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Building Momentum for Healthcare Price Transparency Among American Consumers

YourUpdateTV

As Congress begins formulating the next COVID-19 stimulus relief, among measures to improve Americans' health and economic well-being, it is critically important to include systemwide health care price transparency. Transparency is needed now more than ever with the global coronavirus pandemic inflicting abrupt hardships on many Americans. Recently, Cynthia A Fisher, Founder of PatrientRightsAdvocate.org partnered with YourUpdateTV to discuss the importance of healthcare price transparency. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/WoNbXrSUEDs System-wide healthcare price transparency can become law by passing the Healthcare Price Transparency Act, requiring hospitals and insurers to reveal their hidden prices, as part of the next COVID-19 stimulus package. This non-partisan issue will do more to stimulate the economy than the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and it can be done at no cost to the taxpayer. Transparency means more than better healthcare. It will provide economic prosperity for individuals, families, businesses and the economy. American individuals and businesses need a functional, competitive marketplace in healthcare like in grocery, travel and retail. For more information, please visit PatientRightsAdvocate.org About Cynthia A. Fisher: Cynthia A. Fisher is a life sciences entrepreneur, independent investor, and corporate board director. She founded WaterRev, LLC to invest in novel technologies that enable sustainable practices in water use. She serves on the public company boards of The Boston Beer Company (SAM) and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA). Cynthia is best known for her pioneering work as Founder and CEO of ViaCord, Inc., a leading umbilical cord blood stem cell banking service which she started in 1993. In 2000, she co-founded and was President of the cellular medicines company, ViaCell, Inc. (Previously to founding ViaCord, Cynthia ran the Blood Bank Division of Haemonetics Corporation, a medical equipment manufacturer. She began her career in sales at IBM focusing on healthcare IT, insurance, and defense industries. Cynthia holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Science and BS in Biophysics from Ursinus College. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content, produced by award-winning video communications firm. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 29, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

FABER HAND SANITIZER – SHIPPING TO SCHOOLS

Faber Hand Sanitizer

As schools debate the possibility of reopening and preparing for the return of students, Pennsylvania-based Faber Distilling Co. (Faber) is increasing its production of hand sanitizer ( Faber Hand Sanitizer ) to meet growing demand. In addition to supplying hospitals, truck drivers, and first responders with its 80 percent alcohol antiseptic hand sanitizer, public school systems, private and charter schools, and even major colleges and universities are relying on Faber to help protect students, teachers, staff, and visitors. Pennsylvania based Faber Hand Sanitizer is formulated in compliance with the guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is available in stores and online – with zero ‘out of stock’ issues. Methanol is excluded from the production, making it a safe choice for those looking to keep themselves and others safe. “With all the confusion and anxiety that parents, educators, and policy makers have these days, we just feel fortunate to be a part of the solution, regardless if schools choose to embrace distance learning, or bring students back,” explained Faber spokesperson Ashleigh Baldwin. “We have been producing abundant supplies of high-quality sanitizer to relieve the anxieties of businesses preparing to safely conduct business again – and doing the same for hospitals, schools, and individuals too.” “With the recalls of many imported sanitizer brands – nearly 90 on the growing list – it should be comforting to know Faber is an alcohol antiseptic, free of the dangerous chemicals that have led to recalls. We are a safe choice for homes, businesses, and schools,” Baldwin continued. Faber’s increased production, and existing supply can reassure school leaders, and business owners that hand sanitizer, made following FDA guidelines, will be there when they need it. Product is shipped directly to schools, businesses, and consumers in a variety of pack sizes – even by the pallet load. “We are proud to support the health of students, educators, and support staff with hand sanitizer as they prepare to reopen,” Baldwin said. “We know that this is a difficult time for everyone, and complex decisions need to be made, however, procuring Faber Hand Sanitizer is an easy safe choice for those responsible for protecting themselves and others.” To obtain Faber’s Hand Sanitizer and support global health, please visit https://www.fabersanitizer.com/ Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://fabersanitizer.com/

July 29, 2020 03:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Bren Simon: Supporting UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases

Melvin & Bren Simon Foundation

Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://brensimon.com/

July 29, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Cloud Conventions Integrates Email Campaign Technology Into Virtual Event Platform

