Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Government, Legal and Law

In Michigan, a Battle between Veteran Asbestos Cancer Victims and the Asbestos Industry

LANSING, Mich. -- Two weeks ago a bill HB 5456 titled Asbestos Claim Transparency, drafted by the National Chamber of Commerce and Asbestos companies was pushed into Michigan with promises of campaign donations, says Goldberg, Persky & White PC. Today, Michigan's Commanders Group (Congressionally Chartered Veterans Organizations) filed their resolution in opposition to the bill.

The group includes American Legion, American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Marine Corps League, Noncommissioned Officers Association, Polish American Veterans, Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Legal advocates claim HB 5456 - seeks to delay if not deny compensation from the responsible corporations to victims. "Since we already have transparency by law in Michigan this transparency titled proposal is designed with one goal in mind - to run out the clock on asbestos victims in Michigan so they die before their cases even make it to court," said Attorney Lane Clack of Saginaw.

"People who were unknowingly sickened by asbestos deserve justice, and the companies responsible for poisoning them should be held accountable."

In Lansing today, Clack said that legislation - Asbestos Claim Transparency HB 5456 - passed by the Republican controlled Michigan House of Representatives last week would penalize Michigan residents who are sick and dying from asbestos exposure, many of whom are veterans, and would be an unwarranted giveaway to big companies that made products with asbestos.

"An estimated 10,000 - 15,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-related diseases and people are still getting sick. Dozens of countries have banned asbestos, but it is not banned in the United States," said Clack. "As companies continue to import hundreds of tons of asbestos into the U.S. each year, workers, first responders and others continue to be exposed, especially when buildings are renovated or demolished. HB 5456 puts onerous burdens on victims and asbestos trusts, but does nothing to protect innocent Michigan workers from exposure to asbestos. And don't forget, this is a veterans' issue. Forty percent of all Michigan asbestos victims are veterans. That's why many of the major veterans groups oppose this bill."

Asbestos was once widely used in a number of industries that employed many people in Michigan, including construction, steel, pulp and paper production and the auto industry. Michigan has a higher-than-average mortality rate for asbestos-related diseases, according to AsbestosNation.org.

Michigan Veterans are disproportionally afflicted with asbestos-related diseases. While they make up 8 percent of the U.S. population, they account for roughly 30 percent of Americans who contract mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, stomach and other organs caused only by asbestos.

Legal experts with the Michigan Association for Justice, point out the bill makes no sense in Michigan. Michigan already has "Transparency" by Court Order and Michigan juries already consider fault of all bankrupt asbestos companies; MI has had apportionment by Statute since the 1990's.

Clack said, "Since the Republican majority in the House of Representatives rolled over like puppy dogs for the Asbestos Companies and the Chamber, the bill now moves to the Senate. It is now left to the Senators on the Senate Competitiveness Committee to decide which side they are on - either Michigan Residents, Veterans and First responders or the Asbestos Companies and their lobbyists."

Senate Competitiveness Committee Members are:

* Mike Shirkey (R) Committee Chair, 16th District - (517) 373-5932
* Jim Stamas (R) Vice Chair, 36th District - (517) 373-7946
* David Robertson (R) 14th District - (517) 373-1636
* John Proos (R) 21st District - (517) 373-6960
* Rebekah Warren (D) Minority Vice Chair, 18th District - (517) 373-2406.

Anyone in Michigan who has been exposed to asbestos should call your State Senator and the Senators on the Committee above immediately. Ask them to oppose the Asbestos Industry Bill.

https://www.gpwlaw-mi.com/mesotheliomalawfirm

"The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim protection of the laws whenever he receives an injury." Marbury v. Madison (1803) (John Marshall).

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Awards and Honors, Business, Defense and Military, Free News Articles, NonProfit and Charities, Police, Fire and Rescue

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Wins 2018 Academy of United States Veterans ‘VETTY’ Award

WILLISTON, Fla. -- Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, located in Williston, Fla. On January 20, 2018 its Founder and CEO, Carol Borden and National Canine Program Director, Nate Burney were at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. to accept the 2018 VETTY Award for outstanding efforts in Veterans Mental Health.

In choosing Guardian Angels for this distinguished award, the board of governors of AUSV state: "Recipient (GAMSD) has made a significant difference in the lives of veterans whose wounds can't be seen. Recipient has provided services/methods to replace feelings of despair with hope."

