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WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Today, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) launched a new website as part of its campaign to spur passage of a federal tax credit of up to $500 per hearing aid for boomers, seniors and parents of children with hearing loss. About 40% of people who do not use hearing aids, according to a recent BHI national study, are more likely to purchase them in the near future if the tax credit were available.
The BHI website, , is an excellent resource and tool for those concerned about the needs of people with hearing loss. It will reach out to adults 55 and parents of children with hearing loss and help to ensure that their voice is heard in Washington. The website underscores BHI’s vital role as the “Advocates for America’s Ears.”
“Our effort is grounded in the sad fact that although 95% of people with hearing loss could be successfully treated with hearing aids, fewer than 23% of such Americans (7.38 million people) currently use them,” said BHI Executive Director Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D. “That’s tragic, and we as a nation must do better.”
“Nearly 2 out of 3 adults with hearing loss cite financial constraints as a core reason that they do not wear hearing aids,” said Kochkin. “With the hearing aid assistance tax credit, boomers, seniors and parents of children would have the financial boost they need to get their hearing loss treated. These people are the reason that Congress needs to step up and take action.”
Hearing loss affects an estimated 31.5 million (1 in 10) Americans:

— Among the most prevalent birth defects in America, it affects 3 infants
per 1,000 births.

— 1.4 million children under 18 have a hearing loss.

— More than 10 million older Americans have age-related hearing loss.

“The legislation will play a critical role in attaining one of the goals of the federal government’s “Healthy People 2010,” which is to increase the number of people with hearing loss who use hearing aids,” said Kochkin. “The tax credit is the most cost-effective means to achieve this critical goal.”
Passage of H.R. 2329, introduced by Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and S. 1410, introduced by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) could assist up to 1.2 million children and 11.5 million Americans ages 55 and above in treating their hearing loss. It could help those in need save up to 25% - 35% on the purchase of hearing aids.
Neither Medicare nor the vast majority of state mandated benefits cover hearing aid purchases. In fact, more than 70% of hearing aid purchases involve no third party payment at all, which places the entire burden of the purchase on the consumer. The average cost for a hearing aid, including fitting, evaluation, and post-fitting treatment, in 2004 was $1,800. Almost 2/3 of individuals with hearing loss require two devices, increasing average out of pocket expenses to $3,600.
Untreated, hearing loss can have many negative consequences for taxpayers, children, seniors, and their families:
— Without early intervention, children with hearing loss, according to a
1995 study, cost schools an additional $420,000 and face overall
lifetime costs of $1 million in special education, lost wages, and
health complications

— Loss of income per household amounts to up to $12,000 per year, based
on a 2005 BHI study, while it costs the economy $18 billion annualized
in unrealized income taxes.

— For seniors, untreated hearing loss causes additional costs to Medicare
and other health programs due to loss of independence, social
isolation, depression, safety issues, and quality of life.

Extensive research demonstrates that treatment with modern hearing aids brings measurable improvements in social, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, for both patients and their family members.
The hearing aid assistance tax credit has won the support of the bipartisan Congressional Hearing health Caucus, and, in an unprecedented fashion, organizations representing hearing health professionals, consumers, educators, providers, and manufacturers: the Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly SHHH), International Hearing Society, Deafness Research Foundation, the American Speech Language Hearing Association, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance, the American Academy of Audiology, the A.G. Bell Association, and the Hearing Industries Association.
Founded in 1973, the Better Hearing Institute () is a not-for-profit educational organization whose mission is to educate the public about hearing loss, its treatment, and prevention. Visit the new tax credit website at .
Better Hearing Institute

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following was issued today by the Republican National Committee:
The Service Employees International Union Has Launched An Advertisement Attacking Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) health Care Proposals:
SEIU Ad On Sen. McCain’s health Care Plan: “[J]ohn McCain won’t stop rising health care costs.” (Service Employees International Union Committee On Political Education, “SEIU Spot Ohio,” Aired 4/28/08)
During His 2008 Presidential Campaign, Obama Has Criticized Independent Expenditures And “Slash And Burn Politics”:
Obama’s Campaign Attempted To Turn Independent Expenditures Into A Campaign Issue, Claiming “This Kind Of Politics Needs To End.”"No outside groups have distributed mailers or run advertisements on Obama’s behalf in New Hampshire, and Obama has attempted to turn that distance into a campaign issue. ‘The case has never been clearer — this kind of politics needs to end,’ Obama campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in a recent fundraising e-mail.” (Sarah Liebowitz, “Edwards, Clinton Bankrolled From Afar,” Concord [NH] Monitor, 1/4/08)
— Obama: “[Y]ou can’t say yesterday, you don’t believe in ‘em, and
today, you’re having three-quarters of a million dollars being spent
for you. You can’t just talk the talk.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At
A Campaign Event, Oskaloosa, IA, 12/22/07)

