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Florida Schools were ordered to reopen in the fall by an executive order issued in early July. In order to reopen, schools must submit their plan detailing precautions amid the pandemic.

Most districts are offering options giving parents the choice to continue virtual learning or to attend school following safety guidelines. Parents have options so visit your school district or school website and be sure to make a selection.

Many districts have delayed the start date till the end of August. A few, particularly in South Florida, are starting on time completely virtual for the first few weeks.

Note: the schools are doing their best to navigate coronavirus. Please understand this is something no one has ever had to work with so it is new for everyone and it can change from day to day. Let’s stay united and show patience and understanding toward each other.

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As a parent, the question we ask toward the end of summer is, “when do you go back to school?” So here is a simple listing of the biggest dates for each school district to help you out. This Florida School Calendar shows the major days off of school and does not include teacher workdays or minor holidays.

We actively work to update this list. Please remember that due to un-expected circumstances such as hurricanes and possible changes in the pandemic closures, dates are subject to change. 2020-2021 school calendar dates are added below based on the calendar from the individual school districts. This date is subject to change so please be in direct contact with your school or school district for the latest updates and to verify dates.

COVID-19 update

Succession Planning for Your Family Business: Start Preparing Now!

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:59:46 GMT

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Every owner of a closely-held family business wants to know the business will continue—even thrive—once they’re gone. A well run, well managed family business can provide for you and your loved ones long after you’ve stepped down from its operation. It can even support your family after you’re gone. Most owners I talk to expect that their business will continue long into the future.

The reality, though, is less encouraging. According to the Family Business Institute, only 30% of family businesses survive into the second generation—most often due to a failure in the succession planning process on the part of the business owner.

In many ways, your succession plan is like a will for your business. No one wants to dwell on thoughts of when they’re gone, but doing so is necessary to care for the ones we love—including the business you’ve poured your energy into.

In the worst cases, I’ve seen ineffective and unrealistic succession plans result in infighting amongst families, and even the liquidation or collapse of businesses.

In the best cases, I’ve seen families spring into action, with each person knowing their new role, and the business running as strong as ever. (…And the IRS failing to take more than is owed by law.)

Why succession plans fail (and cause businesses to fail)

There are a few problems I see small business owners run into time and again.

One of the biggest is objectivity. I talk with owners all the time who “know” that their son (who has only briefly worked as a manager) has what it takes to guide the company in the future, or they “know” that their daughter will take over their leadership role.

“Have you asked your daughter if she wants to take over for you?” I ask.

“Well, I don’t have to!” my client says.

That’s the start of a difficult conversation, to say the least.

Preparing your child (or sibling, or partner) for a role they don’t want is a recipe for disaster. They conversations may be tough—acknowledging that someone isn’t, in fact, fit for a leadership role can be heartbreakingly painful—but in the end, no one is served by an unrealistic plan.

Strong communication can soften these blows. Make sure you know all the stakeholders in these decisions. While you might have the last word, your choices will affect your loved ones for many years to come, from your spouse to your children to your employees.

The last thing you want is for your loved ones to be surprised at your decisions—especially once you’re gone. By sharing your thought processes, and seeking open feedback from your family, you can make sure that you don’t blindside someone with a role they don’t want or aren’t ready for… and ensure you aren’t blindsided either.

With that in mind, there are a few aspects that great succession plans have in common.

Keys to an effective succession plan

Plan early

The first is an early start—in fact, the sooner you begin this process, the better.

By planning for your succession long before you may need to, you’ll have much greater flexibility. Depending on your situation, you may be able to transfer ownership of the business to your children and thereby avoid an unnecessary estate tax, or you may decide to slowly transition new leaders, managers, or employees in to the business.

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Planning far in advance allows you to ensure that your plan is much more than just a list of names and roles. For that reason, I’ve heard it called succession development rather than planning—the idea being that you want to make sure key people can grow into their upcoming roles, rather than being thrust into them.

Think of it like a football game—you don’t wait until your starting quarterback is injured to have your backup go suit up. No, you want his replacement not just dressed out and sitting on the bench, you want him to be well-trained, warmed up, and excited to get in the game.

Train your key players

As you think about the business after you’ve stepped down, there are 3 roles that will need to be addressed in every business—ownership, leadership, and management.

For closely-held, family businesses, ownership almost always transfers to one’s children (often split between many children).

Leadership, on the other hand, may go to a partner or trusted employee, depending on the capabilities and wishes of one’s family. (Remember how important it is to be honest, and to solicit honest feedback?)

Management often must change with the leadership, as the most experienced managers are promoted. Who will replace the new leadership in their previous roles? Often your current managers can identify their best replacements from within.

Focus on 3 roles

While much of your succession plan has to come from you—your decisions and your wishes about the future of the company—there are a lot of aspects that require outside help.

When it comes to transfer of ownership, tax planning, and legal issues that might arise, listen to the advice of a trusted accountant and attorney. More often than not, they’ll save you much, much more than they cost you.

Case in point: the 35% estate tax. If your personal assets (including life insurance benefits paid on death) and business valuation together exceed about $5.1 million, your family will be responsible for at least $1,780,000 in taxes. If they don’t have that kind of cash on hand, they may need to liquidate your company just to pay the taxes on it!

With smart planning, though, these kinds of problems can be headed off long in advance.

Involve your accountant & attorney

Ready to get started on your succession plan? Drop your email address below to receive our free guide to 20 essential questions to ask your family before creating your succession plan.

Don’t put it off

Succession Planning for Your Family Business: Start Preparing Now!

Who needs estate planning?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:53:37 GMT

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Countless people make the mistake of believing they don’t need an estate plan. After all, only the extremely wealthy have an “estate”… right?

You might be surprised to learn that you have an estate—at least you do if you have:

investments,
a house,
a car, or
a savings account.

Don’t have any of those? How about personal possessions? If you have clothes on your back, you have an estate.

We all want to know that our wealth—whether that’s an investment account or a beloved collection of dog-eared books—will go to the right people when we’re gone.

At its most basic, that means having a will that tells your loved ones who should receive which possessions, and when they should receive them. This includes the classic stuff you think of in a will—“my book collection I leave to my brother, the avid reader; my investments, to my husband; my heirloom jewelry, to my daughters” and so on.

But, there’s much more to an estate plan than just “who gets what.” You want to rest assured that your loved ones will be cared for, that your wishes for medical care will be followed to the “T.”

Other components of your estate plan

To that end, your estate planning may include several aspects:

A financial plan, to ensure your surviving family members are taken care of after you’re gone. This often includes life insurance, which can protect your family from lost income if you become disabled, or pay to support your family after you pass away.
Tax planning, aimed at preventing your family from paying too much in taxes on your estate (without such planning, the government could take as much as 35% of your estate!).
A sale or succession plan (if you own a business), ensuring that the company can thrive in your absence.
Providing for minor children, in the form of guardianship, as well as someone appointed to manage their inheritance until they come of age.

There’s another aspect of estate planning that is often overlooked: planning for medical care. Depending on your situation, that may mean purchasing long-term care insurance, establishing a health care proxy able to make decisions on your behalf, and more. When it comes to your care in old age or disability, most people feel very strongly. By leaving instructions for your family, you can make sure your wishes are carried out.

As you can imagine, it’s critically important that most of this planning are put in place long before you need it. Some things simply can’t be planned for—unexpected death or sudden disability can strike without provocation. By planning early—just in case—you can spare those you love both the expense and frustration caused by a poorly planned estate.

If you die or become disabled without a solid estate plan in place, the state will intervene. For instance, if you die without a will, the state will divide your wealth between your spouse and children—and they may not get the share you would want. Likewise, the state would control a minor’s inheritance.

The government’s control of your wealth is frustrating enough in life—you don’t want them in charge of your estate when you’re gone!

What happens if you don’t have an estate plan?

Now is the best time to get started.

None of this is fun to think about—most people find estate planning even less exciting than preparing taxes. But, like responsibly dealing with your taxes, an estate plan is necessary for the sake of your family. And, like your taxes, there’s great help available. The best estate planning firms are able to be sensitive to your wishes and suggest solutions that you may not have though of. An estate planner can remove most of the burden from you, and give you the peace of mind that your intentions will be honored.

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Hormone Testing

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:47:54 GMT

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Hormone Testing The Basics and Your Body

Almost all people around the ages of 30-40 begin to experience hormone imbalance. Over our lifetime, we are exposed to environmental and dietary toxins, which contribute to the natural decline of hormones as we age. These Hormones are responsible for a whole host of activity which help keep the body youthful as longevity and quality of life are the main goals. As a result of hormone imbalance you may be experiencing one or a combination of what have become known as the classic symptoms of aging:

Weight gain – Mood swings – Low Sex Drive – Weight Gain – Depression – Fatigue – Sexual Dysfunction – Memory Loss – Poor Sleeping – General Fatigue

Lets take a quick look at the One Lab Hormone Panel which includes:

DHEA-S – TSH – FSH – Estradiol – Progesterone – T3 Free & Total – T4 Free & Total
Testosterone Free & Total – Homocysteine – Prolactin

Why wait till things get worse come into ONE LAB for quick testing only 24-72 hours for your results. Hormone replacement isn’t a one-size-fits-all but a custom plan for your individual needs. Lets look at a quick overview of what these hormones do and why they are so important.

DHEA-S Dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone produced by both men and women and deficiency can include: prolonged fatigue. poor concentration. a diminished sense of well-being.

TSH thyroid stimulating hormone is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland which stimulates the metabolism of almost every tissue in the body.

FSH Follicle-stimulating hormone is a gonadotropin and is synthesized and secreted by cells of the anterior pituitary gland and regulates the development growth, pubertal maturation, and the reproductive process.

Estradiol is used in menopausal women to help treat hot flashes and prevent osteoporosis. It also helps with low estrogen levels.

Progesterone has a variety of important functions in the body. It is also a crucial metabolic intermediate in the production of other endogenous steroids, including the sex hormones and the corticosteroids, and plays an important role in brain function as a neurosteroid.

