Awards to 36 grantees support President Biden’s Executive Orders on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and represent the largest outreach and enrollment investment ever made through Connecting Kids to Coverage program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), awarded $49 million to organizations on the frontlines of reducing uninsured rates and connecting more children, parents, and families to health care coverage. In support of President Biden’s Executive Orders on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s priority of expanding access to affordable, quality health care, these awards represent the largest investment CMS has ever made in outreach and enrollment through the Connecting Kids to Coverage program. 

“At HHS, it is a top priority to make high-quality health care accessible and affordable for every American,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This past year, through unprecedented investments in outreach and enrollment efforts, a record-breaking 14.5 million people signed up for health care coverage through the ACA Marketplace. With today’s historic investment for children and parents, we will redouble our efforts to get families covered — and give them the peace of mind that comes with it.” 

Grantees will provide enrollment and renewal assistance to children and their families, and — for the first time ever — to expectant parents to promote improved maternal and infant health outcomes. CMS issued 36 cooperative agreements in 20 states through Medicaid’s Connecting Kids to Coverage program. Grantees — including state and local governments, tribal organizations, federal health safety net organizations, non-profits, and schools — will each receive up to $1.5 million over three years to advance Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment and retention. 

“Ensuring kids and families have health coverage is a key priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. CMS is committed to using all available tools to expand coverage,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Families often seek help and information from community organizations they know and trust, and we recognize the pivotal role they play in advancing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment and retention.”

Grantees will participate in the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign efforts, including the national back-to-school initiative, the year-round enrollment initiative, and new initiatives focused on retaining individuals in Medicaid and CHIP. This work will be key, not only as states prepare to resume normal Medicaid and CHIP operations once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, but also as CMS continues to build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s success connecting record-breaking numbers of people to health care coverage.” 

Additionally, grantees will work on several unique activities of their own. They may:

• Engage schools and other programs serving young people.
• Bridge demographic health disparities by targeting communities with low coverage.
• Establish and develop application assistance resources to provide high-quality, reliable Medicaid/CHIP enrollment and renewal services in local communities.
• Use social media to conduct virtual outreach and enrollment assistance.
• Use parent mentors and community health workers to assist families with enrolling in Medicaid and CHIP, retaining coverage, and addressing social determinants of health.

This unprecedented funding bridges many of the gaps that prevent eligible children from connecting to coverage. Of America’s 4 million uninsured children, studies show that 2.3 million are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. However, many of their families either do not know they are eligible or struggle with enrollment. There are also pronounced disparities. American Indian and Alaska Native children have the highest uninsured rates (11.8%), followed by those who are Hispanic (11.4%) and non-Hispanic Black (5.9%). Targeting new and expectant parents can also lead to increased child enrollment, since infants born to people on Medicaid and CHIP are automatically deemed eligible for one year. 

The new Connecting Kids to Coverage grantees were funded through the Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act of 2017 (HEALTHY KIDS Act). The HEALTHY KIDS Act provides continued funding for outreach and enrollment to reduce the number of children eligible for, but not enrolled in, Medicaid and CHIP. Since 2009, the HEALTHY KIDS Act has helped CMS award $265 million to more than 330 community-based organizations, states, and local governments. 

For a complete list of the grantees and more information, visit insurekidsnow.gov.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressed to address gaping inequality in global COVID-19 vaccines, the Biden administration took steps Wednesday to make billions of dollars available to drugmakers to scale up domestic production to share with the world and prepare for the next pandemic.

Under the new initiative, the government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority is soliciting pharmaceutical companies with proven ability to make the more-effective mRNA vaccines to bid for U.S. investment in scaling up their manufacturing. Pfizer and Moderna produce the two U.S.-approved mRNA shots.

The White House hopes the move will build capacity to produce an additional 1 billion shots per year.

The initiative comes as the Biden White House has faced growing pressure at home and abroad over inequity in the global vaccine supply — as the U.S. moves toward approving booster shots for all adults while vulnerable people in poorer nations wait for their first dose of protection.

According to an analysis by the ONE Campaign, an international aid and advocacy organization, only 4.7% of people living in low-income countries have received a first dose. Wealthy nations administered more than 173 million booster shots, while lower-income countries have administered about 32 million first shots.

The Biden administration believes increasing capacity of COVID-19 shots will help ease a global shortage of doses, particularly in lower- and middle-income nations, stopping preventable death and limiting the development of potentially new, more dangerous variants of the virus.