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions today announced the integration of Convey’s proprietary Conduct™ Campaign email marketing solution that delivers drip email campaigns created within the virtual event portal to attract exhibitors or attendees to sponsor or register. Conduct can schedule four outbound emails, create a branded sign-up page or connect to a registration application. Targeted lists are uploaded into the event portal and managed in a prospect database secured by the system’s proprietary ListLock™ technology. Cloud Conventions is one of the hottest new virtual event SaaS platforms from Convey Services . “Conduct is designed for organizations that don’t have the time, expertise or desire to create email campaigns to promote their event as well as attract exhibitors and sponsors,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey. “Conduct sends multiple emails to engage an audience, creating calls to action to get potential attendees excited about the virtual event and motivate them to register. Event managers can also use Conduct to broaden their reach to the sponsors who fund the event.” Cloud Conventions’ sophisticated email engine notifies, reminds and engages attendees and exhibitors with messages scheduled automatically. Newsletters and custom message templates are added to portals to alert exhibitors on booth set-up, provide tips to maximize their ROI or to direct attendee activity. Email reports detail delivery, unique opens and click throughs along with opt outs. Conduct and Cloud Conventions are CCPA and GDPR complaint. “Conduct can also be used within the Cloud Conventions platform as a premium service to exhibitors or sponsors to run their own campaigns to attract traffic to their virtual booth,” added Bradfield. “Campaigns are created by the event host and delivered to the dashboards of exhibitors and sponsors so they can send high-quality email campaigns with a marketing message that is consistent and effective. Email marketing is still, by far, the best prospecting tool, delivering better results than all of social media combined.” To learn more about the options available for a virtual conference, tradeshow or event, visit the Online Resource Center at www.CloudConventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

July 29, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Summer 2020 Travel Trends: Travelers Are Embracing the ‘Staycation’

YourUpdateTV

The “staycation” has always been a great option for travelers looking to plan a last-minute getaway close to home, as well as an effective way to minimize expenses and maximize vacation time. Staycations allow consumers to save money on airline tickets and rental cars, avoid a lot of the stress associated with traveling and truly unplug – all without spending hours planning. Recently, travel expert Dayvee Sutton teamed up with Cambria Hotels and YourUpdateTV to discuss current travel trends and what goes into a perfect staycation. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/kHrCCrxQclo As COVID-19 restrictions continue to lift, more and more travelers are looking to get out of the house. Instead of planning elaborate, weeklong vacations, consumers are opting to stay closer to home and take shorter, more spontaneous trips that give them flexibility, which is renewing interest in staycations. The number of road trips planned in the U.S. has exploded in recent weeks, particularly as many Americans are still apprehensive about air travel. Staying at a nearby hotel is an easy way to relax, unwind and take a much-needed break away from home. With more than 50 hotels nationwide, Cambria hotels offer travelers the approachable indulgences they are looking for and, in many cases, outdoor spaces featuring scenic rooftop views and relaxing pools. Cambria hotels are found in central locations, conveniently located near businesses and various dining and entertainment options. Each hotel features thoughtful design and locally inspired food and beverage offerings that reflect the surrounding community, including a curated craft beer selection. While consumers may be ready to plan a staycation, they also want to know protocols are in place to protect their well-being. According to Travelocity , 72% of travelers name health and safety as their top priorities when deciding where and when to travel post-COVID-19. Choice Hotels’ Commitment to Clean initiative, which enhances hotels’ existing cleaning procedures with best practices for cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing, can help give guests added peace of mind when they choose to stay with Cambria Hotels. Cambria guests can also limit their interactions with hotel staff by using the Cambria Contactless Concierge Service, a text messaging service for housekeeping requests, to-go food orders, and more. Visit choicehotels.com/cambria to learn more, book your staycation and check out the latest promotions, such as the popular Stay Twice, Earn a Free Night promotion running through September 7, 2020. About Dayvee Sutton Dayvee Sutton is an award-winning journalist covering a range of beats: travel, sports, entertainment, movies and a number of lifestyle topics for television and digital media. As a national lifestyle and travel correspondent based in Atlanta, Georgia, Dayvee has represented more than 150 brands over the course of 15 years. Dayvee has a passion for travel and travels the country representing different brands on local TV, connecting with viewers on behalf of some of the best brands in travel. She's an avid traveler and a self-proclaimed karaoke queen. Dayvee Sutton is a southern California native and graduated from UCLA. About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc. is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With more than 7,100 hotels, representing over 590,000 rooms, in over 40 countries and territories as of March 31, 2020, the Choice® family of hotel brands provide business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com . About Cambria Hotels® The Cambria Hotels brand is designed for the modern traveler, offering guests a distinct experience with simple, guilt-free indulgences allowing them to treat themselves while on the road. Properties feature compelling design inspired by the location, spacious and comfortable rooms, flexible meeting space, and local, freshly prepared food and craft beer. Cambria Hotels is rapidly expanding in major U.S. cities, with hotels open in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. There are over 130 Cambria properties open or in the pipeline across the United States, with more than 50 currently open. To learn more, visit www.choicehotels.com/cambria . About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content, produced by award-winning video communications firm. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 29, 2020 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CORRECTING and REPLACING Boston Children’s Hospital Teams Up with Boston Red Sox First Baseman Mitch Moreland and his wife Susannah for Christmas in July