T3/T4 thyroid hormones are hormones produced by the thyroid gland that are primarily responsible for regulation of metabolism.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid. In males, Testosterone plays a important and primary role for reproductive tissues such as the testes and prostate along with secondary characteristics muscle and bone mass, growth of body hair. Testosterone also is involved in overall health and well-being, studies show it helps prevent osteoporosis with low levels causing bone loss.

Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in blood plasma. High levels of homocysteine in the blood are believed to increase the chance of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis.

Prolactin is secreted from the pituitary gland in response to eating, mating, estrogen treatment, ovulation and nursing. Prolactin is secreted in pulses in between these events. Prolactin plays an essential role in metabolism, regulation of the immune system and pancreatic development.

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ANGIOGENESIS

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:35:57 GMT

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Think of the circulatory system as the highway of the red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the target tissues for nutrition and take away the carbon dioxide for garbage. It can be a rough ride down the pathways if there are potholes on the road or if there is heavy traffic along the route. Turbulence harms the fragile red blood cells, much like it would likely cause damage to your vehicle. Blood vessels compose our circulatory system and are burdened by damage caused by cholesterol plaques, smoking, excessive sugar consumption, etc. These insults cause inflammation and fibrosis leading to the breakdown of a smooth ride for the oxygenated red blood cells.

Our bodies are built with internal mechanisms to help heal the damage caused by daily life, bad choices and genetic consequences. Growth factors are naturally secreted from blood components called platelets that are important to repair, wound healing, and growth. Although many growth factors exhibit angiogenic activity, most evidence points to a special role for Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), also called vascular permeability factor, that promote blood vessel formation in early development (vaculogenesis) and have a central role in the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis)¹.

Low-intensity extracorporal shock wave (LI-ESWT) causes a sort of “microtrauma” to the tissues which then release angiogenic factors such as nitric oxide synthase and VEGF and also causes the release of endothelial cell proliferation factors such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Studies show that LI-ESWT, like RegenerWave™, elevates the angiogenic marker levels within a few days post-therapy and the levels remain high for almost 2 months²! This is important to understand in the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. Kalyvianakis, a leading researcher in the use of LI-ESWT for ED, demonstrated the significant improvements of penile hemodynamics after a 9 week trial of 12 sessions³. Thanks to all of this data, RegenerWave™ will soon become your first choice to treat Erectile Dysfunction.

Cotran, R. Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 6th edition. 1999.
Wang, C. Shock wave therapy induces neovascularization at the tendon-bone junction. A study in rabbits. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2003; 21:984-989.
Kalyvianakis D. Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy Improved Hemodynamic Parameters in Patients With Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction: A Triplex Ultrasonography-Based Sham-Controlled Trial. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2017; 14: 891-897.

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Why Are My Drug Test Results Taking So Long?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:34:03 GMT

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As good as we are at responding to our clients’ requests, there are some things you cannot rush.

The majority of negative test results are delivered within 24-48 hours of collection.

Here is how positive drug test results work.

If a drug tests positive on the initial screening test, then the lab performs a more thorough test (usually GC/MS), usually the following day. If it fails that test the result goes to the MRO for review.

MRO calls donor to ask for explanation.

If the donor is contacted immediately and the MRO has all s/he needs, the result is released. Total time can be as little as 3 or 4 business days.

For DOT tests, our MRO tries to reach the donor 3 times within 24 hours. If no contact, they let us know and we’ll ask you to have him/her contact the MRO. At that point, if they don’t hear from him, they release results in 72 hours. Technically they are supposed to give him 10 days though, so some circumstances may extend the process.

For non-DOT tests, the MRO tries to reach the donor once and give him/her 24 hours to respond. If no response, they release the result as a “non-contact positive.”

If there is a conversation between MRO and donor, and donor has no satisfactory explanation, result is released as positive.

If there is an explanation (e.g. a prescription), then the MRO releases it accordingly.

For DOT tests, the lab and MRO are not allowed to tell us anything until it’s complete.

These things can take anywhere from 2 days to more than a week, depending on whether the MRO can reach the donor right away. If a prescription is involved, the donor is given time to provide it.

New for 2018: If the donor provides a valid prescription, the MRO is required to release a negative result. If there is a possible safety concern, the MRO will ask that the donor be switched to a safer medication. If that is not done, or not possible, the MRO may revise the negative result to be “negative with a safety concern.”

We all wish the process were faster, but the system is designed to protect the donor’s privacy in the case of a prescription, and to protect the rest of us from liability in those cases as well.

Lastly, don’t assume a slow result will come back positive. Sometimes they come back negative. Wait till you know for sure.

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THE BASIC BENEFITS OF STEM CELLS

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:31:35 GMT

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Stem cells have the potential to replace cell tissue that has been damaged or destroyed by severe illness. Stem cells can be used to generate healthy and functioning specialized cells which can then replace diseased or dysfunctional cells.

Stem cells therapy can treat any disease where there is tissue degeneration.

Cell replacement therapy could treat injuries and various genetic and degenerative conditions, such as:

Retinal degeneration
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Muscular dystrophies
Arthritis
Diabetes
Spinal cord injuries
Blood disorders
Many More

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REFRESHING DRINK THAT ALSO MELTS AWAY FAT IN 4 DAYS

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:29:29 GMT

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GET TESTED for PRESENCE OF TOXIC METALS HAIR

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:27:27 GMT

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.The LiveScanLabs provides the essential Toxic & Essential Elements Profile contains an extended a Line up of toxic metals. This Profile provides important information about your health conditional which can assist to a doctor with an early diagnosis. For instance,

Nickel (Ni) is essential element which is required extremely low amounts, and excess of Nickel (Ni) has been established to be nephrotoxic, and carcinogenic.

Elevated Ni is often found in individuals who works in

* electronic and plating

* mining

* steel manufactured industries.

A cigarette contains 2-6 mcg of Ni, and Ni absorbed more efficiently in lungs than in a gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of chronic exposure include:

* chronic rhinitis,

* dermatitis,

* hypersensitivity reactions,

* hyper sensitize the immune system , subsequently sousing hyper allergic responses to many different substances.

Long term or chronic Ni toxicity may lead to

* liver necrosis

* carcinoma

DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOUR HEALTH CONDITION BECAME IRREVERSIBLE!

AFFORDABLE PRICES

WALK-IN WELCOME

CONFIDENTIAL

NO DOCTOR’S REFERRAL NEEDED

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Drug Tests

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:25:53 GMT

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Drug testing unrelated to the reporting of a work-related injury or illness.

Drug testing under a state workers’ compensation law.

Drug testing under other federal law, such as a U.S. Department of Transportation rule.

Drug testing to evaluate the root cause of a workplace incident that harmed or could have harmed employees. If the employer chooses to use drug testing to investigate the incident, the employer should test all employees whose conduct could have contributed to the incident, not just employees

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Apple Cider

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:24:43 GMT

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An apple cider vinegar contains acids and bacterial cultures that are good for digestive system, and preventing UTI’s, and lowering cholesterol and glucose levels, and it can be aid to weight loss.

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DO NOT WAIT TO IDENTIFY the LEAD EXPOSURE!

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:23:34 GMT

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There is no safe level of lead in blood.

Health Effect of Lead Poisoning:

* Impaired Cognitive Ability

* Renal Damage

* Nervous System/behavioral changes

* Anemia, anorexia, tremor

* Hearing, speech and developmental milestone

A blood test can show how much of the element in your bloodstream. Time to testing yourself and your child.

AFFORDABLE PRICES, WALK-IN WELCOME, CONFIDENTIAL, NO REFERRAL NEEDED.

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Total Iron Binding Capacity /TIBC/

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:22:09 GMT

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Total Iron Binding Capacity /TIBC/

An essential blood test has help indicate a presence of iron deficiency or iron overloading. A health care provider’s are frequently ordered Iron blood test along with Ferritin and Transferrin. Those two tests are so essential to calculate the transferrin saturation. In iron deficiency the iron level becomes low, TIBC is elevated, and transferrin saturation becomes too low. If the iron overloading, the iron level in blood becomes elevated, TIBC is low or normal, and transferrin saturation to increase.

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Compliance with New Federal EKRA Law Creates Uncertainties in How Clinical Laboratories Pay Commissions to Their Sales Teams

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:19:57 GMT

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Vague language and last-minute additions to the federal SUPPORT Act of 2018 with its included EKRA provisions mean big changes to how clinical laboratories can legally compensate sales professionals for referrals

Clinical laboratories may be at grave financial risk should they fail to properly comply with the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 (EKRA) provision of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6, aka, SUPPORT Act).

Labs that compensate their sales staff for referrals to recovery homes (aka, sober living houses) and clinical treatment facilities are particularly vulnerable and should carefully examine the wording in the legislation, legal experts warn.

As Dark Daily reported in “Does New Opioid Law Require Clinical Laboratories to Change How They Pay Sales Employees?,” (April 1, 2019), SUPPORT Act legislation aimed at combating the opioid epidemic could hold dire consequences for how medical laboratories operate due to how it expands oversight over a range of common laboratory practices and workflows.

“For sales-driven laboratories who have evolved practices to comply with Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) requirements, what are now best practices might soon create major concerns regarding laboratory compliance with EKRA [H.R. 6878],” Marty Barrack, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at XIFIN told Dark Daily.

Stiff Penalties Threaten Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

With fines of up to $200,000, 10 years in jail, or both, the new EKRA/SUPPORT Act regulations—passed in October 2018—apply separately from existing federal anti-kickback statute (AKS) regulations. Compliance violations can expose both the laboratory, pathologists, and other individuals to federal prosecution.

“Because this is a criminal statute, some laboratories overlook the fact that felony convictions mean zero payments. This is more than worrying about federal prosecution, it can have a lasting impact on a laboratory’s financials and its reputation,” noted Barrack. “The provisions regarding invoicing will raise concerns with how clinical laboratories bill and write-off co-payments and deductibles in areas previously untouched by AKS requirements.”