“The goal of this program is to expand existing capacity by an additional billion doses per year, with production starting by the second half of 2022,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said.

On Wednesday, Zients announced that the U.S. has now donated 250 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally — the most of any nation — with a goal of sharing more than 1.1 billion shots by the end of 2022.

There are no firm agreements yet with Moderna or Pfizer to take up the U.S. on the investment, but the Biden administration hopes that the enhanced manufacturing capacity, through support for the company’s facilities, equipment, staff or training, will by mid-2022 allow more COVID-19 doses to be shared overseas as well as help prepare for the next public health emergency.

The administration is prioritizing the mRNA vaccines, which have proven to be more effective against preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19 than the Johnson & Johnson viral vector vaccine, which uses a harmless virus that carries genetic material to stimulate the immune system. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made with a piece of genetic code called messenger RNA that tells the body to make harmless copies of the spike protein so it’s trained to recognize the virus.

Robbie Silverman, senior advocacy manager at Oxfam America, welcomed Biden’s plan to invest into vaccine manufacturing capacity but said it was nowhere near sufficient.

“What the world really needs is distributed regional manufacturing capacity of vaccines, and it sounds like this investment is focused on building U.S. capacity,” he said. “We desperately need the companies who have a monopoly over the COVID vaccines to transfer their technology, and we need the U.S. government to use its leverage.”

Silverman estimated that without companies transferring their knowledge of how to make COVID-19 vaccines, it would take manufacturers elsewhere double the time needed to start making doses, noting that billions of vaccines against other diseases are routinely made in developing countries.

Silverman said that while the U.S. should have negotiated more provisions about vaccine equity when it was securing its own supply, it was not too late to act. He said the U.S. should support the proposed waiver that was drafted by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization, calling for patents on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments to be suspended. And he said the U.S. could invoke the Defense Production Act to target critical ingredients for COVID-19 shots.

“The U.S. government has lots of tools at its disposal to push pharmaceutical companies,” he said, noting that it had invested billions of dollars into creating Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. “The U.S. needs to make sure these companies, which they funded, are prioritizing public health rather than profits.”

Ava Alkon, a senior policy and research officer at Doctors Without Borders, said that the billion doses that might be produced with the U.S. investment were still far from the figure needed to immunize the world. The World Health Organization has estimated that 11 billion doses are needed.

Alkon said that since any manufacturers newly drafted into making COVID-19 doses would not be able to produce any supplies for several months, a more immediate solution is needed. “We believe that the U.S. can distribute many more doses than it already has on an ongoing basis,” she said, calling for the U.S. to be more transparent about how many extra doses it has. She said some estimates suggest the U.S. could have at least 500 million surplus vaccines by the end of the year.

In a statement, Moderna said it hadn’t yet reviewed the Biden administration’s proposal, but that it looked forward to discussing it with the administration “and understanding whether there is a role that we could play in supporting the government’s efforts to address pandemic preparedness.” Pfizer declined comment.

The New York Times first reported on the new initiative.

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“This project represents one of the few opportunities to develop much-needed logistics product in Southern California,” explained Shopoff Realty Investments President and Chief Executive Officer William Shopoff. “We believe this state-of-the-art logistics center with I-10 freeway access will be in high demand as users continue to require large buildings to meet demand.”

Mark Strauss and Rob Quarton from Walker Dunlap represented Shopoff and Artemis in securing the $105 million construction loan with Bank OZK.

“Bank OZK is delighted to provide senior-secured construction financing for the I-10 Logistics Center, a project with strong market fundamentals and top-tier sponsorship,” added Jason Choulochas, regional director of originations at Bank OZK’s real estate specialties group. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Shopoff and Artemis on this project and look forward to a very successful execution.”

Set on 155 acres, the I-10 Logistics Center project includes two high cube logistics/warehouses buildings that have been designed to be eligible for LEED Silver Certification. Building one will cover approximately 814,822 square feet of space and building two will cover approximately 1,017,845 square feet of space, for a total of 1,832,667 square feet of floor area. The project will feature 40-foot clear-height ceilings, 665 employee parking spots, 585 trailer parking spots and 296 dock high doors.

CBRE will represent the property. Darla J. Longo, CBRE Vice Chairman and Managing Director added, “Upon completion this will be the highest quality product of its kind in the market, and we are thrilled to be able to represent Shopoff and Artemis, bringing this stellar new offering to the market.”