Boston Children's Hospital

The last sentence of the first paragraph has been corrected The corrected release reads: Boston Children’s Hospital is excited to announce that, for the third year in a row, Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland and his wife Susannah will be collaborating on a fundraiser called “Christmas in July.” This year’s version of Christmas in July, typically a toy and donation drive, will look a little different as the current COVID-19 situation prohibits toy donations to the hospital. Instead, Mitch and Susannah will be matching monetary donations made to Child Life Services of up to $10,000. The campaign kicks off on July 27th and runs through August 2nd. Unlike years past when Susannah helped collect toys at Fenway Park during home games, this year’s campaign will run online. Anyone interested in participating can visit this link to donate: http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/christmasinjuly . “We are so happy Mitch and Susannah have again decided to raise money for Child Life Services at Boston Children’s, a critical program that helps patients and families as they emotionally and socially adjust to the hospital experience, relies on donations,” said Michael Bornhorst, AVP of Corporate Development Special Events, Boston Children’s Hospital Trust. “This year has been filled with a lot of uncertainty and challenges, especially for sick children and their families, so donations are more important than ever. We count on generous and caring people like the Morelands who play such a vital role in generating awareness for our programs and the important work of providing children and families lifesaving answers and hope.” About Boston Children's Hospital For the seventh year in a row, Boston Children's Hospital has been ranked the #1 children's hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, 3,000 researchers and scientific staff, including 9 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 21 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 12 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Discoveries blog and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens , @BCH_Innovation , Facebook and YouTube . Contact Details Carrie +1 617-587-2918 coneil@brodeur.com

July 28, 2020 04:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time

EXECUTIVE ORDER TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES BY ELIMINATING KICKBACKS TO MIDDLEMEN MUST BE ENFORCED

Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions

An Executive Order to eliminate kickbacks to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) signed by President Trump on Friday July 24, 2020 is being met with cautious optimism by medical professionals and patients advocates from the Alliance for Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP.) Many health industry insiders worry, however, that the Executive Order, as written, may make it practically difficult for the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to revive the “rebate rule,” meaning that the drastically reduced prices that could result may never become a reality for patients. “The policy making process in the coming weeks will determine if this Executive Order has teeth,” stated ATAP’s President Dr. Robert Levin. “This has the opportunity to be major victory for patients but could also fall flat if HHS fails to move forward because of the limiting language in the Order. For far too long, the PBM industry has been generating significant profits while patients struggle to afford the cost of prescription drugs. PBMs owe it to patients to pass along savings and the rebates received on to the patient.” HHS Secretary Alex Azar along with other elected and appointed policy makers in Washington have been hearing about the PBM problem for years from ATAP and its member organizations – making this historic action one that shows the efforts from these patient advocacy organizations are having a positive impact. “These leaders know what needs to be done,” Dr. Levin continued. “While it may be difficult for the PBM industry and insurance companies to forgo some of their profits, it is the right thing to do.” The Executive Order explains the problem with PBMs by starting: "...One of the reasons pharmaceutical drug prices in the United States are so high is because of the complex mix of payers and negotiators that often separates the consumer from the manufacturer in the drug-purchasing process. The result is that the prices patients see at the point-of-sale do not reflect the prices that the patient’s insurance companies, and middlemen hired by the insurance companies, actually pay for drugs. Instead, these middlemen — health plan sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) — negotiate significant discounts off of the list prices, sometimes up to 50 percent of the cost of the drug. Medicare patients, whose cost sharing is typically based on list prices, pay more than they should for drugs while the middlemen collect large “rebate” checks. These rebates are the functional equivalent of kickbacks, and erode savings that could otherwise go to the Medicare patients taking those drugs. Yet currently, Federal regulations create a safe harbor for such discounts and preclude treating them as kickbacks under the law...” Section three of the Order calls for establishing “ new safe harbors that would permit health plan sponsors, pharmacies, and PBMs to apply discounts at the patient’s point-of-sale in order to lower the patient’s out-of-pocket costs, and that would permit the use of certain bona fide PBM service fees .” The Executive Order also prohibits the Secretary from moving forward if Medicare premiums might rise even a single dollar – which some say could be the ‘poison pill’ in preventing the implementation of this policy. “Patients today are suffering under a system that prevents them from getting medicine they need. The PBM industry profits significantly off rebates while interrupting the provider-patient relationship, solely to increase its own profits,” Dr. Levin continued. “With the Executive Order in place, a light is now shining on the previously hidden profit motives of the PBM industry. Patients, physicians, and policy makers now have the power to effect meaningful change. I am proud of the role ATAP holds in reforming the rebate system and look forward to working with Washington to move the rule making process forward to-that-end.” With regard to the other three Executive Orders, ATAP looks forward to engaging in the regulatory process, but reiterates its previous comments on the Administration’s existing importation and International Pricing Index proposals: expanding PBMs’ power to insert themselves into drug importation and Medicare Part B is a nonstarter, given the detrimental effect these entities in their current form already have on patient care. ATAP is working in many states to force the PBM industry to disclose rebate data and encourage transparency and reporting requirements for all entities involved in the prescription drug supply chain – PBMs, insurers, and manufacturers. ### Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website http://www.atapadvocates.com

