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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republicans Reject Sen. Markey Effort to Protect Rural Hospitals from Republican Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Over 300 Rural Hospitals at Disproportionate Risk of Closure, Conversion, or Service Reductions Due to GOP Cuts

    Watch: Senator Markey forces vote on Senate floor

    Washington (June 30, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, today forced a vote on a motion to cut any provision of Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” that would make it more likely that rural hospitals close or cut services altogether. Republicans overwhelmingly voted down the amendment from passing. The motion failed by a vote of 49-51.

    Earlier this month, Senator Markey released a list of more than 300 rural hospitals across the United States at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions due to proposed health care cuts in the bill. Republicans are proposing over $1.6 trillion in draconian spending cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP to pay for tax cuts for people with incomes over $500,0000. These cuts include $930 billion to Medicaid, $500 billion to Medicare, and $300 billion to the Affordable Care Act. 

    Below is an excerpt from Senator Markey’s remarks on the Senate floor.

    “A few weeks ago, I released a list of more than 300 rural hospitals across the country at risk of closing or stopping services because of ANY major cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. Today, that’s what Republicans are guaranteeing with the $1 trillion cut to our health care system they would create with this bill.

    “My Republican colleagues know these risks are real, which is why they’ve tried to create a so-called Medicaid Cuts Replacement Fund that is just a fraction of what they’re taking from Americans’ health care to give to billionaires. This Fund is like giving aspirin to a cancer patient. It is pathetically insufficient.

    “No billionaire tax break or Donald Trump pat on the back is worth the risk to people’s lives and livelihoods. Stop these cuts.”

    Previously, Senator Markey, along with Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, released detailed data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concluding that Republican health care cuts in the House Republican-passed bill could place over 300 rural hospitals across the U.S. at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions. This includes 33 hospitals in Louisiana, 35 hospitals in Kentucky, and 21 hospitals in Oklahoma.

    In the face of these Republican cuts, a majority of adults living in rural areas are concerned that health care cuts will “negatively impact hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers in [their] community.” Rural hospitals are struggling; in 2023, there were 50 fewer rural hospitals than in 2017, and a lack of health care access in rural America is contributing to worse health outcomes. Faced with additional cuts to their revenue, many rural hospitals may be forced to stop providing certain services, including obstetric, mental health, and emergency room care, convert to clinics or standalone emergency centers, or close altogether. Rural hospitals are often the largest employers in rural communities, and when a rural hospital closes or scales back their services, communities are not only forced to grapple with losing access to health care, but also with job loss and the resulting financial insecurity.

    The 338 rural hospitals at-risk of reducing service lines, converting to a different type of health care facility, or closing include:

    Alaska

    Providence Valdez Medical Center

    Providence Seward Medical & Care Cen

    Prov. Kodiak Island Medical Center

    Cordova Community Medical Center

    Ketchikan Medical Center

    Alabama

    Community Hospital Inc.

    Marion Regional Medical Center

    Lawrence Medical Center

    Bullock County Hospital

    Hill Hospital of Sumter County

    Arkansas

    Wadley Medical Center at Hope

    Arizona

    Page Hospital

    Winslow Memorial Hospital

    Copper Queen Community Hospital

    Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital

    Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center

    California

    Adventist Health St. Helena

    Mad River Community Hospital

    Oroville Hospital

    St. Elizabeth Community Hospital

    Adventist Health Reedley

    Hi – Desert Medical Center

    Barstow Community Hospital

    Adventist Health Ukiah Valley

    Pioneers Mem. Hospital

    Memorial Hospital – Los Banos

    Eastern Plumas Health Care

    Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley

    Southern Inyo Hospital

    John C. Fremont Healthcare District

    Mayers Memorial Hospital

    Jerold Phelps Community Hospital

    Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital

    Mountains Community Hospital

    Kern Valley Healthcare District

    Trinity Hospital

    Fairchild Medical Center

    Adventist Health Clearlake

    Sutter Lakeside Hospital

    Modoc Medical Center

    Bear Valley Community Hospital

    Mee Memorial Hospital

    Hazel Hawkins Mem. Hospital

    Coalinga Regional Medical Center

    Colorado

    Delta County Memorial Hospital

    Conejos County Hospital

    Grand River Hospital District

    Prowers Medical Center

    Southwest Memorial Hospital

    Arkansas Valley Regional Med Center

    Connecticut

    Sharon Hospital

    Delaware

    Nanticoke Memorial Hospital

    Florida

    Lakeside Medical Center

    Georgia

    Washington Co Reg Med Center

    Irwin County Hospital

    Fannin Regional Hospital

    Flint River Community Hospital

    Hawaii

    Kau Hospital

    Kohala Hospital

    Molokai General Hospital

    Lanai Community Hospital

    Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital

    Hale Hoola Hamakua

    Iowa

    MercyOne – Newton Medical Center

    Manning Regional Healthcare Center

    Idaho

    Power County Hospital District

    St. Lukes Jerome Ltd

    Cassia Regional Hospital

    Illinois

    Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital

    OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center

    Richland Memorial Hospital

    Harrisburg Medical Center Inc.

    Hoopeston Community Memorial Hospital

    Franklin Hospital

    Massac Memorial Hospital

    Hardin County General Hospital

    Crawford Memorial Hospital

    Indiana

    Daviess Community Hospital

    Memorial Hospital Logansport

    Community Hospital of Bremen Inc.

    Ascension St. Vincent Randolph

    Ascension St. Vincent Jennings

    Ascension St. Vincent Clay

    Ascension St Vincent Salem

    IU Health Jay Hospital

    Franciscan Health Rensselaer

    Sullivan County Community Hospital

    Adams Memorial Hospital

    Harrison County Hospital

    Kansas

    Centura Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital

    UKHS Great Bend Campus

    Kiowa County Memorial Hospital

    Rush County Memorial Hospital

    Norton County Hospital

    Great Plains of Smith County, Inc.

    Kentucky

    Whitesburg ARH

    Highlands Regional Medical Center

    UofL Health-Shelbyville

    T.J. Samson Community Hospital

    St. Claire Medical Center

    Middlesboro ARH

    Spring View Hospital

    AdventHealth Manchester

    Bourbon Community Hospital

    Harlan ARH

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital

    Saint Joseph Mount Sterling

    Tug Valley ARH

    Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical

    Baptist Health Corbin

    Clark Regional Medical Center

    Baptist Health Madisonville

    The Medical Center of Albany

    Three Rivers Medical Center

    Kentucky River Medical Center

    TJ Health Columbia

    Pineville Community Health Center

    Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital

    Our Lady of The Way

    Casey County Hospital

    Carroll County Memorial Hosp

    The Medical Center at Caverna

    Fort Logan Hospital

    Mary Breckinridge Hospital

    Jane Todd Crawford Hospital

    Barbourville ARH Hospital

    Saint Joseph Berea

    Russell County Hospital

    McDowell ARH

    Fleming County Hospital

    Louisiana

    Ochsner St. Mary

    Savoy Medical Management Group Inc.

    Iberia Medical Center

    West Carroll Health Systems LLC

    North Louisiana Medical Center

    Winn Parish Medical Center

    Avoyelles Hospital

    Oakdale Community Hospital

    Morehouse General Hospital

    Desoto Regional Health System

    Allen Parish Hospital

    Franklin Medical Center

    Minden Medical Center

    Richland Parish Hospital Service District 1-B

    Byrd Regional Hospital

    Mercy Regional Medical Center

    Citizens Medical Center

    Caldwell Memorial Hospital

    East Carroll Parish Hospital

    Sabine Medical Center

    Our Lady of The Angels Hospital Mc

    Southeast Regional Medical Center

    Acadian Medical Center

    St. Helena Parish Hospital

    Union General Hospital Inc.

    West Feliciana Parish Hospital

    West Ascension Parish Hospital

    Hood Memorial Hospital

    Franklin Foundation Hospital

    Christus Coushatta Health Care Center

    Madison Parish Hospital

    Trinity Medical

    Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center

    Massachusetts

    Baystate Franklin Medical Center

    Maine

    The Aroostook Medical Center

    Maine Coast Memorial Hospital

    Michigan

    Mclaren Central Michigan

    Carson City Hospital

    Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital

    Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital

    Minnesota

    Range Regional Health Services

    Mayo Clinic Health System-Fairmont

    Missouri

    Bothwell Regional Health Center

    Scotland County Memorial Hospital

    Parkland Health Center – Bonne Terre

    Lafayette Regional Health Center

    Mississippi

    Alliance Healthcare System

    Delta Health-Northwest Regional

    Baptist Mem Hospital Booneville

    Greenwood Leflore Hospital

    Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center

    Highland Community Hospital

    Panola Medical Center

    Baptist Medical Center – Yazoo

    Montana

    Northeast Montana Healthcare-Poplar

    Prairie Community Hospital

    Garfield Co. Health Center

    Logan Health Cutbank

    Big Horn Hospital

    Northeast Montana Health Services

    Providence St Joseph Medical Center

    Big Sky Medical Center

    North Carolina

    UNC Rockingham Hospital

    Person Memorial Hospital Inc.

    Chatham Hospital Inc.

    MH Angel Medical Center LLLP

    Blue Ridge Regional Hospital

    North Dakota

    Nelson County Health System-Hospital

    Presentation Medical Center

    Mercy Hospital

    Nebraska

    Avera Creighton Hospital

    Ogallala Community Hospital

    New Hampshire

    Cheshire Medical Center

    New Mexico

    Alta Vista Regional Hospital

    Eastern New Mexico Medical Center

    Espanola Hospital

    Plains Regional Medical Center – Clovis

    Rehoboth Mckinley Christian Hospital

    Carlsbad Medical Center

    Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital

    Roosevelt General Hospital

    Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell

    Socorro General Hospital

    Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital

    Lincoln County Medical Center

    Miner Of Colfax Medical Center

    Mimbres Memorial Hospital

    Holy Cross Hospital

    Nevada

    Battle Mountain General Hospital

    Humboldt General Hospital

    New York

    Wyoming County Community Hospital

    Newark Wayne Community Hospital

    Geneva General Hospital

    Bon Secours Community Hospital

    Westfield Memorial Hospital

    Claxton Hepburn Medical Center

    Massena Memorial Hospital

    Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills

    Clifton-Fine Hospital

    Gouverneur Hospital

    Lewis County General Hospital

    Ohio

    Southern Ohio Medical Center

    Wayne Hospital Company

    East Liverpool City Hospital

    Coshocton Regional Medical Center

    Twin City Hospital

    Harrison Community Hospital

    Bucyrus Community Hospital

    Holzer Medical Center Jackson

    Galion Community Hospital

    Adams County Regional Medical Center

    Fayette County Memorial Hosp

    Oklahoma

    Integris Miami Hospital

    Blackwell Regional Hospital

    McAlester Regional Health Center

    Hillcrest Hospital Cushing

    Choctaw Memorial Hospital

    Sequoyah County City of Sallisaw Hos

    Integris Grove Hospital

    Perry Memorial Hospital

    Wagoner Hospital Authority

    Adair County Health Center

    Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta

    Lindsay Municipal Hospital Authority

    Mercy Hospital Watonga

    Mercy Hospital Tishomingo

    Mercy Health/Love County

    Mercy Hospital Healdton Inc.

    Cleveland Area Hospital

    Carnegie Tri-County Municipal Hospital

    Haskell Regional Hospital

    Harmon Memorial Hospital

    Memorial Hospital of Texas County

    Oregon

    Silverton Hospital

    Providence Seaside Hospital

    St Charles Madras

    Good Shepherd Medical Center

    Pennsylvania

    UPMC Jameson

    UPMC Northwest Hospital

    UPMC Kane

    UPMC Horizon Hospital

    Highlands Hospital

    South Carolina

    Oconee Memorial Hospital

    MUSC Health Chester Medical Center

    MUSC Health Marion Medical Center

    The Regional Medical Center

    Abbeville Area Medical Center

    South Dakota

    Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center

    Bennett County Hospital

    Tennessee

    Unicoi County Hospital

    Wayne Medical Center

    Baptist Mem Hospital Huntingdon

    West Tn Healthcare Volunteer Hospital

    Dyersburg Regional Medical Center

    St Thomas Dekalb Hospital

    Saint Thomas Highland Hospital

    Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital

    Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital

    Texas

    Anson General Hospital

    Ascension Seton Smithville

    Val Verde Regional Medical Center

    Falls Community Hospital and Clinic

    Covenant Hospital Plainview

    Scenic Mountain Medical Center

    El Campo Memorial Hospital

    Covenant Hospital Levelland

    North Runnels Hospital District

    Palacios Community Medical Center

    Haskell Memorial Hospital

    Mitchell County Hospital

    TMC Bonham Hospital

    Mid Coast Medical Center-Central

    Baylor Scott & White – Marble Falls

    Utah

    Fillmore Community Hospital

    Blue Mountain Hospital

    Beaver Valley Hospital

    Virginia

    Southampton Memorial Hospital

    Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center

    Community Memorial Hospital

    Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital

    Rappahannock General Hospital

    Lee County Community Hospital

    Washington:

    Samaritan Hospital

    Toppenish Community Hospital

    Summit Pacific Medical Center

    Odessa Memorial Hospital

    Coulee Medical Center

    Providence St Joseph’s Hospital

    Prosser Memorial Health

    Klickitat Valley Health

    Othello Community Hospital

    Three Rivers Hospital

    Forks Community Hospital

    Mid-Valley Hospital

    Astria Sunnyside Hospital

    Mason General Hospital

    Wisconsin:

    Holy Family Memorial Inc.

