Health Care Costs and Medicare's Future Pose Huge Threats to U. S. Family Assets, Reports PNC Survey of Wealthy Americans

Health Care Costs and Medicare's Future Pose Huge Threats to U. S. Family Assets, Reports PNC Survey of Wealthy Americans

Affluent Americans are concerned that health care and long-term care costs will wipe out a major portion of their money, according to survey findings released by The PNC Financial Services Group.

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) January 31, 2006 –

Even more affluent Americans are concerned that health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) and long-term care costs will wipe out a major portion of their money, according to survey findings of nearly 1,500 U. S. adults released by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC)(www. pnc. com).

“As President Bush addresses spiraling health care costs this evening, he may be surprised to find that one in three Americans in our survey said, health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) costs will ultimately consume a major portion of my financial assets,’” said Thomas Melcher, a managing director of PNC’s wealth management unit.

According to the PNC survey, nearly four in 10 Americans with $1 million or more in investable assets, including one quarter of those over age 65, said paying for their family’s health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) is a top financial concern.

“Death has always been the great equalizer, but that adage can now be updated. Spiraling health care costs are equally indiscriminate. Regardless of income or assets, these costs can devastate anyone,” added Melcher. “That risk places affordable health care as the top financial concern for many families—even our nation’s wealthiest.”

The findings released by PNC are part of a series of reports resulting from a nationwide survey of nearly 1,500 wealthy U. S. adults. Highlights of the findings include:

Future of Medicare (http://www. pncadvisors. com): Four in 10 respondents (42 percent) perceive the potential insolvency of the Medicare (http://www. pncadvisors. com) system as a threat or huge threat to their family’s wealth. About half (49 percent) of those between the ages of 45-64 think its demise would be a threat or huge threat to their family’s wealth.

Long-term health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) and medical treatment costs also posed a risk for almost four out of 10 questioned (36 percent), with one-quarter (26 percent) of younger Americans, ages 18-44, with children under 18 expressing fear that their children would eventually have to pay for their long-term health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) costs. Close to one-quarter (24 percent) of those with living parents worried about their parents’ lack of long-term care insurance.

Planning Ahead?

The serious concerns expressed by survey respondents about the costs of long-term care, medical expenses for family members and the potential for Medicare (http://www. pncadvisors. com) insolvency have not translated into related financial planning for many families. PNC’s survey found that asset protection preparations lag even in wealthy households. Survey results included:

More than two-thirds (69 percent) of respondents do not have a comprehensive financial plan.

Three out of four (75 percent) have completed a will, but four in 10 (39 percent) have no health care proxy, which specifies medical treatment if one is incapacitated.

Seven out of 10 (69 percent) have not purchased long-term care insurance for themselves or a spouse. Among those who have not purchased long-term care insurance, thirty-six percent felt it was unwise to spend money on a premium they may never use, 22 percent said it was cost-prohibitive and 21 percent said they never thought about it.

“The cost of health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) is rising much faster than inflation, and the effect on family assets should be factored prominently into retirement planning and wealth preservation activities for all Americans,” Melcher said. “Without proper financial planning, many people end up leaving a bankrupt legacy to the next generation.”

“We will all get older and need some level of medical care in the future,” he added. “The level of need can be a financial drain for the individual, as well as the family, if they are ill-prepared due to the lack of advance planning.”

Melcher said the health care proxy is a critical need for anyone to establish treatment desires. He also said that a Health Savings Account offers a tax-advantaged way to set aside money for health care (http://www. pncadvisors. com) costs. Other asset-protection solutions include estate plans, grantor trusts and life insurance. The grantor trust minimizes transfer tax costs from generation to generation, making its administration a simpler, more tax-friendly alternative, while life insurance eliminates the need to pay costly premiums (as compared to long-term health insurance).

