaders are pursuing healthier public buildings as demand for health-related certifications has surged in commercial real estate. IWBI’s suite of WELL designations are now in use across 4.6 billion square feet of space globally, an almost 10-fold increase since the beginning of 2020, which includes iconic properties like Yankee Stadium and the Empire State Building as well as the full retail portfolios of national chains like Planet Fitness, T-Mobile and Simon’s shopping centers.

A study published in late 2022 in Building and Environment, a peer-reviewed journal, found that WELL Certification significantly improved worker satisfaction, wellness, and productivity. Those results add to a growing body of research linking healthier space to reduced employee absenteeism, improved cognitive function, and lower healthcare costs for companies, as well as stronger real estate financial returns from rental premiums and longer lease terms.

(PointSpreads.com) - You may have heard of the Triple Crown, but do you know what it is and why it garners so much attention? Here is everything you need to know to prepare for the three most prestigious horse racing events in the world, brought to you by PointSpreads.com.

What is the Triple Crown?

Throughout the year, numerous races take place worldwide, but not all thoroughbred horses are created equal. The best among them are invited to Grade 1 Stakes races, which boast the largest purses and the most prestige.

The Triple Crown comprises three Grade 1 Stakes events exclusively for the top three-year-old thoroughbreds: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Since the Triple Crown's inception in 1875, when the Kentucky Derby joined the Belmont and Preakness Stakes, only 13 horses have won all three races.

Kentucky Derby

Also known as the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby premiered in 1875 and is the first and most popular of the three events. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, it spans one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Preakness Stakes

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May. The race covers 1 3/16 miles. Introduced in 1873, the Preakness winner is traditionally draped with a blanket of Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan, earning the race the nickname "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans."

Belmont Stakes

The final and longest leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, covers 1 ½ miles and is held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Debuting in 1867, it is the oldest of the three events and is known as The Test of Champions due to the race's length, which demands speed, strength, and, most importantly, stamina.

Win, Place, and Show

Betting on any Triple Crown race is the same as betting on an ordinary horse race. It involves parimutuel wagering, meaning the odds depend on the percentage of money bet on each horse. A favorite has the lowest odds, while a long shot has very high odds.

A win bet requires the horse to cross the finish line first and be declared the winner. This bet offers the highest payout, but a place bet allows the horse to finish first or second, with the bettor receiving a payout either way.

A show bet permits the horse to finish in first, second, or third position, but the payout is the lowest among the three. Bettors can also participate in exacta (or perfecta) wagering, which requires predicting the precise order of the top two finishers, or a trifecta bet, which demands correctly predicting the order of the top three finishers.

The 2023 Triple Crown Schedule

Kentucky Derby

Date: Saturday, May 6

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Preakness Stakes

Date: Saturday, May 20

Where: Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Belmont Stakes

Date: Saturday, June 10

Where: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Get ready for the most exciting horse racing events of the year! Don't miss your chance to watch and bet on the Triple Crown, featuring the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

With the help of sports betting news and information sites like Point Spreads, you can prepare yourself to enjoy the thrill of these Grade 1 Stakes races and potentially win big. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or a newcomer to horse racing, there's something for everyone. So, mark your calendars and tune in to NBC or stream on Peacock, NBCSports.com, or the NBC Sports app.  

Image Credit: Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.  Editorial, used under license for PointSpreads.com.

(NewsUSA) - Painting bridges. Teaching kids to fish. Shining up an airplane museum. The 120 volunteer projects that took place across 19 states during Williams Volunteer Week this April were as varied as the employees who initiated them.

Williams is an energy infrastructure company that provides one third of the nation’s natural gas used every day to generate electricity and power America. From the Gulf Coast to the Northeast and all the way to the Pacific Northwest, more than 1,100 Williams employees fanned out in communities where they live and work to lend a hand on projects that mattered most to them.

“It’s always a pleasure to serve and I think more and more people at Williams are getting that opportunity and getting that mindset to really make a footprint in the community,” said employee Carlos Hopkins, a lead pipeline controller, who spent a morning painting a handrail across a bridge in Tulsa, Okla. along with about 25 other employees.

Each project was identified and led by individual employees. In Salt Lake City, Utah, dozens of employees packaged 1,200 bags of healthy snacks for students at Parkside and Mountain View elementary schools.

“Williams loves to connect with the communities where we live and work,” said Candyce Fly Lee, vice president and general manager of the company’s operations in the Rocky Mountains. “This also was a great opportunity for our employees to get together and bond in a different way outside of work.”

Projects ranged from picking up trash, volunteering at schools, spending time with veterans and swinging hammers with Habitat for Humanity.

“When people like our good friends at Williams invest their energy and time to build with Habitat, they help build much more than a house—Habitat volunteers help families build brighter futures and help whole communities build strength and stability that lasts,” said Beth Lechner, CEO of Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio.

At an airplane museum in Tulsa, Williams employees moved planes and other exhibits to ready for the nonprofit’s annual fundraising event. Mike Mansur, the employee who organized the project, said he was thrilled to volunteer at the museum, where he was inspired as a teen to enter the field of aviation.