    MCHS Oakridge

    Aspirus Stanley Hospital

    West Virginia:

    Logan Regional Medical Center

    Welch Community Hospital

    Broaddus Hospital Association

    Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center

    Grafton City Hospital

    Montgomery General Hospital

    Jackson General Hospital

    Wyoming

    Summit Medical Center LLC

    Platte County Memorial Hospital

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: PMPRB releases new Guidelines to monitor and review drug prices

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News Release

    For Immediate Release

    June 30, 2025 — Ottawa, ON — Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

    The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) published its new Guidelines for PMPRB Staff today. They will take effect on January 1, 2026. The Guidelines explain the new two-step process used by PMPRB staff to monitor and review drug prices by comparing them to the prices in other countries or to other similar treatments in Canada. If a drug’s price raises concerns, PMPRB staff may recommend a hearing to the Chair. These new Guidelines have been established following a comprehensive consultation process, after much consideration from the Board. They depart significantly from previous Guidelines.

    As per the new Guidelines, the PMPRB will follow a two-step review process. The Initial or Annual Review serves as a screening process. If this step raises concerns, or if a complaint is received from an approved individual or organization, the PMPRB will then start a more in-depth review. During an In-Depth Review the PMPRB staff compare the drug under review to similar drugs and treatments available for the same medical conditions.

    The PMPRB plays a unique and important role in the Canadian health system by ensuring that prices of patented medicines are not excessive. The Guidelines provide a transparent and predictable process to be used by PMPRB staff to review drug prices once they enter the market. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Sir Cato T. Laurencin Recognized as Springer Nature Editor of Distinction

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dr. Cato T. Laurencin is the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, recognized as the leading voice in the field, published by Springer Nature.

    “We are proud to work with Professor Sir Cato Laurencin on the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. As the Founding Editor-in-Chief of this important journal, he has made great strides in the advancement of research on racial and ethnic health disparities. The journal’s 2024 CiteScore is 7.5, ranking 5 out of 524 journals in the Anthropology category,” said Katherine Lang, executive publisher, Journals – Springer Nature.

    Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin is the University Professor at UConn and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UConn School of Medicine, professor of Chemical Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He is the chief executiveoOfficer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university institute created and named in his honor at UConn.

    He completed his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering at Princeton. At the same time, he completed the Program in African-American Studies at Princeton. He received his M.D., Magna Cum Laude from the Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from M.I.T. Under the auspices of King George III of England, Laurencin was bestowed Knighthood by the Governor-General of St. Lucia.

    Laurencin is a professor of Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut and chaired the Inaugural World Congress on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, held in 2025 in St. Lucia. He received the Herbert V. Nickens Award from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) for his work in advancing social justice and fairness. The NAACP awarded him the Spingarn Medal, given for “the highest or noblest achievement by an African American.” Previously the award was given to Dr. Charles Drew, Martin Luther King Jr., and Maya Angelou, among others. The W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute and the National Medical Association created the Cato T. Laurencin Lifetime Research Achievement Award in his honor, bestowed at the opening ceremonies of the National Medical Association meeting.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Entrepreneur Aims to Revolutionize Men’s Health Care

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    When former President Joe Biden revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer, the news rattled UConn’s Reza Amin ’18 Ph.D., ’19 MS.

    Amin is the CEO and Founder of Bastion Health, the first and largest virtual urology group in the country. Bastion, a UConn startup, addresses men’s health care through at-home diagnostics, specialist-led care, and elimination of impediments to medical attention.

    Detecting prostate cancer in its most treatable stage is more than a professional interest for Amin. He lost his grandfather to the disease and wants to spare others from that heartbreak.

    “Prostate cancer is a cruel disease because it can often be asymptomatic and, without testing, men don’t know they have it,’’ he says. “The good news is that if prostate cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate is close to 100 percent. Diagnosed later, it falls to about 40 percent.

    “Our work at Bastion is about changing that equation—by offering early, accessible, and private care for our male patients,’’ he says. Bastion also addresses prostate, hormonal, and reproductive issues, as well as cancer prevention.

    “Improving men’s access to care is at the heart of what we do. We’re building a future where men don’t delay care because of stigma, access issues, or inconvenience,’’ he says. “When care is confidential, virtual, and designed around them, men are more willing to use it.’’

    Men’s Health a Growing Concern

    Bastion Health is based at the UConn Technology Incubation Program (TIP) in Farmington, which unites research, facilities, and business support for high-impact startups.

    The company, created in 2020, contracts with large employers who offer the medical service to their employees. Some 120,000 men—in all 50 states— have access to Bastion’s services. The company is growing quickly and is set to expand, adding multiple Fortune 500 employers to its ranks next year.

    The statistics about men’s health are concerning. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. In the last seven years or so, there has been a spike in men being diagnosed with late-stage disease.

    Reza Amin (courtesy of Bastion Health)

    Bastion offers at-home testing, supported by a team of more than 60 board-certified urologists, who deliver comprehensive virtual care and guide patients every step of the way, offering fast referrals when in-person support is needed.

    New patients begin with an app-based intake, followed by a nurse practitioner visit and at-home diagnostic kits delivered to their door. The tests cover blood, urine, semen, and stool. Samples are processed by certified labs, and results are reviewed by board-certified urologists to initiate treatment.

    “The clinical accuracy matches traditional in-office care, but with greater convenience, faster follow-through, and a better patient experience,’’ Amin says.  The normalization of telehealth following the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated Bastion’s growth, making virtual specialty care not just viable—but preferred, he added.

    The traditional health care system hasn’t evolved with men’s needs, and as a result, many men bypass it, Amin says. Long waits in a doctor’s office, missed time at work, embarrassing test requirements, and difficulty scheduling follow-up appointments result in men avoiding life-enhancing or life-saving care.

    “Men deserve care that’s private, seamless, and designed for them, especially when it comes to issues ‘under the belt,’” Amin says. “We’re a team of technologists, physicians, nurses, and health professionals building the future of men’s health. With AI-powered telehealth, nationwide urologist access, and integrated at-home testing, we’re redefining specialty care—delivered from home, anywhere in the country. We are always keeping the patient in mind in whatever we do.”

    The medical service not only improves outcomes and prevents late-stage diagnoses, but also reduces health care spending for employers and payers.

    “Not only are we saving lives, but we are also saving companies a great deal of money. Every cancer patient who is diagnosed early saves employers and payers $300,000. That’s just huge,” Amin says. “In many cases that savings alone covers the cost of the program for the entire employee population.’’

    From Avid Researcher to Business Entrepreneur

    Amin’s business idea began 10 years ago when he was completing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, with a focus on medical diagnostic system design, at UConn. He published his first paper on at-home testing and how it can help with cancer detection.

    “It started as an idea on paper, but it pieced things together,’’ he says. As the idea took root, Amin realized he wanted to create something more impactful than a testing company. He wanted to transform access to care.

    “We dove into everything—regulations, diagnostics, emerging tech,” he says. “Today, we’re an AI-powered virtual care platform integrating at-home testing and automated clinical workflows. With help from AI, we streamline medical documentation, enhance clinical decision-making, and engage patients more effectively, improving the experience for both patients and providers. It’s about reducing friction, increasing satisfaction, and delivering high-quality care at scale.”

    The year after completing his Ph.D., Amin added a master’s degree in global entrepreneurship from UConn to his resume. He is also the co-founder of Encapsulate, a precision personalized cancer therapy program.

    Urologists Often Difficult to Find

    Because urology practices are most frequently located in cities, some 62% of United States counties don’t have a single urologist, Amin says. That makes it difficult for many men, even those who are health-conscious, to get an appointment and schedule follow-ups if a problem is detected.

    At Bastion, the team tries to make accessing care as seamless as possible. A dedicated care coordinator alerts men to appointments, testing, and medication refills. If follow-up care is needed, the patient is quickly referred to a health care system that can address even complex treatment.

    If men are comfortable receiving care at home, let’s bring it to them there. We are leading the market but not abandoning high-quality service. &#8212 Reza Amin, Bastion Health

    Through Bastion’s focus on patient satisfaction, Amin and his team reviewed and adopted technologies designed with the male patient experience in mind—making it easy to collect blood, urine, semen, and stool from home.

    “We strive to be tech-savvy and futuristic thinking,” he says. “If men are comfortable receiving care at home, let’s bring it to them there. We are leading the market but not abandoning high-quality service.”

    UConn Instrumental in Bastion’s Success

    Bastion Health has also benefitted from numerous UConn entrepreneurship programs through the School of Business, College of Engineering, the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. As an entrepreneur, Amin says, he ran into many people who discouraged his efforts. The support from UConn offset the challenges.

    “Our company is a UConn spinoff. We’re Huskies through and through. We’ve had great support, lab and office space, and we utilize talent from UConn,” Amin says.

    Amin has also competed in prestigious entrepreneurship competitions, including Connect Next, Mayo Clinic Incubator, Mass Challenge, and Plug & Play.

    Bastion has been recognized in Forbes twice and as a Top 100 Healthcare Tech Company by Healthcare Tech Report Nation. He was also chosen as a “40 Under Forty” award recipient by the Hartford Business Journal.

    “In growing this business, I realized that talent is key. I wanted to spend enough time to find the right people. Technology and funding are important, but it is talent that brings the ideas, builds the culture, and shares the vision that creates value,’’ he says. “Our partnerships and alignment are very important.’’

    ‘It Impacts Everyone and Everything’

    Although Amin is focused on caring for men’s health, he recognizes the work he does has a profound ripple effect.

    “Whether you’re addressing men’s health, women’s health, or children’s health, it is all family health,” he says. “Everyone wants a healthy family and if any one member has a problem, it impacts everyone and everything, from fear and disruption to employment and income concerns.”

    “Losing lives to conditions that are treatable, when solutions exist and can’t be accessed, is failure,” he says. “We hope to save many families from going through the terrible experience of advanced prostate cancer.’’

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First-Ever Master Plan for Aging Final Report Released

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today released the Final Report for New York’s first-ever Master Plan for Aging (MPA). The MPA Final Report contains more than 100 proposals directed towards all levels of government, the social sector and private enterprise, all with the aim of helping individuals age with dignity, independence and the support they need and deserve to thrive.

    “Every New Yorker should be able to age with dignity and independence,” Governor Hochul said. “The Master Plan for Aging builds on our ongoing efforts to empower older adults and advance New York’s status as an age-friendly state. I thank the hundreds of stakeholders, state agency staff and partners who worked to develop these proposals and look forward to reviewing the report.”

    The report’s release was accompanied by a newly unveiled MPA website featuring the complete report and a sortable library of its 100-plus proposals, available in multiple languages at https://planforaging.ny.gov/.

    The MPA advances goals outlined in the Governor’s 2022 State of the State Address and Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Executive Budget. It was formally established by Executive Order No. 23, signed in November 2022.

    The Master Plan for Aging, led by the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the New York State Department of State is the product of a collaborative effort with dozens of stakeholders inside and outside of government.

    New York has the fourth-largest population of older adults in the U.S., with 3.2 million individuals – about 16 percent of the population – over age 65. The state’s population of those over the age of 60 is projected to grow to 5.3 million by 2030, with those over 80 years of age exceeding 1.2 million – growing faster than any other age group in some areas of the state. By 2030, older adults will make up 25 to 30 percent of the population in most New York counties.

    New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The Master Plan for Aging was created by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers, so we can age successfully and independently—on our terms—right here in New York.”

    New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said, “The final Master Plan for Aging is a true triumph of collective problem-solving. Under the vision of Governor Hochul, the MPA has brought together hundreds of the brightest and most accomplished minds from diverse fields and sectors – all contributing their talent to create this historic roadmap for an age-friendly New York. The Master Plan for Aging outlines over 100 proposals, each holding the promise to make a real difference in the lives of individuals as they age. Just as importantly, this document assesses the potential challenges, opportunities and pathways for action on each proposal, making it both visionary and practical. I applaud Governor Hochul, our state agency partners, the stakeholders and the public for their contributions to this historic outcome for older adults in New York State.”

    New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to the lives of older New Yorkers is on full display with this comprehensive Master Plan for Aging, which will guide aging policy in the state well into the future. The way we plan and develop our communities has a tremendous impact on the health, safety and quality of life of older New Yorkers. The Department of State was proud to have played a pivotal role in the development of the Master Plan for Aging, with our partners at Department of Health and State Office for the Aging. We stand ready to support the next phase of plan implementation through our planning and development programs, like the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, NY Forward and Smart Growth, which create livable communities for people of all ages and abilities.”