Charles Dunham, Health Law Attorney, Corporate and Regulatory Practice, Epstein Becker and Green, P.C., outlined potential payment arrangement concerns at Health Law Advisor, saying, “… one statutory exemption provides that compensation paid to both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors would not violate EKRA if the payment is not determined by or does not vary by:

“the number of individuals referred;
“the number of tests or procedures performed; or,
“the amount billed or received.”

The National Law Review warns that “With the passage of EKRA, laboratories, clinical treatment facilities, and recovery homes should immediately consider reviewing all financial arrangements with healthcare providers, contractors, and employees who are in a position to generate referrals—including marketing personnel and sales reps.”

They further note, “… Previously compliant payment methodologies structured under the Anti-Kickback Statute’s employment safe harbor (such as paying W-2 employees a volume or value-based commission) are now at risk of violating EKRA.”

Vague Wording in Law Creates Confusion

As covered in the December 3, 2018, issue of The Dark Report, the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) questions whether—under the new law—laboratories can continue providing phlebotomists or specimen collection devices to physicians’ offices under EKRA. While both scenarios are currently permissible under existing federal AKS regulations, the SUPPORT Act and EKRA do not include language that covers such scenarios.

“Primarily, this language was designed to address potential bad actors working in recovery homes and addiction treatment facilities,” Sharon L. West, Vice President of the ACLA, told The Dark Report. “But then language was added to the bill extending that far beyond treatment facilities to include clinical labs. Now, the new law extends to all payers and all laboratory testing services provided to patients.”

While revisions to or amendment of existing legislation is possible, the terms defined in the existing regulations should concern any medical laboratory offering compensation for the referral of patients for testing.

“The lab industry has some influence to help drive revisions of existing statues. The payer industry also has representation,” Barrack notes. “However, revisions may not proceed as quickly or bring the results some labs expect.”

Understand EKRA and Stay Out of Jail!

It’s critical that all clinical laboratories understand the impact EKRA will have on existing payment agreements, billing practices, and workflows. Non- or incorrect compliance could bring hefty fines—and even jail time!

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Everything a Notary Must Know about an Apostille

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:14:46 GMT

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Everything a Notary Must Know about an Apostille

According to the Hague Conference on Private International Law, “An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document.” In order for the apostille to be used, both the issuing and receiving countries must be party to the Apostille Convention. Additional information about the Apostille Convention can be found in the publication " ABCs of Apostilles. " In addition, the following link provides a list of countries belonging to the Apostille Convention.

I have clients from all walks of life who require assistance in processing their apostille requests. It is important to note that, as notaries, we are assisting with the processing of the client’s paperwork and sometimes providing courier services. The most common documents that need apostilles are birth certificates, school diplomas and transcripts, power of attorneys, and marriage, birth, and death certificates.

While you don’t have to be a notary public to assist with the apostille process, many documents that require an apostille need to be notarized first, so having a notary commission is a plus if you plan to take on this endeavor.

There are several different variables involved when determining how an apostille request should be processed. There is no way all of the variables can be covered in one article. However, the majority of the documents I’ve processed have been fairly simple and have only required an apostille from the Secretary of States Apostille Unit.

Each state handles the apostille request in a different manner. For instance, some states charge a fee per document. At the time of this writing, Texas charges $15 per document apostille. Indiana, on the other hand, does not charge a fee for apostille documents, while New Mexico charges $3 per apostille.

Texas and New Mexico apostille units usually provide same-day service for walk-ins. Indiana does not guarantee same-day service for walk-ins, and if a person is requesting more than 15 documents at one time, the person will have to drop documents off and return in a day or two for pick up.

Before beginning the apostille process, there are several factors that must be considered:

Type of document: This will determine the approval authority. For example, I had a customer who had a Federal FBI background check that needed an apostille for use in Mexico. Two things to note here: 1- Federal documents must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. 2- Mexico is a party to the Apostille Convention, so there was no authentication required, only the apostille.

Country of destination: Is the document to be used in a Hague or non-Hague country? If the document is being used in a non-Hague country, then it will need to be authenticated, not apostilled. (Additional steps are usually required.)

State from which the document originated: This will determine which state issues the apostille. Apostilles are issued by the originating state. For instance, I had a client who lived in Mexico, and he needed an apostille for his college transcripts to use in Mexico. He attended the University of North Carolina, so transcripts had to be notarized by the university’s registrar and then forwarded to the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office for a Mexico apostille.

Date of the document: Rules regarding the dating of documents will vary from state to state. For instance, if a Texas resident has a certified copy of a birth certificate with a date that is more than three years old, a new certified copy of the document needs to be requested. Birth certificates requiring an apostille in the state of Texas cannot be more than three years old. You need to know your state’s procedures.

These are just a few of the steps involved in processing requests for an apostille. Check with your Secretary of State’s Office for a more detailed explanation.

— By Phyllis E. Traylor, U.S. Army Retired, Contributing Writer with the American Association of Notaries.

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LEAD TOXICITY

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:08:46 GMT

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Lead (Pb) is a naturally occurring chemical metal, and is very stable and accumulates in the environment. The human body absorbs organic and inorganic lead , and exposure to high amounts of lead can be dangerous.
SIGNS and SYMPTOMS of ONGOING EXPOSURE:
* Impaired Cognitive Ability
* Affected Nervous system /behavioral changes/
* Damaged renal system, anemia, fatigue
* Hearing, speech and developmental milestone
The Center Disease Control and Prevention says “the following groups of kids aged 6 mo and 6 year old should be considered highly priority for lead blood testing”
The U.S. government ruled that lead based paint was no longer allowed for household use. In fact, an estimated 24 million houses have peeling leaded paint and higher than normal level of lead-filled house dust.If there is a chance you or your child has been exposure to lead, a blood test can show how much of the elements in your bloodstream. So if a blood test result show level are hight you have start treatment to get the lead out from your system.
The PATHWAY of EXPOSURE:
* lead-based paint on the walls, doors and windows
* an environmental and transport mechanism
* lead-contaminated house dust is th major course of exposure from
* Lead occurs in drinking water through leaching from lead-containing pipes, faucets and solders frequently found in the plumbing of older buildings
* Some commercial products
* Some imported jewelry and candies
* Children’s toys
* Cosmetics

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Drug Testing Reporting

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:07:04 GMT

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Drug testing unrelated to the reporting of a work-related injury or illness.

Drug testing under a state workers’ compensation law.

Drug testing under other federal law, such as a U.S. Department of Transportation rule.

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USCIS to stop accepting the TB skin test

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:04:53 GMT

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USCIS to stop accepting the TB skin test

Beginning October 1, 2018, the tuberculin skin test (TST) will no longer be accepted for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) immigration exams (1). All US civil surgeons must use a TB blood test (interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA) as the initial screening method when a test for cell-mediated immunity to TB is required. This new requirement aligns with current CDC recommendations stating that IGRA testing is strongly preferred for those who are BCG-vaccinated.

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STOP PANIC DUE TO HAIR LOSS

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:02:37 GMT

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A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER SCREEN PANEL!

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:59:41 GMT

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Benefit of Intramuscular(IM) Injections

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:57:37 GMT

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Yearly Blood Screening is a Key to Maintain Healthy Life Extension

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:53:40 GMT

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The LiveScanLabs provides the 10 most important blood tests , which are an essential part of yearly screening to maintain optimal health and prevent life treating health problems before they occur.

Annual blood testing is the most important step aging adults can take to prevent Life-threating disease. With blood test results in hand, you can catch critical changes in your body before they manifest as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or worse. Having the proper blood tests can empower you to enact a science-based disease-prevention program that could add decades of healthy life.

Sadly, but most annual medical check-up involve the physician ordering only routine blood tests. Far too often, this blood work does not even test for important markers of disease risk. The consequences of failing to analyze blood for proven markers of disease risk are needless disability and death. Blood test have benefits that go far beyond disease prevention. For instance, by monitoring levels of sex hormones, you can take decisive steps to enhance your quality of life, perhaps by correcting a depressive mental state, creative dysfunction, abdominal obesity, or improving your memory and energy levels.

At least once a year monitoring of these blood tests can drastically improve your quality of life:

* Chemistry Panel/Complete blood Count/Lipid Panel,

* Fibrinogen,

* Hemoglobin A1c,

* DHEA

* PSA (for men)

* Homocysteine

* C-Reactive Protein

* Thyroid Stimulation Hormone

* Free Testosterone and Estradiol

ChemistryPanel/CBC/Lipid Panel this is a Low – cost panel will give you and your physician a quick snapshot of your overall health. This is comprehensive panels to assess your vascular, liver, kidney, and blood cell status. The CBC measures the number, variety, percentage concentration, and quality of platelets, red blood cells, and white cells, and this is useful in screening infections, anemias an other hematological abnormalities.

The Chemistry Panel provides information on the status of your cardiovascular system by testing for total cholesterol, HDL ( hight density lipoprotein), LDL ( low density lipoprotein), triglycerides, and the total cholesterol/HDL ratio. The Chemistry Panel also measures blood glucose, which is critically important for detecting early-stage metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Also, Chemistry Panel is an assessment of critical minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron.

Fibrinogen is an important contributor to blood clotting, fibrinogen levels increase in response to tissue inflammation. Since the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease are essentially inflammatory processes, increased fibrinogen levels can help predict the risk of heart disease, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis, and glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney).

In a recently published study from University of Hong Kong Medical Center, researches identified increased levels of fibrinogen in an blood as an independent risk factor for mortality in a patient with peripheral arterial disease, and riskier venous thrombosis blood clotting), and presence of higher fibrinogen levels associates with presence of multiple coronary lesions in patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infraction.

A combination of lifestyle and behavioral changes-such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and becoming more physically active-may help to lower fibrinogen levels to optimize fibrinogen levels.