“It’s fabulous to have Williams employees here to prepare the space,” said museum executive director Tonya Blansett. “We are a small staff with limited resources. Without these volunteers, it would be almost an impossible task to complete this work.”

Williams Volunteer Week, which coincides with National Volunteer Week, builds on the company’s long tradition of being a good neighbor through employee volunteerism and financial support. Last year, employees recorded more than 20,000 volunteer hours, serving as advocates, youth mentors, coaches, nonprofit board members and volunteer firefighters.

“As a company, we relish these opportunities to go out into the communities where we operate and demonstrate how much we can accomplish when we work together,” said Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong. “But perhaps what makes me most proud is that these Volunteer Week activities are projects that our employees have identified as important and have volunteered to lead.”

To learn more about Williams and its tradition of community giving, visit Williams.com.

(NewsUSA) - If you’re getting ready to graduate from college, congratulations! After years of dedication and hard work, your future awaits! And while it’s an exciting time, it can also be challenging if you haven’t yet decided on a clear career path.

Consider becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional. Financial planning is one of the fastest-growing career fields in the country and obtaining CFP^® certification can accelerate your career. As part of a profession focused on helping people, financial planners rely on their analytical and interpersonal communication skills — and they report high career satisfaction. As a college graduate, you’re in the perfect spot to get started. You don’t need to be a math or finance major; all you need is a bachelor’s degree in any discipline to start pursuing CFP^® certification.

The benefits of becoming a CFP^® professional are many and include:

High Salary Potential 

CFP^® certification is the standard of excellence in financial planning and paves the way for an exceptional career with wide-ranging income potential. While salaries vary, experienced financial advisors earn $192,000 on average, with a $50-70K starting salary.

Opportunities for Growth and Advancement

As a financial planner, you can work for a large national financial services firm, bank, credit union, or independent firm; develop your own niche; or establish your own firm. You choose how to carve out your own career path. Many firms also provide professional development programs, including assistance for those pursuing advanced training such as CFP^® certification.

Job Security

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that demand for financial planners will increase at a faster than average rate of 15% over the next eight years. Financial planners can find plentiful career opportunities at firms of many types and sizes.

Scheduling Flexibility

Whether you have your own practice or work for a large firm, financial planners have a lot of flexibility in terms of schedules. You could tailor your financial services career and create a schedule allowing for balanced work and personal life.  

Ability to Help Others

CFP^® professionals change lives and help people achieve their financial goals. It can be extremely satisfying to know you’re helping your clients pay for college for their children, build an investment portfolio, or plan for retirement.

Continued Professional Development

Once you’ve attained your CFP^® certification, you’ll continue to stay current by building knowledge through ongoing education, professional memberships, and more. There are many opportunities to continuously build your expertise in financial planning.

Becoming a CFP^® professional offers personal, professional, and financial rewards, as well as exciting opportunities for a strong future. Learn more and start your journey to CFP^® certification today.

(NewsUSA) - Angels and Bandits by Brodie Curtis

The battle of Britain rages, and two young RAF pilots from very different stations in life must somehow find common ground -- and stay alive.

On the eve of World War II, working-class Eddy Beane is a flight instructor in London. He successfully completes dangerous espionage missions for Air Commodore Keith Park and takes on society-girl June Stephenson as a student. Her ex-fiancé, Dudley Thane, is also a flyer, but upper-class and Cambridge-educated.

When the German Luftwaffe attacks England in 1940, Eddy and Dudley end up serving in the same Spitfire squadron. Aerial combat is intense, and both men show their skills and courage, but can they set aside jealousy and class differences to become fighting brothers for the defense of Britain? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3FWH5AT.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

A defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match? A twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. Returning to her family’s failing criminal defense law firm is the best shot she has.

Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense. Keera and her team uncover a complicated and deadly game that’s more than Keera bargained for. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3n7Aptd.

Stalked by Revenge by Lynn Lipinski

In Zane Clearwater Mystery Book 3, Clyde Doom wants his half-brother, Zane Clearwater, and Zane’s sister Lettie dead. It was their testimony that landed him behind bars after Zane killed his father in self-defense. Clyde’s violent fantasies may finally become reality when the court overturns his conviction. Lettie is pregnant. Zane is almost finished with his police academy training. Neither is prepared for the storm cloud of darkness roiling in.

Running isn’t an option, but standing their ground has never seemed more terrifying. While Zane’s friends at the police academy offer to help, they are limited by the boundaries of what is legal and just -- until Zane meets Loris Trapper, a former cop who has no problem toeing the gray areas outside the law. Will Clyde’s brutal vengeance be carried out? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3XYC4hF.

Gut Driven by Ellen Postolowski

Embrace the idea that self-care goes beyond food, water, and exercise, and take a moment to think about what healthy means to you. You are only as healthy as the food you can digest. What you put into your body is essential—but unless your digestive system can effectively process the fuel you give it, even the most nutritious foods can go to waste or cause digestive issues. Our resilient gut microbiome is fundamental to the harmony and balance of cognitive and physical functions.