Survey Methodology

The wealth and values survey was commissioned by PNC (http://www. pncadvisors. com) to identify attitudes about wealth among high net worth individuals and how it affects their lives and their needs in managing wealth. Harris Interactive conducted the survey online in October and November 2005 among a nationwide cross section of 1,485 adults (age 18 or over) with annual incomes of $150,000 or above (if employed), at least $500,000 of investable assets (if employed) or at least $1 million of investable assets (if retired). The total sample contains four distinct groups: 795 with assets of $500,000 to $999,999; 465 with assets of $1 million to $4.9 million; 109 with assets of $5 million to $9.9 million; and, 116 with assets of $10 million or more. Figures for age, sex, race, education, region, income, asset level and propensity to be online were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with the actual proportions in the population. Overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, and sampling error for various sub-sample results is higher and varies.

The survey was designed and managed by HNW, Inc. (www. hnw. com), a leading provider of wealth marketing software and solutions to financial services companies and intermediaries seeking to capture and serve the high net worth market.

Harris Interactive Inc. (www. harrisinteractive. com), based in Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll® and for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (http://www. pnc. com/) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations providing consumer and business banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management; asset management and global fund services.

Contacts:

PNC

Patrick McMahon

412-762-2477 

Patrick. mcmahon-at-pnc. com

THE HUBBELL GROUP, INC.

Connie Hubbell

781-878-8882

Hubbell-at-hubbellgroup. com

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Halo, Purely For Pets® and Freekibble. com Join Forces to Feed Shelter Pets!

Halo, Purely For Pets® and Freekibble. com Join Forces to Feed Shelter Pets!

Freekibble. com Chooses Wholesome Halo, Purely For Pets® As Their Official Sponsor to Feed Shelter Pets Across the Country

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 9, 2010

Halo, Purely for Pets® (www. halopets. com), a leading producer of natural pet care products, announced today that it will be the official sponsor of Freekibble. com and Freekibblekat. com. Created in 2008 by 14-year-old Mimi Ausland when she was just 11 years old, Freekibble. com and Freekibblekat. com are online dog and cat trivia games whose mission is to feed shelter pets in need. By simply answering the daily trivia questions on Freekibble. com or Freekibblekat. com, right or wrong, 10 pieces of kibble are donated to homeless dogs and cats. Freekibble. com and Freekibblekat. com are 2 of the top 5 most trafficked animal rescue sites in the world with over 100,000 combined daily visits. To date, the websites’ daily visitors have helped Freekibble donate 3,846,737 nutritious meals to hungry pets in shelters, rescues and food banks across the country. As official sponsor, Halo’s Spot’s Stew will now be the exclusive food donated by Freekibble.

“We are thrilled to partner with such an amazing young woman and her organization,” said Steve Marton, CEO, Halo, Purely for Pets®. “Her desire to keep shelter pets fed, not with just any food, but with natural, healthy food, is commendable. We at Halo are honored to be able to help Freekibble fulfill their mission of feeding shelter pets in the best possible way.”

“Just like us, the quality of food that pets eat is so important,” said Mimi Ausland, creator of Freekibble. com and Freekibblekat. com. “We are really excited to be working with Halo to feed shelter dogs and cats the very best, all natural and nutritious food – it will make them happier and healthier while they wait to find a family of their own!”

Halo, Purely For Pets® uses wholesome, natural, quality ingredients and only real meats in all of their pet food as they believe nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of a pet’s life. Halo is the only pet food honored with the National Canine Cancer Foundation Seal of Excellence. Recently, Halo supported the United States Postal Service campaign to promote its 2010 social awareness stamp “Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet” to raise awareness of pet adoption. In conjunction with this campaign, Halo, Purely For Pets® made a commitment to donate 1 million meals of Halo’s Spot’s Stew in 2010 to shelter pets awaiting adoption. They will continue this wonderful initiative with Freekibble. com to keep feeding hungry shelter pets across the country.

For more information, please visit www. halopets. com, or www. freekibble. com and www. freekibblekat. com.