    Hundreds of stakeholders participated in a process of MPA workgroups to develop the MPA Final Report proposals. Organized into eight subcommittees and over 34 workgroups, the stakeholders coalesced around nine overarching pillars, which were:

    • Affordability of Basic Necessities
    • Informal Caregiver and Workforce Support and Modernization of Community-Based Aging Network Service
    • Modernization and Financial Sustainability of Healthcare, Residential Facilities and Community-Based Aging Network Service Providers
    • Prevention, Wellness Promotion and Access
    • Housing Access and Community Development
    • Access to Services in and Engagement with Historically Underserved Communities
    • Social Engagement of Older Adults
    • Combatting Elder Abuse, Ageism, Ableism and Stigma
    • Technology Access and Development

    The MPA builds upon New York’s status as a nation-leader in aging policy, as evidenced by New York’s designation as the first Age-Friendly State in the nation by AARP. This designation recognizes the State’s commitment to addressing “the environmental, economic and social factors that affect the health and well-being of older adults.”

    The 100-plus proposals presented in the MPA Final Report explore multiple approaches that address the built environment and infrastructure, transportation and transit, financing of care and services, recruitment and retention of the long term care workforce, licensing and training, pilot initiatives that can bring together providers and community services, innovations in care and service delivery, public-private partnerships, and many more.

    The MPA process is already having an impact. The FY 2026 Enacted State Budget includes $45 million in additional funds to expand community-based aging services offered through Area Agencies on Aging — a critical priority identified by the MPA. This funding will help to reduce waiting lists for services such as home-delivered meals, assistance from personal care aides for activities of daily living, transportation assistance, home adaptations, case management to assist with person-centered resources, and other community-based supports. Going forward, the MPA provides a range of strategies for state agencies, the Legislature, stakeholders and partners to consider as New York pursues policies, programs and collaborations that will benefit older adults and their families.

    The MPA Final Report builds on the MPA Preliminary Report issued in August of 2023 and Interim Report issued in October of 2024.

    The MPA Council, which is made up of New York State executive agencies, will continue to engage stakeholders from groups and communities across the State and coordinate efforts across state agencies to ensure that policy and programs supporting New York’s aging population are moving forward.

    The Master Plan for Aging Final Report can be found here.

    New York State Department of Health First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eugene Heslin said, “The Master Plan for Aging Process brought together public and private sector stakeholders to discuss the factors that impact aging in our communities. The result is a compendium of suggested strategies to help focus state agencies, the legislature and private partners supporting New Yorkers as they age.”

    State Senator Cordell Cleare said, “The planning process that gave rise to the MPA was truly a grassroots effort and labor of love by those who have dedicated their professional lives to empowering, protecting and prioritizing Older New Yorkers. I look forward to digging into the granular details–but more importantly, I welcome the opportunity to turn this plan into a comprehensive package of legislative solutions backed by permanent and recurring funding.”

    Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright said, “Governor Hochul’s Final Report for the Master Plan for Aging serves as a critical blueprint for advancing affordability, expanding pathways to aging in place and elevating the system of care and quality of life for older New Yorkers. As Chair of Aging and Assembly Member of the largest cohort of older adults in Manhattan, I’m proud to partner with the Governor, Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, Senate Aging Chair Cleare, legislative colleagues, advocates and stakeholders toward ensuring that aging New Yorkers have the equitable and affordable city and state that they deserve, that they have earned.”

    MPA Coalition co-chairs Nora O’Brien-Suric and Bob Blancato said, “We commend Governor Hochul on the release of an historic and holistic Master Plan for Aging. The MPA Coalition is proud to be the largest stakeholder group advocating for the MPA. We now will shift our focus to helping ensure the priority recommendations in the plan are implemented in a timely manner.”

    AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel said, “The Master Plan for Aging has created a valuable opportunity for stakeholders across New York to assess our current systems and propose policies that better support aging New Yorkers now and in the future. Governor Hochul is already making meaningful progress with the historic investment in aging services in the final state budget this year. The real challenge lies ahead as we work together to implement these proposals and turn this visionary plan into reality.”

    Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) Executive Director Rebecca Preve said, “As a key MPA stakeholder, the Association on Aging in New York contributed at multiple levels in the development of this pioneering roadmap of proposals to support older adults and create opportunities for successful aging in New York State. This process has already yielded game-changing outcomes, including additional funds in this year’s state budget for Area Agencies on Aging to meet locally determined needs for services. We look forward to supporting the MPA’s progress in partnership with stakeholders across sectors.”

    Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc. President and CEO Ann Marie Cook said, “I applaud Governor Hochul for her Executive Order to create a New York State Master Plan for Aging and for her steadfast support of older New Yorkers. The process involved thousands of people – everyone from older adults, to aging service professionals, to family caregivers. The plan creates a critical roadmap to ensure that aging New Yorkers are able to live and thrive in our state. I am proud to have participated in this process and look forward to doing everything I can to implement this historic plan.”

    ARCHANGELS CEO and Co-founder Alexandra Drane said, “All of us do it, whether we realize it or not: we care. In fact, over 40% of us across our nation are showing up in foundational ways for family, friends, neighbors. The intensity of that care is real – and it manifests in all aspects of our health and productivity. New York’s Master Plan for Aging marks a powerful shift: it recognizes this population as the economic backbone of New York State and elevates this often-invisible work as essential infrastructure. Through public-private partnerships like Any Care Counts-NY and the bold, cross-sector ideas in this truly comprehensive plan, New York is turning good intentions into real-world support and impact for caregivers and the people, businesses, and communities who rely on them. ARCHANGELS is honored to continue our long-term partnership with New York in this transformative work – because supporting caregivers isn’t just good policy, it’s smart economics, and it gets to the very heart of an age-friendly New York.”

    ArchCare CEO Scott La Rue said, “Being a stakeholder in the development of the NYS Master Plan for Aging was a truly positive experience. The process was remarkably inclusive, offering multiple avenues for New Yorkers and their representatives to provide invaluable input. This forward-thinking document will undoubtedly guide the state effectively as its population of older adults continues to grow.”

    VNS Health President and CEO Dan Savitt said, “Governor Hochul’s Master Plan for Aging is an essential step forward for New York, responding with deep clarity and vision to the demographic, economic, and health care realities of our time. As the state’s largest home- and community-based care provider, VNS Health is proud to have contributed to the Governor’s bold plan and will work collaboratively with the Administration to harness technology, strengthen partnerships, and expand access to care so that all older New Yorkers are able to age with the dignity, independence and support they deserve.”

    LeadingAge New York President and CEO Sebrina Barrett said, “As the only statewide organization dedicated to the entire continuum of care for older New Yorkers, LeadingAge New York supports the MPA’s comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of older adults. With a growing population of older adults and a shrinking number of working-age caregivers, we need to act swiftly and decisively to ensure access to appropriate services and the necessary workforce to provide them. We welcome the report’s attention to innovative solutions, such as housing with services, and its proposals to address provider regulations and payment rules that limit access and fragment care. We are excited to continue the productive inter-agency and multi-stakeholder collaboration that has arisen from the MPA process, as we work to promote a high-quality continuum of care for older New Yorkers today and in the future.”

    John A. Hartford Foundation President Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN said, “Every New Yorker deserves to age with the support and care they need to maintain their health and well-being, and this statewide plan for aging moves us in the right direction. We applaud everyone involved in the creation of this robust blueprint for action and look forward to working with partners to prioritize and implement the proposed recommendations so that our state’s health systems and all sectors become age-friendly.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Holds Virtual Educational Briefing on Federal SNAP and Medicaid Proposals

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Holds Virtual Educational Briefing on Federal SNAP and Medicaid Proposals

    NCDHHS Holds Virtual Educational Briefing on Federal SNAP and Medicaid Proposals
    jawerner

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services invites members of the media to a virtual educational briefing on Tuesday, July 1, at 10 a.m. to provide clarity on recent federal proposals that could significantly impact Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in North Carolina. The briefing will outline the major differences between the House and Senate budget proposals, including how each could affect access to health care and nutrition assistance for North Carolinians.

    This educational session is designed to support accurate and informed reporting as federal negotiations continue.

    What: Virtual Media Briefing on Federal Medicaid and SNAP Proposals

    Who:  Secretary Dev Sangvai
              Jonathan Kappler, NCDHHS Chief of Staff
              Karen Wade, NCDHHS Policy Director
              Jay Ludlam, NCDHHS Deputy Secretary of NC Medicaid

    When: Tuesday, July 1
                10 a.m.

    Where: Zoom. Please RSVP to news@dhhs.nc.gov if you can attend and to receive the link.

    Jun 30, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Firearms Possession Lands Lawton Man in Federal Prison for Seven Years Following Domestic Violence Conviction

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    OKLAHOMA CITY – RAYMOND IVAN MUNOZ, 22, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms after conviction of a previous misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On September 4, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Indictment against Munoz, charging him with being a drug user in possession of a firearm and, on a separate occasion, possession of firearms by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. According to public record, on February 14, 2023, officers with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Police Department encountered Munoz unconscious under the influence of drugs in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with an AK-47 loaded with an extended magazine resting between his legs. Later, on May 10, 2024, Lawton Police Department investigators observed one of Munoz’s social media posts in which he displayed a firearm while driving in a vehicle. Later that evening, officers observed Munoz, whom they knew to have a suspended license and active warrants, driving that vehicle in Lawton. When they attempted a traffic stop, Munoz initiated a pursuit in which his speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour, at times on the wrong side of the road and with his headlights off. He eventually reached his residence where he hid inside for approximately two hours before being arrested. Upon execution of a search warrant at the residence, detectives located two firearms hidden in a bathroom.

    Public record further reflects that Munoz was convicted of domestic assault and battery in Comanche County District Court case number CM-2020-810.

    On February 7, 2025, Munoz pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment and admitted that he possessed firearms despite having previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

    At the sentencing hearing on June 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Munoz to serve 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court specifically noted the threat that Munoz poses to society and the necessity of a substantial sentence to protect the public.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Police Department, and the Lawton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Death toll from Israeli strikes on Iran rises to 935 – Iranian authorities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    TEHRAN, June 30 (Xinhua) — The death toll from Israeli strikes on Iran between June 13 and 24 has risen to 935, including 38 children and 132 women, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

    As Iranian judicial spokesman Asghar Jahangir said at a press conference in Tehran, citing data from the Iranian Forensic Medicine Organization, some of the women killed were pregnant.

    On June 13, Israel launched a series of massive airstrikes on nuclear and military sites in the Islamic Republic, killing military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians and injuring many others, according to Iranian officials.

    Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, which also resulted in casualties and destruction.

    A ceasefire agreement between the two countries was reached on June 24, ending a 12-day standoff. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Twelve Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 27, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced twelve appointments to various boards and commissions.

    Casey Burton, Ph.D., of St. James, was appointed to the State Board of Health and Senior Services.

    Mr. Burton is the executive director of research and governmental affairs at Phelps Health in Rolla, Missouri. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor of chemistry at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) where he develops and leads sponsored research involving noninvasive disease detection and characterization. Burton also serves on the boards of the Ozark Biomedical Initiative, Missouri Ozarks Community Action, Inc., Phelps County Community Resource Center, and more. Burton earned his doctorate in analytical chemistry and bachelor’s in chemistry from Missouri S&T.

    James Carter Jr., of St. Charles, was appointed to the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

    Mr. Carter currently serves as an Advanced American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter and is certified and licensed by the Board of Evaluation of Interpreters in both Illinois and Missouri. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Carter is a member of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASL), World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), and Deaf in Government (DIG). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Lincoln Christian University.

    Earl Crawford, of Excelsior Springs, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Mr. Crawford currently serves as executive director at Missouri Inclusive Housing Development Corporation. He has previous experience as a special education teacher, superintendent of a rehabilitation center, and an education consultant, among other positions. In addition to his professional experience, Crawford has served on the Marshall Parks and Recreation Board, Marshall School Board, Marshall Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Valley College Board of Trustees, and Midland Empire Resources of Independent Living (MERIL), as well as vice president of the Marshall Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Master of Special Education from the University of Central Missouri.

    Betty Davidson, Ph.D., of St. Louis, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Davidson is a retired educational professional and expert in disability studies and inclusive practices. She previously served as the director of visually or orthopedically impaired students at the Special School District of St. Louis County. She also  serves as the chair of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), the president of Inclusivity Media, the vice president of the St. Clare Hospital Auxiliary for SSM Health, and more. Dr. Davidson earned a doctorate in higher education from Saint Louis University, a master’s in special education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and her bachelor’s degree from Harris-Stowe State College. 

    Aaron Durso, of Taneyville, was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Mr. Durso currently serves as Bull Creek Village Clerk. He has previous experience as burough manager and the municipal authority manager in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, and Senior Pastor at LOVE Christian Fellowship. A disabled veteran of the United States Air Force, Durso was honorably discharged in 1993. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Newburg Theological Seminary, Master of Ministry at Chesapeake Theological Seminary, and Bachelor of Religious Education at the University of Valley Forge.