Carol Borden, Founder and Chief Executive Officer said: "We're just so proud of everyone connected with our organization. From staff to volunteers and foster trainers, everyone involved truly cares about making a difference for our veterans and first-responders. It is a great honor to have our work with veterans recognized by the Academy of United States Veterans."

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs was honored to stand beside several deserving veterans' charities, veterans, and individuals who were also recognized at the black tie gala, including:

* Leadership: Sarah Verardo, Executive Director, The Independence Fund
* Education: Dustin Perkins, Director of Marketing, Student Veterans of America, Illinois
* Employment: Bunker Labs
* Community: National Veterans Legal Services Program
* Honorary Vetty: Steven D. Vincent, Senior Business Development Manager, Tiag
* Honorary Vetty: George A. Chewning, II, Director of Governmental Affairs, Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation
* Honorary Vetty: Jake Tapper of CNN, Chief Washington Correspondent, CNN who also hosted the evening.

The line-up of esteemed presenters and speakers included: Montel Williams; VA Secretary, David Shulkin; White House Chief of Staff, General John Kelly; actresses Anne Heche and Shohreh Aghdashloo; veteran and NFL player Nate Boyer as well as Mark Rockefeller.

Actor Mike Vogel, who along with Veteran and Bronze Medal Recipient, Matt James presented the award.

Several business leaders were also in attendance, including Eric Mitchell of LifeFlip Media, Eli Crane of Bottle Breacher, Sal DeFranco of Battle Grounds Coffee, and Travis McVey of Heroes Vodka.

Academy of United States Veterans (AUSV) established the annual VETTY awards to recognize those that contribute to the well being of the veteran community.

Our acceptance speech can be viewed on our website at: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/vetty-award-acceptance-speech-2018/.

About Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs:
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Williston, Florida and has grown into a nation-wide Service Dog Organization. We rescue, raise, train and donate individually trained medical service dogs to veterans, first responders and others who suffer from disabilities including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, seizure disorders, mobility issues and more.

Guardian Angels receives up to 40 inquiries each day for one of their medical Service Dogs. There is no state or federal funding available for this critical life-saving program. Since their inception in 2010, Guardian Angels has paired more than 220 individually trained medical service dogs with those in need; and with your help, they can do even more.

For more information on our program, visit: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/.

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*Photo Caption: Founder & CEO of Guardian Angels, Carol Borden and Service Dog, Huey accept the 2018 VETTY award in Mental Health from actor Mike Vogel of The Brave, and Bronze Star Recipient, Matt James.

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/0xl1HfPlos0

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Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Software

AccountChek by FormFree Automated Asset Report Now Accepted for VA Loans

ATHENS, Ga. -- FormFree(R) today announced that asset reports generated by its AccountChek(R) automated asset verification service meet all underwriting guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for loans guaranteed by its Loan Guaranty Service. The announcement follows the VA's December 29, 2017, release of Circular 26-17-43, which was issued in response to increasing lender interest in automated verification of borrower assets for VA loans.

AccountChek eliminates the burden of gathering asset documents for loans by letting consumers easily and securely transmit their online banking, retirement and investment account data for automated analysis. In just minutes, AccountChek delivers asset data to lenders in a standardized report along with a ReIssueKey(tm) that enables secure and streamlined sharing with the secondary market. The result is an easier, safer and more accurate process that closes loans up to 20 days faster, provides a better borrower experience and circumvents a host of common "hiccups" that plague manual asset verification.

"AccountChek completely eradicates lenders' need to track down missing statement pages, wait on deposits to clear or wait for new statement cycles to begin, which translates to substantial time and cost savings. Moreover, AccountChek greatly reduces compliance risk for all parties to the loan by removing the opportunity for human error and fraud," said FormFree CEO Brent Chandler. "Now, VA lenders and their investors can take advantage of the benefits of automated asset verification with confidence."

The circular clarifies that the VA permits lender use of third-party providers for automated asset, income and employment verification. As always, lenders bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of all information upon which credit underwriting decisions are based.

"This clarification should give lenders the confidence they need to extend a significant benefit to our nation's honored veterans," Chandler said. "As a veteran myself, I am proud to help make the lives of VA borrowers easier by giving them a faster, easier way to obtain a mortgage."

