In March, 2010, Congress passed legislation that will fix the serious problems that small businesses, including the self-employed, face in the current healthcare system: skyrocketing costs, lack of access to affordable coverage and choice among health plans, and administrative hassles. The law will be implemented over five-years (2010-2014) to make transitions as smooth as possible. The general approach is to build on the current employer-based healthcare system: we can still buy insurance from private insurers or not-for-profit plans, and the private sector system isn't changing. Medicare will still cover retirees and Medicaid will continue to cover uninsured children and low-income adults, with new flexibility to cover more people. So what does the law actually mean for small business owners? There are several provisions that are particularly important for small business owners and the self-employed. Key elements include: Small business tax credits Beginning in 2010, businesses that have fewer than 25 full-time employees, pay average annual wages of up to $50,000, and contribute at least 50% of the total premium will be eligible for tax credits of up to 35% of the employer contribution. The full credit will be available for businesses with fewer than 10 employees averaging less than $25,000 annual wages; it works on a sliding scale. In 2014, eligible small businesses buying cove rage through the exchange will receive tax credits of up to 50% of the employer contribution. The credit can be claimed for any two years. High-risk pool A temporary high-risk pool was established in California in September 2010 to allow people who have been denied coverage because of a preexisting condition and have been uninsured for six months to buy affordable comprehensive coverage. Participants will be transitioned to the state exchange in 2014 without a gap in coverage. Insurance pool A state health insurance exchange will create a pool of small businesses with up to 100 employees to leverage purchasing power, enabling insurers to offer lower premiums because they'll have lower administrative costs, and risk will be spread across a larger population. Insurers will have to offer standardized benefit packages within the exchange, so competition will be based on price and quality, not benefit design. Combined with insurance reforms, the exchange will offer small business owners and the self-employed easy access to a broader range of plans, and stable, … [Read more...]
Recall of Shell Eggs
Re: RECALL OF SHELL EGGS Dear Retail Food Facility Owner/Permittee: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in shell eggs from Wright County Egg, which is packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. Please see the reverse side of this letter for the CDPH’s official recall notice. Consumers who believe they may have purchased these shell eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund or destroy them. This recall is of shell eggs only. Other egg products produced by Wright County Eggs are not affected. Consumers with questions should visit www.eggsafety.org. Additionally, please take the following actions to ensure recalled products are not sold for consumption: Contact your suppliers and wholesalers to determine if the products for sale at your retail market are safe or subject to being recalled by their manufacturers Remove from sale the recalled food products immediately. Recalled food products must not be offered for consumption to your customers or employees. Coordinate with your distributor on the return or disposal of recalled products. Discard products in a safe and secure manner Sign up for FDA recall updates at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html. Monitor the website for updated information. Document the disposition of products that are recalled within your facilities and maintain proper recordkeeping. Advise persons who think they may have become ill from the shell eggs to consult with their health care providers. If used, raw shell eggs should be fully cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If shell eggs are served undercooked, a consumer advisory should be posted in accordance with the California Retail Food Code (Cal Code) Eggs should be purchased or received from a distributor refrigerated and stored refrigerated at ≤ 45 ̊ F (≤7 ̊ C) at all times. Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs. Please refer to FDA guidance at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm222501.htm for further information and updates on the shell egg recall. Thank you for your food safety efforts. "Environmental and … [Read more...]
Hellman Recalls Avocado Pulp
Food Recall Action Alert July 9, 2010 For Immediate Release Contact:Christine Cunnick 703-516-0700 National Grocers Association J. Hellman Frozen Foods, Inc. Recalls 992 Cases Señor Mexicano Avocado Pulp Recall Reason: Because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on a confirmed positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the FDA. Packs/Codes: Señor Mexicano™ Avocado Pulp, 2lbs bags (UPC Code 7 503012 650001) with the following Lot number: A 21 04 10 / A 21 04 12. Photos: Product Labels The company has said they have notified all their customers who have received the product in question and have directed them to remove it from their shelves and return to them as soon as possible. Because it is possible that products bearing the Lot number A 21 04 10 / A 21 04 12 were further distributed and could be on store shelves and in consumer homes, this recall is being extended to the general public. Instructions for Retailers/Distributors: Immediately examine your inventory and quarantine product subject to recall. If you have product purchased between these dates, please with the affected Lot number contact J. Hellman Frozen Foods, Inc. immediately and return this product as soon as possible in order to credit your account accordingly. Distribution: [Multi-State]: Distributed in California and Hawaii. Contact: Retailers with questions regarding the recall should contact Greg Abadjian, Director of Food Safety at 213 - 243-9105 betweem the hours of 4 A.M. and 9:30 A.M. N.G.A. is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. Most independent operators are serviced by wholesale distributors, while others may be partially or fully self-distributing. Some are publicly traded but with controlling shares held by the family and others are employee owned. Independents are the true "entrepreneurs" of the grocery industry and dedicated to their customers, associates, and communities. N.G.A. members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about N.G.A. and the independent sector of the industry, see … [Read more...]
