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Congress Members Look To Strengthen Federal Privacy Laws In Medical Data

 |  July 24, 2023

More than three dozen members of Congress have signed a letter pushing the Biden Administration to strengthen the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). The letter calls for strengthened federal privacy law to protect abortion seekers and other Americans from ‘warrantless government surveillance.’

The current law allows law enforcement to obtain access to abortion records and other sensitive health data without a warrant. The proposed expansion of HIPPA by President Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services would prohibit doctors or healthcare providers from discussing patients’ protected health records following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe V. Wade. However, Senators Ron Wyden, Patty Murray, and Rep. Sara Jacobs argue these proposals are ‘woefully insufficient.’

The letter urges the Biden administration to go further and ensure all protected health information receives the same level of protection as text messages, calls, and location data. This includes preventing law enforcement agencies from sharing health records with other agencies, Fusion Centers, or government surveillance clearinghouses. In addition, patients should receive notification when their data is shared with law enforcement.

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“This lack of privacy protections undermines patients’ legal protections,” state the lawmakers in their letter. “We urge HHS to modify HIPAA to prevent any health care provider or health plan from releasing patient records to law enforcement without a search warrant.”

The new proposals are almost certain to receive tough pushback from conservative lawmakers who have already expressed opposition to the Biden Administration’s own proposal. Opponents argue that it would violate states’ rights and represents an overreach of presidential power.

Nevertheless, protection and privacy of health care data is an incredibly important issue, especially when it includes sensitive information such as that regarding abortions. Increased security, privacy, and transparency measures can help guarantee this critical right to all individuals in the U.S.

Source: Giz Modo

Power Industry Shake-Up: Constellation Energy to Buy Calpine in Massive $26.6B Deal Power Industry Shake-Up: Constellation Energy to Buy Calpine in Massive $26.6B Deal

Power Industry Shake-Up: Constellation Energy to Buy Calpine in Massive $26.6B Deal

 |  January 10, 2025

US-based nuclear power giant Constellation Energy has announced a landmark deal to acquire privately-held natural gas and geothermal company Calpine Corp for $16.4 billion in a move that reshapes the American energy landscape. The acquisition, one of the largest in the history of the U.S. power sector, comes at a time of surging electricity demand driven by the rapid expansion of energy-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence and the ongoing electrification of transportation and buildings.

According to Yahoo the agreement will transform Constellation into the largest independent power provider in the United States, with a diverse portfolio spanning nuclear, natural gas, and geothermal energy sources. The deal, which also includes Calpine’s debt, values the transaction at $26.6 billion.

Following the announcement, Constellation’s stock surged by as much as 10% before markets opened, with gains extending to 22% shortly after trading began. The company expects the acquisition to close in the second half of 2025. Once finalized, the merger is projected to add $2 billion in annual free cash flow, further strengthening Constellation’s financial position.

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The acquisition reflects the growing urgency for reliable and sustainable energy solutions. Per Yahoo, the combined entity will boast nearly 60 gigawatts (GW) of low- and zero-emission capacity, allowing Constellation to solidify its position as a key player in the nation’s clean energy transition. CEO Joe Dominguez emphasized the critical need to meet rising energy demands, saying, “Demand for our products is expected to grow by levels we haven’t seen in a lifetime.”

The transaction significantly expands Constellation’s geographic footprint, particularly in the high-demand markets of Texas and California. With this deal, Constellation’s share of generation capacity in Texas will jump from 11% to 23%, while its presence in California will rise to 10%, up from a negligible amount. Both states rank among the most populous and energy-intensive in the country.

Aneesh Prabhu, an analyst with S&P, described the deal as transformative, noting that the merger will create “the largest coast-to-coast power generator” in the U.S. The acquisition will also boost Constellation’s workforce by 20%, adding approximately 2,750 employees to its ranks and bringing the total headcount to 16,500.

Source: Yahoo