Obama: “We’ve got to get beyond the small politics… the slash and burn politics that have become the custom in Washington.” (”Obama Denounces ‘Slash And Burn’ Politics,” The Associated Press, 2/19/07)
Despite His Criticisms, Obama Has Received Millions Of Dollars In Independent Political Expenditures:
Obama Is A Leading Recipient Of Independent Political Expenditures. “Sen. Barack Obama, whose campaign has sharply criticized the role of outside political groups in the presidential race, has benefited more than any other candidate from millions of dollars in independent political expenditures, records show. The increasing support for Mr. Obama has given him a boost from the same sort of political activity his campaign has railed against, especially when millions of dollars in union and other special-interest money backed his opponents.” (Jim McElhatton, “Obama Favorite Of Outside Groups,” The Washington Times, 3/24/08)
Labor Unions And Other Independent Groups Have Already Spent Over $7.1 Million In Support Of Obama’s Campaign. “The political arm of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and other independent groups have spent more than $7.1 million directly supporting the Illinois Democrat’s bid for the presidential nomination, campaign records show.” (Jim McElhatton, “Obama Favorite Of Outside Groups,” The Washington Times, 3/24/08)
— The SEIU Alone Has Spent At Least $4.9 Million In Independent
Expenditures Supporting Obama. “Since last week, the SEIU reported
spending more than a quarter-million dollars supporting Mr. Obama
through door-to-door canvassing and phone banks in Pennsylvania, which
holds its primary April 22. Overall, the group has reported $4.9
million in independent expenditures for Mr. Obama, mostly during the
past month.” (Jim McElhatton, “Obama Favorite Of Outside Groups,” The
Washington Times, 3/24/08)

WHAT YOU WON’T SEE IN THE AD

Obama Refuses To Discuss Problems Associated With His Own health Care Plan:
Obama’s health Care Plan Has “Little” To Say About The “Immediate Challenge” Of Taming The “Soaring Costs Of Medicare And Medicaid.”"While Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama fight over who has the better health plan for the uninsured, they say little about a more immediate challenge that will confront the next administration, whether Democratic or Republican: how to tame the soaring costs of Medicare and Medicaid.” (Robert Pear, “About Those health Care Plans By The Democrats,” The New York Times, 3/3/08)
Obama Is “Low-Balling” The Cost Of His Plan And Ignoring The “Tough-But-Necessary” Measures To Control Costs. “Even so, Clinton and Obama are heavy on promises about making insurance affordable and available, and light on the more painful details… More important, both might be low-balling the cost of their plans, and neither proposes the kind of tough-but-necessary measures needed to control surging health care costs… Even if the Clinton or Obama plans could be afforded at the outset (they would be financed by repealing President Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy), they’d be doomed by a continuation of today’s inflation in health care costs. Cost containment is key to making any overhaul work. In fact, even without a big new program, it is crucial to forestall a health care-driven fiscal meltdown of the federal government and to stop employers from dropping health benefits for workers.” (Editorial, “Candidates’ health Plans Duck Some Key Questions,” USA Today, 2/19/08)
Obama’s Plan Includes Required Employer Coverage Similar To The Failed Clinton Mandate Of 1993. “Obama would require almost all employers to offer insurance to workers or face a tax penalty, an idea that many businesses abhor and that is also in Edwards’s proposal. This employer mandate drove much of the opposition to the Clinton plan in 1994.” (Anne E. Kornblut and Perry Bacon Jr., “Obama Says Washington Is Ready For health Plan,” The Washington Post, 5/30/07)
— Obama Features A Mandate On Employers, Which Was The “Most
Controversial Element” Of The Doomed Clinton Plan. “Obama’s plan
contains many of the features of the failed health care proposal
pushed more than a decade ago by his rival, Hillary Clinton, that went
down in flames in 1994, including its most controversial element: a
legal mandate that employers provide coverage for their workers, or
pay a percentage of their payroll into a fund for the uninsured.”
(Karen Tumulty, “Obama Channels Hillary On Healthcare,” Time, 5/29/07)

Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Republican National Committee