Hemoglobin A1c is one of the best ways to assess your glucose status is testing for hemoglobin A1c9HbA1c). This test measures a person’s blood sugar control over the last two to three months and is an independent predictor of heart disease risk in persons with or without diabetes. Maintaining healthy hemoglobin A1c levels may also help patients with diabetes to prevent some of the complications of the disease.

The American Diabetes Association recommends testing HbA1c every three to six months to monitor blood sugar levels in insulin-treated patients, in patients who are changing therapy, and in patients with elevated blood glucose levels. Since HbA1c is not subject to the some fluctuations that normally occur with daily glucose monitoring, it represents a more accurate picture of blood sugar control.

Nutrition therapies may help to optimize hemoglobin A1c levels.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA0, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, is a precursor to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Blood levels of DHEA peak in one’s twenties and then decline dramatically with age. DHEA frequently referred to as an “anti-aging” hormone. Healthy levels of DHEA may support immune function, bone density, libido, and healthy body composition.

Elevated levels of DHEA may indicate congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a group of disorders that result from impaired ability of the adrenal glands to produce glucocorticoids.

In the recent study published in the National Institute of Mental Health, and Journal of Investigative Dermatology demonstrated that DHEA significantly improved midline-onset major and minor depression in men and women aged 45-65 years old, and optimal range of DHEA accelerate wound healing, such as venous ulcers, and in the elderly population.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein manufactured by prostate gland in men. Elevated levels may suggest an enlarged prostate inflammation, or prostatic cancer. PSA levels may also be used to monitor the efficiency of therapeutic regimens for prostate conditions.

Elevated levels of PSA may not be necessarily signal prostate cancer, and prostate cancer may not always be accompanied by expression of PSA. Levels can be elevated in the presence of a urinary tract infection or an inflamed prostate.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual PSA testing for men beginning at age 50. Men who are at hight risk should begin PSA testing at age 40-45. PSA levels increase with age, even in the absence of prostate abnormalities.

A healthy Mediterranean-type diet may offer protection against prostate cancer and other diseases associated with aging. Natural therapies may also help support prostate health.

The amino acid homocysteine is formed in the body during the metabolism of methionine. Hight homocysteine levels have been associated with increase risk of heart attack, bone fracture, and poor cognitive function. Incremental increased risk for coronary artery disease. Homocysteine has also become recognized as an independent risk factor for bone fractures. Investigators in the Netherlands concluded that high homocysteine levels and low vitamins B12 concentrations were significantly associated with an increased risk for bone fracture, and to be an important and independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures, including hip fractures, and found association between elevated homocysteine levels and age-related macular degeneration.

Natural therapies may hell to optimize homocysteine levels. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of vitamin B12, B6, folic acid, and trimethylglycine.

Increasingly, medical science is discovering that inflammation within the body can lead to a range of life-treating degenerative diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, macular degeneration, and cognitive decline. By measuring your body’s level of inflammation through regular C-reactive protein testing, you can devise a strategy of diet, exercise, and supplementation to half many of these conditions.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation that has emerged as a powerful predictor of coronary heart disease and other diseases of the cardiovascular system. The highly sensitive cardiac CPR test measures C-reactive protein in the blood at very early stages of vascular diseases, allowing for appropriate intervention with diet, supplements, or anti-inflammatory therapy. The cardiac CPR test detects much smaller levels of inflammation than the basis CRP test, so is therefore able to identify at-risk patients earlier, even among apparently healthy persons.

A review of epidemiological data found that hight-sensitivity cardiac CRP was able to predict risk of incident myocardial infraction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and sudden cardiac death among healthy individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease, as well as predict recurrent events and death in patients with acute or stable coronary syndromes. This inflammatory marker provided prognostic information that was independent of other measured of risk such as cholesterol level, metabolic syndrome, and high blood pressure.Investigators concluded that greater level of cardiac CRP are associated with higher cardiovascular risk. According to research, these data support the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of type II diabetes, and progression of age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, major depression in men.

Natural therapies may help to optimize hight-sensitivity CRP levels.

Thyroid Stimulation Hormone (TSH) is a hormone secretion in the thyroid. When blood levels fall below normal, this indicates hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid activity, also called thyrotoxicosis), and when values are above normal, this suggests hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity). Overt hyper- or hypothyroidism is generally easy to diagnose, but subclinical disease can be more elusive.

Because the symptoms of thyroid imbalance may be nonspecific or absent and may progress slowly, and since many doctors do not routinely screen for thyroid function, people with mild hyper- or hypothyroidism can go undiagnosed for some time. Undiagnosed mild disease can progress to clinical disease states. This is a dangerous scenario, since people with hypothyroidism and elevated serum cholesterol and LDL have an increased risk of atherosclerosis.

Mild hyperthyroidism may be associated with reversible hight blood cholesterol and cognitive dysfunction, as well as such nonspecific symptoms as fatigue, depression, cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation, and weight gain.

Mild hyperthyroidism is often associated with arterial fibrillation, reduce bone mineral density, and nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, heart intolerance, nervousness, insomnia, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.

The American Thyroid Association recommends screening for TSH levels beginning at age 35, and every 5 years thereafter.

Natural therapies may help to optimize TSH level, and support thyroid health.

Testosterone is produced in the testes in men, in the ovaries in women, and in the adrenal glands of both men and women. Men and women alike can be dramatically affected by the decline in tester one levels that occurs with aging. Testosterone plays different roles in men and women, including the regulation of fertility, libido, and muscle mass. In men, free testosterone levels may be used to evaluate whether sufficient bioactive testosterone is available to protect against abdominal obesity, mental depression, osteoporosis, and heart diseases. In women, low levels of testosterone have been associated with decreased libido and well-being, while high levels of free testosterone may indicate hirsuitism ( a condition of excessive hair growth on the face and chest) or polycystic ovarian syndrome. Increased testosterone in women may also indicate low estrogen levels. In men, testosterone levels normally decline with age. This drop in testosterone is partially responsible for the significant physiological changes seen in aging men. In fact, low testosterone levels are associated with numerous adverse health conditions, including diminished libido, metabolic syndrome, executive dysfunction, loss of muscle tone, increased abdominal fat, low bone density, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, type II diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

Optimal testosterone levels may support healthy mood, libido, body composition, and cardiovascular wellness. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of supplements such as DHEA and pregnenolone. Speak to physician to determine whether prescription testosterone may also helpful for you.

Estradiol is a like testosterone, both men and women need estrogen for numerous physiological functions. Estradiol is the primary circulating form of estrogen in men and women, and is an indicator of hypothalamic and pituitary function. Men produce estradiol in much smaller amounts than do women; most estradiol is produced from testosterone and adrenal steroid hormones, and a fraction is produced directly by the tests. In women, estradiol vary through the menstrual cycle, and drop too low but constant levels after menopause.

In women, blood estradiol levels help to evaluate menopausal status and sexual maturity. Increased levels in women may indicate an increased risk for breast or endometrial cancer. Estradiol plays a role to supporting healthy bone density in men and women.

According a recently published report from the University of Michigan School of public health, lower estradiol levels in women associated with higher levels of markers of cardiovascular disease risk.

Optimal estradiol levels may support health, bone density, and well-being. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of supplements such as DHEA, pregnenolone, soy, black cohosh, and pomegranate. Speak to your physician to determine whether prescription therapies such as biogenetical estrogens may be helpful for you.

Yearly blood testing is a simple yet powerful strategy to help you proactively take change of your current and future health. A well-chosen complement of blood tests can throughly assess your overall state of health, and as well as detect the silence warning signals that precede the development of serious diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

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Glutathione (GSH)

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:47:37 GMT

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Glutathione is the body’s own master antioxidant, and essential in many biological processes in human body. Based on clinical researches posted www.PubMed.gov GSH was proven to improve your immune system, maximize the function of antioxidant, and support detoxification, and increase energy, strength level.

The GSH is a protein composed of 3 amino acids: Cysteine, Glutamine, Glycine, has produced by liver, and naturally present in the body from birth to death. But as we age the level GSH reduced at an average rate of 10% per decade after age 20, and we need supplements. The sources of GSH are garlic, onions, broccoli, Brussels spoors, parsley, spinach, beets, avocado, squash, asparagus, grapefruit, apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, melon, cherries, dairy products and eggs.

According researched to date, raising GSH level has been Clinically Proven to be beneficial for people diagnosed:

Glutathione (GSH) Deficiency:

The GSH deficiency occurs when your body is unable to produce enough glutathione, and become the main cause onset of the disease, or its progression, severity. According the research published in “Clinical Epidemiology”, “ The Immune System Care” journals has shown that most of chronic conditions reveals GSH’s deficiency.

What does GSH do in our bodies?

Detoxification – the glutathione destroys large numbers of toxins and radiations by convert in soluble compound then being excreted through the urine or bile.
Antioxidant – GSH is the powerful antioxidant to remove of toxins from body. The proper function of GSH makes positively effect on biomechanical processes in the bodies.
Repair DNA – Free radicals is constantly attack our body, and nearest molecules to “stealing” its electron. A molecule that loses electron then converts in a free radical. Once its started over and over, and converted cell dies or mutated. At times, the mutated cell converted to cancer. To replacing the missing electron in mutated cell performs by GSN, and elevated and maintaining GSH level can help to minimize mutation of DNA cells.

Increase energy – the biomechanical mechanism within your cells effect on our energy level, to muscle function, and even your sense of well-being. Clinical researches have shown that GSH includes mitochondria of a cell, enchanting muscle strength and endurance.
Side effect and contraindications : GSH is mostly safe for adults when taken by intramuscular, intravenous injections. The possible side effects are not known.
Special Precautions & Warning: if you are pregnant and/or breast – feeding you have to get doctor’s consultation. The medicine doesn’t have enough researches about GSH in pregnancy.

January 6, 2020:

Queries of New Hires/Transfers: Employers must query the Clearinghouse before allowing a newly-hired commercial motor vehicle driver (or current employee who transfers into such a position) to begin operating a commercial motor vehicle. Drivers must sign a consent form allowing the employer to do so.