ABOUT HALO, PURELY FOR PETS®

For over 20 years, Halo, Purely for Pets® has created holistic pet products of uncompromising quality. Halo believes nutrition is the single most important factor in the quality of a pet’s life. Halo’s natural pet food, treats, supplements and grooming products - including the award-winning Halo Spot’s Stew, Dream Coat and Liv-a-Littles treats - are available at Petco and Whole Foods, at thousands of independent pet specialty and natural food stores, and online at www. halopets. com.

Ellen DeGeneres – a long time Halo customer -- became a part-owner of Halo in 2008, saying, “because I think Halo is incredible, I decided to become part owner in hopes that all animals have the chance to be the healthiest they can be. And I'm anxious to spread the word so that everybody knows about Halo.”

ABOUT FREEKIBBLE. COM

Freekibble. com was created by 14-year-old Mimi Ausland, when she was 11 years old, to help feed the homeless dogs and cats at her local animal shelter. “There are 10’s of thousands of dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal… and they deserve it!”. Mimi was named the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States Kid of the Year because of the impact Freekibble has had on feeding animals in need, and for the awareness she has created for shelter pets.

Freekibble. com and Freekibblekat. com receive more visitors than any other animal rescue non-profit website. With the help of Freekibble’s 400,000 loyal monthly followers, they have donated over 3.7 million nutritious meals to over 100 shelters, rescues and food-banks across the country. At the end of each month, Mimi personally delivers all of the donated food to the Humane Society of Central Oregon and will be working with Halo, Purely For Pets® to distribute the pet food to all the other animal shelters they are assisting. Freekibble is played in 137 countries.

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Global Flexible AC Transmission Equipment Market to Reach $1.7 Billion by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc

Global Flexible AC Transmission Equipment Market to Reach $1.7 Billion by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global flexible AC transmission equipment (FACT) market continues to witness growth largely buoyed by increasing demand for quality power and reliable network. Spurred by favorable trends, the world FACT market is expected to reach $1.7 billion by 2015.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 17, 2009

Global Flexible AC Transmission Equipment market (http://www. strategyr. com/Flexible_AC_Transmission_Equipment_Market_Report. asp) is registering healthy growth. Paramount importance has been given to FACT systems (http://www. strategyr. com/Flexible_AC_Transmission_Equipment_Market_Report. asp) to effectively address the voltage fluctuation, transmission loss and several other myriad problems associated with transmission of electricity. As a result, demand for variable compensation devices is rising. Several R&D programs have been initiated to develop better and more reliable devices at low cost. Semiconductor-enabled variable compensation devices are gaining momentum in utility sector. But SEN transformers, SuperVARs and other improvised classical devices are a bigger challenge to compensation devices based on power electronics.

Asia-Pacific represents the largest market for flexible AC transmission equipment. Europe represents the second fastest growing market for flexible AC transmission equipment Fixed compensation equipment (http://www. strategyr. com/Flexible_AC_Transmission_Equipment_Market_Report. asp) represents the largest segment.

The global marketplace is characterized by participants such as ABB Ltd, American Superconductor Corporation, AREVA T&D SA, Eaton Corporation, GE Energy, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, S&C Electric Company, Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution Group, Trench Group, VA Tech T&D, Square D.

"Flexible AC Transmission Equipment: A Global Strategic Business Report" from Global Industry Analysts, Inc. provides a comprehensive review of market trends, drivers, product profile, players, competition, recent developments, mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic industry activities. Analysis is presented for major geographic markets such as the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific and rest of world. Global and regional analytics are provided in terms of compensation type including Variable Compensation and Fixed Compensation.

For more details about this research report, please visit http://www. strategyr. com/Flexible_AC_Transmission_Equipment_Market_Report. asp (http://www. strategyr. com/Flexible_AC_Transmission_Equipment_Market_Report. asp).

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) (http://www. strategyr. com) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs more than 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of more than 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax 408-528-9977
Email press (at) StrategyR (dot) com
Web Site http://www. StrategyR. com (http://www. StrategyR. com)

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Alterian and Willow Marketing Partner to Introduce Next Level of Measured Marketing

Alterian and Willow Marketing Partner to Introduce Next Level of Measured Marketing

Alterian SM2 puts Willow Marketing at the forefront of holistic business-to-business marketing by enhancing its social media monitoring capabilities.