About FormFree(R):

FormFree is a fintech company whose market-leading AccountChek(R) reports are used by lenders nationwide to verify borrower assets, employment and income in minutes. To date, more than 1,000 U.S. lenders have ordered over a million AccountChek asset reports, delighting their customers with a paperless experience and reducing origination timelines by up to 20 days. FormFree offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and their investors using a secure ReIssueKey(tm). A HousingWire TECH100(tm) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Athens, Georgia. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

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Defense and Military, Economic Development, Fine Art and Artists, Free News Articles, Government

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Scheduled to Honor Veterans at Clarke County Freedom Rock Dedication

MURRAY, Iowa -- Clarke County, Iowa's favorite daughter, Governor Kim Reynolds will join hundreds of community members, leaders and veterans in a ceremonial dedication of Clarke County's Freedom Rock. On Saturday, November 11, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the latest installment by Freedom Rock painter, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen, will be the site of a Veteran's Day celebration and dedication. Those in attendance will hear from Governor Reynolds, along with local leadership, military officials, and community members from throughout south-central Iowa.

The dedication ceremony will be held at the recently constructed Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall, located at the Murray Cemetery off Highway 34 and County Highway R16.

Jason Gibbs, member of the Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall Committee said the program should last about 30 minutes, and guests are invited to lunch at the Murray High School following the program.

Seating will be limited, so guests are encouraged to arrive early, use the shuttle services available from Murray, Osceola, and the Bunn Manufacturing locations and to bring their own lawn chairs.

About the Clarke County Freedom Rock:

Sorensen began painting the original Freedom Rock, located north of Greenfield, Iowa, in 1999 after being inspired by the movie "Saving Private Ryan."

His original rock, which was painted with a new design each Memorial Day, quickly garnered local, regional and national recognition. Sorensen soon decided to spread the message of the Freedom Rock by committing to painting a Freedom Rock in each of Iowa's 99 counties and beyond. According to TheFreedomRock.com Web site, the Clarke County Freedom Rock is 67th of 68 current honorary displays.

Since Sorensen designs each rock to represent the military members and history of each county, Sorensen and the Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall committee started conversations in the fall of 2015 to brainstorm ideas and themes for the rock being dedicated on Saturday.

"That usually means finding specific veterans," Sorensen said while working on another Freedom Rock in Cresco. "We landed on killed in action. That's why the front side of that (rock) is a gold star family member clutching a flag that was given to them and the ghost of the fallen soldier touching her."

The front face of the Clarke County Freedom Rock also features a quote from Abraham Lincoln.

The back face of the Clarke County Freedom Rock, facing the Honor Wall, features illustrations of Maxton Daniel, Raymond Harris, George Horton, Herschel Oehlert and Bert Keeler - Clarke County residents who were killed in action.

The west side of the rock features a large red bull logo, signifying the 34th Infantry Division, which Highway 34 is named after.

"There was a guy from Garner, Iowa, driving by and he saw that red bull's face," Gibbs said. "It's got great history. This guy's dad was in the 34th Infantry Division. That was something Bubba added and thought would be appropriate. I'm so glad he did. That's a big deal to tens of thousands of people."

The Clarke County Freedom Rock Honor Wall:

Constructed behind the Freedom Rock is the Clarke County Freedom Rock Honor Wall, which gives individuals the opportunity to have a veteran's name engraved into plaques placed on the wall. To date, the Honor Wall has plaques representing over 450 veterans from Clarke County and surrounding areas. The Honor Wall is not limited to veterans who lived in Clarke County.

Gibbs said the committee wanted to give everyone an opportunity to have their veteran recognized on the wall, especially since there will be people from all over the country visiting the Freedom Rock and Honor Wall.

Plaques for the Honor Wall can be purchased by contacting Gibbs at 641-414-1117.

Governor Reynolds and Clarke County:

Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds, has a special connection with the community in Clarke County. A southern Iowa native, Reynolds started her political career serving four terms as the Clarke County Treasurer before moving on to the Iowa Senate representing district 48 in 2008. In 2011, Governor Terry Branstad hand-picked Reynolds as Lieutenant Governor where she served until Branstad's departure in 2016.