NEW YORK, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — mtvU, MTV’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning college network, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with POZ Magazine, today unveiled “Pos or Not” ( an online game that challenges stereotypes and breaks down the barriers that may prevent people from talking openly about HIV/AIDS, getting tested, and using protection.
People from across the U.S. - half of whom are living with HIV and half who are not - share parts of their lives for “Pos or Not” by divulging their HIV status to help dispel myths and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS. Players confront their own HIV stereotypes as they guess whether a profiled participant is positive or negative based only on a photo and a few personal details, such as what they do on the weekends or their favorite kind of music.
Among the participants who are positive, we’re provided a window on the circumstances in which they learn their HIV status - including after the birth of a child, calls from ex-lovers, and long-postponed HIV tests. HIV negative participants share how the disease has touched their lives, claiming boyfriends, girlfriends, mothers and best friends. Every individual stresses that HIV affects everyone and that the only way to truly know your own or some else’s HIV status is by getting tested.
While “Pos or Not” confronts stereotypes and popular misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, it also provides users with information about HIV prevention, as well as local HIV and STD testing resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). In addition, players are invited to join the game to help underscore that there’s no way to tell a person’s HIV status from how they look or what they do.
Several of the most requested acts on college campuses and major pop culture figures are also lending their efforts to help stoke the online viral spread of “Pos or Not,” including Wyclef Jean, Fall Out Boy, Will.i.am, Alyssa Milano, Say Anything, Perez Hilton, Angels & Airwaves, Atmosphere, The Spill Canvas, 30 Seconds to Mars, Aesop Rock, Motion City Soundtrack, All Time Low and Rise Against. Beginning today, these and many others are sending the game to their fans, families and friends, via a feature that allows users to share “Pos or Not” with everybody in their e-mail address books with only a couple clicks.
“‘Pos or Not’ is an urgent analogue to HotorNot.com, designed to capture college students’ attention and harness the viral nature of the Web in the ongoing fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS,’” said Stephen Friedman, GM, mtvU. “‘Pos or Not’ was created to shatter myths, challenge assumptions and promote responsible sexual behavior - and we salute every participant, as well as the team of college students who conceived the game, for breathing life into it.”
“‘Pos or Not’ confronts the stigma and stereotypes that fuel the continued spread of this disease some 25 years since the first diagnosis,” said Tina Hoff, vice president and director of Entertainment Media Partnerships at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “‘Pos or Not’ has the powerful effect of allowing young people across the country to learn more about those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and in doing so hopefully form a more personal understanding of the disease.”
“The HIV-positive community has the unique ability to debunk myths and dissolve dangerous stereotypes around HIV/AIDS,” said Regan Hofmann, editor-in-chief of POZ magazine. “Having a face-to-face encounter with a person living with the virus can also positively affect the choices people make regarding behaviors that can lead to their contracting HIV. I think that ‘Pos or Not’ is a wonderful way to allow the HIV community to serve as an awareness and prevention tool for those who are - but who do not believe themselves to be - at risk.”
“Pos or Not” was inspired by the winners of the “Change the Course of HIV Challenge,” a nationwide competition that asked college students to propose a viral, Web-based game that would creatively engage people to help combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. The winning concept was submitted by a team from the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and included designers Brendan McLeod and Matthew Laurence, programmers Chris Camilleri and Gabriel Montagne, and artist Chip Lundell.
College students helped conceive “Pos or Not” and are pioneering the future of digital activism every day, so mtvU, the Kaiser Family Foundation and POZ Magazine are calling on users to imagine ways the game can be even more viral and impactful. Anyone with a vision for how “Pos or Not” can be effectively executed on other platforms (mobile, social networks, etc.), remixed, or in any way serve as an even more powerful call to action on the HIV/AIDS epidemic are encouraged to send ideas to . mtvU and the Kaiser Family Foundation are committing to incorporate the best concepts into future versions of the game - or a completely re-imagined iteration - so it continues to evolve and reach more people.
“Pos or Not” follows on the success of “Darfur is Dying” (), mtvU’s student-developed videogame - now played more than 3 million times by over 1.5 million people - designed to spread awareness of and spur action to end the genocide in Darfur. “Darfur is Dying” is a narrative-based simulation where the user, from the perspective of a displaced Darfurian, negotiates forces that threaten the survival of his or her refugee camp. The game is a key element of mtvU’s nearly four-year, student-led, Emmy Award-winning Sudan campaign.
Representatives from mtvU and the Kaiser Family Foundation will be presenting “Pos or Not” at the fourth annual Games for health Conference, taking place May 8 - 9 in Baltimore, Maryland. To learn more about the conference, please visit .
About The Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation dedicated to providing information and analysis on health care issues to policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public. The foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries. Information on HIV/AIDS is available at , and a daily news summary report on developments in HIV/AIDS is available on , the Foundation’s free health information service.
About mtvU
Broadcast to more than 750 college campuses and via top cable distributors in 700 college communities nationwide, mtvU reaches upwards of 9 million U.S. college students - making it the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of campuses throughout the U.S, as well as on cable systems from Charter Communications, Verizon FiOS TV, Suddenlink Communications, AT&T u-Verse and nearly 70 others. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are: on-air, online and on campus. mtvU programs music videos from emerging artists that can’t be seen anywhere else, news, student life features and initiatives that give college students the tools to advance positive social change. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 500 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and a complete programming schedule, visit .
mtvU also owns and operates the College Media Network, the largest interactive network of online college newspapers in the US, and RateMyProfessors.com, the Internet’s largest listing of collegiate professor ratings. The College Media Network comprises nearly 600 campus publications that serve institutions including Brown University, the University of Illinois, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin and Duke University, with a combined enrollment of over 5.5 million students, reaching an average of 5 million unique users each month. RateMyProfessors.com reaches approximately 2.9 million college students each month, via the site’s more than 6.6 million student-generated ratings of over 1,000,000 college professors.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
About POZ
POZ is the premier lifestyle, treatment and advocacy magazine for people living with — and those affected by — HIV and AIDS. The award-winning magazine and website () provide the most complete and expert HIV/AIDS information available in the United States. Together, the magazine and website reach more than 70 percent of all of those living with HIV/AIDS who are aware of their status. The website provides extensive opportunity for both public and private social networking and represents one of the largest communities of openly HIV-positive people in the world. For more information, please visit .
###
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation

LEIPZIG, Germany, May 30 /PRNewswire/ —

- The World’s Largest Transport Summit Released its Findings, a Set of
Key Messages, in Leipzig on Friday at the Conclusion of the Three Day
International Transport Forum

ITF President and Finnish Minister of Transport, Anu Vehviläinen,
presented the Key Messages of the three-day International Transport Forum on
“Transport and Energy: the Challenge of Climate Change” in Leipzig on Friday.
ITF President Mrs. Vehviläinen said, “There was a productive and vivid
exchange among the different Forum Members. While there were different
assumptions and preconditions in some countries, in many regards, interests
were converging and similarities were revealed.”
Secretary General Jack Short highlighted the growing challenge to find
the right balance between supporting the economic drivers of trade and
mobility and reducing transport’s energy intensity and emissions. Regarding
the sector’s overwhelming dependence on oil (95% of transport’s energy is
based on oil) the worldwide growth of transport and the necessity to mitigate
greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector, Short called for a
low-carbon transport system “as soon as possible”.

The Key Messages of the International Transport Forum call for a
strategic approach to meeting the energy and climate change challenge, based
on a package of policy measures. This includes technology development,
strengthened research into new technology and fuels, increased use of
information technology and integrated mobility management as well as a wide
variety of non-technology policy tools with potential to improve economic
efficiency and reduce emissions.

