WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., say that despite a recent federal ruling affirming that Medicare data should be available to the public and federal efforts to make some data publicly available, much more still needs to be done to make Medicare claims data fully transparent.

“Medicare is a $500 billion program with billions of dollars going out in error each year,” Grassley said. “The bad actors get bigger and bolder all the time. They stay out of law enforcement’s reach all too often. It’s time to try new things. More transparency about billing and payments increases public understanding of where tax dollars go and foster accountability. The bad actors might be dissuaded if they knew their actions were subject to the light of day.”

“Medicare claims data transparency seems to be moving in the right direction, but we’re just not there yet,” Wyden said. “Aggregated data and statistical averages can hide differences between providers and settings, and don’t allow Americans to truly compare their health care choices. In order to enjoy the benefits of full transparency, Medicare claims data should be readily available to the public.”

Grassley and Wyden plan to reintroduce the Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act (Medicare DATA Act). The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue regulations to make available a searchable Medicare payment database that the public can access at no cost. The bill also clarifies that data on Medicare payments to physicians and suppliers do not fall under a Freedom of Information Act exemption.

Rock Island – An alternative development plan for the historic Audubon School has been identified. Joseph L. Lemon, Jr., developer of the historic Abbey Station event center in Rock Island and the Abbey Center in Bettendorf, IA has announced his interest in pursuing a project that would be a “win-win-win” for the community, the Rock Island/Milan School District and the City.

“Our development team has successfully brought many buildings back to life. Audubon School is a community resource that has great re-use potential,” said Mr. Lemon, whose family has ties to the school. “We see economic opportunities for residential or other uses that could fit within the existing building. We have some work to do, but we are confident that there are alternatives to demolition.”

The site is currently under an option agreement between Fareway Stores, Inc and the School District that expires on August 1. On Tuesday, June 4, the Rock Island City Planning Commission will consider a proposed rezone that, if approved by the city council, would lead to Audubon’s demolition. Neighborhood groups are actively opposing the project.

Victor Panagos, an adjacent property owner said “The City Council said they would have considered retaining Audubon’s Landmark Designation granted by the Preservation Commission if there were development alternatives. Now we know that there are. As a community, we must have a vision that includes preservation of our historic resources. People like Joe Lemon can help us fulfill that vision and still achieve the city’s fiscal goals.”

For details and updates, go to https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheAudubonElementarySchool/

The Quad City International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) will be presenting a FREE Seminar on Monday, June 17, 2013 at the MRA Administrative Offices located at 3800 Avenue of the Cities – Suite 100 in Moline, Illinois. The speaker will be Marie Herman, CAP-OM, ACS and she will be presenting “Becoming a Dynamo -Developing Charisma & Influencing Skills”.

Networking/Gathering begins at 5:30 PM, Dinner at 6:00 PM (reservation is required – meal cost is $8.00) and the speaker will begin at 6:30 PM. Following the presentation, the IAAP Illinois Division President, Marie Herman, CAPOM, ACS will install the 2013-2014 Chapter Board. A short chapter business meeting will be held following the installation.

To register, please contact Stephanie Noyd by 11:00 AM by Friday, May 10, 2013 at (309) 235-5775 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information, go to our website at www.iaap-quadcity.org/quadcity/meetingsevents.

IAAP is the world’s largest international association of administrative professionals. IAAP offers professional development, leadership training and networking opportunities for administrative professionals. IAAP is a non-profit, volunteer association.

Joining a professional organization demonstrates your commitment to your career. Work is most rewarding when we do it with enthusiasm and give it our best. Through IAAP you will gain knowledge, confidence and contacts that will help you advance professionally. IAAP works to build a professional image of administrative professionals in the workplace. 

IAAP membership is open to all persons working in the administrative field, along with business educators, students, firms and educational institutions. There is no test of sponsorship required. Through IAAP qualified professionals can test for the certification rating, the benchmark of excellence in the administrative profession. For more information please contact Kathy Riley at (309) 489-6122.

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Calling for a Change of Course at the Country’s Largest Company,

Calls for Good, Safe Jobs at Walmart Stores and Suppliers and an End of the Attempts to Silence Associates Echoing Nationwide

IOWA – Today, striking workers from Davenport will be walking off the job and rallying with community supporters before getting on a bus to take their concerns to Walmart executives and shareholders in Bentonville, Arkansas. They will join workers who went on strike in California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington State earlier in the week. With community leaders rallying in support of workers at their stores and online, the strikers will join the nationwide “Ride for Respect” to Walmart’s annual shareholders meeting.

In the spirit of the civil rights movement, the “Ride for Respect” is a weeklong, nationwide caravan during which workers and supporters will be voicing the direct impact that Walmart is having on their lives and our economy – on the road and online.

WHO: OUR Walmart Strikers, Community Supporters

WHAT: Rally and send-off event for striking Walmart workers

WHEN: Thursday, May 30 at Noon

WHERE: UFCW Local 431

1401 W. 3rd St.

Davenport, IA 52802

With community supporters echoing their calls nationally, the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), a national organization of Walmart employees speaking out for a stronger company and economy, has been calling on the country’s largest employer to create better jobs. With more than $16 billion in annual profits and executives making 1,000 times more than the average Walmart employee, a growing number of associates and supporters nationwide are calling for the company to provide full-time work with a minimum salary of $25,000 a year so that workers at the country’s largest employer don’t have to rely on tax-payer funded programs to support their families.

Despite Walmart workers’ struggle to support their families, plummeting customer service ratings, weak store sales due to understaffing, and preventable tragedies in the supply chain, Walmart has attempted to silence these voices through illegal retaliation, meritless lawsuits and even firing workers. Meanwhile, support for these calls for change has grown since the historic Black Friday strikes and protests at 1,000 Walmart stores last fall.

In a sign that Walmart is hearing these concerns, the company made an announcement on scheduling in April on the same day that hundreds of workers and supporters confronted store managers at locations nationwide. Still, even as the company spends millions of dollars on an ad campaign about jobs at the company and OUR Walmart members try to ensure newly proposed policies are implemented quickly and effectively, a new survey shows Walmart employees are largely unhappy with their employer and many longtime employees are not getting the hours they need. At the same time, Walmart’s reactions to dangerous working conditions at warehouses and supplier factories in Bangladesh and across the globe have been met with empty promises that continue to put workers at risk.

Follow the caravan on Twitter at #WalmartStrikers.

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