For more information on the Clarke County Freedom Rock Project and the Clarke County Freedom Rock Honor Wall, contact Jason Gibbs Clarke County Freedom Rock and Honor Wall Committee at 641-414-1117.

Learn more about Clarke County at: http://osceolaclarkedev.com/

Drone Video footage of the Clarke County Freedom Rock site can be found at: https://vimeo.com/241939685

Video and photos provided by Andrew Clark and SPOKE Communications, LLC.

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Business, Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Insurance

TriWest Healthcare Alliance Receives Three Full URAC Accreditations for Quality Standards

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced today it earned full URAC accreditations for its Health Utilization Management and Case Management programs, and full reaccreditation for its Health Network.

URAC is a Washington, D.C.-based health care accrediting organization, whose mission is to promote continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of healthcare management through processes of accreditation, certification, education, and measurement.

Accreditation serves as a symbol of excellence. The accreditation standards establish key quality benchmarks for core business practices and managed care programs including network management, provider credentialing, utilization management, quality management and improvement, consumer protection and confidentiality.

"It is our honor and privilege to work at the side of the Department of Veterans Affairs in meeting the health care needs of Veterans in 28 states and the Pacific. We are grateful to the URAC representatives who took the time to examine our business practices and for validating that our health care network, utilization management and case management programs meet their rigorous standard of quality," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "By achieving these accreditations, the Veterans we are privileged to serve have further confirmation they are receiving the highest level of care and service in support of VA's noble mission of caring for those who have borne the price of the battle."

"To meet the growing demand to provide quality healthcare services at a reasonable cost, TriWest Healthcare Alliance distinguishes itself in the marketplace by having earned Health Network Accreditation from URAC," said URAC President and CEO Kylanne Green. "With rigorous standards created by a broad array of stakeholders, TriWest's independent accreditation from URAC demonstrates its commitment to bringing together qualified, credentialed, and well-managed providers for their patients."

TriWest's accreditations in utilization management and case management are effective June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2020. The effective period for the health network accreditation is now extended to August 1, 2020. This is TriWest's fifth consecutive accreditation for its health care network.

About TriWest Healthcare Alliance:

TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves our nation's heroes as the partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs in administering the Patient-Centered Community Care and Veterans Choice Programs. TriWest has been On a Mission to Serve(R) America's military families and Veterans since 1996 delivering award-winning customer service and providing access to high-quality health care. More information: https://www.triwest.com/.

About URAC:

Founded in 1990, URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, certification and measurement. URAC is a nonprofit organization developing evidence-based measures and standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare. Our portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the healthcare industry, addressing healthcare management, healthcare operations, health plans, pharmacies, telehealth providers, physician practices, and more. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability.

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Business, Defense and Military, Entertainment, Free News Articles, General Editorial, Product Launches

Famous Handguns of the World Collection in Miniature Now Available

ROME, Ga. -- Hampton & Weaver, a small firm in historic Rome, Georgia has begun producing a Collection of "Famous Handguns of the World" in one-quarter scale. These mini-replicas vary from 1 1/2-inches to 3 3/4-inches in length, are cast from zinc, electroplated with silver and an antiqued finish is applied to accentuate the features of each miniature. Every model is simply exquisite, with aesthetic detail ingrained into each creation.

Each of the mini-replicas is shown with a detailed description and condensed history on the company's website. Currently, there are three mini-replicas shown, with a fourth in the process of being created.

The first mini-replica is the renowned 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol, that icon of the ages. Second is the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, while the third is the historic P.08 Luger. The fourth - in the works now - is the C96 "Broomhandle" Mauser.

The list of the 12 handgun replicas in the Collection are ranked in order of nostalgia and notoriety. The C96 Mauser is followed by the Webley Mark VI, the Colt Walker .44, Colt Python, Hi-Power, Auto Mag, S&W J-Frame, Beretta 92 and Glock.

"The condensed histories of each replica on the website contain some very interesting facts. The 1911A1 was actually also manufactured by the Nazis in WWII!" says Frank Hindman, founder and president of Hampton & Weaver.

The SAA was first issued to General Custer's 7th Cavalry, but is more recognized as Marshall Dillon's quick-draw revolver on the "Gunsmoke" TV series.

