Latest news with #HIP
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bet Ontario: Decline In Home Wagering Leads To Decreased Funding For Critical Programs
The popularity of 'Buy Canadian' programs as a response to U.S. threats on Canada's sovereignty has been extended to Ontario's horse racing industry in a campaign called Bet Ontario (#betontario).Ontario Racing is encouraging those that choose to bet on horse racing to consider the critical importance of wagering on the races conducted in Ontario. Betting on Ontario races in Ontario is essential for supporting some 30,000 jobs in the province connected to the horse racing sector, which translates into about 23,000 full-time equivalent put, the Ontario horse racing industry keeps the most money from bets made in Ontario on live races being conducted in the province (and please always bet responsibly).It's known as Home Market Area (HMA) wagering and it is the primary source of funding for critical horse breeding programs. That part is worth repeating. The amount of money in Ontario breed-development programs such as Standardbred racing's Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) and breeder rewards and bonus programs for Thoroughbreds is directly tied to HMA betting. In fact, HMA wagering is, by far, the largest source of funding for those wagering is defined as: Any wager on horse racing made while the person betting is physically located in Ontario. That includes wagers made at one of 15 Ontario racetracks, a long list of off-track betting locations, and via online platforms such as HPIbet and means bets made in Ontario on live racing happening outside of Ontario count as HMA wagering, too, but the Ontario horse racing industry receives a lower percentage of the proceeds because it shares the money with the out-of-province host the platform used to make the bets matters. Since the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) owns and operates HPIbet, more of the proceeds from wagers made via that platform stay in the Ontario horse racing operates like a not-for-profit company. Any profit it generates is invested back into the horse racing industry. Over the last two fiscal years, HMA wagering has declined 12.6 per cent, with a 6.5 per cent decline from $733 million to $686 million in the last fiscal has already led to a decrease in funding for programs under the Horse Improvement Program (HIP) managed by Ontario Racing. HIP supports the breeding and racing of Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter wagering provides about 60 per cent of total HIP funding. In fiscal year (FY) 2025, the amount of HIP funding from HMA wagering was just over $20.6 million (unaudited). Due to the decrease in HMA betting, the amount of HIP funding from that source is budgeted to be $19.35 million at the end of the current Gaughan, the independent chair of Ontario Racing, said the launch of online casino and sports betting platforms in the province in April of 2022 has had a negative impact on betting on horse racing. Ontario is now home to more than 50 legal online gambling operators offering more than 80 different sites. Through the first three years of operation, those online gambling sites have, collectively, generated more than $7 billion in revenue. 'HMA wagering is under competitive siege from the advent and proliferation of advertising and aggressive player marketing from well-funded and deeply capitalized licensed digital gaming operators in Ontario and this decline in HMA wagering in the last two years amounts to an annualized loss of about $11-12 million of horse racing industry income,' Gaughan said. 'It means we have had to trim about $3 million annually from the respective HIP programs and budgets in addition to the industry income loss.'Critical programs under HIP include: the Standardbred Improvement Program (SIP) that funds the OSS, the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP), the Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program (QHRIDP) and lucrative breeder awards programs for all three a vicious circle. A decrease in purses or breeder awards makes it even more difficult to attract horse owners and for Ontario breeders to survive financially. That could lead to fewer horses being produced in the province, which, in turn, lowers the field size for races. Lower field size typically leads to lower betting handle, which perpetuates the good news is, if HMA wagering goes up in 2025, those programs will receive increased where Bet Ontario comes in. Beyond betting on the Ontario product while located in the province, Ontario Racing is also asking anyone interested in supporting horse racing to spread the word about the importance of Bet using the hashtag #betontario on our social media platforms and encouraging anyone interested in promoting Ontario horse racing to do the same when posting about the industry. The hashtag goes beyond referring to betting on horse racing. It signifies an all-encompassing support for the Racing is also planning an extended educational campaign to better inform the industry about the importance of HMA the meantime, consider bringing new people to the track. Getting close to the horses is the best way to create new fans. Short of that, wagering while watching at home is still an easy and exciting option. For example, Ignite World Racing on Sportsnet has approximately 30 broadcasts a year of major live Thoroughbred races from around the world, including six from HPIbet customers can watch all the races while they the end, it's a little more difficult to slap one of those 'Canadian product' stickers on some 10,000 Ontario horses connected to racing, but Bet Ontario is a 'Made in Ontario,' 'Buy Local' suggestion for Ontarians wishing to support their own world class horse racing industry.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Indiana Medicaid Changes Could Leave Gary Residents Without Coverage