    Ronald Hack, of Sunset Hills, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Mr. Hack is a retired lawyer, formerly serving as a partner at Evans & Dixon, LLC and Gallop Johnson & Neuman, L.C. He has been an active community volunteer for more than 30 years, currently serving on the boards of the Sunset Hills Conservation Foundation and the Southwest Area Chamber of Commerce. Hack earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College.

    Katie Jones, of St. Peters, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Jones is the chief program officer for Boone Center Inc. (BCI). She previously worked as supervisor for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services and a case manager for the Child Abuse and Neglect Unit for the Division of Family Services. In addition to her professional career, Jones is also a member of the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services, Missouri Association of Sheltered Workshop Managers, and the Legislative Committee of St. Charles Coalition. Jones earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Sociology from Lindenwood University.

    Jennifer Meyer, of O’Fallon, was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Meyer currently serves as principal at J. Meyer Strategies. She has previous experience as director of field operations for Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer and district field director for Senator Roy Blunt. In addition to her professional experience, Ms. Meyer serves as an executive board member for both the Freedom 13 and the North County Police Business Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

    Susan Orton, of St. Louis, was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

    Ms. Orton currently serves as a realtor and sales associate with Coldwell Banker Realty – Gundaker. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is a member of the St. Louis Realtors Association, Member Inclusion Advisory Committee, and Brain Injury Association of Missouri. Orton is a graduate of Towson High School.

    Paul Ogier, of Chesterfield, was appointed to the Health and Educational Facilities Authority of the State of Missouri.

    Mr. Ogier is a retired certified public accountant (CPA), providing limited consulting services to not-for-profits in the senior housing industry. He also serves as the chief financial officer for the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in a part-time capacity. Ogier is an active member of his community, previously serving on the board of the Leading Age Missouri, Missouri Health Care Association, and the Treasurer of the Nursing Facilities Agent Corporation. Ogier earned his bachelor’s degree from the Missouri State University.

    Jill Wedemeier, of Leopold, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.

    Ms. Wedemeier is a judicial assistant and law clerk for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. She previously served as the Cape Girardeau assistant prosecuting attorney. She is an active member of the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence board, and the Leopold R-III School District Foundation. Wedemeier earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Southeast Missouri State University.

    Claire West, of Jefferson City, was reappointed to the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) Board of Trustees.

    Prior to her retirement, Ms. West owned and operated Claire West Consulting LLC, a retirement consulting firm. She has previous experience as executive director of the Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement. Additionally, West served on the board of the Missouri Association of Public Employee Retirement Plans from 2000 to 2007. She holds an associate’s degree in business from Columbia College.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Appointment to 18th Judicial Circuit

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 27, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced a judicial appointment to the 18th Judicial Circuit.

    Sean Pilliard, of Sedalia, was appointed as the Associate Circuit Judge for Pettis County in the 18th Judicial Circuit.

    Mr. Pilliard is a seasoned attorney specializing in a wide range of legal areas including bankruptcy, criminal defense, and family law, based in the Law Offices of Sean P. Pilliard. Pilliard is a member of the Pettis County Bar Association, Sedalia and Pettis County Economic Development, and the Sedalia Park Band board. He also serves as a volunteer for several area youth activities. Pilliard earned his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri. He will fill the vacancy left by Judge R. Paul Beard II.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Evans Announces He Won’t Seek Re-Election, Will Serve Full Term Ending Jan. 3, 2027

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

    PHILADELPHIA (June 30, 2025) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) today announced that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026, concluding a distinguished career in public service spanning over four decades.

    “Serving the people of Philadelphia has been the honor of my life,” said Evans. “And I remain in good health and fully capable of continuing to serve. After some discussions this weekend and thoughtful reflection, I have decided that the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking re-election in 2026. I will serve out the full term that ends Jan. 3, 2027. I am deeply proud of what I have been able to accomplish over my 45 years in elected office — from revitalizing neighborhoods block by block to fighting for justice, economic opportunity, investments in infrastructure and education. I cannot express the gratitude that I have for the trust that voters put in me as their voice in both state and federal office. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to serve as their advocate in government.”

    Evans emphasized that he will continue to serve his constituents fully until the end of his term, that his offices will remain open, and that he will support a smooth transition for his successor.

    A Legacy of Service to Philadelphia

    Born in North Philadelphia and raised in the Germantown and West Oak Lane neighborhoods, Dwight Evans began his career as a teacher in the city’s public schools and as a community organizer with the Urban League. In 1980, at just 26 years old, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served for 36 years. He made history as the first African-American chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, serving in that powerful role for two decades.

    Among his signature accomplishments in Harrisburg was spearheading the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which brought healthy grocery stores and thousands of jobs to underserved communities and became a national model for bringing healthy food to food deserts in both urban and rural areas. He was also instrumental in the creation of Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, which became the model for nationwide CHIP.

    In 2016, Evans was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District (later redistricted as the 3rd), succeeding longtime Congressman Chaka Fattah. In Congress, he serves on the influential Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes and trade, and has served on the Small Business Committee and Agriculture Committee, advocating for equitable economic development, criminal justice reform, funding for school repairs, affordable housing, and access to health care and healthy food.

    In 2025, Evans has fought to defend gains made during the Biden-Harris administration and against the pending Trump “Reverse Robin Hood” bill that would give the richest another tax cut and cut Medicaid and SNAP food aid. He fought the bill during a nearly 18-hour markup in the Ways and Means Committee, and voted against it in the full House – a vote two Republicans slept through, including one 31 years younger than Evans. He will vote against it again if the Senate returns it to the House.

    Evans has been a vocal supporter of key legislation including the American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He also introduced bills to address gun violence, finance repairs to schools, invest in historically Black colleges and universities, and promote economic empowerment in urban communities.

    Throughout his time in public office, Evans remained rooted in his neighborhood — living just blocks from where he grew up — and never wavered in his commitment to building a better Philadelphia for all.

    Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He recently announced that his office returned to or saved $4.5 million for constituents in 2024 in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2024 figure brings Evans’ office’s total to more than $45.5 million returned to or saved for constituents during his first eight full years in Congress.

    Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and trade. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bacon to Retire at End of 119th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

    Bacon to Retire at End of 119th Congress

    Touts Accomplishes and Pledges to Continue Outstanding Service and Pursue Legislative Initiatives

    Omaha, Neb. – Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation Subcommittee (CITI), announced he will not seek reelection in 2026 and will retire at the end of the 119th Congress. 

    “After consultation with my family and much prayer, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2026 and will fulfill my term in the 119th Congress through January 2, 2027. After three decades in the Air Force and now going on one decade in Congress, I look forward to coming home in the evenings and being with my wife and seeing more of our adult children and eight grandchildren, who all live near my home. I’ve been married for 41 years, and I’d like to dedicate more time to my family, my church, and the Omaha community. I also want to continue advocating for a strong national security strategy and a strong alliance system with countries that share our love of democracy, free markets and the rule of law. 

    “During the remainder of the 119th Congress, we will be focused on finishing the job. Providing top-notch constituent services in the district, for which we were recognized in 2021 with the Congressional Management Foundation’s Democracy Awards for Constituent Services in 2021, will be a priority as it always has been.  

    “To date, we have processed close to 8,500 casework/requests for assistance; we have helped people who were wrongly marked as deceased, helped citizens in distress around the world return home; helped people devasted by disasters such as flood and tornadoes, literally climb out of the ruble and connect them with resources; we have solved problems with Medicare, Social Security and IRS problems, passports and immigration, and so much more. Our team has worked diligently every day to advocate for and deliver on behalf of our constituents. 

    “Legislatively, I aim to work to get five agricultural bills passed that were included as part of the Farm Bill, including the increase of defenses for our nation’s food supply chain and removing barriers for the next generation of farmers seeking to establish their operations. I will continue my work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and lay the groundwork for a new VA hospital in Omaha.  

    “My service to our great nation started in the Air Force, where I served sixteen assignments, five commands and four deployments and will continue in Congress until the end of the 119th Congress. I’d like to find new ways to serve our great country.  I have a love for national security, and I’ll always be a proponent for old-fashioned Ronald Reagan Conservative values.  It has been an honor to serve the 2nd District of Nebraska and the nation, and I thank our constituents for trusting me to represent them. I am proud of the work we have done and will continue to do until the lights in the office are turned off for the last time. Thank you, and God bless America.” 

    Highlights from Rep. Bacon’s Congressional Career 

    Legislative Record 

    • Most bills signed into law in the 118th Congress and bill totals as of Jan. 2025 

    ·         Total number of stand-alone bills enacted into law: 2 

    ·         Total numbers of bills enacted through NDAA: 33 

    ·         Total number of bills enacted through non-NDAA legislation: 3 

    ·                     Total number of bills introduced that became law: 38 

    Defense 

    Rebuilt and Improved Offutt AFB & Camp Ashland 

    • Delivered forceful congressional advocacy for Offutt Air Force Base, one of the district’s leading engines of economic growth and prosperity 
    • Led the fight in the House to secure critical resources to respond to the devasting 2019 floods 
    • Engaged with the Secretary of the Air Force to prevent the permanent loss of the flying mission 
    • Secured more than $1.5 billion for the cleanup, rebuild and critical improvements to Offutt AFB – one of the largest employers in the region – including a new runway 
    • Worked tirelessly to protect, modernize, and replace aircraft fleets at Offutt AFB including the RC-135, WC-135 and E-4B 

    Confederate Base Names: Original co-sponsor for H.R. 7155, National Commission on Modernizing Military Installation Designations Act, the bi-partisan legislation in the House to re-designate military bases named after Confederate generals 

    Spearheaded the Restoration of DoD Electronic Warfare Capability 

    • Drove major legislative reforms requiring the Pentagon to develop a new EW strategy, implementation plan and other organizational reforms 
    • Secured more than $1.5 billion to double the size of the USAF’s fleet of EA-37B Compass Call aircraft, the most powerful and sophisticated electronic attack aircraft in the world 
    • Helped guide the establishment of the Joint EMSO Center (JEC) at STRATCOM 

    Relentlessly Championed Initiatives to Modernize America’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent 

    • Secured more than $75 million establish the NC3 technical engineering and development hub in Nebraska 
    • Advocacy helped speed the establishment of the new 95th Wing at Offutt focused on NC3 operations 
    • Helped secured more than $500 million to advance development of the future E-4C SAOC aircraft which will be based at Offutt 

    Championed Improvements to Military Quality of Life  

    • Led the most significant and comprehensive package of legislative reforms to improve the quality of life for military servicemembers and families in US history 
    • Largest single-year increase for junior enlisted pay ever (14.5%) 
    • Billions in critical improvements to military housing and barracks  
    • Major expansion and improvements to childcare for military families 
    • Fought for employment reforms and RIF protections for federally employed military spouses  

    Conference Committee 

    • Passage of major national defense legislation in 2017, 2018 and 2019 that reversed the dangerous decline in military readiness after years of neglect and funded the modernization of US military capabilities 
      • Named to select House-Senate Armed Service Conference Committee for 3 straight years 

    Agriculture 

    • Responsible for numerous provisions in the Farm Bill, including language related to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine and measures to address foreign ownership of farmland and improve SNAP administration 
    • Original sponsor of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which established lynching as a federal hate crime 

    Education 

    • STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (co-sponsor) – Provides DOJ money for grants to states and local governments to improve security including the placement and use of metal detectors and other deterrents measures at schools and school grounds. Fighting for $125 million in FY’20 to fund these grants 

    Civil Rights and Holocaust Education 

    • House Republican lead for Anti-Lynching Legislation making lynching a federal crime – Language was amended into H.R. 35 and passed House 2/26/20) 
    • Helped lead effort to push H.R. 943 – Never Again Education Act which was signed by the President 5/29/20 
    • Worked with state leaders on getting Holocaust Education requirements enacted into state statute 
    • Leader on support for non-profit security grants for religious institutions 

    Veterans Affairs 

    • Finalized additional funding for the VA’s Ambulatory Care Center and pushed House Leadership to go ahead and pass the bill while my friend Brad Ashford was still in office 
      • CHIP IN Bill: Congressman Bacon’s CHIP IN Bill, H.R. 3888, was incorporated into HR 5293: Department of Veteran Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2021, extending the program through 2025 
      • HR: 217 in the 119th – seeks to extend the program and expand authorities to include minor projects and non-recurring maintenance projects (passed House) 
    • Led Congressional efforts to support Gold Star families and survivors; championed significant legislation to care for and honor these families 
      • Lifetime installation access for survivors 
      • Major reforms to military veterans transition assistance programs 
      • Mandated regular meetings with DoD leadership and surviving families 

    Infrastructure and Jobs Act:  

    • Voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided $165 million for Nebraska’s 2nd District: Eppley, modernization of natural gas lines and other projects 