The Luger, mostly associated with the German army in WWI and WWII, is also known as the Pistole Parabellum 1908. The Parabellum means, ironically, "If you want peace, prepare for war." The C96 Mauser is nicknamed the "Broomhandle" because its grip closely resembles a real broom handle.

Each semi-auto pistol replica is housed in a Black velvet presentation box with a Red pre-formed insert in the shape of the pistol. The revolvers are housed in a Red presentation box with a Black insert pre-formed in the shape of the revolver. The presentation boxes for both pistols and revolvers have a Gold-plated panel identifying the handgun in letters inlaid with Black enamel. A 2nd Amendment/Bill of Rights logo is Gold-gilded on the inside of the lid of the presentation boxes.

Roy Huntington, Editor and Publisher of American Handgunner magazine, was instrumental in helping compile the list of the 12 Most Famous Handguns of the World and, upon receiving one of the first 1911A1 production replicas, he described it in the magazine as, "The best I have ever seen!"

The mini-replica line is produced by a small company named Hampton & Weaver. It was started in 1968 by Frank W. Hindman II and manufactured a range of products including mascot pins for high schools, fishing jigs and over a million designer belt buckles. He made the first 1911A1 mini-replica over 25 years ago, but it was one-half scale and retailed for $179, far out of the price range for most Americans. Only a few were made.

With new manufacturing technology, experience and expertise, the new one-quarter scale mini-replicas retail for only $19.95 with the exception of the Colt Walker .44 which, due to its size, 3 3/4-inches in length, will retail for $24.95.

The initial list of the 12 most famous handguns may be extended to 16 or, possibly, more. Even an 8-inch long military version of the Thompson Sub-Machine Gun is under consideration for later production.

The pricing is very attractive considering the excellent quality of the products.

This is a very unusual product line, with a hint of history included, and a choice of a free patriotic gift with each replica purchased.

The mini-replicas can be viewed and ordered and the company contacted by visiting the website, http://www.firearmsassurefreedom.com/.

Media Contact:
Frank Hindman
Hampton & Weaver
orders.faf@att.net

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Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Government, Legal and Law

Former Military Officers Seek Greater Due Process for CA Bonus Troops

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two former military officers of the Washington D.C. law firm of Jordan Guydon sent letters today to U.S. Senator Boxer, other Congressional leaders, the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army, urging the strengthening of due process for the California National Guard bonus recipients. The two are Darlye Jordan, managing partner of the firm and a former Army major who advised commanders during the Gulf War; and, Howard G. Cooley, of-counsel, and a retired Army colonel.

Cooley and Jordan are concerned that there is no mention of the role of the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMRs) in the remedy of the bonus cases. In the letter, they argue the Guardsmen have an administrative due process right to the extraordinary decisional and equitable powers Congress conferred on the boards.

Jordan, also a former finance officer in the military, notes that "the remedies of waiver and remission of the remaining debt" may still leave some servicemembers with a historical record of problematic "past due" notices. Jordan also notes "it may take longer than expected for negative information to be removed from some credit records." Cooley and Jordan argue that since only BCMRs have the authority in DOD to cause the debt to be eradicated as through it never existed, Guardsmen should have the opportunity to appeal to their Service BCMR.

Cooley states, "For the Army Board to be poised to fairly evaluate the appeals of Guardsmen, it must get its own house in order, and can do so easily by shutting down its illegal adjudication system immediately and adopting the adjudication process used by the Air Force BCMR." Cooley notes, "20 years ago, management consultant Booz Allen Hamilton, in effect advised DOD that the Army Board breached decisional integrity because the ABCMR staff impermissibly took over the decisional process from the board and reduced the board to a mere rubber stamp for the staff."

Cooley asserts "by law, servicemembers are entitled to have their cases fully evaluated by an independent panel of high ranking, fair-minded, and experienced board members - not unappointed staffers under pressure to cut corners (including the denial of the due process rights of servicemembers) in order to adjudicate cases in 10-months."

Cooley adds that if some of the problematic bonuses were issued to Air Guard members from California, in addition to the Army Guard members, "then there would be unacceptable dual standards, with the Air Force Guardsmen walking upstairs to the regular order boardroom conducted by an independent and appointed board, while the Army Guardsmen are directed to the basement where the staff is in charge while the appointed board members are divested of all of their decisional authority."