These latter measures should encourage behaviour change and include
improved organisation and telematics to optimise the modes, more effective
use of rail, inland waterway and short sea shipping for freight transport,
enhanced promotion and service quality of public transport and rail, as well
as support for non-motorised means of travel such as walking and cycling,
especially in cities, measures to manage traffic demand and reduce congestion
as well as pricing mechanisms to encourage behavioural change and ensure that
externalities are taken into account.

Transport must “urgently” address the long-term supply of energy. In the
shorter term, opportunities should be seized to promote the significant
fuel-efficiency improvements to existing technology, attained through
combinations of instruments such as regulations, economic and fiscal
incentives and information campaigns designed to encourage consumers to opt
for the most fuel efficient technologies. As one example, training in
eco driving and equipment of vehicles with feedback instrumentation to
support fuel-efficient driving has been shown to be a “promising way
forward”. “Transport policy must give incentives for more energy-efficient
behaviour,” stressed the ITF Secretary General.

Also biofuels can play a useful role in reducing CO2 emissions. But
production of biofuels must be pursued in an environmentally, economically
and socially sustainable way.

In the future, transport ministers want to intensify exchange with
scientists and, particularly, other social interest groups. “At the Forum we
have initiated an important dialogue which we want to continue. This will
allow us to find ways to reduce transport and traffic’s dependence on oil and
reduce climate damaging emissions,” Vehviläinen said.

At the 2008 International Transport Forum were representatives from 53
countries, amongst them for the first time a delegation from India. Almost
900 participants as well as more than 100 journalists from 12 countries
followed the three-day conference with high-ranking keynote speakers,
workshops, panels, an exhibition, and the Open Forum.

“Transport and Globalization” will be the theme of the next International
Transport Forum, 27 to 29 May 2009 in Leipzig.

Michael Zirpel
Head of Communications ITF
Tel. 33-1-45-24-95-96
Email: michael.zirpel@oecd.org

International Transport Forum

POWELL, Ohio, April 29 /PRNewswire/ — Click4Care, Inc., provider of the innovative ThinkHealth software suite that is improving medical management for payers, employers, providers, and patients, today announced that 2007 was a banner year in terms of revenue, profitability and company growth.
Product enhancements, increased sales, and an influx of investment funds contributed to a 245% increase in revenue over 2006 and the addition of key employees. “Click4Care’s success is built on our vision of transforming medical management,” said company President and CEO David Blauer. “Our inventive software delivers a holistic approach to care management, integrating the range of disparate medical management processes under one platform. This includes predictive modeling, disease management, care management, utilization management and various administrative support functions, transformed into a seamless solution for providing care and preventing illness.”
Highlights

— A key factor in the company’s growth has been the signing of nine new
ThinkHealth contracts with a number of organizations, including CVS
Caremark, Pfizer, and SummaCare, among others. Additionally, Click4Care
has won seven new customers in the first quarter of 2008 alone bringing
Click4Care’s total customer count to 19. Recent wins include regional
health plans, large national health plans, and prestigious health
systems.
— ThinkHealth customer Tufts Associated health Plans upgraded to version
3.1 in 2007.
— Further fueling Click4Care expansion was a $10 million equity
investment in the company by Psilos Group, one of the nation’s most
successful healthcare venture firms. In conjunction with the
investment, Psilos’ senior managing member, Dr. Albert Waxman, and
managing member, Steve Krupa, joined Click4Care’s board of directors.
“We are delighted to welcome Psilos to the Click4Care team,” said
Blauer. “Their deep health care experience and vision mirrors our
own.”
— Throughout 2007, Click4Care ramped up staffing and key implementation
partnerships to support continued growth, hiring expert software
engineers, implementers, and customer support, and naming Jeremy King
Chief Technology Officer, bringing an additional, combined 250 years of
experience in industry-leading healthcare and information technology
companies to Click4Care.
— Click4Care was listed in the Inc. magazine 5000 Fastest-Growing
Companies in America for 2007.

About ThinkHealth

ThinkHealth is a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) healthcare technology solution that assists health plans and other at-risk entities in reducing clinical and administrative costs by supporting the early identification and management of patients’ conditions. ThinkHealth software promotes collaborative execution of proactive care by all members of patients’ care teams, including patients and their families, social servants, providers, and care managers.
The highly scalable, configurable, and performant ThinkHealth system architecture enables even the most complex implementations along with high data volumes.
About Click4Care
Click4Care, Inc. provides innovative medical management software, integrating data from multiple systems into a solution that automates patient care pathways. Streamlined workflows and optimized resources drive unprecedented ROI for medical managers and their supply chain colleagues, while providing life-improving care to patients. Click4Care is driving enterprise-wide changes in the processes and business models of healthcare delivery. Some of the world’s most progressive health insurance providers rely on ThinkHealth for a more consumer-driven approach to medical management. For more information, visit .
Click4Care, Inc.