Chicago, IL (Vocus) November 30, 2010

Alterian (LSE: ALN), the leader in customer engagement technology and solutions, today announced a partnership with Indianapolis-based integrated marketing communications consultancy, Willow Marketing. The partnership, which is the first of its kind in the Indianapolis market, enables Willow Marketing to offer Alterian SM2 to its clients. As a best-in-class social media monitoring tool, SM2 provides a means for brands to comprehensively collect and analyze conversations happening around their customers, brands, products and competitors.

Willow Marketing, which develops and executes multi-channel marketing strategies, will give clients the option to integrate SM2 analysis into their existing or new campaigns to better observe social media outlets for industry conversations, as well as engage directly with consumers for a more personalized brand experience. Additionally, Alterian SM2 allows Willow Marketing to benchmark, monitor and evaluate its clients’ social media engagement strategies to provide measurement of ROI.

“We are very impressed with Alterian SM2 and look forward to being the first to offer it in the Indianapolis market,” said Brad Gillum, President and CEO of Willow Marketing. “SM2 is a perfect fit with our integrated approach to social media. Not only is it another tool to help our clients better understand and communicate with their target audiences, but it also helps us utilize findings to measure the success of our marketing efforts.”

The breadth of social media information can now be better leveraged by Willow Marketing clients to develop more effective social media-centric marketing strategies and engagement activities for clients. Together with Alterian, Willow Marketing will provide its clients with in-depth social media engagement strategies that fit into an overarching business-to-business marketing plan, giving them the capabilities to specifically measure volume of conversations, audience reach and influence, as well as consumer sentiment.

“Willow Marketing has the appropriate following and client interest to effectively integrate SM2 into their offered solutions,” said Michael Fisher, SVP, Sales and Marketing, the Americas, Alterian. “By working with Alterian, Willow Marketing positions themselves as a go-to firm for social media solutions, producing useful social media monitoring results that give clients actionable insights to execute more effective, integrated campaigns.”

About Willow Marketing
Willow Marketing is an integrated marketing communications consultancy founded in 1992 as a results-driven alternative in the market. Willow’s client base is extremely diverse, however, their extensive experience is focused on three markets including; Healthcare with clients that include FWRadiology, Hall Render and Indiana Healthcare Association; Family-owned and Privately-held businesses with clients that include Rivar’s Show Choir Apparel, Aero Industries and Squealer’s Barbeque; Associations and Member-based organizations with client’s that include Phi Kappa Psi Foundation, Tau Kappa Epsilon Educational Foundation, Tri Delta Women’s Fraternity and National Association of Conservation Districts. Their services include strategic consulting, research, branding, graphic design, web development, social media and video production. For more information about Willow Marketing visit http://www. willowmarketing. com or From the Roots at http://blog. willowmarketing. com.

About Alterian
Alterian (LSE: ALN) empowers organizations to create relevant, effective and engaging experiences with their audience that help build value and reinforce commitment to their brand, through the use of the Alterian Customer Engagement Platform. Alterian drives the transformation of marketing and communications, making it practical and cost-effective for companies to orchestrate multichannel engagement with the individual.

Alterian’s unprecedented integration of analytics, content and execution through industry leading tools, such as the Dynamic Messenger email platform, SM2 Social Media Monitoring platform and the award winning Alterian Content Manager solutions, enables companies to build integrated communication strategies which create a true picture of the individual.

Alterian works with marketing services partners, system integrators and agencies who recognize the need to plan and deliver coordinated customer engagement services in partnership with their clients. For more information about Alterian, products within the Alterian Customer Engagement Platform, or Alterian’s Partner Network, visit http://www. alterian. com or the Alterian blog at http://www. engagingtimes. com.