    Eppley Airfield 

    • Over $77.1 million of improvements to Eppley Airfield from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding and other sources 
      • Make it a true international airport 
      • Increase flights and inspection areas 
      • Streamline process of checking in and TSA for consumers 

    Other Community Funding projects of note: 

    • (2024) Wahoo Airport Runway – $4.3 million 
    • 2024) Saunders County Emergency Radio Equipment – $2.6 million 
    • (2024) City of Omaha N. 24th Street Lighting Project – $4.17 Million 
    • (2023) OPPD Grid Resiliency and Modernization – $7.7 million 
    • (2023) City of Omaha North 24th Street Streetscape Improvement Projects Phase II – $4 million 
    • (2023) Blackstone Business Improvement District – $2 million 
    • (2022) North 24th St. Streetscape Improvements – $3 million 
    • (2022) the CHOICE $50 million federal grant to redevelop the Southside Terrace Garden Apartments and the surrounding Indian Hill neighborhood in South Omaha. 
    • (2019) the CHOICE neighborhood grant program, which awarded $25 million for the 75 North project to the City of Omaha and Omaha Housing Authority for 5 years 

    Other Accomplishments/Recognitions 

    • Founded the bipartisan For Country Caucus 
      • Co-chair of bipartisan Caucus made up of 30 veteran members of Congress, evenly divided between R’s and D’s 
      • Objective of the Caucus is to work in a nonpartisan way towards a more productive government. Members serve with integrity, civility and courage 
    • Restarted the Main Street Caucus 
    • Co-chair of the Congressional Electronic Warfare Caucus, leading voice in Congress to advance and reform US capabilities to defend and dominate the electromagnetic spectrum
    • In 2023, appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council by former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy 
    • Center for Effective Lawmaking 
      • One of the top ten effective legislators in the 118th congress, 2nd most effective Republican 
      • Most effective Republican in the 117th Congress and fourth overall, despite being in the minority party 
    • Rated #1 Most bi-partisan Republican 117th Congress-Common Ground Committee 
      • Earned a perfect score by the Common Ground Committee of 110 (2024) 
      • Rated #1 in 2022 by Common Ground Committee with a score of 104 out of 110 
    • 2021 Democracy Awards-Constituent Services, Congressional Management Foundation  
      • Over the course of 8 and ½ years, the office has processed close to 8,500 casework/requests for assistances including people who were erroneously marked as deceased; devastated by disasters such as floods and tornadoes literally climb out of the rubble and connect them with resources to rebuild; and in distress around the globe trying to return home. 
      • Other cases include problems with Medicare, passports or immigration, helping veterans get their benefits, cutting through red tape to solve Social Security and IRS problems, and others. 
    • 2024 Democracy Awards- Workplace Environment, Congressional Management Foundation  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $1,068,364 HHS Grant to Scott County Public School Head Start

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    Griffith Announces $1,068,364 HHS Grant to Scott County Public School Head Start

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Scott County Public School Head Start, based in Weber City, Virginia, a $1,068,364 grant. The funding supports head start and early head start projects. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Local communities in Scott County receive services from Scott County Public School Head Start.

    “This grant for more than $1 million helps Scott County Public School Head Start administer services through its head start and early head start programs.”

    BACKGROUND

    According to its website, Scott County Public School Head Start provides high quality care and early education programs designed to support child development and promote school readiness. The program serves a total of 147 young children within the service area, with 12 different Center locations.

    Recently in a Health Subcommittee hearing with Congressman Griffith present, Secretary Kennedy noted President Trump’s Budget request recommends Head Start continue to receive funding equal to the FY 2025 enacted level.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Equasens: acquisition of DIS and RESURGENCES BUSINESSES

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Villers-lès-Nancy (France), 30 June 2025 – 06:00 PM (CET)

    PRESS RELEASE

    EQUASENS ACQUIRES DIS AND RESURGENCES BUSINESSES, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET OF SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHCARE ESTABLISHMENTS.

    Strengthening the position of a leading provider of software solutions for hospitals and the medical-social sector

    • Transaction finalised: acquisition of Novaprove, publisher of ResUrgences software and the DIS business assets, (GESDIS, FACDIS, ARCADIS ranges)
    • Acquisition scope: more than 300 customers in the public healthcare sector, with annual revenue of around €5 million
    • The AXIGATE LINK Division strengthens its position in the market of software solutions for public healthcare establishments
    • Industrial synergies: The AXIGATE LINK Division expands its range of digital products and services for health and medico-social establishments.

    ***

    Equasens Group (Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B – FR 0012882389 -$EQS), announces the completion of the acquisition on July 1, 2025, by its AXIGATE LINK Division through its subsidiary Axigate, of two businesses specialising in solutions for the public healthcare sector from a French software solutions editor.

    This strategic acquisition which is a product of the exclusive negotiations announced on 30 April will contribute to Equasens’ goal to significantly strengthen its position in the hospital and medico-social software market, by creating a complete technology ecosystem to support the digital transformation of public and private establishments.

    Scope and impact of the acquisition
    The acquired business assets cover more than 300 customers in the public healthcare sector and generate annual sales of around €5m. They include:

    • ResUrgences (Novaprove): a cloud-based software platform specialising in the management of hospital emergency services, equipping 8 university hospitals (CHU) and a total of 75 customers. This functionally reliable and robust technological solution optimises the management of emergency department patient flows and care delivery processes.
    • DIS range: digital solutions for public healthcare establishments. 215 sites are equipped with the DIS range, including 125 healthcare establishments (hospitals) and 90 medico-social establishments (mainly nursing homes). This range integrates the management of EPR (Electronic Patient Records), billing, accounting, business and financial management and HR management, including payroll management solutions. The suite also includes inventory and purchasing management, providing solutions for in-house pharmacies.

    These two activities have been integrated into the AXIGATE LINK Division, and will strengthen the HOSPILINK solution for Hospitals, Regional Hospital Groups (GHT) and specialised after-care and rehabilitation facilities and psychiatric facilities in France.

    Growth strategy in action
    This acquisition is fully in line with Equasens’ strategy for:

    • developing software solutions for public health establishments, a market with numerous renewal and equipment opportunities,
    • and strengthening the Group’s offering for both the private practice and hospital segments over the entire patient care pathway.

    The resulting technical and commercial synergies with the AXIGATE LINK Division’s existing solutions will be a major growth driver by optimising resources and accelerating innovation.

    This acquisition significantly reinforces the Group’s position as a key force in the transformation of the digital healthcare ecosystem, providing an even more precise and comprehensive solution for management and EPR (Electronic Patient Records) needs of healthcare establishments and their practitioners.

    An industrial growth model and future prospects
    The integration of these activities within the AXIGATE LINK Division reflects a clear industrial vision: to expand and complete its software offering for healthcare establishments by adding new technology building blocks to the AXIGATE LINK Division’s EPR solutions in various areas (accounting, billing, stock management and payroll).

    The short-term objective is to develop the new building blocks originating from the acquisition to be integrated into the existing AXIGATE LINK Division ranges: HOSPILINK (hospital), TITANLINK (nursing homes) and DOMILINK (home care). For ResUrgences, the aim is to strengthen this specialized range while integrating it into the HOSPILINK range as a full-fledged module.

    The medium-term objective is to create smooth, secure patient care pathways, by improving interoperability between the various services and users, based on our different solutions for institutions (emergency services, nursing homes, hospitals, hospital-at-home programmes, in-home nursing care services) and private healthcare practitioners (physicians, allied health professionals, pharmacies), by developing new functionalities based on artificial intelligence and data analysis, making it possible to retrieve information from patient records throughout the patient’s care pathway.

    Denis Supplisson, Chief Executive Officer of Equasens, commented: “This acquisition illustrates our determination to expand and diversify within our core business – software for both private practice and hospital healthcare professionals – by targeting opportunities that make industrial and economic sense. By integrating the ResUrgences and DIS ranges, we are combining the added value of our medico-social and healthcare offerings to meet the growing digital needs of healthcare establishments. Our goal is to become the technology partner of choice to support the transformation of the French healthcare system, by harnessing the potential of innovation to benefit people: improving the handling of administrative and medical tasks to save time for users. ”

    Grégoire de Rotalier, Deputy CEO of Equasens and Manager of the AXIGATE LINK Division, added: “For Equasens and the AXIGATE LINK Division, this quality acquisition significantly strengthens our presence in the public health sector, in terms of market share, expertise and product range. This acquisition further reinforces AXIGATE LINK’s strong position in the hospital, medico-social and home care sectors, and strengthens a team of 270 employees fully focused on serving 5,000 healthcare and medico-social establishment customers. ”

    Timetable and integration
    Operational integration of the teams and solutions will begin in Q3 2025, with a phased migration plan for customers to Equasens’ new technology platforms. Continuity of service is guaranteed throughout the transition period.

    Upcoming financial communications

    • 31 July 2025: Q2 2025 revenue – After the close of trading
    • 26 September 2025: H1 2025 results: 26 September 2025

    About Equasens Group – Follow us also on LinkedIn

    Founded over 35 years ago, Equasens Group, a leader in digital healthcare solutions, today employs over 1.400 people across Europe.
    Equasens Group’s specialised business applications facilitate the day-to-day work of healthcare professionals and their teams, working in private practice, collaborative medical structures or healthcare establishments. The Group also provides comprehensive support to healthcare professionals in the transformation of their profession by developing electronic equipment, digital solutions and healthcare robotics, as well as data hosting, financing and training adapted to their specific needs.
    And reflecting the spirit of its tagline “Technology for a More Human Experience”, the Group is a leading provider of interoperability solutions that improve coordination between healthcare professionals, their communications and data exchange resulting in better patient care and a more efficient and secure healthcare system.

    Listed on Euronext Paris™, Equasens Group (Compartment B – FR 0012882389 – $EQS) applies a two-pronged development strategy combining organic growth with targeted acquisitions at a European level.

    CONTACTS

    Analyst and Investor Relations:
    Chief Administrative and Financial Officer: Frédérique Schmidt
    Tel: +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67 – frederique.schmidt@equasens.com

    Financial communications agency:
    FIN’EXTENSO – Isabelle Aprile

    Tel.: +33 (0)6 17 38 61 78 – i.aprile@finextenso.fr

    Forward-looking statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not guarantees of future performance and are based on current opinions, forecasts and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Equasens’ current and future strategy and the environment in which Equasens operates. These involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to materially differ from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk factors” of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers or AMF) on April 29, 2025 under number D.25-0334. These forward-looking statements are valid only as of the date of this press release.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Equasens: acquisition of DIS and RESURGENCES BUSINESSES

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Villers-lès-Nancy (France), 30 June 2025 – 06:00 PM (CET)

    PRESS RELEASE

    EQUASENS ACQUIRES DIS AND RESURGENCES BUSINESSES, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET OF SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHCARE ESTABLISHMENTS.

    Strengthening the position of a leading provider of software solutions for hospitals and the medical-social sector

    • Transaction finalised: acquisition of Novaprove, publisher of ResUrgences software and the DIS business assets, (GESDIS, FACDIS, ARCADIS ranges)
    • Acquisition scope: more than 300 customers in the public healthcare sector, with annual revenue of around €5 million
    • The AXIGATE LINK Division strengthens its position in the market of software solutions for public healthcare establishments
    • Industrial synergies: The AXIGATE LINK Division expands its range of digital products and services for health and medico-social establishments.

    ***

    Equasens Group (Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B – FR 0012882389 -$EQS), announces the completion of the acquisition on July 1, 2025, by its AXIGATE LINK Division through its subsidiary Axigate, of two businesses specialising in solutions for the public healthcare sector from a French software solutions editor.

    This strategic acquisition which is a product of the exclusive negotiations announced on 30 April will contribute to Equasens’ goal to significantly strengthen its position in the hospital and medico-social software market, by creating a complete technology ecosystem to support the digital transformation of public and private establishments.

    Scope and impact of the acquisition
    The acquired business assets cover more than 300 customers in the public healthcare sector and generate annual sales of around €5m. They include:

    • ResUrgences (Novaprove): a cloud-based software platform specialising in the management of hospital emergency services, equipping 8 university hospitals (CHU) and a total of 75 customers. This functionally reliable and robust technological solution optimises the management of emergency department patient flows and care delivery processes.
    • DIS range: digital solutions for public healthcare establishments. 215 sites are equipped with the DIS range, including 125 healthcare establishments (hospitals) and 90 medico-social establishments (mainly nursing homes). This range integrates the management of EPR (Electronic Patient Records), billing, accounting, business and financial management and HR management, including payroll management solutions. The suite also includes inventory and purchasing management, providing solutions for in-house pharmacies.

    These two activities have been integrated into the AXIGATE LINK Division, and will strengthen the HOSPILINK solution for Hospitals, Regional Hospital Groups (GHT) and specialised after-care and rehabilitation facilities and psychiatric facilities in France.