WASHINGTON, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being released by the Newseum:
The Newseum Welcomes WALL•E
Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

WHAT:

Disney/Pixar’s latest star has hit the nation’s capital, and only the Newseum has him. To celebrate the release of the new animated feature WALL•E, the Newseum presents a special Family Day featuring an emphasis on technology and the environment.
WHO: WALL•E

WHEN:
Saturday, May 31

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Meet WALL•E: Disney/Pixar robot WALL•E greets Newseum visitors. (The New York Times-Ochs-Sulzberger Family Great Hall of News)
Noon to 1 p.m. - It’s a race!: Find out what can deliver the news quicker, a text message or a telegram, at the demonstrations in the NBC News Interactive Newsroom. (Level 2)
1 to 2 p.m. - Hands On!: Don’t just recycle yesterday’s newspaper. Make something new! Reuse old newspapers to create newsboy caps, baskets and more. (Learning Center, Concourse Level)
All day - NewsMania(TM) Extra! Extra! Edition: Show what you know about today’s news, environmental science and your favorite Pixar movies. NewsMania(TM) host Rita LaBoudit will be roving the Newseum in search of news savvy visitors.
All day - NewsHound Scavenger Hunt: Pick up your assignment at the Information Desk (Level 1), sniff out all the correct answers hidden within Newseum galleries.
WHERE:
NEWSEUM
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

NOTE TO PUBLIC: Program space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For tickets, call 888/NEWSEUM or visit Newseum.org. (Newseum general admission: Adults $20; seniors $18; Youth $13.)
MEDIA: Media who would like to cover these events are asked to contact Tina Tate, of the Newseum, at 202/292-6313, or Maggie Haslam of Allied Advertising/PR at 202/742-8744, .
Meet Tucker Carlson
Saturday, May 31, 2:30 p.m.

WHAT:

MSNBC senior correspondent — and recent “Dancing with the Stars” contestant — Tucker Carlson talks about the 2008 presidential campaign.
WHO: Tucker Carlson, senior correspondent, MSNBC

WHEN: Saturday, May 31, 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Knight Studio
NEWSEUM
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

NOTE TO PUBLIC: Program space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For tickets, call 888/NEWSEUM or visit Newseum.org. (Newseum general admission: Adults $20; seniors $18; Youth $13.)
MEDIA: Media who would like to cover this program are asked to contact.

Meet Arch Campbell
Sunday, June 1, 2:30 p.m.

WHAT: One of Washington’s favorite movie critics previews the summer blockbusters.
WHO: Arch Campbell, arts and entertainment critic, WJLA-TV

WHEN: Sunday, June 1, 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Knight Studio
NEWSEUM
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

NOTE TO PUBLIC: Program space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For tickets, call 888/NEWSEUM or visit Newseum.org. (Newseum general admission: Adults $20; seniors $18; Youth $13.)
MEDIA: Media who would like to cover this program are asked to contact Tina Tate, of the Newseum, at 202/292-6313, .
Newseum

OAKLAND, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — Actress and mother Kimberly Williams-Paisley wants kids everywhere to eat their veggies. She’s even written a book about it. Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden, Williams-Paisley’s first book, was written in support of the Love Your Veggies(TM) Nationwide School Lunch Campaign which today awarded 51 elementary schools each with a $10,000 nutrition grant.
The Love Your Veggies(TM) grant program is sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley(R) Salad Dressings in partnership with School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) and supported by Produce for Better health Foundation (PBH). The campaign aims to increase access to — and consumption of — fresh fruits and vegetables in elementary schools across the country at a time when schools are required by federal mandate to strengthen nutrition and exercise programs as part of local wellness policies.(1)
Williams-Paisley co-wrote Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden with the person she calls one of “her first and best teachers,” her father, Gurney Williams III. The book tells the story of a typical boy who’d rather play video games than play outside and who prefers to eat pizza and burgers instead of peas and carrots. But after a visit to his aunt’s farm, Henry discovers a new way of eating and living, which he comes to embrace in a surprising way. Williams-Paisley peppers the book with aspects of her own life — from the farm, reminiscent of her Tennessee home, to the character Huck, named after her 20-month-old son, William Huckleberry.
“Now that I live on a farm, I feel so much more connected to the land and want to share the benefits this environment offers growing children,” said Williams-Paisley. “I hope that in some small way Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden can help parents introduce their kids to a healthier and happier way of life, and that’s why I’m supporting the Love Your Veggies grant program.”
In its second year, the Love Your Veggies grant program asks and encourages schools to submit the program that best meets the needs of their students and their school. Funding can be spent on fresh produce, vegetable stations, kitchen equipment, program staffing, nutrition education supplies and training.
About the Authors — Father and Daughter Pair Up to Educate Other Families
Kimberly Williams-Paisley, age 36, first lit up the screen as the radiant young bride in the comedy feature film series “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the Bride Part II.” During the first year of her marriage to country singer Brad Paisley, she wrote a series of columns for Redbook magazine about her own experiences as a new bride. Currently, she co-stars in the ABC television sitcom “According to Jim.”
Kimberly’s father, Gurney Williams III, has been a writer and editor for more than 40 years, contributing scores of articles — often focusing on health — to national magazines, including Parenting and Family Circle. He was co-author of a college textbook on children’s literature, and has published several previous children’s books inspired by stories he told Kimberly and her brother and sister when they were young.
Where to Get the Book
The book is available online at for $5.00. All proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit Books From The Heart(R), a program of the nonprofit Heart of America Foundation(R), whose mission is to give children living in poverty the tools they need to read, succeed and make a difference.
“We have loved working with Kimberly on this project to encourage kids to love their veggies,” said Kristin Wonzen, marketing manager for Hidden Valley(R). “Starting a dialogue among kids, parents and school nutrition professionals is an important step to increasing children’s enthusiasm for eating fresh vegetables. We’re proud to have all of these groups involved in our program, working to find easy and creative solutions for kids to enjoy balanced meals.”
Winning Schools Submit Creative Ideas for Their Grants
Applications were reviewed by representatives from the SNF and PBH and judged upon criteria including need, innovation, greatest likelihood of sustainable impact on the students they are serving, and potential for community involvement. Grants were awarded to schools from 47 different states plus Washington, D.C. Some of the grant recipients include:
— “Columbus Explores Healthy Choices,” by Christopher Columbus School in
New Haven, Conn., which will implement after-school walks to local
farmers’ markets and organize parent/student workshops about locally
grown produce.
— “Veggies R Fun: The Panther Produce Project,” by Forest Oak Elementary
School in Newark, Del., which will plant indoor classroom and outdoor
gardens, host healthy cooking classes for families, and publish a
student veggie cookbook.
— “Community Greenhouse,” by Andrew K. Demoski School in Nulato, Alaska,
which plans to side-step the implications of the harsh winter climate
by building a community greenhouse in which to grow fresh fruits and
veggies that are extremely costly to obtain otherwise. The greenhouse
will serve students and the community at large.
— “Making Healthy Food Choices from Farm to School,” by Applegate
Elementary in Eugene, Ore., which will offer an integrated
farm-to-school program that includes school gardens, garden-based
nutrition lessons, farm field trips and harvest days to expose kids to
the joys of growing, harvesting, preparing and eating fresh veggies.