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GIESECKE & DEVRIENT AND TELEMAC COLLABORATE ON SIM CARD BILLING SOLUTION

GIESECKE & DEVRIENT AND TELEMAC COLLABORATE ON SIM CARD BILLING SOLUTION

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), a worldwide leading provider of smart cards and systems and Telemac Corporation, the global leader in network-edge real-time accounting and billing technologies for the wireless industry, today announced that they are collaborating on the development and marketing of G&D Telemac-enabled(tm) SIM cards. G&D and Telemac will integrate TelemacÂ’s IMA-Module(r) software for network-edge real-time billing onto G&DÂ’s STARSIM(r) Java(tm) card platform.

(PRWEB) March 8, 2003

DULLES, VIRGINIA AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – March 10, 2003 – Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), a worldwide leading provider of smart cards and systems and Telemac Corporation, the global leader in network-edge real-time accounting and billing technologies for the wireless industry, today announced that they are collaborating on the development and marketing of G&D Telemac-enabled(tm) SIM cards.

G&D and Telemac will integrate TelemacÂ’s IMA-Module(r) software for network-edge real-time billing onto G&DÂ’s STARSIM(r) Java(tm) card platform. This Java(tm) card 2.1.2/2.2 compliant SIM product line supports 2G GSM networks and will also be available on G&DÂ’s UniverSIM(r) Java(tm) card platform for future 3G GSM networks. G&D and Telemac will further explore additional implementations, like R-UIM for CDMA, and promote the technology throughout the wireless marketplace. G&D supplies SIM cards and services to over 100 network operators worldwide.

The G&D Telemac-enabled(tm) SIM cards will support Telemac CostControl(tm) technology, a patented real-time billing and accounting solution for prepaid wireless services and post-paid services using adjustable spending limits. Telemac CostControl(tm) technology features rapid deployment, scalability, seamless national and international roaming, reduced non-revenue generating network traffic, personal account verification via function keys on the wireless device, and a web-based administrative tool for modifying program parameters. Telemac CostControl(tm) technology is part of the Telemac Advantage(r) suite.

“Giesecke & Devrient’s partnership with Telemac will create value-added billing options for our Telecommunications customers worldwide. We are pleased to add the Telemac solution to the array of service and technology offerings available to our customers,” noted Dr. Klaus Vedder, Executive Vice President of G&D’s Telecommunication Division.

Kenin M. Spivak, chairman and CEO of Telemac Corporation, said: “We are extremely pleased that Giesecke & Devrient has selected Telemac as its technology supplier for advanced network-edge real-time billing solutions. Telemac’s solutions are available from most of the world’s leading manufacturers of SIMs and wireless handsets. By working with G&D, Telemac intends to accelerate the adoption of Telemac CostControl(tm) technology by wireless networks and MVNOs worldwide.”

Telemac also integrates its patented IMA-Module(r) software into the operating systems of CDMA and TDMA wireless devices.

Giesecke & Devrient is a worldwide technology leader, providing smart cards and a solutions in the fields of telecommunications, electronic payments, transportation, health, ID and Internet security. G&D is also a leading provider of banknotes and securities as well as currency processing equipment. G&DÂ’s North American headquarters, located in Dulles, VA, houses the R&D technology center, sales, marketing and smart card production facilities. In addition to the Dulles facility, G&D operates full service card manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Ontario and Mexico that are certified by both VISA and MasterCard. The combined production capacity of these four facilities makes G&D one of the largest of any North American cards and card systems manufacturer. As a 150 year old international technology group with over 30 subsidiaries throughout the world, Giesecke & Devrient employs over 6,500 people and generates an annual revenue in excess of 1 Billion U. S. dollars. For more information, visit www. gdai. com.

Telemac Corporation is the global leader in advanced network-edge real-time accounting, billing, and payment processing technologies for the wireless industry, including cost control, data, and prepaid solutions protected by worldwide patents. The Telemac Advantage(r) solution is a complete real-time billing system supporting all voice and data services operating on 2G, 2.5G, and 3G networks. Telemac technology is licensed to wireless service providers on six continents, and supports all tariffing methods, roaming, and selective over-the-air communications between the network and phone to modify configurations and replenish credit balances. The Telemac Advantage(r) solution is available in a range of service bureau and on-site deployment options. Nearly 15,000,000 Telemac-enabled(tm) mobile phones have been sold worldwide. For more information, visit www. telemac. com.