New state legislation in Indiana could significantly change how Medicaid and the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) are managed. Signed by Gov. Mike Braun last week and set to go into effect on July 1, these changes are expected to affect low-income residents, including those in Gary, by tightening eligibility verification, imposing new financial requirements, and limiting outreach. In Gary, where just over 40% of residents are insured by Medicaid, these policy changes are likely to have far-reaching effects. Residents may face more frequent eligibility checks, reduced flexibility in meeting program requirements, and fewer opportunities to learn about or apply for health coverage. Community advocates have raised concerns that the combined effect of these provisions could increase the number of uninsured individuals in vulnerable populations. Below is a breakdown of the key provisions and their potential impacts. The Indiana Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services Administration is now required to implement a wide-ranging system of eligibility verification for Medicaid recipients. The goal is to ensure that only individuals who meet income and residency requirements remain enrolled. Key provisions include: Elimination of self-attestation: Applicants will no longer be able to self-report income, residency, household size, or other qualifying details without third-party verification prior to enrollment. Monthly data matching with the Indiana Lottery Commission and Gaming Commission to flag recipients with winnings of $3,000 or more. Those found ineligible will have coverage terminated. Quarterly and annual reviews of employment, wages, and tax data from the Department of Workforce Development and Department of State Revenue. Monthly checks against records from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Department of Correction, and vital statistics to verify residency, incarceration status, and deaths. Ongoing checks using federal databases covering earnings, benefits, incarceration, and other changes in household circumstances. Any information indicating a change in eligibility status triggers a required redetermination. The state may also contract with third-party vendors for additional database searches. How it affects Gary residents: Though the intended purpose claimed for these measures is to improve program integrity, they could lead to coverage disruptions, especially among individuals whose economic or living conditions change frequently. Several amendments to HIP will create stricter requirements around work participation and cost-sharing: Work requirements are now more narrowly defined. Eligible adults must meet specified conditions such as employment, participation in job training or volunteer programs, enrollment in substance use treatment, or caring for a dependent. Full-time students and recently incarcerated individuals may also qualify for exemptions. Cost-sharing rules have been reinforced. Coverage does not begin until an initial contribution is made to a Personal Wellness and Responsibility (POWER) account. Participants must continue making annual payments — either 2% of household income or a minimum set by the state. Penalties for nonpayment: Individuals at or below 100% of the federal poverty level face reduced benefits, such as the loss of vision and dental coverage, and new co-pay requirements. Those above the poverty line are subject to disenrollment and a six-month lockout if they miss payments by 60 days or more. The law explicitly bars the state from reducing these penalties or waiving the cost-sharing requirements. How it affects Gary residents: These provisions could pose significant financial challenges for low-income households, potentially resulting in reduced access to care or loss of coverage due to missed payments. State agencies and their contractors are now barred from advertising or broadly marketing Medicaid programs. While providers may still advertise their own services, general promotion of the Medicaid program is prohibited under the new rules. How it affects Gary residents: Reduced outreach and public awareness campaigns could make it harder for eligible residents to learn about available programs or navigate the application process, particularly in communities with limited access to digital information or legal aid. The post Indiana Medicaid Changes Could Leave Gary Residents Without Coverage appeared first on Capital B Gary.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In new budget, Mass. Senate Democrats to propose $25M for healthy food program