Annual Queries of Current Employees. Employers must query the Clearinghouse at least once per year for each driver they currently employ. Drivers must sign a consent form allowing the employer to do so. The employer must maintain records of all queries and information obtained in response to the query, for a period of three years. (As of January 6, 2023, an employer who maintains a valid registration fulfills this requirement).

Reporting of Drug and Alcohol Program Violations. Employers must report drivers’ drug and alcohol program violations (listed in the bullet points above) to the Clearinghouse within three business days after the employer learns of the information.

Employers must prohibit drivers who have violated FMCSA’s drug and alcohol program regulations from performing safety-sensitive duties unless the driver complies with the return-to-duty process set forth at 49 CFR Part 40, Subpart O (requiring SAP evaluation, possible treatment, return-to-duty testing and follow-up testing).

January 6, 2023:

Safety Performance History Investigations. In addition to the items listed above, employers also will be required to conduct the drug and alcohol testing portion of the safety performance history investigation of driver-applicants through the Clearinghouse.

Employers still will be required to obtain the other information required by the safety performance history investigation regulations ( e.g., accident history) directly from the driver-applicants’ previous DOT-regulated employers, because that information is not reported to the Clearinghouse.

Employers who do not comply with the FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements are subject to the civil and/or criminal penalties set forth at 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(C) ( i.e., civil penalties not to exceed $2,500 for each offense).

FMCSA-regulated employers should review and revise their drug and alcohol testing policies and become familiar with the Clearinghouse requirements before the implementation date.

AIDS
Alzheimer’s
Asthma
All Cancers
Diabetes
Chronic Fatig
Autoimmune disorder
Glaucoma
Kidney, Liver, Lungs
Hepatitis
Multiply Sclerosis
Heart diseases

Also, reducing the glutathione level may present in people to be in a good health stage. There are several reasons for that one of them is age, because GSH production reduced naturally an average rate of 10% per decade after age 20. Next is exposed to smoke, environmental pollution, viruses, and consumes not proper nutrition on daily basis.

The symptoms may include:

Dry skin
Headache
Dizziness
Sleep Disorder
Weakness/Lack of energy
Depression
Brain “fog”
Joint pain
Rashes
Onset of a more serious health condition

Glutathione (GSH) Nitribooster

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FMCSA Clearinghouse

austin@poplocate.com (Austin Stack) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:41:18 GMT

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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Clearinghouse will become operational on January 6, 2020, and FMCSA-regulated employers must be ready to comply with the Clearinghouse requirements on that date. The FMCSA Clearinghouse is an electronic database that will contain information about commercial motor vehicle drivers’ drug and alcohol program violations. Although the Clearinghouse rule actually took effect on January 4, 2017, the implementation date for FMCSA-regulated employers is January 6, 2020. See 49 CFR Part 382, Subpart G, among others.

https://www.drugtestlawadvisor.com/2016/12/fmcsa-finalizes-rule-on-national-drug-and-alcohol-testing-clearinghouse/The Clearinghouse rule requires FMCSA-regulated employers, Medical Review Officers, Substance Abuse Professionals, consortia/third-party administrators and other service agents to report to the Clearinghouse information related to violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing regulations by current and prospective employees. In addition:

Employers must query the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees’ drug and alcohol program violations before permitting those employees to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads.
Employers are required to query the Clearinghouse annually for each driver they currently employ.
State driver licensing agencies will be required to query the Clearinghouse whenever a CDL (commercial driver’s license) is issued, renewed, transferred or upgraded.

Here are the important dates that FMCSA-regulated employers must be aware of, and steps to take to prepare for compliance:

Fall 2019:

Register with the Clearinghouse. Employers (and their service agents) should log on to the FMCSA Clearinghouse to register with the Clearinghouse and become familiar with the site. See: https:// clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov / . Clearinghouse registration is valid for five years, unless cancelled or revoked.

Revise Drug and Alcohol Testing Polic In addition, FMCSA regulations require employers to add language to their FMCSA drug and alcohol testing policies to notify drivers and driver-applicants that the following information will be reported to the Clearinghouse:

A verified positive, adulterated, or substituted drug test result;
An alcohol confirmation test with a concentration of 0.04 or higher;
A refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test;
An employer’s report of actual knowledge, as defined at 49 CFR § 382.107;
On duty alcohol use pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.205;
Pre-duty alcohol use pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.207;
Alcohol use following an accident pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.209;
Drug use pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.213;
A SAP’s report of the successful completion of the return-to-duty process;
A negative return-to-duty test; and,
An employer’s report of completion of follow-up testing.

January 6, 2020:

January 6, 2023:

FMCSA-regulated employers should review and revise their drug and alcohol testing policies and become familiar with the Clearinghouse requirements before the implementation date.

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Brain Optimization Panel

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:33:50 GMT

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Brain Optimization Panel.

Our brain is an incredibly complex organ.Approximately 15-20% of people aged 65 and older have mild cognitive impairment. In some cases, this can develop into dementia, which has a devastating impact not only on the person affected but also their loved ones.

Chronic inflammation is believed to be the root cause of many diseases that happen later in life, and some studies have shown that inflammation in midlife may also contribute to the development of dementia.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance your liver makes in response to inflammation.

Homocysteine is another major inflammatory marker that’s associated with heart disease and stroke, as well as dementia.

There’s growing evidence that having type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

A hemoglobin A1c test can also be a good way to check if you have, or are at risk of having, a pre-diabetic or diabetic condition.

There are a number of metals naturally found in our bodies that are essential for our brains and bodies to function correctly, including zinc, copper and iron.

Mercury poisoning is a serious that can have significant neurological effects. If you eat a lot of fish or have old dental work, it’s worthwhile getting your mercury levels tested.

Lead is another heavy metal to watch out for. Exposure to lead – typically through old paint and corroded lead pipes – can cause serious health problems, including symptoms of dementia.

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Planning for a Possible 2019-nCoV Outbreak in the US

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:31:17 GMT

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Planning for a Possible 2019-nCoV Outbreak in the US

All employers need to consider how best to decrease the spread of acute respiratory illness and lower the impact of 2019-nCoV in their workplace in the event of an outbreak in the US. They should identify and communicate their objectives, which may include one or more of the following: (a) reducing transmission among staff, (b) protecting people who are at higher risk for adverse health complications, (c) maintaining business operations, and (d) minimizing adverse effects on other entities in their supply chains. Some of the key considerations when making decisions on appropriate responses are:

Disease severity (i.e., number of people who are sick, hospitalization and death rates) in the community where the business is located;
Impact of disease on employees that are vulnerable and may be at higher risk for 2019-nCoV adverse health complications. Inform employees that some people may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions.
Prepare for possible increased numbers of employee absences due to illness in employees and their family members, dismissals of early childhood programs and K-12 schools due to high levels of absenteeism or illness:
Employers should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism at the workplace. Implement plans to continue your essential business functions in case you experience higher than usual absenteeism.
Cross-train personnel to perform essential functions so that the workplace is able to operate even if key staff members are absent.
Assess your essential functions and the reliance that others and the community have on your services or products. Be prepared to change your business practices if needed to maintain critical operations (e.g., identify alternative suppliers, prioritize customers, or temporarily suspend some of your operations if needed).
Employers with more than one business location are encouraged to provide local managers with the authority to take appropriate actions outlined in their business infectious disease outbreak response plan based on the condition in each locality.
Coordination with stateexternal icon and localexternal icon health officials is strongly encouraged for all businesses so that timely and accurate information can guide appropriate responses in each location where their operations reside. Since the intensity of an outbreak may differ according to geographic location, local health officials will be issuing guidance specific to their communities.

The severity of illness or how many people will fall ill from 2019-nCoV is unknown at this time. If there is evidence of a 2019-nCoV outbreak in the U.S., employers should plan to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and be prepared to refine their business response plans as needed. For the general American public, such as workers in non-healthcare settings and where it is unlikely that work tasks create an increased risk of exposures to 2019-nCoV, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV is considered low. The CDC and its partners will continue to monitor national and international data on the severity of illness caused by 2019-nCoV, will disseminate the results of these ongoing surveillance assessments, and will make additional recommendations as needed.

Planning Considerations

Level 3 Travel Health

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:23:55 GMT

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Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).

Countries that have a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (widespread, ongoing transmission):

China
Europe (Schengen Area): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City
Iran
Ireland
Malaysia
South Korea
United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

LiveScanLabs Essential Services Statement

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:21:47 GMT

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LiveScanLabs is issuing the following statements regarding the continued operation of drug testing facilities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Drug testing is essential to public safety and business operations. Drug and alcohol testing is required by federal regulations for the transportation industry as described in 49 CFR Part 40 and drug, and alcohol testing must be completed per US Department of Transportation regulations for DOT agencies FMCSA, FAA, FTA, FRA and PHMSA.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “Shelter in Place” Executive Order, effective 3/21/20 at 5 pm CDT, specifically lists Essential Services. LiveScanLabs falls under at least two categories.

The Healthcare and Public Health Operations section of the Executive Order specifically lists “organizations collecting blood, platelets, plasma, and other necessary materials; … other healthcare facilities and suppliers and providers of any related and/or ancillary healthcare services …. Healthcare and Public Health Operations shall be construed broadly to avoid any impacts to the delivery of healthcare, broadly defined. ”

Further, the Essential Infrastructure section lists Transportation. LiveScanLabs is an official Service Agent to the transportation industry, providing drug and alcohol testing as required by federal regulations. Without participation in random drug and alcohol testing programs, regulated employers and their employees are not permitted to operate.

In addition, non-regulated employers are required to provide safe workplaces. Many of these employers consider employee drug testing to be a tool essential to providing a safe workplace. Taking this valuable tool away would jeopardize employees as well as the general public. Employee drug testing is essential for all employers who employ safety-sensitive workers.

Specimen collections for drug testing must be conducted in person, and cannot be conducted remotely. LiveScanLabs provides essential services and at this time, our office is open and ready to serve you .