With construction financing now secured, site development will commence in April 2021 with construction anticipated to be completed in summer 2022.

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In fact, the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) projects the remodeling industry will be even stronger in 2021, up 3.8% compared to 2020. During the pandemic, homeowners have fixed up or added on decks, updated landscaping and installed new roofs, among other projects. According to HomeAdvisor’s latest annual State of Home Spending report, the number one completed project was interior painting – 35% of households painted in 2020, making a visual impact with a low investment.

What’s on your to-do list? If you’re considering an upgrade but not sure where to start, check out the results of a national survey by Erie Insurance, conducted prior to the pandemic, which revealed what homeowners don’t have, but wish they did. Here are the top five:

1. Walk-in pantry: This topped the list with just under a third of respondents (30%) saying they wish they had one. Kitchen renovations are typically on wish lists, and Houzz reported that demand for kitchen remodelers was up 40% in June 2020 compared to the year prior.

2. Granite countertops: 17.8%

3. Kitchen island: 16.8%

4. Tankless water heater: 16.4%

5. Finished basement: 16.2%

Regardless of the new features or upgrades you choose, it’s important to let your insurance agent know so you can make sure you have enough homeowners insurance coverage. “We understand how important the home is; that’s why we provide coverage to suit every home and budget,” says Bob Buckel, vice president and product manager at Erie Insurance. “Our variety of optional endorsements helps you customize your policy without breaking the bank.” Consider expanding your coverage beyond the standard homeowners policy with endorsements – like equipment breakdown to cover that new tankless water heater.

They can also cover stolen or misplaced jewelry, sewer or drain backups, cyber-crimes, identity theft and underground service lines.

Adding these extra coverages to your home policy can provide you with the comfort knowing all the extra work you put into sprucing up your home will be protected. To make sure you have what you need for your home and everything in it, talk to an insurance agent or visit ErieInsurance.com.

Making home updates can be as big or small an endeavor as you like. If you do take the plunge, be sure you protect your investment.

StatePoint • Contributed

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Owning a home is a huge investment, and once they’ve owned long enough to build up equity, many homeowners opt to leverage the equity for other uses. But if you’re on the fence about taking on another monthly loan payment, an option that may be right for you is co-investing. With a home equity loan, you borrow against the equity in your home and receive a lump sum of money that you have to pay back each month over a specified term – commonly 15 years. The interest rate is usually fixed, but is typically higher than your primary mortgage.

Co-investing offers an alternative to traditional home equity loans. In a nutshell, the co-investing company pays the homeowner an upfront amount, with no repayments for a set number of years, or until the home is sold, whichever comes first. There may also be an option to buy the company out, after a minimum restriction period passes. This option can be ideal for a homeowner who wants access to cash without the added financial burden of monthly loan payments, who has lived in a home long enough to build up some equity, and plans to stay at least another five years.

Unison, a San-Francisco-based real estate company, is a leader in the growing field of co-investment. Unison offers homeowners a cash payment of up to 17.5 percent of their home’s current market value. When the house is sold or 30 years pass, the owner pays Unison an amount equal to the initial co-investment, plus (or minus) a percentage of the home’s appreciated (or depreciated) value. Here’s an example: A homeowner whose home is currently worth $500,000 and who needed $25,000 in cash (5 percent of the home’s value) would repay an amount equal to $25,000 plus 25 percent* of the amount the house appreciates in value during the time of the co-investment.

With a larger co-investment, the company receives a larger share of the appreciation in value. Homeowners can use their cash for anything, but Unison recommends something of long-term value, such as kids’ college tuition, medical expenses, home remodeling, or investing in diverse stocks and bonds. Other benefits of co-investing: Keeping gains from remodeling work and keeping the equity built from prompt mortgage payments. Being a good candidate for homeowner co-investing is not so different from being a good homeowner generally.

Unison requires that homeowners keep the home as their primary residence; stay current on payments for mortgages, property tax, and homeowners’ insurance; keep the home well-maintained to retain and increase value; and keep Unison informed of issues, such as remodeling plans or emergencies, such as natural disasters, bankruptcy, or plans to sell the home. To find out how Unison can help you get the most out of homeownership, visit unison.com. *This is a possible percentage for illustrative purposes. The actual percentage varies based on the specific HomeOwner transaction.