Bay State families struggling with their food bills could get some extra help if a western Massachusetts lawmaker has anything to say about it. The budget plan that majority-Senate Democrats are expected to unveil Tuesday will fully fund the state's Healthy Incentives Program, which allows qualifying people to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables from participating farmers. The language, backed by Sen. Joanne M. Comerford, D-Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester, would provide some $25 million in funding for the new fiscal year that starts July 1, up from the current $15 million. 'It really speaks to this critical moment,' Comerford, of Northampton, said of shifting federal winds that affected social services programs across government. The 'HIP' program, as it's known in legislative shorthand, traces its roots to 2017. It is intended as an adjunct to the federal government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sometimes referred to as 'food stamps.' With that federal program potentially on the chopping block on Capitol Hill, Comerford and her allies exclusively told MassLive that the expanded state support is even more critical. 'It is urgent and timely and necessary,' Comerford, the vice chairperson of the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee, said. If it's finally approved, the additional money would also restore the maximum benefit under the program to $80 a month for a family of six or more. Right now, that benefit is flat-funded at $20, irrespective of the size of the household. The state was forced to trim support for the program after huge demand, which meant that an initial round of funding that was supposed to last three years was exhausted in 10 months, Rebecca Miller, the policy director for the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, said. The advocacy group has been pressing the case for full funding for months, arguing that it provides a critical lifeline to hungry families and the farms that serve them. 'It's been devastating for farmers,' she said. 'A lot of farmers grew products to serve folks [in the program],' she said. 'Anecdotally, we've heard about people going to food pantries and having less options. Seniors have had to rely on other sources for food.' At the same time, 'we've seen a lot of chaos from the federal government,' as it's cut other programs that support access to fresh fruits and vegetables, including one that allowed schools to buy farm-fresh foods. That, too, rolled downhill on farmers. 'A lot of folks are scrambling, trying to figure out what they are going to do,' she said. If the new Senate language is approved, the infusion of additional taxpayer cash means families can buy 'tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, apples, strawberries and blueberries,' from local growers to augment the food they purchase through SNAP, Comerford said. And that also matters because every county in Massachusetts experienced some degree of food insecurity in 2023, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank. All told, that came out to 1.9 million adults, or 34% of the state's total population. In Bristol, Hampden and Suffolk counties, 45% of adults reported food insecurity in 2023, data show. The number is even higher among families with children, with 1 in 3 households with children statewide reporting food insecurity in 2023, the same data shows. The issue is particularly pressing in western Massachusetts, where the prevalence of child-level food insecurity hit 43% in 2023, data show. As a practical matter, that means a child went hungry, skipped a meal, or didn't eat for an entire day because there wasn't enough money for food. It also comes as families in Massachusetts and nationwide continue to contend with high prices on supermarket shelves, while the Trump administration says it's working to bring them down. 'Food insecurity is real. It's happening to people all over the state,' Nicole McKinstry, of McKinstry Farms, which participates in the program, told MassLive. McKinstry told MassLive that she's seen families with children come into her shop on Montgomery Street and heard them turn down their kids' pleas for strawberries and raspberries because they need to buy such longer-lasting produce as potatoes. 'It's hard for them to understand why they can't get those fresh fruits and vegetables,' she said. McKinstry said she's had to make financial adjustments, trimming staff to account for that reduced state funding. The program also helps her through the leaner winter months when there's not as much fresh produce at hand. While the Senate plan that's expected to be unveiled on Tuesday is one voice in the annual budget derby, it is far from the final one. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey included $18.8 million for the program in the $62 billion spending bill she filed earlier this year. The $61.4 billion budget proposal approved by the majority-Democrat state House last week sets aside $20 million for the program. That means the final amount, like nearly everything else surrounding the state's final budget, will have to be ironed out in closed-door talks that could stretch well into early summer. Comerford, the veteran of more than a few budget battles, is hoping for the best. 'It has been a win-win kind of program,' she said. More political news Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
If Braun wants to make Indiana healthy again, here's how to do it