In order to protect our own employees, as well as those we test, all LiveScanLabs staff are trained to interact with donors according to CDC recommendations for health workers. In our clinic, we are utilizing hospital-grade disinfectants to keep all spaces clean and ready for work. Hand sanitizer is available to all who enter, and available chairs in our waiting room are a minimum of 6 feet apart. No more than 5 people will be permitted inside at once.

LiveScanLabs is encouraging healthy employees to complete their random testing. We are also asking DERs to call and make appointments with collection sites to ensure that employees are getting in and out as quickly as possible and that the sites are taking appropriate measures to protect themselves and your employees.

Please check this page for any updates.

Under the DOT’s Emergency Declaration Under 49 CFR § 390.23 No. 2020-002 ( https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/emergency-declaration-under-49-cfr-ss-39023-no-2020-002 ):

Nothing contained in this Emergency Declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements (49 CFR Part 382), the commercial driver’s license requirements (49 CFR Part 383), the financial responsibility (insurance) requirements (49 CFR Part 387), the hazardous material regulations (49 CFR Parts 100-180), applicable size and weight requirements, or any other portion of the regulations not specifically exempted under to 49 CFR § 390.23.

COULD A 100-YEAR-OLD TUBERCULOSIS VACCINE HELP PREVENT COVID-19?

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:09:52 GMT

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Published: April 1, 2020

By Mark Terry

BioSpace

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, researchers and public health experts are casting about for older vaccines and antiviral drugs that might be used to treat the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The prime examples are malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) this weekend, despite criticism of the lack of evidence they work.

Researchers in Australia are turning to another older treatment, a vaccine once used to prevent tuberculosis (TB) called the bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which has been used for about 100 years. Researchers have been taking a hard look at BCG for some time for other uses, including as an immunotherapy for early-stage bladder cancer.

And earlier this year, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted research with the BCG to see if it could be used to improve TB immunity. And now, in light of the way the BCG vaccine primes the immune system, it is being evaluated for COVID-19, which has at least a couple similarities to TB—they’re both lung infections caused by microorganisms.

Nigel Curtis, head of infectious diseases research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, is running a study into BCG and COVID-19, which the World Health Organization (WHO) is encouraging other researchers to collaborate with.

“It can boost the immune system so that it defends better against a whole range of different infections, a whole range of different viruses and bacteria in a lot more generalized way,” said Curtis, who is also a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Melbourne and head of the infectious diseases unit at the city’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

In Curtis’s study, which will run six months, 4,000 healthcare workers will be vaccinated with BCG with the seasonal influenza vaccine or the influenza vaccine alone. A placebo vaccine isn’t being used because the BCG shot usually causes a localized skin reaction that leaves a scar.

Similar studies are ongoing in The Netherlands and Curtis indicated he is in talks with possible trial sites in Boston and in other Australian cities.

BCG is used to immunize about 130 million newborns around the globe each year. Research in babies in Africa demonstrated that BCG offers protections against TB and other pediatric infections.

“We need to think of every possible way that we can protect healthcare workers,” Curtis said. “And there’s going to be a particular need to reduce the amount of time that our healthcare workers are absent.”

He also added, “We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t think that this might work. We cannot guarantee that this will work. And of course, the only way to find out is with our trial.”

The BCG vaccine contains a live, weakened strain of Mycobacterium bovis , which is very similar to the microbe that causes tuberculosis.

Results from the trial, which will begin dosing on April 6, aren’t likely until September. Meanwhile, researchers worldwide are testing other drugs to respond to the pandemic, with over 100 ongoing clinical trials.

“I am hopeful that within three months we will have a good idea which drugs are good and which drugs are bad,” Australian National University geneticist Gaetan Burgio told the Asia Times . “The field is moving very quickly.”

What Florida’s ‘stay at home’ order means for residents

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:59:29 GMT

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Starting on Friday, a sweeping “stay at home” order will go into effect for the entire state of Florida.

According to the executive order issued on Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.”

Combined Antibody Test for COVID-19

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:54:25 GMT

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We have been working diligently to find a way to provide COVID-19 testing to our clients and their patients. The FDA only wants CLIA licensed labs with certifications in immunology, which Immuno Labs is qualified to perform. We have located at this time a limited supply of COVID-19 antibody tests that we could begin offering our physicians so they may test their patients.

The COVID-19 test is a rapid IgM-IgG combined antibody test for COVID-19 and is used to qualitatively detect IgG and IgM antibodies of the novel coronavirus in human serum.

This test is precise and has been validated with PCR.
May help to identify immunity to the virus, providing valuable insight to anyone who wants to understand his or her risk of becoming ill or transmitting the virus to others.
The specimen can be transported at room temperature and does not need to be chilled nor frozen for transport to our lab ensuring the validity and results are accurate.
Detects IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 utilizing a patient serum sample, indicating past or recent exposure to the virus.
Once we receive the specimen the test results only take 10-15mins and our turnaround time on sending results back to you will stay well within our always promised 48-72 hours.

How to Protect Yourself & Others

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:47:39 GMT

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Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness. More information on Are you at higher risk for serious illness .

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person .
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

High-Risk Population

in Informative /

Know how it spreads

How to Protect Yourself & Others

head side cough icon

Everyone Should

hands wash icon

Wash your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

people arrows icon

Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home.
Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people .
Do not gather in groups.
Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick .

head side mask icon

Avoid close contact

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

box tissue icon

Cover coughs and sneezes

If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
Throw used tissues in the trash.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

cleaning icon

Clean and disinfect

Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectantsexternal icon will work.

This One Vitamin Could Help Fight Covid-19, Says Doctor

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:10:54 GMT

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“COVID-19 causes blood clotting and leads to the degradation of elastic fibers in the lungs,” explains the paper about the findings. “Vitamin K, which is ingested through food and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, is key to the production of proteins that regulate clotting and can protect against lung disease.”

Since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, this protection could be key in adding another level of protection. The research, headed up by Dr. Rob Janssen, was done in partnership with the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, a heart and vascular research institute in Europe. Over the course of a month, they studied 134 patients and found many who had died or been admitted to the ICU lacked the vitamin.

“My advice would be to take those vitamin K supplement,” Dr. Janssen told the Guardian . “Even if it does not help against severe Covid-19, it is good for your blood vessels, bones and probably also for the lungs. We are in a terrible, horrible situation in the world. We do have an intervention which does not have any side effects, even less than a placebo. There is one major exception: people on anti-clotting medication. It is completely safe in other people.”

“We have [vitamin] K1 and K2. K1 is in spinach, broccoli, green vegetables, blueberries, all types of fruit and vegetables,” Janssen continued. “K2 is better absorbed by the body. It is in Dutch cheese, I have to say, and French cheese as well.”

The recommended daily value of vitamin K is 120 micrograms for adult males and 90 micrograms for adult females.

“The best way to get the daily requirement of vitamin K is by eating food sources,” says MedLinePlus. “Vitamin K is found in the following foods:

Green leafy vegetables , such as kale, spinach, turnip greens, collards, Swiss chard, mustard greens, parsley, romaine, and green leaf lettuce
Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage
Fish, liver, meat, eggs, and cereals (contain smaller amounts)”

High-Risk Population

in Informative /

How to Get More Vitamin K

Why the Vitamin May Be Key

New concealed weapons permitting applications delayed amid coronavirus closures

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 08:36:07 GMT

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Mail-inEach participant will receive a complete application packet.

Option 1

Each packet contains:

Fill out the application, (must be notarized), include a passport style photograph, a completed fingerprint card done by a law enforcement agency, a copy of the certificate you will receive for completing our firearm training course. (keep the original).

Be sure to include a check or money order for $117.00 payable to the Division of Licensing to cover the cost of processing your application.

Attention!

We will notarize your application for free!

Average time to process your application by mail-in option is approximately six (6) weeks.

* The maximum return time on CWL licenses is ninety (90) days

Option 2.

Broward Count y

In person electronic submission

You can go to a regional Division of Licensing office and have your application electronically processed.

All you need to bring is a copy of your certificate for completing our firearm training course (keep the original) and a government issued picture I.D. such as a drivers license.

You will fill in the application on a computer in their office. They will take your photograph for you and will also scan your fingerprints electronically. There is no additional cost beyond the $117.00 application fee for these services

Broward County Office

7800 Peters Road, C100

Plantation Florida 33324

954-308-4040

Palm Beach County Office

400 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 240

West Palm Beach Florida 33401

Phone : (561) 681-2530 Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm M-F

Miami-Dade County Office

7743 NW 48th Street, Suite 100

Doral, Florida 33166

Phone: (305) 639-3501 Hours:8:00am-4:30pm

Attention!

An appointment is required for electronic processing

Average time to process your application by electronic submission is approximately 10-12 business days.

Fingerprinting: “hard copy” (ink & card) and “livescan” (electronic) locations.

Fingerprinting must be done by a law enforcement agency or by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Division of Licensing per Florida statute 790.06 section 5, paragraph C. The two closest regional offices of the Division of Licensing are listed above. Click here for a complete list of statewide locations. You can also submit your fingerprints electronically at the Broward Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building located at 2601 West Broward Boulevard Fort Lauderdale 33311. They will give you a receipt which you include with your mail-in application. Fingerprinting at BSO is on Thursdays and requires an appointment. There is no charge for this service. Call BSO at 954-321-4400 for additional information. Most Florida sheriff offices offer livescan fingerprinting. Call the agency nearest you for additional information. Click here for a list of other Broward County law enforcement agencies. If you do not see your local law enforcement agency listed call them as most agencies offer hard copy fingerprinting.

Electronic submission can expedite the processing procedure

The state must mail your hard copy fingerprint card to the FBI for a background check and in turn the FBI mails back the results. Livescan fingerprints are forwarded via electronic mailing thus reducing the time for sending and returning the results.

High-Risk Population

Application Processing

The Florida Department of of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing regional is delaying concealed weapons license application during the statewide COVID-19 crisis.