    Growth strategy in action
    This acquisition is fully in line with Equasens’ strategy for:

    • developing software solutions for public health establishments, a market with numerous renewal and equipment opportunities,
    • and strengthening the Group’s offering for both the private practice and hospital segments over the entire patient care pathway.

    The resulting technical and commercial synergies with the AXIGATE LINK Division’s existing solutions will be a major growth driver by optimising resources and accelerating innovation.

    This acquisition significantly reinforces the Group’s position as a key force in the transformation of the digital healthcare ecosystem, providing an even more precise and comprehensive solution for management and EPR (Electronic Patient Records) needs of healthcare establishments and their practitioners.

    An industrial growth model and future prospects
    The integration of these activities within the AXIGATE LINK Division reflects a clear industrial vision: to expand and complete its software offering for healthcare establishments by adding new technology building blocks to the AXIGATE LINK Division’s EPR solutions in various areas (accounting, billing, stock management and payroll).

    The short-term objective is to develop the new building blocks originating from the acquisition to be integrated into the existing AXIGATE LINK Division ranges: HOSPILINK (hospital), TITANLINK (nursing homes) and DOMILINK (home care). For ResUrgences, the aim is to strengthen this specialized range while integrating it into the HOSPILINK range as a full-fledged module.

    The medium-term objective is to create smooth, secure patient care pathways, by improving interoperability between the various services and users, based on our different solutions for institutions (emergency services, nursing homes, hospitals, hospital-at-home programmes, in-home nursing care services) and private healthcare practitioners (physicians, allied health professionals, pharmacies), by developing new functionalities based on artificial intelligence and data analysis, making it possible to retrieve information from patient records throughout the patient’s care pathway.

    Denis Supplisson, Chief Executive Officer of Equasens, commented: “This acquisition illustrates our determination to expand and diversify within our core business – software for both private practice and hospital healthcare professionals – by targeting opportunities that make industrial and economic sense. By integrating the ResUrgences and DIS ranges, we are combining the added value of our medico-social and healthcare offerings to meet the growing digital needs of healthcare establishments. Our goal is to become the technology partner of choice to support the transformation of the French healthcare system, by harnessing the potential of innovation to benefit people: improving the handling of administrative and medical tasks to save time for users. ”

    Grégoire de Rotalier, Deputy CEO of Equasens and Manager of the AXIGATE LINK Division, added: “For Equasens and the AXIGATE LINK Division, this quality acquisition significantly strengthens our presence in the public health sector, in terms of market share, expertise and product range. This acquisition further reinforces AXIGATE LINK’s strong position in the hospital, medico-social and home care sectors, and strengthens a team of 270 employees fully focused on serving 5,000 healthcare and medico-social establishment customers. ”

    Timetable and integration
    Operational integration of the teams and solutions will begin in Q3 2025, with a phased migration plan for customers to Equasens’ new technology platforms. Continuity of service is guaranteed throughout the transition period.

    Upcoming financial communications

    • 31 July 2025: Q2 2025 revenue – After the close of trading
    • 26 September 2025: H1 2025 results: 26 September 2025

    About Equasens Group – Follow us also on LinkedIn

    Founded over 35 years ago, Equasens Group, a leader in digital healthcare solutions, today employs over 1.400 people across Europe.
    Equasens Group’s specialised business applications facilitate the day-to-day work of healthcare professionals and their teams, working in private practice, collaborative medical structures or healthcare establishments. The Group also provides comprehensive support to healthcare professionals in the transformation of their profession by developing electronic equipment, digital solutions and healthcare robotics, as well as data hosting, financing and training adapted to their specific needs.
    And reflecting the spirit of its tagline “Technology for a More Human Experience”, the Group is a leading provider of interoperability solutions that improve coordination between healthcare professionals, their communications and data exchange resulting in better patient care and a more efficient and secure healthcare system.

    Listed on Euronext Paris™, Equasens Group (Compartment B – FR 0012882389 – $EQS) applies a two-pronged development strategy combining organic growth with targeted acquisitions at a European level.

    CONTACTS

    Analyst and Investor Relations:
    Chief Administrative and Financial Officer: Frédérique Schmidt
    Tel: +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67 – frederique.schmidt@equasens.com

    Financial communications agency:
    FIN’EXTENSO – Isabelle Aprile

    Tel.: +33 (0)6 17 38 61 78 – i.aprile@finextenso.fr

    Forward-looking statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not guarantees of future performance and are based on current opinions, forecasts and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Equasens’ current and future strategy and the environment in which Equasens operates. These involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to materially differ from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk factors” of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers or AMF) on April 29, 2025 under number D.25-0334. These forward-looking statements are valid only as of the date of this press release.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Kaltura Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Enterprise Video Platform 2025 Vendor Assessment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kaltura (Nasdaq: KLTR), the AI Video Cloud, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape Worldwide AI-Enabled Enterprise Video Platform 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc # US52036124, June 2025). This is the first IDC MarketScape assessment to focus specifically on AI-powered video platforms, evaluated vendors on their strategies and capabilities for delivering intelligent video solutions to support modern enterprise needs. 

    Enterprise video platforms are mission-critical for modern organizations, with AI transforming how companies communicate, engage, and innovate. Kaltura’s AI Video Experience Cloud empowers businesses across sectors—Enterprise, Technology, Higher Education, Financial Services, Healthcare, Government, and Media & Entertainment—to deliver real-time, live, and on-demand video for use cases ranging from internal communications and employee learning to marketing, customer engagement, and virtual events. 

    “As one of the first global assessment reports that has been issued that focuses on AI and video platforms for enterprise, we are thrilled to have been positioned as a Leader by the IDC MarketScape,” said Ron Yekutiel, Co-founder, President, Chairman and CEO of Kaltura. “We believe this recognition reflects our commitment to equipping organizations with intelligent video tools that not only scale but also adapt to their evolving needs. We look at AI as value activation. It helps our customers transform generic content into hyper-personalized experiences at scale, driving greater impact and ROI. We are thrilled to be leading our customers through this transformative revolution.” 

    Kaltura’s full-spectrum platform, built for both internal and external use cases, stands out for its modular, API-first architecture, self-service capabilities, and support for content reuse. 

    • Unified platform for internal and external communications: Kaltura’s enterprise-grade solutions power everything from interactive webinars to large-scale virtual town halls and virtual events, enabling organizations to connect with both employees and customers at scale. 
    • Strategic investments in agentic AI: Kaltura’s intelligent agents streamline production, moderation, accessibility, and personalization, helping admins automate repetitive tasks, improve workflows for content creators, and deliver end users tailored content that boosts engagement.  
    • Open, flexible and collaborative: Kaltura is built on an API-first architecture, giving organizations the flexibility to seamlessly integrate, extend, and customize video workflows across their existing tech stack. 
    • Advanced engagement and performance analytics: Real time sentiment analysis and stream health tracking provides producers the ability to deliver high quality broadcasts. Detailed granular and aggregate reports on engagement and content performance helps teams optimize experiences and improve ROI. 
    • Enrichment and repurposing: Content creators can enhance accessibility and compliance with automated captions, summaries, chapters, translations, and video quizzes—while easily repurposing long-form content into snackable clips that boost engagement, saving time and reducing costs. 

    About Kaltura 

    Kaltura’s mission is to create and power AI-infused hyper-personalized video experiences that boost customer and employee engagement and success. Kaltura’s Video Experience Cloud includes a platform for enterprise and TV content management and a wide array of Gen AI-infused video-first products, including Video Portals, LMS and CMS Video Extensions, Virtual Events and Webinars, Virtual Classrooms, and TV Streaming Applications. Kaltura engages millions of end-users at home, at work, and at school, boosting both customer and employee experiences, including marketing, sales, and customer success; teaching, learning, training and certification; communication and collaboration; and entertainment and monetization. For more information, visit  www.corp.kaltura.com 

    About IDC Marketscape 
    IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Finished 2024-25 Near Budget Forecast

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 30, 2025

    After beginning the year with a budget deficit of $273 million, the province finished the 2024-25 fiscal year with a $249 million operating deficit. Saskatchewan’s financial status was highlighted in today’s release of the 2024-25 Public Accounts Volume 1.

    “Revenue increased from budget last year while expenses also grew,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Jim Reiter said. “We are continuing to make investments that deliver on what the people of Saskatchewan have said is important to them – affordability, health care, education, community safety and fiscal responsibility.”

    Last year, total revenue of $20.9 billion increased by $994 million, or 5.0 per cent, from the 2024-25 Budget. This included the recognition of a significant receivable for the resolution of the tobacco litigation.

    While revenues increased from budget, expenses were also up over the same period. Total expenses of $21.1 billion are an increase of $970 million, or 4.8 per cent, from the 2024-25 Budget, primarily due to notable increases in the Health, Agriculture, and Environment and Natural Resources expense themes.

    Compared to the third quarter, revenues increased by $448 million while expenses were up $36 million. The year-end deficit is an improvement of $412 million from the third-quarter update.

    Saskatchewan’s net debt increased by $1.3 billion in 2024-25, primarily due to significant investments in important infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and roads. However, Saskatchewan still maintains the second lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in Canada and, as of March 31, 2025, had the second highest credit rating in Canada when ratings from the three key rating agencies – Moody’s Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Morningstar DBRS – are combined.

    “Building on the strength of our 2024-25 financial results and the 2025-26 Budget, Saskatchewan’s economy continues to grow and evolve,” Reiter said. “Earlier this year Statistics Canada confirmed that our province remains a national leader in economic growth, ranking us second in the country for real GDP growth in 2024.”

    The 2024-25 Public Accounts Volume 1 provides a complete and accurate view of the Government of Saskatchewan’s finances. To learn more information about the fiscal health of the province, you can view Volume 1 at publications.saskatchewan.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Official opening of new breast screening unit30 June 2025 The new breast screening unit at the Enid Quenault Health and Wellbeing Centre is due to be officially opened on Wednesday 2 July. As previously announced, Improvements to breast screening programme​,… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    30 June 2025

    The new breast screening unit at the Enid Quenault Health and Wellbeing Centre is due to be officially opened on Wednesday 2 July. 

    As previously announced, Improvements to breast screening programme​, enhancements have been made to the breast screening service as part of a project to ensure that by the end of 2027, all eligible women will be automatically called up for breast screening rather than having to inform Health and Care Jersey that they would like to be screened. 

    The project was only possible thanks to a new £255,000 mammography machine paid for by The John Clive Le Seelleur Trust, and funding from the charity Jersey Cancer Relief for additional members of staff. 

    Since it opened in November, about 3,000 people have been screened in the new unit. Feedback from those who have accessed the unit has been positive with 100% of the 103 people who responded to an online survey rating their overall experience as ‘very good’ (94) or ‘good’ (8). One respondent said: “The lady who did my screening was lovely as are all staff in the mammography department on past appointments”. 

    At 4.30pm on Wednesday 2 July, former Health Minister Anne Pryke, now Chair of Jersey Cancer Relief, and whose mother is Enid Quenault who was Connétable of St Brelade, will officially open the unit. The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, along with his Assistant Ministers; Deputies Rose Binet, Andy Howell and Barbara Ward will also attend the opening. They will be joined by HCJ Chief Officer Tom Walker, representatives from ABC Jersey and Macmillan Jersey as well as HCJ colleagues who were a part of the project. 

    The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said: “I’m delighted to hear that since it opened, this vital new unit has managed to see around 3,000 women. I would like to thank staff who are clearly providing an exceptional service as it was very heartening to hear the great feedback from those who have attended a screening. 

    “I would also like to thank the charities for their generous support in helping us to enhance our breast screening service. This new machine will play an important role in helping us to detect cancer early and so help save lives.” 

    Anne Pryke, Chair of Jersey Cancer Relief, said: “It is an honour to officially open the new breast screening unit at the Enid Quenault Health and Wellbeing Centre. This state-of-the-art facility represents a significant step forward in the early detection of breast cancer, and we are proud to support such a vital service for women in Jersey.

    “The dedication of the screening team is truly inspiring, and everyone at Jersey Cancer Relief is proud to be helping make a lasting impact through this project, but we wouldn’t be able to support important projects of this nature without the generosity of our donors.​​”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • President Murmu graces first convocation of AIIMS Gorakhpur, emphasises medical service as service to humanity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu attended the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Gorakhpur on Monday, marking a milestone in the institute’s journey as a centre of medical excellence in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

    Addressing the gathering, the President praised the AIIMS network for symbolising India’s advanced medical capabilities. She said that the name “AIIMS” evokes an image of world-class treatment, cutting-edge technology, and dedicated healthcare professionals. Highlighting the institution’s achievements, she stated that AIIMS has become a model for medical education, research, and patient care across the country.

    She said, “Whether it is innovative surgical techniques, early diagnostic tools, or integrated treatments using both AYUSH and allopathy, AIIMS institutions have set new benchmarks in the medical field.”

    She added that the AIIMS model has successfully fulfilled the vision behind the establishment of India’s first such institution.