July 28, 2020 01:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Cloud Conventions Expands Registration Capabilities with 3rd-Party Providers

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full-featured virtual tradeshow and event technology solution today expanded its capabilities to offer connections to two new external registration technologies, providing additional options to register attendees for virtual conferences or association events. The first in a series of integrations are with Experient, a division of Maritz Global Services and RegFox, a California-based registration company. Cloud Conventions is a virtual event SaaS platform from Convey Services . “Many show producers or event managers have a history of using platforms like Experient to manage complex registrations, including taking payment, managing travel and lodging, and selecting program extras,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey Services. “These proven registration platforms will augment Cloud Conventions’ internal registration engine, giving event operators the flexibility of using a solution they are familiar with and may already have a contract.” Cloud Conventions connects to external registration systems through an application program interface (API) to collect and transmit data. Once Cloud Conventions receives a registration, the system creates a unique attendee record and assigns a classification based on the purchased event package. Attendees receive a welcome email from Cloud Conventions with access credentials so they can login immediately or a welcome email can be scheduled for a later date. Event organizers have the option of approving all applications any action is taken. “Some events have complex payment structures or need to validate an attendee against a membership record,” added Bradfield. “Many organizations have relationships with a registration company that offers greater customization. All a show needs to do is identify the external platform to Convey and we’ll connect the two systems.” Cloud Conventions can provide a personalized content experience with customized dashboards, segmented email communication or restricted access to some or all exhibit booths or content based on attendee type. To learn more about the options available for a virtual conference, tradeshow or event, visit the Online Resource Center at CloudConventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

July 28, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Cloud Conventions Launches Online Resource Center for Virtual Event Managers

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions , a full featured virtual tradeshow, conference and event technology solution today launched an Online Resource Center to guide future event planners and operators though the expanding world of virtual events. The Center provides strategies, best practices and ideas for effective event design to engage attendees and deliver a strong ROI to exhibitors and sponsors. Articles and eBooks outline how to set up, manage and run a world class virtual event with engaging educational and social sessions that deliver an interactive experience for both attendees and exhibitors. Cloud Conventions is a virtual event SaaS platform from Convey Services . “Almost every event manager, show operator or association is having to learn how to manage a virtual event for the first time, we have been doing online events for years,” said Carolyn Bradfield , founder of Convey. “Most event managers make the mistake of believing that a series of webinars constitutes a virtual experience that will inspire attendees. Webinars have been overused and most people are not motivated to sit through an endless stream of repetitive webinar sessions. An effective virtual experience needs a higher level of content from the event and its exhibitors, with live sessions offered alongside on-demand programs.” The Online Resource Center features the Virtual Event Playbook, a guide to the features and capabilities of the Cloud Conventions platform in addition to curated articles and videos on best practices in delivering virtual sessions, enhancing the attendee experience or managing and working with exhibitors and sponsors. “We are constantly curating best practices from across this dynamic new industry so that event managers, even novices to the world of virtual shows, can be successful hosting their first event,” added Bradfield. “Exhibitors must embrace a different strategy to capture attendee information and interact through chat, video meeting rooms, scheduled meetings or gamification. A virtual tradeshow should center around a theme or mission, offer rich content, ways to connect with exhibitors, as well as other attendees along with opportunities to socialize.” Cloud Conventions has features to promote interaction with discussion forums, opt-in attendee directories, social sessions, and live exhibitor meetings. Exhibitors can use chat, streaming video meetings, or integrated meeting calendars. They can offer ‘virtual swag’, show specials or promotions and give away CloudPoints™ for attendees who engage inside their booth. For more ideas on how to make a virtual event both informative and engaging, visit the Online Resource Center at CloudConventions.com. About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Conduct™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

July 27, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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