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Owning a home is a huge investment, and once they’ve owned long enough to build up equity, many homeowners opt to leverage the equity for other uses. But if you’re on the fence about taking on another monthly loan payment, an option that may be right for you is co-investing.

With a home equity loan, you borrow against the equity in your home and receive a lump sum of money that you have to pay back each month over a specified term – commonly 15 years. The interest rate is usually fixed, but is typically higher than your primary mortgage.

Co-investing offers an alternative to traditional home equity loans. In a nutshell, the co-investing company pays the homeowner an upfront amount, with no repayments for a set number of years, or until the home is sold, whichever comes first. There may also be an option to buy the company out, after a minimum restriction period passes. This option can be ideal for a homeowner who wants access to cash without the added financial burden of monthly loan payments, who has lived in a home long enough to build up some equity, and plans to stay at least another five years.

Unison, a San-Francisco-based real estate company, is a leader in the growing field of co-investment. Unison offers homeowners a cash payment of up to 17.5 percent of their home’s current market value. When the house is sold or 30 years pass, the owner pays Unison an amount equal to the initial co-investment, plus (or minus) a percentage of the home’s appreciated (or depreciated) value.

Here’s an example: A homeowner whose home is currently worth $500,000 and who needed $25,000 in cash (5 percent of the home’s value) would repay an amount equal to $25,000 plus 25 percent* of the amount the house appreciates in value during the time of the co-investment. With a larger co-investment, the company receives a larger share of the appreciation in value.

Homeowners can use their cash for anything, but Unison recommends something of long-term value, such as kids’ college tuition, medical expenses, home remodeling, or investing in diverse stocks and bonds.

Other benefits of co-investing: Keeping gains from remodeling work and keeping the equity built from prompt mortgage payments.

Being a good candidate for homeowner co-investing is not so different from being a good homeowner generally. Unison requires that homeowners keep the home as their primary residence; stay current on payments for mortgages, property tax, and homeowners’ insurance; keep the home well-maintained to retain and increase value; and keep Unison informed of issues, such as remodeling plans or emergencies, such as natural disasters, bankruptcy, or plans to sell the home.

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Search: Home Co-Investment

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The scorching heat is with some added humidity. Around here it is called earthquake season, and there have been plenty of those recently too. The weather hasn’t been the only thing heating up. Metals have moved to their 52-week high. Gold moved first up to into the low $1,400’s, and silver eventually followed up to the lower $16’s. They are hitting the ceiling so to speak for the last 52 weeks. Our Firm recommends taking profits here. In June we gladly recommended to buy around $14.50 and here around $16.45 is a good exit point. This trade would return around 14%. Pretty hot for two months. Don’t get greedy here. Yes, it could break out, but it could also fall back to its lows.

Netflix took a big hit recently with subscriber growth missing expectations. The market is frying it punishment for the big miss. As a FANG member Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google, it possesses the ability to move sharply and strongly. These stocks have led the market with their returns outperforming every index. Time to start watching it. Its all-time highs were just shy of $400. Priced at $306 this is a 25% discount. We do not recommend buying here. Our buy limit is just north of $250. This would be a 38% discount. As Warren Buffett states, “Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” The lower you buy an investment, the less risk to the downside it has and the more upside there is. When you flip these numbers by buying at $250 and selling at $400 it represents a 60% return.

Alpha is watching the Volatility Index, and it appears to be at annual lows around $12. The high of the year boiled over $36. At a third of its price range, we are watching to see how low or how comfortable the market gets. The VIX, known by this symbol, is a popular measure of the stock markets expectation of volatility implied by S&P500 index options. The higher it is, the higher the expected volatility the market is expecting. Lower means there is very little expected volatility.

A good time to look for investment opportunities is usually when this index is high, reflecting that the market has fallen. You can purchase this as an ETF such as symbol TVIX. It is negatively correlated to the stock market. Adding it to your portfolio when the market is at all-time highs is similar to pouring a cool glass of lemonade on a hot July afternoon. It doesn’t turn down the heat, but it will balance you and allow you to endure the heat. If the market falls from here, the VIX will go up offsetting the drop you may have.

As Maynard Ferguson said, “So cool your hot, so hot your cool.” That’s the way every portfolio should be.

Andrew F. Kotyuk, CIMA* is CEO and Principal of Alpha Wealth Management LLC. For questions or investment topics please email me afkotyuk@alpha-wealth.com.

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