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Any statements released herein that are forward-looking are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Editors and investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may affect business prospects and performance. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties may include economic, competitive, governmental, technological, or other factors.

Telemac(r) is a registered trademark of Telemac Corporation. The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:

Giesecke & Devrient

Heather Klein

Manager, Marketing Communications

Phone: +1.703.480.2000

Fax: +1.703.480.2067

Email: heather. klein@gdai. com 

Telemac Corporation

Traci L. Collins

Director – Corporate Communications

Phone: +1.310.568.6585

Fax:  +1.310.216.3426

Email: media@telemac. com

For Telemac sales

Email: sales@telemac. com

Online Trade Show for Short-Dated Pharmaceuticals

Online Trade Show for Short-Dated Pharmaceuticals

ShortMeds (shortmeds. com) has turned its service into an online trade show to help pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare distributors find licensed pharmaceutical buyers for their short-dated inventories. Each selling company has a "booth" where they can post information at no charge and interact with registered buyers. Banner ads can be used by "exhibitors" to drive traffic to their booths and the "show" is partially supported by solution providers that serve every function of the pharmaceutical industry.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) July 17, 2007

Recently, ShortMeds (shortmeds. com (http://www. shortmeds. com)) revamped its service and turned it into an online trade show and interactive community for the entire pharmaceutical industry. Allowing US manufacturers and healthcare distributors to post inventories in their "booths" at no charge, ShortMeds is guaranteed to see an even wider variety of companies and products posted on its web site.

Since 2004, ShortMeds has provided an online marketplace for short-dated inventories from US manufacturers and healthcare distributors. The companies that post products on ShortMeds must be members of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) and must comply with the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA). In the past, companies had to pay an up front administration fee based on the value of their posting or pay a commission on what was sold. This limited the number of companies that were willing to post their inventories. But now, ShortMeds is allowing these companies to post inventories to their booths at no charge.

And their inventories and prices are viewable by their competitors, which should drive prices down to the point where licensed pharmaceutical buyers will use ShortMeds on a regular basis to save money on products they purchase. "Because the companies are posting their short-dated inventories and not their regular inventories, they shouldn't mind making their prices public," says John Matthews, President/CEO of ShortMeds. These companies can even attach Excel spreadsheets that detail their postings with vital information such as NDC number, Lot number, Expiration Date, Product Description, Product Form, Product Size, Quantity and Price. Each company's policies regarding minimum order size and to whom they will sell to are also posted in each booth.

ShortMeds has always been a free service for licensed pharmaceutical buyers and will continue to be. To make it even more convenient to use, users can now "subscribe" (for free) to a posting company's booth and be alerted via email whenever the company updates their short-dated inventory. "Buyers can even interact with each posting company by leaving messages at a company's booth, by accessing their profile for address and phone number information or they can use the private email system that ShortMeds provides," says Matthews. 

Solution providers that serve every function of the pharmaceutical industry also have booths where they can promote the goods and services they provide. Some of these solution providers include marketing agencies, clinical research providers and medical education companies. Pharmaceutical buyers, manufacturers and healthcare distributors can browse their booths and communicate with them in the same ways. All "exhibitors" can use banner ads that run throughout the ShortMeds web site to drive traffic to their booths.

ShortMeds believes this is a viable market because of the continued pressures concerning pharmaceutical donation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established guidelines for donating drugs to countries in need and says that "After arrival in the recipient country, all donated drugs should have a remaining shelf-life of at least one-year." This guideline was established because of logistical problems in many recipient countries. There are limited possibilities for immediate distribution, and it may take as long as six to nine months before drugs reach dispensing sites. As a result, US manufacturers are in a pickle, because once their products reach the 12-month window, they are no longer candidates for donation abroad. Matthews adds, "We have also found that many healthcare distributors would rather unload their short-dated products at a discount and take advantage of the positive cash flows, rather than waiting for the proper time to return them to the manufacturers." 