Obesity is one of Indiana's most urgent and costly public health challenges. Nearly 38% of Hoosier adults and 19% of children live with obesity, placing us among the most affected states in the nation. Nationally, this chronic condition costs the U.S. health care system an estimated $173 billion each year and is linked to a wide range of serious illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and premature death. Though often diagnosed in adulthood, obesity begins much earlier — shaped by a lifetime of exposure to the environments where we live, learn, eat, and play. Yet, our policies rarely reflect that reality. Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday issued a series of executive orders aimed at addressing nutrition and diet-related disease. The orders include plans to expand access to local foods, revise school wellness programs, increase transparency around food additives and develop a statewide strategy to reduce chronic disease. One order also proposes restricting what can be purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), preventing families from using benefits to buy certain foods like sugary drinks or snacks. Opinion: HIP faces deep cuts as Republicans hide behind Medicaid's complexity Addressing obesity in Indiana is essential. But while these executive orders signal intent, the strategies fall short of the bold, evidence-based policies needed to make a measurable difference. Take the proposed SNAP restrictions. SNAP is our nation's largest federal food assistance program, and it plays a key role in shaping food access for low-income households — especially children, who live in more than half of SNAP households. Improving nutrition through SNAP is a worthy goal. But focusing on what people shouldn't be allowed to buy is a narrow and incomplete solution. In fact, research shows little consistent impact of such restrictions on dietary quality or obesity. Worse, these policies can reduce autonomy, reinforce stigma, and weaken support for one of our most important safety net programs. This policy also leans heavily on outdated assumptions that obesity is the result of poor individual choices, despite decades of research showing that structural factors — poverty, food access, marketing, and community design — play a much larger role. A better approach? Invest in what works. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Healthy Incentives Pilot, conducted in Hampden County, Massachusetts, tested what would happen if SNAP participants received a financial reward — an extra 30 cents for every dollar spent on fruits and vegetables. The results were clear: Participants increased their produce intake, without sacrificing food security or other household needs. Combine incentives like this with culturally relevant nutrition education and reliable access to affordable, healthy food, and the result isn't just short-term behavior change — it's a path toward sustained, community-driven progress. Hicks: Indiana's startling Medicaid math forces unpleasant choices To be clear: Improving school meals, expanding food access, and increasing labeling transparency are all important. But, on their own, they aren't enough. Obesity is a population-level problem, and it demands a population-level response — one that spans sectors and addresses the full ecosystem that shapes health, including housing, transportation, education, and economic opportunity. Some communities are already showing what this looks like. In Somerville, Massachusetts, the Shape Up Somerville initiative took a multi-sector, community-wide approach to childhood obesity. The city revamped school lunches, repaired sidewalks and parks, partnered with restaurants to offer healthier options, and provided nutrition education for families. It worked. After just one school year, children in Somerville experienced a notable decrease in BMI z-scores compared to those in similar communities without the intervention. Moreover, a 2019 study assessing the program's economic impact found that for every dollar invested, there was a return of $1.51 in healthcare savings and productivity gains over a 10-year period. Other models across the U.S. reinforce this systems-level approach. Produce prescription programs — operating in states including California, Michigan, and Massachusetts — give patients vouchers to buy fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and grocery stores. Studies show that these programs not only increase fresh produce consumption, but also improve food security and diet-related health outcomes. Medically tailored meal programs, where individuals with diet-related illnesses receive customized meals through healthcare or community-based organizations, show similarly compelling outcomes. Research has linked these programs to fewer hospital admissions, shorter hospital stays, and lower healthcare costs — demonstrating that when food is treated as a core part of care, health improves. Even history points us toward what works. A recent study of sugar rationing during World War II found that when sugar availability declined in the United Kingdom, deaths from diabetes dropped by more than 20%. The takeaway: When we make systemic shifts in how food is distributed and supported, population health improves. Obesity is not a failure of individual responsibility. It's a reflection of the systems we've built and the priorities we've set. If we want to reverse course, we need more than symbolic gestures. We need long-term investments in early-childhood nutrition, universal access to affordable healthy food, safe and walkable neighborhoods and the political will to confront the commercial and policy interests that perpetuate this crisis. Braun's executive orders are a start, but they fall short of what the science tells us is necessary. Indiana has an opportunity to lead with evidence, empathy and common sense. Let's not waste it. Erika R. Cheng is an epidemiologist, public health researcher and associate professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where her work focuses on health equity, child health and systems-based solutions to chronic diseases including obesity. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: RFK, Dr. Oz, Braun want to make Indiana healthy. Here's how. | Opinion
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles is back in Indiana. RFK Jr.'s next moves carry high stakes.