    The President lauded AIIMS Gorakhpur for making rapid progress in academics, research, and healthcare services in a short span. She noted that the institute is providing affordable and accessible health services, especially benefiting citizens in eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as neighbouring regions of Bihar and Nepal.

    Highlighting the crucial role of doctors in nation-building, President Murmu said, “Doctors not only heal individuals but also contribute to building a healthier, more productive society.” She urged the young graduates to dedicate themselves to serving underserved communities, especially in rural and tribal areas where quality healthcare is still lacking.

    The President also emphasised the importance of empathy in the medical profession. She called upon medical institutions to instil in students the values of compassion, communication, and trust-building, alongside clinical excellence. “Medicine is not just a profession—it is a service to humanity. Compassion and honesty must become part of your personality,” she advised the young doctors.

    President Murmu concluded her address by expressing confidence that AIIMS Gorakhpur will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering top-quality medical care and shaping a healthier India.

    The convocation ceremony was attended by faculty, students, dignitaries, and medical professionals from across the region.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 June 2025 News release Suriname certified malaria-free by WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Today, Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of commitment by the government and people of Suriname to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities.

    “WHO congratulates Suriname on this remarkable achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification is a powerful affirmation of the principle that everyone—regardless of nationality, background, or migration status—deserves universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. Suriname’s steadfast commitment to health equity serves as an inspiration to all countries striving for a malaria-free future.”

    With today’s announcement, a total of 46 countries and 1 territory have been certified as malaria-free by WHO, including 12 countries in the Region of the Americas.

    “Suriname did what was needed to eliminate malaria—detecting and treating every case quickly, investigating to prevent spread, and engaging communities,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO’s regional office for the Americas. “This certification reflects years of sustained effort, especially reaching remote areas. It means future generations can grow up free from this potentially deadly disease.”

    Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.

    Dr Amar Ramadhin, Minister of Health of Suriname, stated: “Being malaria-free means that our population is no longer at risk from malaria. Furthermore, eliminating malaria will have positive effects on our healthcare sector, boost the economy, and enhance tourism.

    “At the same time, we recognize that maintaining this status requires ongoing vigilance. We must continue to take the necessary measures to prevent the reintroduction of malaria. We are proud that our communities are now protected, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to our beautiful Suriname—while remaining fully committed to safeguarding these hard-won gains.”

    Suriname’s road to elimination

    Suriname’s malaria control efforts began in 1950s in the country’s densely-populated coastal areas, relying heavily on indoor spraying with the pesticide DDT and antimalarial treatment. By the 1960s, the coastal areas had become malaria-free and attention turned towards the country’s forested interior, home to diverse indigenous and tribal communities.

    Although indoor spraying was successful in coastal areas, its impact was limited in the country’s interior due to the prevalence of traditional open-style homes that offer minimal protection against mosquitoes. In 1974 malaria control in the interior was decentralized to Medische Zending, Suriname’s primary health care service, which recruited and trained healthcare workers from the local communities to provide early diagnosis and treatment.

    The surge in mining activities, particularly gold mining which often involves travel between malaria-endemic areas, led to increases in malaria, reaching a peak of more than 15 000 cases in 2001, the highest transmission rates of malaria in the Americas.

    Since 2005, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the capacity to provide diagnosis was greatly expanded with both improvements in microscopy and the use of rapid diagnostic tests, particularly among mobile groups. Artemisinin-based treatments with primaquine were introduced in Suriname and neighboring countries through PAHO-led studies under the Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI-RAVREDA), supported by the United States. Prevention among high-risk groups was also strengthened through the distribution of insecticide-treated nets funded by the Global Fund.

    By 2006, malaria had drastically decreased among the indigenous populations, prompting Suriname to shift its focus to high-risk mobile populations in remote mining areas. To reach these groups—many of whom were migrants from neighboring endemic countries—the country established a network of Malaria Service Deliverers, recruited directly from the mining communities. These trained and supervised community workers provide free malaria diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services, playing a vital role in closing access gaps in hard-to-reach regions.

    Through ensuring universal access to diagnosis and treatment regardless of legal status, deploying an extensive network of community health workers, and implementing nationwide malaria screening, including at border crossings, Suriname successfully eliminated malaria. The last locally transmitted case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria was recorded in 2018, followed by the final Plasmodium vivax case in 2021.

    Sustained leadership commitment and funding

    The government of Suriname has shown strong commitment to malaria elimination, including through the National Malaria Elimination Taskforce, Malaria Program, Malaria Elimination Fund, and cross-border collaboration with Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana. For many years PAHO/WHO, with the support of the U.S. Government, has provided technical cooperation throughout Suriname’s anti-malaria campaign. Since 2016 Suriname also participated in the “Elimination 2025” initiative – a group of countries identified by WHO as having the potential to eliminate malaria by 2025.

    This success in Suriname is a demonstration that malaria elimination is possible in challenging contexts in the Amazon basin and in tropical continental countries. The country’s malaria-free certification plays a critical role in advancing PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases, including malaria, in countries of the Americas by 2030.

    Note to the editor

    WHO malaria-free certification

    The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification is made by the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification and validation from the Malaria Policy Advisory Group. For more on WHO’s malaria-free certification process, visit  this link.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Highlights How Republicans’ Cruel Tax Bill Hurts Working Americans to Help the Ultra-Wealthy: “It’s going to inflict bipartisan pain.” 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Health care, community hospitals, food assistance, jobs are on the line 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late last night, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) took to the Senate floor to reveal how Republicans’ disastrous tax and spending bill will force millions of working Americans in Vermont, West Virginia, and across the country to lose their health coverage, rip away vital food assistance for more than 42 million Americans, cut clean energy incentives and add a tax to wind and solar energy, raise utility bills and grocery prices, and tank the economy—all to pay for tax cuts for the very wealthy. 
    “Never in my time in Congress have I seen a bill that does so much damage, in so many ways, to so many people, in so many states, and that will affect so many generations. The clerks have read the bill—it’s now time for us to kill the bill,” said Senator Welch. “I say let’s come to our senses and not do something that is a massive escalation of the wealth transfer from the working class, the middle class to the very, very wealthy. Many of us have a number of amendments—and I do too—to try to make the point that our job is to make things better for everyday working Americans, not inflict additional burdens on them.”  
    “We have a job to do, and it’s to strengthen this economy, provide more stability for our families and our communities. And in this bill, we’re doing exactly the opposite: aggravating income inequality, not mitigating it, accelerating climate change rather than diminishing it, making life tougher for everyday families. I urge my colleagues to defeat this bill.” 
    Senator Welch has proposed changes to Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act to prevent harm to rural hospitals, strengthen access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, block cuts and policies that weaken the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance programs, protect home energy efficiency tax credits and the home efficiency workforce, and support federal public defenders.    
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

    Read key excerpts from Senator Welch’s remarks: 
    “Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good—we still have time to kill this bill, and we should kill this bill. We Democrats are united in opposition to this bill, but it’s not only Democrats whose constituents are going to be hurt by this bill. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have an opportunity to make a choice. Read the bill and decide: are you going to protect your constituents—who are going to suffer the same afflictions as my constituents—or are you going to defer to President Trump? 
    “The bad in this bill—it’s going to inflict bipartisan pain. This is not aiming at red state or blue state. This is aimed at working class and middle-class Americans…More than 76,000 people in West Virginia will lose access to health care because of this bill. 278,000 West Virginians are going to lose access to the nutrition programs, to SNAP. In Tennessee, more than 295,000 people will lose access to health care and Medicaid through this bill. And SNAP means 758,000 Tennesseans lose the nutrition benefits.  
    “I want to repeat here: this is the bipartisan infliction of pain. This is real. This is real. And is the tax cut—largely directed to the very wealthy people—is it worth inflicting that kind of pain on so many, when the tax cut benefits so few?”   
    ••• 
    “Inflation is going up under this bill. Just think how much more we’re going to pay in debt service—dead money. It’s about a trillion dollars. Home mortgages, folks are going to be paying at least a thousand dollars more. Small business loans, at least a thousand dollars more. Grocery prices, definitely going up for all Americans.  
    “There’s an ugly aspect of this bill as well, and it is that this bill is entirely in service of providing tax cuts, largely to the very wealthy. The top 1% of income earners in this country will get 60% of the benefit. That’s a couple hundred thousand people will get immense tax breaks that equal— exceed —the so-called ‘tax breaks’ that go to a couple of hundred million Americans. And it’s those in the 60% category paying the higher prices for utilities, credit card debt, cost of a car loan, rent, groceries.”  
    ••• 
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Vote-a-rama, Durbin Sounds The Alarm On Republicans’ So-Called “One Big, Beautiful Bill”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 29, 2025

    In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlights how Senate Republicans’ bill will slash health care coverage for more than 16 million Americans to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires

    WASHINGTON – Ahead of an upcoming vote-a-rama, where Senate Democrats will expose the truth about Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will slash Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, and Medicare coverage for more than 16 million Americans to provide massive tax breaks for billionaires, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor where he underscored the dangers of this Republican proposal and called on four of his Senate Republican colleagues to stand up and oppose this harmful legislation.

    “We’re here today debating a clumsily assembled package—still a work in progress—that would rip away health care from 16 million American families to give tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires, and the largest corporations,” Durbin said. “Think about that for a moment. The Republicans have decided that the best avenue to generate revenue that they can then give in tax breaks to wealthy people is to eliminate health insurance coverage for 16 million Americans. That’s going to have a dramatic impact on their lives… The notion of losing your health insurance leaves you as vulnerable as possible in some of the most important moments of your life. And that they would consider this provision—to eliminate health insurance coverage for 16 million families—is unimaginable and cruel.”

    Durbin continued, “Let’s not act like there is a unified Republican front on this issue. Even some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don’t want to be here at this moment jamming this unpopular bill through this chamber under arbitrary deadlines… Behind closed doors, my Republican colleagues continued to be consumed with infighting, bickering over the bill’s substance—and for good reason.”

    Durbin outlined how the Senate Republican bill cripples one of the main ways that states fund their Medicaid programs and keep hospitals afloat, especially in rural and low-income areas—the provider tax.

    Earlier this week, a Republican Senator circulated a flyer to his fellow caucus members detailing just how much each state will lose in Medicaid provider tax funding under their proposal. It said: Iowa would lose $4.1 billion; Missouri would lose $6.1 billion; Kentucky would lose $12 billion; Louisiana would lose $20 billion; North Carolina would lose $38.9 billion dollars.

    “This list of states and what they will lose was passed around by a Republican Senator to his own caucus. They know what they are up against here,” Durbin said. “If Republicans have their way and pass this bill, hospitals will be forced to shrink or eliminate services… doctors and nurses will leave, and—in some cases—the hospital will close.”

    Durbin continued, “As it stands today, half of the rural hospitals around the country already operate in the danger zone… If Republicans have their way, we are going to see massive layoffs—fewer nurses, technicians, and doctors—along with decreasing quality of care.” 

    The American Hospital Association estimated how these cuts to Medicaid could impact not just the jobs at these red-state hospitals, but jobs across the entire state economy. Here’s what they found: Maine could lose nearly 5,000 jobs. Kansas could lose 6,200 jobs. Iowa could lose nearly 11,000 jobs. And Missouri could lose 26,600 jobs.

    Durbin then discussed the so-called “rural hospital fund” Senate Republicans concocted, which is designed to mask the harms of their own Medicaid cuts. 

    “They [Republicans] came up with a rescue fund to solve the political problem… [the] overall cut in Medicaid now is about a trillion dollars. $1 trillion… Cutting Medicaid nationwide a trillion dollars. And the rescue plan for the small hospitals that are in danger, the ones I’ve talked about, a trillion dollars cut, how big is the rescue plan? 25 billion dollars. Do the math. It’s a joke,” Durbin said. “If Republican leaders think this is an adequate amount to alleviate the pains all of our nation’s rural hospitals are going to feel, then that’s like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. This simply won’t work.”

    Durbin concluded by highlighting how congressional Democrats worked in a bipartisan manner to craft the Affordable Care Act, which has allowed more than 40 million Americans to gain health insurance coverage and led to a historic decline in our nation’s uninsured rate.

    “I want to conclude by saying this: we passed the Affordable Care Act 15 years ago. Of all the things that I’ve worked on in Congress, I think it had more positive impact to help the families across America than anything. We found a way to make health insurance more affordable for families, 15 years ago. And to do it, we held hearings—[Senate Democrats] [held] 100 hearings on theAffordable Care Act, roundtables, [and] walkthroughs. Two Committees spent a combined 21 days holding markups so that everyone could offer an amendment. Do you know how many amendments were made to the Obamacare program? 400 votes in Committee and on the Floor on amendments. 147 Republican amendments were included, though not a single Republican Senator ended up supporting Obamacare,” Durbin said. “At the end of the day, that legislation, Obamacare, allowed more than 40 million Americans to gain health insurance.”

