University System News:
www.politics.myajc.com
Blue Cross and Piedmont sign deal on health contract
By Mark Niesse
A deal has been finalized between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Piedmont Healthcare, securing health insurance coverage for many Georgia patients. The agreement announced Monday allows Piedmont patients with Blue Cross insurance to see their doctors without incurring higher out-of-pocket costs, according to Piedmont. Blue Cross patients will remain “in network” when they visit Piedmont hospitals. The previous contract had expired April 1, forcing patients out of Blue Cross’ network. About 500,000 Georgia residents have used Piedmont services with Blue Cross insurance in the past 18 months. Gov. Nathan Deal had announced a tentative “handshake deal” between the companies last week. Piedmont and Blue Cross completed the agreement and signed it Friday night. Patients who received services since April 1 will be covered retroactively.
www.onlineathens.com
Piedmont Healthcare back in Blue Cross insurance network
http://www.onlineathens.com/news/20180423/piedmont-healthcare-back-in-blue-cross-insurance-network
By Lee Shearer
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center is now back in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia network, the healthcare company that owns the Athens hospital announced Monday. The insurance company had kicked Piedmont Athens Regional out of its network April 1, after parent Piedmont Healthcare and the insurance company failed to agree on terms for a new contract following months of negotiations. After the deadline came and went, people who used the Athens medical center or medical providers connected to it would face substantially higher “out-of-network” fees. The agreement, signed Friday, is retroactive, meaning patients who were levied out-of-network charges after April 1 can now get that money back, Piedmont announced. The agreement, which extends into 2021, affects more than half a million people, including state workers and workers at all the state’s public college and universities, public school workers and many employees of private companies. Gov. Nathan Deal announced last week that the two companies had reached a handshake deal. According to Piedmont’s announcement, they made it official by signing a contract Friday.
www.albanyherald.com
Education Briefs
News and notes in education from around the state and southwest Georgia
From Staff Reports
Brooks Society to award 22 teacher scholarships
CAMILLA — The Brooks Society, based here, will soon launch an ambitious and generous teacher scholarship program that will benefit 22 highs school junior and seniors from poor counties who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend college. The program will run for at least four years. One student from each of the 22 counties statewide will be provided full tuition plus spending money to attend Valdosta State University. The hope is that, upon graduation from VSU, the students will return to their home counties and become teachers. The students will be selected by a Brooks Society board in each of the 22 counties. Members have yet to be named. The genesis of the program is Ruby Sullivan, the youngest of seven children born during the Depression in rural Mitchell County. The Sullivans could not afford to send Ruby to college, so she traveled to the local bank and asked banker J.E. Brooks for a loan so she goes go to Valdosta State.
www.tiftonceo.com
Natural Resources Conservation Workshop at ABAC in Tifton June 10th-14th
Staff Report From Tifton CEO
Over $15,000 in college scholarships, back-to-nature field trips, and a true taste of college life will be on the line for high school students who attend this year’s Natural Resources Conservation Workshop on June 10-14 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. “The workshop provides an excellent opportunity to engage high school students in the importance of natural resources and agriculture in Georgia,” NRCW Director Luke Crosson said. “During NRCW, students gain a new perspective on conservation, stewardship, and sustainable agriculture with both classroom and outdoor experiential learning. The workshop opens the door for many students to consider a college major for a career in agriculture and natural resources.” Students participating will attend lectures and hands-on activities to boost their knowledge of Georgia’s vital natural resources. Local, state, and federal natural resource agencies and specialists from universities will host these sessions.
www.albanyherald.com
Albany State University Project S.T.O.P. initiative spreads education, awareness
Three-year grant intended to battle dire public health issue in southwest Georgia
By Jennifer Parks
The need to address the rising HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease rates in southwest Georgia prompted the awarding of a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration aiming to reverse the trend among young adults. Albany State University’s Project S.T.O.P., or Students Taking on Prevention, conducts presentations and trains presenters for the program’s message primarily in Dougherty County, Lee County and both Albany State campuses — focusing on young adults ages 18-24. The grant, awarded in 2015, was meant for combating substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and STDs after data indicated that the rates in Dougherty ranked among the highest in the state. Phoebe’s Network of Trust, Family Literacy Connection, Open Arms and Lily Pad are among the agencies involved in helping Project S.T.O.P. move forward.
www.thegeorgeanne.com
College of Education professor to be recognized at national conference for lifetime mentor award
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_ea306c5a-85d0-561a-890c-fbe9b94eafb0.html
By Bisola Oke The George-Anne contributor
A Georgia Southern University professor has been awarded the Jane E. Myers Lifetime Mentor Award for significant contribution to the counseling profession. According to a GS press release, College of Education Professor Brandon Hunt, Ph.D., was announced the winner of the award. With more than 26 years of experience instructing counselors, Hunt said she was honored to receive the award.
www.augustachronicle.com
Cyber Supremacy: Can Augusta come out on top?
http://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20180421/cyber-supremacy-can-augusta-come-out-on-top
By Damon Cline
It’s been one year since a national business magazine prognosticated “7 Cities That Could Become The World’s Cybersecurity Capital.” If you missed Augusta’s 125-word mention in Fortune magazine’s report published April 6, 2017, you’ve most likely heard it repeated ad nauseam in some form or fashion during the past 375 days by enthusiastic state and local leaders who consider the speculative article validation that Augusta is on its way to global cyber industry greatness. But “World Cybersecurity Capital?”… Atlanta: The home of Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Tech Village incubator has been making inroads into the cybersecurity sector. It’s financial services IT hub, “Transaction Alley,” already processed 70 percent of electronic payments. Atlanta also is one of six cities, the only in Georgia, in the running for the Army’s proposed Futures Command, an innovation-focused four-star command. Augusta’s Army Cyber Command is a three-star command.
www.mdjonline.com
U.S. Department of Labor, Georgia Tech and Georgia Department Of Public Health form alliance to reduce lead exposure
MDJ Staff
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute’s Safety, Health, and Environment Services Group; and Georgia Department of Public Health’s Division of Health Protection have formed a two-year alliance to raise awareness about lead exposure. OSHA and its partners will provide employers, industry leaders and the public with information, guidance and access to training resources on preventing worker exposure to lead hazards in general and construction industries. The alliance will also emphasize how best to communicate this information to hard-to-reach workers.
Higher Education News:
www.educationdive.com
Why institutions should invest in sustainability practices
AUTHOR Shalina Chatlani
While many institutions have already embraced practices like recycling, bike share and energy-efficient design for buildings, “much more is needed to achieve carbon neutrality,” higher ed facility and operations management expert Ron Gregory recently told Education Dive. What will really make a difference, he said, is building a culture around sustainable practices on campus, like switching off unused lights and turning down thermostats, and even having an institution’s IT team “set public computers to automatically sleep when not in use.”