Jump-start optimal well-being with integrative health coach and nutritional food chef Ellen Postolowski, working from the inside out. With a focus on improving gut health—a vital component of whole-body wellness—Gut Driven helps you heal your body, achieve balance, and reset your relationship with what you eat. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3IrMfWg.

(By S. Phillips) - The era of digital geopolitical competition has arrived, and the widespread use of personal electronic devices, digital platforms, and communication infrastructure creates opportunities for citizens and countries alike to reach large segments of populations within seconds.

However, the global digital reach is not always benign. Since 2018, the video platform TikTok has provided the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with an unprecedented opportunity for access into the United States and our allies and partners.

Unfortunately, TikTok is likely the tip of the iceberg, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a bipartisan nonprofit organization.

TikTok presents a unique challenge for policymakers because of its origin in the PRC, its complex corporate governance leadership and oversight, and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

National security concerns related to TikTok include:

CCP Control and Corporate Governance: TikTok’s corporate relationship to its China-based parent company, Bytedance, remains murky. As a PRC-based firm, Bytedance is ultimately subject to the rules and regulations of the CCP.

Data Security & Privacy: Despite denials that TikTok’s PRC-based developers can access TikTok’s U.S. user data, several instances have been reported of non-public U.S.-based user data being accessed by PRC-based engineers.

Malign Influence: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that TikTok could be used by CCP authorities to execute influence operations, including the ability to influence potentially high-impact and senior U.S. Government officials.

Other societal and health concerns are associated with the platform as well, including polarization, addiction, and psychological well-being.

Other platforms that could pose similar challenges, particularly with respect to data harvesting, data exploitation, and potentially covert influence include WeChat (social media), Shein (fast fashion e-commerce), Temu (discount shopping), Capcut (video editing) and Tencent (gaming).

According to the SCSP, there are steps the U.S. government could consider mitigating the security risks associated with TikTok and similar platforms.

The most comprehensive solution to TikTok, and similar challenges for that matter, would be federal legislation. State level bans also could decrease the platform’s user base among state employees and contractors, although enforcement is unlikely.

A long-term and sustainable solution is a systemic approach to all foreign digital platforms from countries of concern. Such a solution would need to address current challenges in the e-commerce and social media domains, as well as prospective risks. Strategies include the adoption of comprehensive federal data privacy laws.

No matter how the United States deals with TikTok in the near-term, the risks extend beyond TikTok alone, and so must the solutions, according to the SCSP.

Visit http://www.scsp.ai to learn more.

(NewsUSA) - The number of deaths from heart disease in America may be rising due in part to a Medicare coverage technicality. Home-based, virtual cardiac rehabilitation is popular nationwide and has proven to reduce the risk of death. In 2018, the American Heart Association and other professional societies endorsed virtual cardiac rehab as an effective option for patients. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a 36% lower risk of death for those adults participated in a home-based, cardiac rehab program versus those who did not.

Despite these positive results, Medicare coverage of home-based cardiac rehab will end with the May 11, 2023 expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency unless Congress takes action.

During the public health emergency, Medicare allowed home-based, virtual cardiac rehab programs to provide patients with access to heart care when centers were closed. However, virtual cardiac rehab is not technically classified as “telehealth,” so the program was not included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act that Congress passed in 2022, extending telehealth services through the end of 2024. 

Many patients and providers are now skipping these virtual, home-based programs entirely, since the average length of a cardiac rehabilitation program is four-months and Medicare coverage would end in the middle of the program.

Cardiac rehabilitation continues to be the standard of care for many heart conditions and procedures. These programs include lifestyle issues that doctors aren’t able to monitor, including not only exercise and diet, but also depression, stress, tobacco use reduction, and medication adherence. Unfortunately, only 8% of eligible patients complete these programs due to low awareness and distance from cardiac rehab facilities.  Virtual options have helped improve access.

Patients who have gone through home-based, virtual cardiac rehab have reaped clinical and convenience benefits. Georgianna Darmento of Dade City, Florida, started a facility-based cardiac rehab program after several surgeries and multiple health issues, but was frustrated with transportation issues.

After switching to a virtual program by Recora at Tampa General Hospital, she completed the program and has been able to attend her in-person doctor visits more regularly.

While Congress extended telehealth coverage in late 2022, home-based virtual cardiac rehab was not included in these extensions.  The good news is that a bipartisan House bill, H.R. 1406, was recently introduced by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) to continue Medicare reimbursement for virtual cardiac rehabilitation.  More details about the bill and this critical patient access crisis can be found at The Coalition to Protect Cardiac Rehab Access, www.heartrehabcare.org. 

Hospitals, physicians, and patients have written to Congress to sound the alarm on this issue to keep patients out of the hospital and living longer. The Coalition to Protect Cardiac Rehab urges Congress to act now to prevent Medicare coverage for virtual cardiac rehab from ending; patients’ lives are at risk.