The Hidden Valley(R) Love Your Veggies(TM) Nationwide School Lunch Campaign was inspired by findings from a 2006 study of two Northern California elementary schools conducted by the University of California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Butte County Cooperative Extension. The study found that children consumed 23 percent more vegetables when paired with a moderate amount of ranch dressing. A second study conducted at Iowa State University found that certain vitamins and cancer-fighting compounds found in fruits and vegetables are fat-soluble. This study suggests that a moderate amount of fat may help the body adequately absorb nutrients. (2)
2007-2008 Grant Recipients
The complete list of recipients of the 2007-2008 Love Your Veggies(TM) Nationwide School Lunch Campaign is as follows:
James L. Cowart Elementary School (Athens, Ala.)
Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary School (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
Horace Mann Elementary School (Oakland, Calif.)
Starr King Elementary School (San Francisco, Calif.)
Crawford Elementary School (Aurora, Colo.)
Christopher Columbus Academy (New Haven, Conn.)
Forest Oak Elementary School (Newark, Del.)
Triangle Elementary School (Mount Dora, Fla.)
Lyons Elementary School (Lyons, Ga.)
Ewa Beach Elementary School (Ewa Beach, Hawaii)
Ucon Elementary School (Idaho Falls, Idaho)
Inter-American Elementary Magnet School (Chicago, Ill.)
Fairview Elementary School (Bloomington, Ind.)
Dayton Center School (Dayton, Iowa)
Rolling Ridge Elementary School (Olathe, Kan.)
McFerran Preparatory Academy (Louisville, Ky.)
Crestworth Elementary School (Baton Rouge, La.)
Stevens Brook School (Bridgton, Maine)
General John J. Stefanik Elementary School (Chicopee, Mass.)
West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Highland Elementary School (Columbia Heights, Minn.)
Threadgill Elementary School (Greenwood, Miss.)
Forsyth Elementary School (Forsyth, Mont.)
Greenfield Elementary School (Greenfield, Mo.)
Roosevelt Elementary School (Jamestown, N.D.)
Eastway Elementary School (Durham, N.C.)
Hillside Elementary School (Omaha, Neb.)
John H. Fuller Elementary School (North Conway, N.H.)
Number 4 Elementary School (West New York, N.J.)
Pecos Elementary School (Pecos, N.M.)
The Children’s Storefront School (New York, N.Y.)
Market Street Elementary School (Youngstown, Ohio)
Choctaw Elementary School (Choctaw, Okla.)
Irving Elementary School (Muskogee, Okla.)
Applegate Elementary School (Eugene, Ore.)
Graystone Academy Charter School (Coatesville, Pa.)
Urban League of Pittsburgh Charter School (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Ella Risk School (Central Falls, R.I.)
Nevitt Forest Elementary School (Anderson, S.C.)
Edmund A. Burns Elementary School (North Charleston, S.C.)
Wakpala Elementary School (Wakpala, S.D.)
Fall-Hamilton Elementary School (Nashville, Tenn.)
Sylvan Rodriguez Elementary School (Houston, Texas)
C.P. Smith Elementary School (Burlington, Vt.)
Summer Hill/Ruffin Road School (Richmond, Va.)
Canyon Elementary School (Hyrum, Utah)
Seahurst Elementary School (Seattle, Wash.)
Elmore Elementary School (Green Bay, Wis.)
Wheeling Catholic Elementary School (Wheeling, W.V.)
West Elementary School (Lander, Wyo.)

About Hidden Valley(R)

The HV Food Products Company is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Clorox is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2006 revenues of $4.6 billion. With 7,600 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in two dozen countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. For more information about Clorox, visit .
The School Nutrition Foundation
The School Nutrition Foundation provides high-quality professional development, financial aid and research programs to school nutrition professionals and members of the School Nutrition Association. The Foundation’s commitment to the school nutrition community is integral to implementing positive change in school meals and, ultimately, to the health and education of school children. For more information, visit
About Produce for Better health Foundation
Produce for Better health Foundation is a 16-year old nonprofit organization whose mission is to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables for a healthier America. The foundation is co-chair and member of the National Partnership, consisting of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industry working in collaboration to expand nationwide efforts to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables for improved public health. Their new initiative, Fruits & Veggies-More Matters(R), replaces the 5 A Day Program and is created to help Americans overcome common everyday barriers to eating fruits and veggies. For more information, visit .
1. Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of
2004, which requires that by the first day of the 2006 school year,
each school district participating in the National School Lunch
Program adopt local school wellness policies with the goal of
improving children’s health and reducing childhood obesity by
expanding the availability of nutritious meals and snacks to more
children in schools while also promoting increased activity. Policies
should encourage consumption of healthy foods, including fresh fruits
and vegetables.