Jordan and Cooley believe "it is time to rightsize the BCMR process, as all servicemembers are entitled now to the gold standard adjudication afforded by the Air Force BCMR, and nothing less."

For more information about Jordan Guydon LLP, visit: http://jordanguydonlaw.com/.

Media Contact:
Howard G. Cooley
Jordan Guydon LLP
hcooley@jordanguydonlaw.com
(703) 865-8699

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* PHOTO Caption: Col. Retired Howard G. Cooley.

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Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Insurance

TriWest Healthcare Alliance Proudly Salutes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) #BeThere Campaign

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- In September, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched its Be There campaign on its website to educate Veterans, Service members and those who care about them, of the vital role they play in preventing suicide. The campaign aims to raise awareness about behavioral health issues concerning our nation's Veterans, and encourages loved ones to Be There.

"As a partner to VA, TriWest's sole line of business is to ensure our nation's Veterans get the health care they have earned and deserve. We proudly stand in support of VA to keep the trajectory moving on this important initiative for the behavioral health care of our nation's Veterans," said Dave McIntyre, Jr., President and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

Veterans and Service members have a valuable connection to resources and support through VA's Be There website and the Veterans Crisis Line. To learn more, you are encouraged to visit VA's Veterans Crisis Line website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.

The Be There website provides a wealth of knowledge about how you can support a Veteran or Service member. Whether it's a phone call to the Veteran's Crisis Line, checking in with a veteran to see how they are doing, assisting him or her with community resources, meeting for coffee, being a gym buddy or bringing a Veteran a meal to show you care - a simple act of kindness can help someone feel less alone and can save a life.

"Reaching out to a veteran is the most important thing anyone can do," said Dr. Blake Chaffee, Vice President of Integrated Health Care Service, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

These are thoughtful actions that show support of Be There. Veterans, Service members, family members and health care providers can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, or send a text to: 838255.

About TriWest Healthcare Alliance:
TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves our nation's heroes as the partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs in administering the Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) and Veterans Choice Programs (VCP). TriWest has been On a Mission to Serve(R) America's military families and Veterans since 1996 delivering award-winning customer service and providing access to high-quality health care. The company's official website is http://www.triwest.com.

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Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Insurance

PsychArmor Institute Launches TriWest Healthcare Alliance School for Health Care Providers

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- PsychArmor Institute and TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced today the launch of the TriWest Healthcare Alliance School for Health Care Providers, a suite of free online courses taught by nationally-recognized subject matter experts to prepare community health care providers to effectively deliver care to service members, veterans and their families.

With more than a dozen courses available to health care providers nationally, at no cost, the school provides critical insight into military and veteran culture and the latest research, treatment plans and trends on veteran-specific issues. For example, there is a specific course on "Suicide in the Military," with specific subject areas on behavioral health needs in this critical area. This course reviews the scope of the issue, statistics and risk factors, and explains interventions on how behavioral health professionals can address the problem with a veteran client.

More information can be found at: http://www.psycharmor.org/, by clicking on "TriWest School for Healthcare Providers," and choosing "Suicide in the Military."

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released a report highlighting that, in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.

"There is a great need for community health care providers to continue their educational opportunities on military culture and the unique experiences and challenges of the veteran population," said Marjorie Morrison, CEO and founder of PsychArmor. "Our team is honored to partner with TriWest to provide this tool to help health care providers maximize the effectiveness of their treatment plans. The knowledge and insight within the courses is critical for civilian health care providers to connect with military and veteran patients."

Courses within the school range from "Building a Military and Veteran Practice" to "Post Deployment Issues," and address a myriad of cultural issues within the community, such as substance use and barriers to treatment. Additionally, the school provides a course on connecting with VA for providers interested in becoming a community-based provider for VA's Veterans Choice Program (http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/).

The school, funded by TriWest Healthcare Alliance, includes free continuing education credit for modules in several disciplines.

"TriWest is humbled to be offered this unique opportunity to leverage our company's experience within the veteran, military and health care provider community to address veteran-specific issues and provide the best community care to this deserving population," said Dr. Frank Maguire, Chief Medical Officer of TriWest Healthcare Alliance and a 26-year Navy Veteran. "It is our distinct privilege to work collectively with PsychArmor on this important mission to ensure our community providers have the opportunity to gain valuable skills and insight in working with our nation's veterans."