The move comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended state offices temporarily close to the public from March 19 through April 19.

That means regional office personnel will not be available to fingerprint concealed weapons permit applicants, which is required to issue licenses.

Local law enforcement agencies and tax collector offices throughout the state have also begun to suspend fingerprint services. Halting those services makes first-time concealed weapons permit applicants unable to obtain fingerprints from those providers.

Only fingerprints submitted through an official law enforcement agency, a tax collector’s office or the Division of Licensing are valid for concealed weapons permits.

In order to prevent unnecessary financial burden or frustration to applicants, the state is delaying applications beginning Monday, March 23.

Existing concealed weapons permit holders with licenses set to expire will be automatically extended for 30-days pursuant to an elective order issued by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried .

Qualifying security officers can still submit renewal applications online or through the mail and will not be affected.

Background Check Update

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 08:14:47 GMT

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High-Risk Population

See our Background Check Procedures policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Federal law requires federally licensed firearms dealers (but not private sellers) to initiate a background check on the purchaser prior to sale of a firearm . Federal law provides states with the option of serving as a state “point of contact” and conducting their own background checks using state, as well as federal, records and databases, or having the checks performed by the FBI using only the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database. (Note that state files are not always included in the federal database.)

Florida is a point of contact state for the NICS. As a result, firearms dealers in Florida must initiate the background check required by federal law by contacting the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) . ¹ More specifically, Florida law prohibits a licensed dealer from selling or delivering a firearm from his or her inventory at his or her licensed premises to anyone except a licensed dealer, importer, or manufacturer, without:

Obtaining a completed form from the buyer or transferee, and inspecting proper photographic identification;
Calling the FDLE and requesting a check of “the information as reported and reflected in the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center systems as of the date of the request;” and
Receiving a unique approval number from FDLE and recording that number and the date on the form. ²

Upon receiving a request for a background check, the FDLE is required to review any available records to determine if the buyer or transferee is prohibited from purchasing a firearm because he or she has been:

Convicted of a felony;
Convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; or
“Adjudicated mentally defective” or “committed to a mental institution” by a court. ³

Florida law provides definitions of the terms “adjudicated mentally defective” and “committed to a mental institution.” Most individuals in these categories are prohibited by federal law from possessing or purchasing firearms. ⁴ Persons involuntarily committed for outpatient treatment are included within the definition of “committed to a mental institution.” ⁵

In 2018, Florida enacted an extreme risk protection order law that authorizes law enforcement agencies to petition a court for a civil order preventing a dangerous person from accessing firearms for up to one year. ⁶ Within 24 hours after a risk protection order is issued, the clerk of the issuing court must forward the order to law enforcement for entry into the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center so that the order can be enforced when background checks are performed. ⁷

In 2013, Florida enacted a law that includes a person taken into custody involuntarily for a mental health evaluation and subsequently voluntarily admitted to a mental institution for outpatient or inpatient treatment in the definition of “committed to a mental institution” if: (1) an examining physician has determined that the person poses an imminent danger to himself, herself, or others and has certified that he or she would have filed a petition for involuntary commitment if the person had not agreed to voluntary treatment; (2) the person has been given notice and an opportunity to contest this certification; and (3) a court has reviewed this certification and ordered the person’s record to be submitted. ⁸

For information about the restoration of firearm eligibility for persons previously adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, please see the Florida Mental Health Reporting section.

In addition, the FDLE must review available records to determine if the buyer or transferee has had adjudication of guilt withheld or imposition of sentence suspended on any felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence unless three years have elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled or expunction has occurred. ⁹ If any of these disqualifying conditions exist, the FDLE must inform the dealer that the buyer or transferee is prohibited from purchasing a firearm and must provide the licensee a nonapproval number. ¹⁰

The FDLE must also review available records and issue a conditional nonapproval number if the buyer or transferee:

Has been indicted or has had an information filed against her or him for a felony;
Is subject to a domestic violence protective order, or an injunction against repeat violence; or
Has been arrested for one of 22 enumerated “dangerous crime[s]” or for criminal anarchy, extortion, certain explosives violations, certain controlled substances violations, resisting an officer with violence, certain weapons and firearms violations, treason, assisting self-murder, sabotage, stalking or aggravated stalking. ¹¹

The FDLE then has 24 “working hours” (3 business days) in which to determine the disposition of the indictment, information, or arrest and inform the dealer as to whether the potential buyer is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm. ¹² Florida law requires the clerk of court to respond to an FDLE request for data on the disposition of the indictment, information, or arrest as soon as possible, but in no event later than 8 working hours. ¹³ FDLE must continue its attempts to obtain the disposition information and may retain a record of all approval numbers granted without sufficient disposition information. ¹⁴ If FDLE later obtains disposition information indicating that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm, FDLE must revoke the conditional approval number and notify law enforcement. ¹⁵ During the time that disposition of the indictment, information, or arrest is pending, the conditional nonapproval number remains in effect. ¹⁶

Neither federal nor Florida law requires private sellers (sellers who are not licensed dealers) to initiate a background check when transferring a firearm.

See our Private Sales policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

In addition, Florida specifically exempts concealed weapons license holders from the state’s background check requirement. ¹⁷ However, Florida concealed weapons license holders are not exempt from the federal background check requirement . ¹⁸

AUGUST 20, 2020

Dr. Fauci Says You Don’t Have to Do This Anymore to Avoid COVID

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 07:49:37 GMT

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Leah Groth

Mon, October 26, 2020, 3:20 PM EDT· 3 mins read

“We know that this virus overwhelmingly predominantly is transmitted by the respiratory route by either droplets that are large enough, essentially to travel, to get to someone’s nose, eyes, mouth, or aerosol a little bit. We don’t know exactly what the extent of the aerosol is. We know it does play a role exactly how much is still being worked out,” Fauci began.

While person-to-person is the primary way the virus spreads, he doesn’t negate the potential to get infected via touch.

“We also know that the virus can live on inanimate objects,” he continued, explaining that according to the transmissibility and the epidemiology, “that is very likely a very, very minor, minor aspect” of transmissibility. “We can’t say it’s zero. It certainly is real and is finite, but it’s minor.”

Therefore, when it comes to preventative measures, he doesn’t emphasize wiping down items. “I think we should spend less time worrying about wiping down a grocery bag than we should about just washing our hands frequently,” he said.

When it comes to his own life, he reveals his own ritual. “So you asked me what I do when I come from the grocery store or when someone gives me a take-out bag, which I do a lot now, because I don’t go into restaurants and sit down. I want to keep them going financially. So I do a lot of takeout. So I do have a bag that I bring into my house,” he said. “Instead of worrying about the bag, I’ll open the bag and then I’ll just wash my hands thoroughly, which is what you should do.”

In general, he suggests not worrying as much about touching things, but focusing on hand hygiene instead. “I think doing that natural public health measure and not worrying about touching things that might or might not have anything to do with transmissibility, just focus on washing your hands,” he advises. So wash your hands, wear your face mask, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID .

Dr. Fauci Has His Own Ritual With Plastic Bags

High-Risk Population

Over the last several months since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, guidance on how to prevent the highly infectious virus has continued to change as research has evolved. However, there is still some confusion as to what the most important prevention measures are in keeping the deadly virus at bay. In a new interview with Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit on Monday morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation’s leading infectious disease expert and key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, revealed where you should be focusing your energy. Read on for more, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had Coronavirus .

What Did Dr. Fauci Say You Can Stop Doing?

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Shines In Clinical Tria

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 06:44:08 GMT

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For the vaccine, researchers created an mRNA with the code for making the coronavirus spike protein . The protein is the key to the virus infecting cells. It’s also what can trigger someone’s immune system to make antibodies against the virus, but without causing infection since the rest of the virus is missing.

That two mRNA vaccines appear to be working is remarkable, since the technology is new and there hasn’t been an mRNA vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration made to date.

The Moderna and Pfizer studies were conducted using slightly different protocols. To be counted as a COVID-19 case, participants in the Moderna study had to have at least two symptoms of disease in addition to a positive test for the virus. The Pfizer study required only one symptom. Also, Moderna waited 14 days following the second injection to begin counting cases; Pfizer’s study started counting at seven days.

The vaccines also differ in their storage requirements. Moderna says its vaccine can be safely stored in freezers at about 25 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 4 degrees Celsius), a temperature easily reached by a home refrigerator freezer. Pfizer’s vaccine required storage in specialized ultracold freezers capable of cooling below minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius). Moderna also says its vaccine will remain potent for up to 30 days at normal refrigerated temperatures, which should ease distribution.

Both companies’ vaccine studies managed to recruit a reasonably diverse group of people. Moderna reports 6,000 enrollees who identified as Hispanic or Latinx and more than 3,000 participants who identified as Black or African American, as well as 7,000 people older than 65, and 5,000 with high-risk chronic diseases.

Pfizer and Moderna are still gathering safety data the Food and Drug Administration has said is necessary for consideration of an emergency use authorization that would allow the companies to distribute the vaccine during the pandemic.

Fauci Voices Cautious Optimism About Moderna Vaccine, Calling Trial ‘Quite Promising’ May 22, 2020

Side effects seen for the Moderna vaccine at the interim analysis included pain at the injection site, fatigue and aching muscles and joints. The data safety and monitoring board didn’t identify “any significant safety concerns.”

Moderna said it intends to file “in the coming weeks” with the FDA for authorization of the company’s vaccine for emergency use.

The federal Operation Warp Speed project to hasten development of COVID-19 vaccines awarded Moderna a $1.5 billion contract in August to ramp up manufacturing and deliver 100 million vaccine doses, enough for 50 million people. The government has an option to buy up to 400 million more doses.

Moderna said Monday that it expects to be able to ship about 20 million vaccine doses in the U.S. by the end of 2020. Next year, the company said it expects to be able to make 500 million to 1 billion doses worldwide.