2. Brown, M. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004).

Hidden Valley Salad Dressings

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 27 /PRNewswire/ — The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced today the launch of its first podcast, the Association’s latest effort to inform the public about issues related to pet health, public health and veterinary medicine.
AVMA Animal Tracks will feature AVMA staff interviewing veterinary experts from around the country and discussing topics such as pet health and safety tips, the threat of diseases that can spread from animals to humans and the surprising variety of roles veterinarians play in ensuring animal and human health across the globe.
The first podcast, featuring Dr. Kim May, assistant director of professional and public affairs at the AVMA, discusses summer pet safety tips. It can be found on the AVMA Web site at .
AVMA Animal Tracks will be available to download from the AVMA Web site and through an RSS feed. The podcasts will also be available through Apple’s iTunes. Those with iTunes, which can be downloaded for free at , can subscribe to AVMA Animal Tracks and receive new episodes as soon as they become available through a portable media player such as an iPod. While there will be no set schedule for releasing new podcasts, they should become available on at least a weekly basis, according to J.B. Hancock, AVMA communications director.
For more information on AVMA Animal Tracks, please contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations assistant, at 847-285-687 (office), 847-732-6194 (cell) or .
The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 76,000 member veterinarians engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association’s issues, policies and activities.
American Veterinary Medical Association

LOS ANGELES, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Writers and producers from “The Sopranos,”"Monk,”"Dirt,” Reign Over Me, and others were honored at the 2008 Voice Awards last night by the Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA), hosted by award-winning actor and mental health advocate Joe Pantoliano and Hairspray film star Nikki Blonsky, at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.
Winners were recognized for incorporating dignified, respectful, and accurate depictions of people living with mental health problems into their programs and films. Awards were also given to outstanding community leaders with mental illnesses who have had a positive impact on the acceptance of people with mental health problems in society.
“The Voice Awards honors television and film writers and producers who have created realistic characterizations of people living with mental illnesses,” said Terry Cline, Ph.D., SAMHSA administrator. “We are also recognizing people with mental health problems who have demonstrated that recovery is real and possible, and who promote understanding and support for others with mental illnesses.”
Winners in the television category were:
— “The Sopranos” (HBO) for the episode “The Second Coming” addressing
suicide and depression;
— “Dirt” (FX) for its pilot episode addressing schizophrenia;
— “Monk”(USA) for the episode “Mr. Monk is at Your Service” addressing
obsessive compulsive disorder;
— “House” (FOX) for the episode “Resignation” addressing suicide;
— “Friday Night Lights” (NBC) for multiple episodes addressing bipolar
disorder;
— “Huff” (Showtime) for its episode “Whipped Doggie” addressing
schizophrenia;
— “Crossing Jordan” (NBC) for its episode “Save Me” addressing
schizophrenia; and
— “General Hospital” (ABC) for multiple episodes addressing bipolar
disorder.

Canvas, Reign Over Me, and Home of the Brave won in the film category. Based on writer-director Joe Greco’s own experiences growing up with a mother with schizophrenia, Canvas tells the story of a family dealing with the challenges of a loved one’s mental illness. Reign Over Me, starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle, explores the rekindled relationship between college roommates after one experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon losing his family during the September 11 terrorist attacks. In another look at PTSD, Home of the Brave presented what happens when four American soldiers return home from Iraq to deal in civilian life with the memories of war.
Documentary winners included Cracking Up, Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, Through My Eyes, and the MTV documentary series “True Life,” for its “True Life: I Have Autism” and “True Life: I Have Tourette’s Syndrome” episodes.
Cracking Up depicts a year in the life of 12 individuals who use laughter as therapy and face their mental illnesses through the use of stand-up comedy. For his film, British actor and comedian Stephen Fry interviewed celebrities including Robbie Williams, Carrie Fisher, Richard Dreyfuss, and others about the impact of bipolar disorder and how they have recovered.
In Through My Eyes, Emmy-winning producer Linda Midgett educates teens about mental health issues by filming the moving testimonies of their peers who have mental health challenges.
In MTV’s “True Life” episodes, young people share how they deal with their disorders in their own words and illustrate that they are still able to live life to the fullest.
The Voice Awards bestowed its Consumer Leadership Award on five mental health advocates and community leaders — Joan Esnayra, Arlington, Va.; Sharon Wise, Washington, D.C.; Paula Comunelli, Santa Cruz, Calif.; Herminio Maldonado, New York City; and Marley Prunty-Lara, Minneapolis — and its Young Adult Leadership Award to Marvin Alexander, Miami, FL. They were honored for their work to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental health problems and to help ensure that people are able to access services and supports that assist recovery.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Larry Fricks, Cleveland, Ga. — a former journalist with bipolar disorder whose long career includes the development and adoption of multiple innovative, recovery-oriented programs and services — by journalist and author Richard Cohen. Cohen featured Frick’s story of recovery and his battle to improve the lives of others also dealing with mental illness in his book, Strong at the Broken Places. In addition, SAMHSA presented a Special Recognition Award to comedian and host of NBC’s Deal or No Deal Howie Mandel for his commitment to children’s mental health as the National Children’s Mental health Awareness Day Ambassador.
The Voice Awards are part of the Campaign for Mental health Recovery, a multi-year public service advertising program of SAMHSA and the Ad Council to promote understanding and support for young adults and others with mental illnesses.
The 2008 Voice Awards is supported by the following organizations: Ad Council, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, American Psychiatric Foundation, American Psychological Association, The California Endowment, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, everyminute.org, Mental health America, Mental health Media Partnership, NARSAD, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Mental health Program Directors, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, No Kidding, Me Too!, RTI International, and the Writers Guild of America West.
The Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of health and Human Services, is the lead Federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States.
Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration

CHICAGO and MAUMEE, Ohio, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Allscripts, the leading provider of clinical software and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare, announced today that St. Luke’s Hospital has selected the Allscripts integrated Electronic health Record (EHR) and Practice Management (PM) solution to automate and connect clinical and administrative processes for 100 physicians.
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The agreement with Allscripts takes advantage of recent changes to the federal Stark regulations that now allow hospitals to provide certain assistance to non-employed physicians in purchasing healthcare information technology. St. Luke’s will host the Allscripts solution and subsidize its cost and ongoing maintenance for employed and independent members of its medical staff.
“By offering our physicians the Allscripts electronic health record and practice management solution, we can provide a seamless connection to critical patient information along the entire continuum of care,” said Daniel Wakeman, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Luke’s. “Our goal is to develop a hospital-based community model under which St. Luke’s Hospital and eventually all of the medical groups in northwestern Ohio join to offer truly integrated patient care.”
St. Luke’s Hospital, the only independent hospital in the Toledo area, has 600 affiliated physicians who care for more than 165,000 patients annually. The non-profit healthcare system is ranked in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide for cardiac surgery, according to HealthGrades.
Eric Perron, Director of Information Technology for St. Luke’s, said the hospital selected Allscripts based on the company’s success in deploying the Electronic health Record and Practice Management solution for other hospital-based organizations.
“Allscripts is the type of company that we like to partner with — a company with a strong vision, great leadership, and that’s small enough to be nimble but big enough that we know they will not disappear,” said Perron. “Many physicians in the community had already been looking at electronic health records, and when we brought Allscripts to the table it was obvious to everyone that they had the best solution and they could grow with us.”
In addition to the integrated Electronic health Record and Practice Management solution, St. Luke’s will provide its patients with Allscripts iHealth — a secure, online Personal health Record and patient-provider communications service from Medem. St. Luke’s also is exploring hosting Allscripts for physicians affiliated with several other Toledo-area hospitals. The hospital hopes to make the EHR-PM solution the focus of a community-wide patient record and patient portal that would provide patients, physicians and hospitals across the region with access to critical information when and where it’s needed.
“We are proud that St. Luke’s Hospital has chosen Allscripts to help develop an end-to-end community care model based on immediate access to patient information, anytime and anywhere,” said Allscripts Chief Executive Officer Glen Tullman. “St. Luke’s leadership will make it easier for community physicians in northwestern Ohio to improve the quality of care they deliver and ultimately lower the cost of running a medical practice. It’s exciting to be a part of the future of healthcare.”
The Allscripts Electronic health Record delivers instant access to patient information when and where physicians need it — at the hospital, in their offices, or while on-call at home. The web-based solution automates everyday clinical tasks such as prescribing and refilling medications, ordering and reviewing tests, and documenting patient care.
Allscripts Practice Management combines sophisticated scheduling and Revenue Cycle Management tools to help physician practices become more productive while improving service to patients. Fully integrated with the EHR, Allscripts Practice Management helps physician practices to manage and reduce outstanding accounts receivable; reduce billing errors that delay cash flow; and access information to improve efficiency and provide valuable insight into the practice.
St. Luke’s will integrate Allscripts with its inpatient information systems, enabling physicians to view the charts, schedules, lab results and radiology results of their hospitalized patients.
About St. Luke’s Hospital
Located in Maumee, St. Luke’s Hospital is the only independent hospital in the Toledo area. Each year, this non-profit health care organization cares for more than 165,000 patients. Its 1,500 employees and more than 600 physicians provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services including cardiac, oncology, labor and delivery, medical/surgical, pediatric, critical and emergency care. According to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, St. Luke’s ranks among the top 10 percent in the nation for cardiac surgery and was rated best in the region for cardiac surgery and overall orthopedic services. The study, the largest of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation’s 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.
About Allscripts
Allscripts is the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare. The company’s unique solutions inform, connect and transform healthcare, delivering improved care at lower cost. More than 40,000 physicians and thousands of other healthcare professionals in clinics, hospitals and extended care facilities nationwide utilize Allscripts to automate everyday tasks such as writing prescriptions, documenting patient care, managing billing and scheduling, and safely discharging patients, as well as to connect with key information and stakeholders in the healthcare system. To learn more, visit Allscripts at .
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements about Allscripts Healthcare Solutions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are developed by combining currently available information with Allscripts beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance. Because Allscripts cannot predict all of the risks and uncertainties that may affect it, or control the ones it does predict, Allscripts’ actual results may be materially different from the results expressed in its forward-looking statements. For a more complete discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may affect Allscripts, see the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, available through the Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at .

Allscripts