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President Obama speaks before the first session of the APEC Summit about the importance of building a seamless regional economy among the member nations.
The Obama administration today rolled out a new billion-dollar initiative that will reward the “most compelling new ideas” for lowering costs and improving care of Medicare and Medicaid patients with lucrative federal grants.
The Health Care Innovation Challenge, to be run by the Department of Health and Human Services, will provide between $1 million and $30 million over three years to individual organizations or coalitions that develop sustainable, new approaches to boosting health care quality and efficiency.
Funding for the program was included as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, parts of which are now slated for a review by the Supreme Court.
Officials cast the announcement as part of President Obama’s “We Can’t Wait” campaign to help the economy, independent of congressional action, since special consideration will be given to proposals that “rapidly hire, train and deploy health care workers.”
“We’ve taken incredible steps to reduce health care costs and improve care, but we can’t wait to do more,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. “Both public and private community organizations around the country are finding innovative solutions to improve our health care system, and the Health Care Innovation Challenge will help jump-start these efforts.”
Sebelius said only projects that can begin within six months will be eligible to receive funds. A final list of sponsored projects will be announced in March.
While the agency says it will closely monitor grantees’ progress on improving care and measure overall savings yielded to taxpayers, Republican critics of the program called it a “$1 billion experiment.”
“On the day the Supreme Court decided to review the constitutionality of ‘Obamacare,’ the president is asking for another $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to pay for another health care experiment that will continue taking us in the wrong direction,” said RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski in a statement. “We already spent $2.6 trillion on his job-killing health care bill. Another $1 billion Executive Order is just more words for a president more interested in campaign talking points than creating jobs.”
Join The World Human & Civil Rights Community Tweet U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle greet leaders as they arrive for the opening dinner of the APEC summit in Honolulu, Hawaii.
President Obama welcomes leaders to 2011 APEC Summit President Obama met and greeted delegates Sunday at the APEC meeting at the Ihilani resort in Ko Olina. He said the economically thriving Asia-pacific region is, "absolutely critical" to the nation's prosperity. Sunday's talks will focus on ways to help green growth and small businesses. President Obama will also hold a press conference that's scheduled to take place around 4:45 p.m. Sunday.
»Barriers in Waikiki slowly being removed Police say the concrete jersey barriers in front of Atkinson Dr. near Hawaii Prince hotel will remain up for several days because it is in a secured zone. It's in place for the APEC Leaders' Meeting. The State Transportation Department said the barriers and equipment were placed there for security and traffic control. The barriers around the Hawaii Convention Center will be taken down around 10 p.m. Sunday.
»APEC Traffic Alert: Roadways open, expect delays According to Department of Emergency Management Honolulu surface streets are opening. Expect delays until normal traffic flow returns. If you have any pictures or video of the traffic situation. Please email them to news@khon2.com or on our facebook page.
For the latest on the traffic situation, log on to our website KHON2.com or follow us on facebook and twitter.
»Drivers get an early start to their Sunday commute Drivers packed the roadways in Leeward Oahu trying to get to their destinations early.
This is video of the police and emergency officials as they head to Ko Olina to stage for the APEC meeting Sunday.
»H-1 Freeway shut down as APEC leaders travel to Ko Olina Police shut down roadways from Waikiki to Ko Olina in the west bound direction. That includes all the over and under passes. Officials ask that motorists please obey law enforcement and be patient. Here are photos of road closures sent in from our viewers. If you have any pictures or video of the traffic situation.
Please email them to news@khon2.com or on our facebook page. For the latest on the traffic situation, log on to our website KHON2.com or follow us on facebook and twitter.
»Times for H-1 freeway delays or closures to Leeward Oahu could be extended Department of Emergency Management: Expect H1 freeway delays or closures to Leeward Oahu that could extend up to 10 a.m. Sunday. Closures could be complete or rolling and would extend to overpass and underpass traffic. Ala Moana Blvd.
Security procedures are still in effect. Access to Waikiki is still best via Kapahulu Ave. In addition, vehicle access to Ala Moana, Ala Wai Community and Kapiolani Park continues to be restricted Sunday.
»WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Sunday APEC events WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Sunday APEC events -Police plan to shut down all lanes of the H-1 Freeway westbound from Waikiki to Ko Olina Sunday morning. The city says the closure is expected to happen between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., but drivers should be prepared just in case the freeway is closed earlier or even later. -APEC leaders meeting will be held at Ihilani resort. -First lady Michelle Obama will host an event for the APEC leader's spouses at Kualoa Ranch. The spouses will be treated to local foods prepared by Chef Ed Kenney.
There will also be a musical performance by the Honolulu Boys Choir.
»Expect major road closures as world leaders travel from Waikiki to Ko Olina Hey folks! Police plan to shut down all lanes of the H-1 Freeway westbound from Waikiki to Ko Olina Sunday morning. The city says the closure is expected to happen between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., but drivers should be prepared just in case the freeway is closed earlier or even later.
Officials say the extra security measures are needed for the Presidents of China, Russia and the U.S. as they make their way to the Ihilani resort along with other world dignitaries for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. *If you have any pictures or video of the traffic situation. Please email them to news@khon2.com or on our facebook page.
For the latest on the traffic situation, log on to our website KHON2.com or follow us on facebook and twitter.
»Officials warn of "carmageddon" as security restrictions move to Ko Olina Get ready for "carmageddon." That's what city officials are calling Sunday morning's expected traffic jam of biblical proportions because of the APEC summit.
Police plan to shut down all lanes of the H-1 Freeway westbound from Waikiki to Ko Olina. The city says the closure is expected to happen between 8:30 and 9:30 in the morning, but drivers should be prepared just in case the freeway is closed earlier or even later. Officials say the extra security measures are needed for the Presidents of China, Russia and the U.S. as they make their way to the Ihilani along with other world dignitaries for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting at the Ihilani Resort.
"Let's say you don't want to be anywhere on the road when we're heading out to Ihilani Resort," warned Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle. And roads that run under the freeway along the route will also be closed. Then, Sunday night around 5 to 7 o'clock, police say there will be rolling freeway closures in the eastbound direction as some leaders make their way back to Waikiki. Meanwhile, the Ko Olina restricted zone, shaded in pink, goes into effect Saturday night at 11 o'clock and lasts until 11 o'clock Sunday night. That includes road closures, parking restrictions, and pedestrian screenings and also the Ko Olina water zone which extends 3,200 yards offshore.
No boats or people are allowed in that area. During those hours, only emergency vehicles will be allowed in Makaiwa Beach Park. Kamokila Community Park, including the parking lot, will be closed from midnight until Monday. Paradise Cove will be closed tomorrow to the general public. And golfers, in case you're wondering, Ko Olina Golf Course will be open to the general public tomorrow.
For the latest on the traffic situation tomorrow morning, log on to KHON2.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
»More slowdowns in Waikiki on last day of security restrictions Drivers heading into Waikiki faced more slowdowns Saturday, but the restrictions will soon be lifted. Checkpoints around the security zone added an hour or more for the commute though it was nowhere near as backed up as the weekdays. Bumper to bumper drivers filed in along Ala Moana Boulevard, waiting their turn to get through the checkpoint into Waikiki's APEC security zone.
"Actually we start at 3 o'clock but we've got to go because we're coming from the other side of the island, how much longer did it take you? Up to now is about 1 hour 30 minutes already," said James Alimbuyao, who was trying to get his job at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Though the backup along Ala Moana Boulevard did not stretch as far as it had Friday, many said the added wait was at least an hour. "Now how much longer did this add to your commute? Oh my gosh, we don't even know -- an hour and a half just now, we'll see how long this takes and we'll see from here," said driver Everett Wong.
Other backups happened near the Lewers Street checkpoint side of the security zone that blanketed Fort DeRussy, Hale Koa and Hilton Hawaiian Village. People on foot moved faster than traffic, with pedestrians finding the easiest commute through Waikiki. The Waikiki security zone restrictions will be lifted as of midnight. The checkpoint breakdown will begin as early as 10 p.m. On Sunday morning, avoid the H-1 westbound, the official expected closure time is 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. so all the leaders can head from Waikiki to Ko Olina. Expect brief rolling closures for return trips eastbound later in the day.