Amid the noise and chaos coming out of Washington, health care must stay rooted in facts, centered on people and resilient against political swings. We now have our first confirmed case of measles in Indiana this year. It was only a matter of time. As misinformation spreads and trust in public health institutions continues to erode, we are seeing the consequences in real time. Measles is back. In rural counties, some seniors are choosing between medication and meals. These are the stakes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new secretary of Health and Human Services, brings his bold, divisive health care vision to Indiana. It's a high-wire act of promise and peril that has the potential to reshape Hoosier health for a generation, for better or worse. Indiana grapples with a 38% obesity rate (among the nation's highest), 12% diabetes prevalence and an opioid overdose death rate of 32 per 100,000 — compounded by rural health care deserts where 1.5 million Hoosiers live. Opinion: HIP faces deep cuts as Republicans hide behind Medicaid's complexity Yet, we boast top-tier health care assets and institutions. Kennedy's reforms could harness these strengths or squander them. His push for preventive care, such as subsidized school nutrition programs or free annual screenings for diabetes, could cut Indiana's chronic disease burden, where heart disease kills over 13,000 Hoosiers yearly. His drive to slash pharmaceutical costs might ease the strain on families juggling insulin and rent. And his backing of integrative medicine blending conventional and alternative approaches could expand personalized care options, resonating with Hoosiers' growing interest in holistic health. But Kennedy's vaccine skepticism raises a red flag. Rural pockets like Dubois and Orange counties already wrestle with fragile trust in public health, where vaccination rates hover below 85%, short of the 95% needed for herd immunity. Texas is reeling from a measles outbreak with over 200 cases and two children dead — a grim warning of what declining rates can unleash. Imagine losing a toddler to a preventable illness. It is a tragedy Indiana must act to avoid. Kennedy's attacks on the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration stoke more worry. These agencies underpin Indiana's crisis response, guiding the state Department of Health's vaccination policies and emergency playbooks. Undermining them without solid alternatives could leave us exposed in the next pandemic. Hicks: America's research dominance was hard-won. We're sabotaging it. Economically, Kennedy's unpredictability threatens Indiana's biomedical sector, a job engine employing thousands at risk if innovation falters under policy chaos. Hoosiers should seize the good while dodging the harm. State leaders and the health department can lead the charge: Fund a $5 million statewide campaign — ads, town halls and school flyers — debunking vaccine myths, led by trusted local doctors and parents. Equip every county health department with mobile vaccine clinics by 2026, targeting schools where rates dip below 90%. Push federally for transparent, evidence-based health care reforms, ensuring integrative medicine and drug pricing controls are fair and effective. We can embrace Kennedy's boldest reforms, like cheaper drugs and healthier kids, but we must hold the line on science. This is Gov. Mike Braun's opportunity to lead an IDOH that's guided by facts rooted in science and committed to the health of all Hoosiers. Dr. Raja Ramaswamy is a first-generation Indian American, an Indianapolis-based physician and the author of "You Are the New Prescription." This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: RFK's anti-vax views are risky for Indiana