The research and development of the Moderna vaccine was aided by $955 million in federal funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Moderna has also been developing this vaccine alongside the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which in July told NPR it expects to spend about $410 million on the effort.

High-Risk Population

Pfizer Says Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective

Clinical data for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine showed it was nearly 95% effective in preventing disease, according to an interim analysis described in a company release Monday.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

A second COVID-19 vaccine now also appears highly effective in preventing illness following exposure to the virus that causes the disease.

The biotech company Moderna Inc. said Monday that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing disease, according to an analysis of its clinical trial.

The news comes a week after Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine was more than 90% effective .

The results for both vaccines come from interim analyses of large clinical studies. In the Moderna study there were 30,000 volunteers. Half got two doses of the vaccine 28 days apart; half got two shots of a placebo on the same schedule.

There were 95 instances of COVID-19 illness among the study participants; only five of those cases were in the vaccinated group. Ninety were in the group receiving the placebo. Of these, there were 11 cases of severe disease. The results indicate the vaccine was inducing the kind of immune response that protects people if they were exposed to the coronavirus.

“This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent COVID-19 disease, including severe disease,” Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said in a statement.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use the same technology to make their vaccines. It’s based on a molecule known as mRNA , or messenger RNA. That molecule contains genetic instructions for making proteins inside cells.

SHOTS – HEALTH NEWS

Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 06:43:36 GMT

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FACT: COVID-19 vaccines will not give you COVID-19

Below is a summary of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination based on what we currently know. CDC will continue to update this page as more data become available.

All COVID-19 vaccines that are in development or being distributed are being carefully evaluated in clinical trials and will be authorized or approved only if they make it substantially less likely you’ll get COVID-19.
Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
Experts continue to conduct more studies about the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on severity of illness from COVID-19, as well as its ability to keep people from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you.
Clinical trials of all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, including COVID-19 vaccines. The known and potential benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine for use under what is known as an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Watch a video on what an EUA is .
Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. But experts don’t know how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.
Both natural immunity and immunity produced by a vaccine are important parts of COVID-19 disease that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available. As experts learn more about how COVID-19 vaccination may help reduce spread of the disease in communities, CDC will continue to update the recommendations to protect communities using the latest science.

High-Risk Population

COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection

COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic

COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19

Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

Updated Dec. 21, 2020

We understand that some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated now that COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States. While more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures remain in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use. Safety is a top priority, and there are many reasons to get vaccinated.

Radon Month

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 06:42:52 GMT

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You may already know that smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States. But do you know what’s number two?

The answer is radon, an invisible, radioactive gas—and if you didn’t know, you’re not alone.

“Radon is a serious public health problem, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” says Robert Whitcomb, PhD, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He says it’s estimated to cause over 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S, and that 1 out of 15 homes have dangerously high radon levels.

But many of the people living in those homes don’t have any idea, Whitcomb says. That’s not surprising, because unlike tobacco smoke, radon isn’t something you can see. You can’t smell or taste it either.

“Testing your home for radon gas is the only way to know if it’s a risk,” says Whitcomb. “The good news is that it’s very easy to do.”

Radon gas forms naturally in the ground. Most radon mixes harmlessly with outdoor air, and we all breathe in low levels every day, Whitcomb says.

The problem is when radon from underground seeps into a home through cracks and gaps in the foundation and gets trapped inside. Breathing indoor air with high radon levels can—over time—damage lungs and lead to cancer.

Meghan Porter, of Elma, Washington, decided to test her home almost by chance. She learned about radon at her new job—with the Washington Tracking Network (WTN)—and decided to pick up a testing kit.

“Until then, I’d never even heard of radon,” she says.

She was surprised by the results. Radon levels were dangerously high in her basement—specifically in her 9-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

“If I didn’t have that job, it never would have crossed my mind to test,” she says. “I had no idea that radon was something that could be in my home.”

In Florida, 1 in 5 homes tested has elevated radon levels. Radon can really be a problem anywhere, Whitcomb says. It can be a risk in small homes and big homes, old homes and new homes.

“You can even have two almost identical houses right next to one another,” says Whitcomb. “One will have low radon levels while the other is very high. That’s why everyone needs to test.”

Testing your home is the only way to find out if you have a radon problem. You can buy a testing kit online or at your local hardware store for just $10 to $20. You can also request a free kit —available while supplies last—from the Florida Radon Program.

This FloridaHealth.gov feature story is provided by the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Communications. It can be reused without permission.

Sources: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

High-Risk Population

Why You Should Test Your Home

January is National Radon Action Month and a Good Time to Take Action

Have You Tested Your Home for Radon?

Invisible Invader

Fixing Radon Problems

“If you find out that you have high radon levels, it can be scary,” says Whitcomb. “But addressing the issue is often simpler than homeowners expect.”

The key is to work with an expert who can help guide you, Whitcomb says. You can call your state’s radon office to get the name of someone who can offer advice.

Some radon issues need the help of a mitigation contractor — a specialist in fixing radon problems. They may use approaches like sub-slab depressurization: installing a pipe that sucks radon from the ground under the house and sends it into the outside air, where it’s harmless.

“High radon levels are a clear threat to your health,” Whitcomb says, “but the solutions are clear too. If you test your home and find out you have a problem, you can fix it.”

Porter says she feels lucky to have found out about the radon in her home, and she now urges neighbors, family, and friends to test their homes too.

“I tell people that nobody knows what’s under their house, so they don’t know if they have radon unless they test,” she says. “It’s cheap too — so why not do it?”

Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care Testing

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 06:42:03 GMT

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Summary of Recent Changes

Revisions were made on January 28, 2021 to reflect the following:

Edited to add language about antibody testing.

Revisions were made on December 30, 2020 to reflect the following:

Edited “Specimen Collection and Handling Point-of-Care Tests” section to add language which clarifies the personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for personnel collecting point-of-care (POC) specimens versus the PPE recommended for personnel handling POC specimens but not directly involved in collection and not working within 6 feet of patients.

Revisions were made on December 26, 2020 to reflect the following:

To whom staff at long-term care facilities (LCTFs) should report point-of-care antigen testing data under “Reporting Requirements for Point-of-Care Testing”.

Revisions were made on December 10, 2020 to reflect the following:

New “Help with Performing Point-of-Care Tests” section added, which includes training resources for performing POC tests.

Revisions were made on December 2, 2020 to reflect the following:

Modified page to include Frequently Asked Questions about Point-of-Care Testing

Point-of-care tests, such as some rapid tests for diagnosing an infectious disease, provide results within minutes of the test being administered, allowing for rapid decisions about patient care. POC tests can also extend testing to people residing in communities who cannot readily access care. POC tests are used to diagnose current or detect past SARS-CoV-2 infections in various settings, such as:

Physician offices
Urgent care facilities
Pharmacies
School health clinics
Long-term care facilities and nursing homes
Temporary locations, such as drive-through sites managed by local organizations

Summary: This CDC Web resource provides guidance on the regulatory requirements for SARS-CoV-2 POC testing, using POC tests safely, and information on reporting POC test results.

Sites that perform POC testing are required to have a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate ( see this brochurepdf iconexternal icon ). There are four different types of CLIA certificates, any one of which is appropriate for POC testing. See this Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( CMS) documentpdf iconexternal icon )that describes the different types of CLIA certificates. A CLIA Certificate of Waiver is appropriate for POC testing and can be obtained as follows:

Complete an application ( Form CMS-116pdf iconexternal icon ), available on the CMS CLIA websiteexternal icon or from a local State Agency.
Send the completed application to the address of the local State Agencyexternal icon for the state where testing will be performed.
Pay the CLIA Certificate of Waiver fee, following instructions provided by the State Agency.

See How to Obtain a CLIA Certificate of Waiverpdf iconexternal icon for more information. POC testing can be performed after the laboratory or testing site has received a CLIA certificate number.

The laboratory or testing site must keep its certificate information current. The State Agency should be notified of any changes to the laboratory or testing site ownership, name, address, or director within 30 days.

See the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for a list of the SARS-CoV-2 POC tests that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)external icon . Tests that have been authorized for use in a POC setting will have a W, for Waived, in the Authorized Settings column of the FDA table. The laboratory or testing site must use a test authorized for POC use by FDA and must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each POC test. The instructions for use provide specific information on how to perform the test, which specimens can be used, and the people who may be tested. All of the FDA-authorized tests for current SARS-CoV-2 infection are for use on symptomatic people. However, CMS has indicatedpdf iconexternal icon that CLIA will temporarily allow CLIA laboratories and other CLIA testing sites to use SARS-CoV-2 POC antigen tests on asymptomatic people for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

For more information and additional resources for POC testing, see CDC’s Waived Tests Web page.

High-Risk Population

Updated Feb. 5, 2021

Regulatory Requirements for POC Testing

Who can do POC testing?

What tests can be used for POC?

High-Risk Population

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 05:27:59 GMT

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Infographic: Protection, Planning & Care for Older Adults

COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on current information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:

People aged 65 years and older.
People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
Other high-risk conditions could include:
People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma.
People who have serious heart conditions.
People who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment.
People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) or certain underlying medical conditions, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk.
People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk.

Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, HIV or AIDS , and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.

Anyone with a chronic medical condition or who is immunocompromised and is receiving home-health care should:

Avoid close contact to anyone that is sick and do not allow anyone to enter your home that is showing symptoms of respiratory infection such as cough, fever, shortness of breath and sore throat.
Do not allow persons who have traveled internationally or on a cruise ship in the past 14 days to enter your home, whether they have gotten tested or not.

Precautions for Persons with Underlying Health Conditions

On September 1, 2020, Florida issued Emergency Order 20-009 which lifts restrictions for visitation to nursing homes, assisted living facilities (ALFs), adult family-care homes, adult group homes and other long-term care facilities. Emergency Order 20-009 also requires all visitors to wear PPE pursuant to the most recent CDC guidelines , and those not making physical contact still must wear a mask.

See more information about people at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19 .

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High-Risk Population