ShortMeds is a service provided by Incentials, LLC, located in St. Louis, MO. Its founder, John Matthews, has worked in the pharmaceutical and financial industries for over 17 years with companies like Hoechst Marion Roussel Pharmaceuticals (now Sanofi-Aventis), Merz Pharmaceuticals, American Express Incentive Services and Tyco Healthcare/Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

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ChoicePoint's VitalChek Signs Applicant Authentication Agreement with 100th Government Agency

ChoicePoint's VitalChek Signs Applicant Authentication Agreement with 100th Government Agency

VitalChek Network Inc. a ChoicePoint® company and America's leading source for government-issued birth certificates and other vital records, has signed its 100th government agreement with the Larimer County Health Department in Fort Collins, CO., to provide ChoicePoint's ProCheck and ProID® knowledge-based authentication products.

Brentwood, TN (PRWEB) January 4, 2008

VitalChek Network Inc. (vitalchek. com), a ChoicePoint (NYSE: CPS) company and America's leading source for government-issued birth certificates and other vital records, has signed its 100th government agreement with the Larimer County Health Department in Fort Collins, Colo., to provide ChoicePoint's ProCheck and ProID knowledge-based authentication products. The products will assist in efforts to reduce identity theft for birth certificate or other vital record requests. In addition, Larimer County also will use express certificate services offered through VitalChek.

"ProCheck and ProID helps to ensure that your personal information is protected," said Billy Burn, VitalChek vice president of sales. "Customers may safely and conveniently order vital records online 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

"We have been increasing the requirements for identification to protect our customers from identity theft," said Ron Hyman, state registrar of vital events for the State of Colorado. "Some of our customers are in situations where they have lost documents due to fire and storms and need to re-establish their identities, and VitalChek allows them to do that."

VitalChek's state-of-the-art applicant verification methods make it safe and convenient to order official copies of vital documents, including birth and death certificates (http://www. vitalchek. com/agency_locator. aspx? EventType=Death), and marriage (http://www. vitalchek. com/agency_locator. aspx? EventType=Marriage) and divorce records (http://www. vitalchek. com/agency_locator. aspx? EventType=Divorce) via the Internet. The ProCheck service verifies the actual existence of a person trying to place an order and helps spot fraudulent identities, while ProID generates an interactive verification quiz that ensures that the person placing an order is whom they claim to be.

Larimer County is the 100th government agency to use VitalChek authentication services. Other agencies using VitalChek authentication services include Virginia Vital Records, New Mexico Vital Records, Colorado Department of Health and Cook County Vital Records, which provides birth certificates for the city of Chicago.

VitalChek Network Inc., a ChoicePoint Company, is America's first online remote ordering service for life's important documents. For almost 20 years, VitalChek has provided an affordable, easy and reliable way to obtain official government vital records as an official service provider for more than 600 government agencies throughout the United States and U. S. Territories, safely delivering millions of important documents every year. VitalChek is the preferred source for online birth certificates (http://www. vitalchek. com/agency_locator. aspx? EventType=Birth) for congressional offices, passport acceptance agencies, travel agencies, major airlines and cruise lines, post offices, school administrators, tour operators, department of defense and military recruiters, sports organizations, hospitals, public health agencies and courts and social services agencies. Additional information is available at vitalchek. com.

About ChoicePoint:
ChoicePoint (NYSE: CPS) provides businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations with technology, software, information and marketing services to help manage economic and physical risks as well as identify business opportunities. Consumers have free access to the reports we create at ChoiceTrust. com. Learn what we do to protect consumer privacy by visiting PrivacyatChoicePoint. com and, for more information on our company, go to ChoicePoint. com.

ChoicePoint, ProCheck and ProID are registered trademarks of ChoicePoint Asset Company.

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