    Durbin continued, “Today, how many hearings have we had on this bill before us, this dramatic, multitrillion dollar bill? None, zero, not a single one. Zero markups for Senators to offer amendments. 400 amendments on Obamacare. None on this one, until it comes to the Floor today. Zero bipartisan input. Our friends on the Republican side have said basically, ‘It’s a big deal. Take it or leave it.’ Should this bill become a law, do you know what it will have done? Thrown 16 million Americans off health insurance and closed many vulnerable, small hospitals all to pay fortax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. Maybe some of my Republican [colleagues] are okay with that. I don’t think the American people are.”

    Durbin concluded, “I’m hoping that sanity and commonsense prevail. We need four [Republican] Senators to step up and say stop this train. We’ve got to sit down and do our homework. We cannot expose the American families and the American economy to do this in the name of preserving tax breaks for the wealthiest people. Elon Musk seems to be doing okay in life, right? The wealthiest man in the world. Do you know what the tax break is for Elon Musk on the bill that is before us on the floor? $346,000. A lot of money. To him, he won’t even notice it. Giving him a tax break he won’t notice and taking away from health insurance from families who will be devastated, 16 million around the country. It’s an important choice.”

    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eastern Cape flood death toll now stands at 102

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government says a total of 102 bodies have been recovered to date across various districts since the search and rescue mission began following the disastrous floods earlier this month.

    According to the provincial government, the bodies were recovered across various districts.

    The figure indicates an increase of one person from the previous update provided on 26 June.

    O.R. Tambo remains the hardest hit district, with 78 fatalities; Amathole 10, Alfred Nzo five, Joe Gqabi two, Sarah Baartman two, and Chris Hani five.

    From the 102 bodies recovered, which include 63 adults and 63 children, 96 bodies have been identified and handed over to families, while six remain unidentified. 

    Due to the passage of time, DNA tests may be required to positively identify bodies found decomposed, thus implying that it may take longer to identify the deceased.

    “The search and recovery teams are continuing with the search, working tirelessly to locate and recover any possible remaining bodies.

    “The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) helicopters have been deployed to support the ongoing search and recovery efforts and this coordinated aerial support aims to intensify the search for possibly more victims, including two children who are still missing,” the provincial government said. 

    The provincial government is continuing to provide shelter, meals and all necessities to the displaced families in community care centres and accommodation establishments in and around Mthatha in O.R. Tambo District Municipality and Butterworth in Amathole District Municipality.

    The Department of Health continues to provide essential medical services on-site at shelters and affected communities. 

    The Department of Social Development, supported by private sector partners, is delivering psychosocial support directly to grieving families and schools impacted by the floods. 

    Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs has dispatched mobile units to facilitate the replacement of vital documents, such as IDs and birth certificates, ensuring that affected individuals can access services without leaving their temporary homes.

    To date, 478 ID replacement applications have been submitted, with three mobile units deployed in each of the two districts.

    “Thus far, 56 victims of the floods have been buried across the province and government continues to offer sympathies to all the families of the bereaved, as well as critical support to ensure the burial of the deceased in a dignified manner,” the provincial government said.

    The Eastern Cape has officially been declared a national disaster zone following widespread destruction caused by recent severe weather events.

    In OR Tambo, water has partially been restored in various areas. Water tankers from both municipalities, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the Gift of the Givers, continue with the provision of water in the affected communities. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 June 2025 PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 8-9 May 2025, a core team from the DPR Korea Ministry of Public Health participated in a two-day virtual workshop. The workshop included a mini-simulation exercise and was organized by WHO SEARO in collaboration with WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience to Emerging Threats (PRET) Secretariat at WHO Headquarters and the WHO Country Office for DPR Korea.  

    Adapted from WHO’s Exercise panPRET-1, the simulation focused on a fictional influenza outbreak to test national systems for surveillance, risk assessment and response coordination. The exercise highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in DPR Korea’s preparedness planning. 

    Key outcomes of this exercise included: 

    • a trained cadre of national facilitators ready to lead future simulation exercises; and 
    • a roadmap for revising the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) to include respiratory pathogens. 

    Building on the experience from an in-person regional simulation exercise held in 2024, this event highlighted the value of knowledge sharing and developing practical skills through virtual engagement to build a sustainable, country-led response.  

    The existing NIPPP was updated in 2019, with the inputs from in-country workshop supported by experts from all levels of WHO. Looking ahead, DPR Korea plans to conduct a national multisectoral workshop and simulation exercise later in 2025, led by newly trained facilitators. These efforts will directly support the ongoing revision of the current NIPPP into broader PRET based plan and contribute to stronger national health security.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 June 2025 PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 8-9 May 2025, a core team from the DPR Korea Ministry of Public Health participated in a two-day virtual workshop. The workshop included a mini-simulation exercise and was organized by WHO SEARO in collaboration with WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience to Emerging Threats (PRET) Secretariat at WHO Headquarters and the WHO Country Office for DPR Korea.  

    Adapted from WHO’s Exercise panPRET-1, the simulation focused on a fictional influenza outbreak to test national systems for surveillance, risk assessment and response coordination. The exercise highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement in DPR Korea’s preparedness planning. 

    Key outcomes of this exercise included: 

    • a trained cadre of national facilitators ready to lead future simulation exercises; and 
    • a roadmap for revising the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) to include respiratory pathogens. 

    Building on the experience from an in-person regional simulation exercise held in 2024, this event highlighted the value of knowledge sharing and developing practical skills through virtual engagement to build a sustainable, country-led response.  

    The existing NIPPP was updated in 2019, with the inputs from in-country workshop supported by experts from all levels of WHO. Looking ahead, DPR Korea plans to conduct a national multisectoral workshop and simulation exercise later in 2025, led by newly trained facilitators. These efforts will directly support the ongoing revision of the current NIPPP into broader PRET based plan and contribute to stronger national health security.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The path to medical superintelligence

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The path to medical superintelligence

    The Microsoft AI team shares research that demonstrates how AI can sequentially investigate and solve medicine’s most complex diagnostic challenges—cases that expert physicians struggle to answer.

    Benchmarked against real-world case records published each week in the New England Journal of Medicine, we show that the Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO) correctly diagnoses up to 85% of NEJM case proceedings, a rate more than four times higher than a group of experienced physicians. MAI-DxO also gets to the correct diagnosis more cost-effectively than physicians.

    —

    As demand for healthcare continues to grow, costs are rising at an unsustainable pace, and billions of people face multiple barriers to better health – including inaccurate and delayed diagnoses. Increasingly, people are turning to digital tools for medical advice and support. Across Microsoft’s AI consumer products like Bing and Copilot, we see over 50 million health-related sessions every day. From a first-time knee-pain query to a late-night search for an urgent-care clinic, search engines and AI companions are quickly becoming the new front line in healthcare.

    We want to do more to help -and believe generative AI can be transformational. That’s why, at the end of 2024, we launched a dedicated consumer health effort at Microsoft AI, led by clinicians, designers, engineers, and AI scientists. This effort complements Microsoft’s broader health initiatives and builds on our longstanding commitment to partnership and innovation. Existing solutions include RAD-DINO which helps accelerate and improve radiology workflows and Microsoft Dragon Copilot, our pioneering voice-first AI assistant for clinicians.

    For AI to make a difference, clinicians and patients alike must be able to trust its performance. That’s where our new benchmarks and AI orchestrator come in.

    Medical Case Challenges and Benchmarks

    To practice medicine in the United States, physicians need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), a rigorous and standardized assessment of clinical knowledge and decision making. USMLE questions were among the earliest benchmarks used to evaluate AI systems in medicine, offering a structured way to compare model performance – both against each other and against human clinicians.

    In just three years, generative AI has advanced to the point of scoring near-perfect scores on the USMLE and similar exams. But these tests primarily rely on multiple-choice questions, which favor memorization over deep understanding. By reducing medicine to one-shot answers on multiple-choice questions, such benchmarks overstate the apparent competence of AI systems and obscure their limitations.

    At Microsoft AI, we’re working to advance and evaluate clinical reasoning capabilities. To move beyond the limitations of multiple-choice questions, we’ve focused on sequential diagnosis, a cornerstone of real-world medical decision making.  In this process, a clinician begins with an initial patient presentation and then iteratively selects questions and diagnostic tests to arrive at a final diagnosis. For example, a patient presenting with cough and fever may lead the clinician to order and review blood tests and a chest X-ray before they feel confident about diagnosing pneumonia.

    Each week, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – one of the world’s leading medical journals – publishes a Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, presenting a patient’s care journey in a detailed, narrative format. These cases are among the most diagnostically complex and intellectually demanding in clinical medicine, often requiring multiple specialists and diagnostic tests to reach a definitive diagnosis.

    How does AI perform? To answer this, we created interactive case challenges drawn from the NEJM case series – what we call the Sequential Diagnosis Benchmark (SD Bench). This benchmark transforms 304 recent NEJM cases into stepwise diagnostic encounters where models – or human physicians – can iteratively ask questions and order tests. As new information becomes available, the model or clinician updates their reasoning, gradually narrowing toward a final diagnosis. This diagnosis can then be compared to the gold-standard outcome published in the NEJM.

    Each requested investigation also incurs a (virtual) cost, reflecting real-world healthcare expenditures. This allows us to evaluate performance across two key dimensions: diagnostic accuracy and resource expenditure.  You can watch how an AI system progresses through one of these challenges in this short video.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The path to medical superintelligence

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The path to medical superintelligence

    The Microsoft AI team shares research that demonstrates how AI can sequentially investigate and solve medicine’s most complex diagnostic challenges—cases that expert physicians struggle to answer.

    Benchmarked against real-world case records published each week in the New England Journal of Medicine, we show that the Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO) correctly diagnoses up to 85% of NEJM case proceedings, a rate more than four times higher than a group of experienced physicians. MAI-DxO also gets to the correct diagnosis more cost-effectively than physicians.

    —

    As demand for healthcare continues to grow, costs are rising at an unsustainable pace, and billions of people face multiple barriers to better health – including inaccurate and delayed diagnoses. Increasingly, people are turning to digital tools for medical advice and support. Across Microsoft’s AI consumer products like Bing and Copilot, we see over 50 million health-related sessions every day. From a first-time knee-pain query to a late-night search for an urgent-care clinic, search engines and AI companions are quickly becoming the new front line in healthcare.

    We want to do more to help -and believe generative AI can be transformational. That’s why, at the end of 2024, we launched a dedicated consumer health effort at Microsoft AI, led by clinicians, designers, engineers, and AI scientists. This effort complements Microsoft’s broader health initiatives and builds on our longstanding commitment to partnership and innovation. Existing solutions include RAD-DINO which helps accelerate and improve radiology workflows and Microsoft Dragon Copilot, our pioneering voice-first AI assistant for clinicians.

    For AI to make a difference, clinicians and patients alike must be able to trust its performance. That’s where our new benchmarks and AI orchestrator come in.

    Medical Case Challenges and Benchmarks

    To practice medicine in the United States, physicians need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), a rigorous and standardized assessment of clinical knowledge and decision making. USMLE questions were among the earliest benchmarks used to evaluate AI systems in medicine, offering a structured way to compare model performance – both against each other and against human clinicians.

    In just three years, generative AI has advanced to the point of scoring near-perfect scores on the USMLE and similar exams. But these tests primarily rely on multiple-choice questions, which favor memorization over deep understanding. By reducing medicine to one-shot answers on multiple-choice questions, such benchmarks overstate the apparent competence of AI systems and obscure their limitations.

    At Microsoft AI, we’re working to advance and evaluate clinical reasoning capabilities. To move beyond the limitations of multiple-choice questions, we’ve focused on sequential diagnosis, a cornerstone of real-world medical decision making.  In this process, a clinician begins with an initial patient presentation and then iteratively selects questions and diagnostic tests to arrive at a final diagnosis. For example, a patient presenting with cough and fever may lead the clinician to order and review blood tests and a chest X-ray before they feel confident about diagnosing pneumonia.

    Each week, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – one of the world’s leading medical journals – publishes a Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, presenting a patient’s care journey in a detailed, narrative format. These cases are among the most diagnostically complex and intellectually demanding in clinical medicine, often requiring multiple specialists and diagnostic tests to reach a definitive diagnosis.

    How does AI perform? To answer this, we created interactive case challenges drawn from the NEJM case series – what we call the Sequential Diagnosis Benchmark (SD Bench). This benchmark transforms 304 recent NEJM cases into stepwise diagnostic encounters where models – or human physicians – can iteratively ask questions and order tests. As new information becomes available, the model or clinician updates their reasoning, gradually narrowing toward a final diagnosis. This diagnosis can then be compared to the gold-standard outcome published in the NEJM.

    Each requested investigation also incurs a (virtual) cost, reflecting real-world healthcare expenditures. This allows us to evaluate performance across two key dimensions: diagnostic accuracy and resource expenditure.  You can watch how an AI system progresses through one of these challenges in this short video.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Rays of Hope: The Achievements of Targeted Action

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rays of Hope: The Achievements of Targeted Action

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rays of Hope: The Achievements of Targeted Action

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.

    MIL Security OSI –