Health care providers who take the courses will also have access to PsychArmor's "Helping You Help Veterans" Support Center; staffed by behavioral health professionals who are prepared to answer questions a provider may have about service members and veterans.

About PsychArmor:
PsychArmor is the only national institute of its kind, dedicated to bridging the civilian-military divide through free online education and a support center staffed with mental health experts.

PsychArmor recruits nationally recognized subject matter experts to create and deliver online courses about issues relevant to the military and veteran communities. Self-paced courses are delivered within six schools geared toward military culture, health care providers, employers, educators, volunteers, caregivers and families; providing critical resources to all Americans who work with, live with, and care about veterans.

About TriWest:
TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves our nation's heroes as the partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in administering the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) and Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) program. TriWest has been On a Mission to Serve(R) America's military families and Veterans since 1996 delivering award-winning customer service and providing access to high-quality health care. The company's official website is http://www.triwest.com/.

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Defense and Military, Free News Articles, Software

Quandis Unveils Technology Solution to Help Lending Entities Comply with Changes to the Military Lending Act

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. -- Quandis, Inc., a leading provider of default management software and services, announced that it released a technology solution to help lending organizations comply with changes to the Military Lending Act (MLA) that take effect on Oct. 3, 2016. The MLA provides a number of new rules set forth by the Department of Defense (DoD) that impacts lenders working with active duty service members and their dependents. Failure to adhere to the DoD's amended compliance rules can result in severe repercussions.

On July 22, 2015, the DoD finalized an amendment to the Military Lending Act of 2007, which entails crucial new rules that lenders must follow when dealing with active military personnel. The MLA rules apply to certain loans provided to "covered borrowers." The term covered borrowers consists of consumers who, at the time they become obligated on the extension of credit, are members of the armed forces serving on active duty or active guard and reserve duty, along with their dependents.

Loans covered by the rule include:
* Unsecured closed-end loans
* Non-purchase-money secured closed-end loans
* Unsecured consumer lines of credit
* Credit cards.

Quandis' solution provides a real-time API that searches the DoD's database to instantly return covered borrower status in either human or machine-readable formats. Supporting high concurrency and average response times well under one second, the API is ideally suited to integrate with automated underwriting systems (AUSs). Unlike most search solutions, Quandis' technology parses name permutation data to search on a very granular level for active duty personnel as well as their dependents, ensuring comprehensive searches so that nothing is missed.

"Our ability to leverage the technology we have already developed to adhere to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) for active duty military status, and apply that knowledge and technology to the MLA is a natural extension for us," says Scott Stoddard, CEO of Quandis. "Anyone dealing with debt when it comes to covered borrowers must comply with the MLA. Compliance is king and this new offering provides a critical safe harbor for lending organizations working with service members."

Quandis provides a DoD-certified tracking number, along with a time and date stamped audit trail for users in the event of an audit or issue to demonstrate proof of MLA "safe harbor" compliance. The company's MLA compliance solution is already in production with several lending entities.

Notable is that a record number of complaints made by service members to the CFPB has been recorded recently. In 2015, the CFPB received 19,000 complaints from service members, veterans and their families, which represented a 13 percent increase from 2014. The top three areas for complaints were debt collection (46 percent), mortgage reporting (15 percent) and credit reporting (11 percent).

Lending entities need to start preparing in advance to comply with the MLA amendments as opposed to waiting until the Oct. 3 deadline. Interested parties can contact Quandis at 949-391-9029 or via email at sales@quandis.com.

About Quandis:
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, Quandis is a default management software company specializing in web-based solutions for the mortgage banking industry. Quandis' solutions include foreclosure process automation, valuation software, military search services, bankruptcy searches, short sale portals, skip tracing systems, collection solutions, vendor solutions, as well custom application development. The company's clients range from servicers to foreclosure attorneys, lenders, banks, GSEs, outsourced service providers, and agents and brokers.

For more information, please visit http://www.quandis.com/ or call (949) 525-9000.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Bowerbank
Profundity Communications, Inc.
949-378-9685
jbowerbank@profunditymarketing.com

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