Author: James Fuccione

VNA of Boston Names New President-CEO

The following is an announcement from the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston:

VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF BOSTON & AFFILIATES NAMES NEW PRESIDENT & CEO
Reynold G. Spadoni to Lead the Nation’s Oldest Home Healthcare Organization

BOSTON — The Visiting Nurse Association of Boston & Affiliates (VNAB), the oldest home healthcare organization in the country and one of the largest in New England has recently named Reynold G. Spadoni as President and Chief Executive Officer.

John Murphy, Chairman of the VNAB’s board of directors, expressed confidence in Spadoni’s ability to lead the agency’s comprehensive home health programs.

“Rey has extensive experience in the health care arena, including several leadership positions in public health, managed care, community health centers and hospitals.” said Murphy, “Rey is a highly respected leader with a strong sense of mission and ethics. He has demonstrated a keen eye for expanding programs and creating new opportunities while maintaining focus on quality patient care.  I know that the organization, our patients, their families and the community will benefit from his tremendous skills.”

“I’m extremely pleased and honored to join an organization with such a rich history of serving patients and families throughout Eastern Massachusetts.” said Spadoni, “VNAB’s mission, track record and exceptional staff are compelling and vital during this time of great change in our industry and I’m thrilled to have been given this opportunity.”

Spadoni joins the organization from his role as Vice President of Operations and Development at Atrius Health/Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.

Spadoni has a career that spans more than 25 years working in various leadership roles in the health care industry. He previously held senior management positions at Quincy Medical Center, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Dimock Community Health Center, Ernst and Young and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

In his new role, Spadoni assumes overall responsibility for administration of the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston & Affiliates, which includes end-of-life support through VNA Hospice Care and private pay services through VNA Private Care.

The VNAB is one of the largest home healthcare agencies in New England with more than 500 employees and an operating budget of $44 million.  In 2008, it provided 250,000 home care visits to more than 12,000 patients.  Spadoni has a B.A. from Holy Cross College and an M.B.A. from Boston University.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

Boston Globe Letter to the Editor: PCA Oversight Bears Addressing

For the second time in a year, the Boston Globe has reported on fraud and abuse uncovered in the personal care attendant program based on a study by the state auditor’s office.

In a letter to the editor, the Home Care Alliance chose to reiterate a point in the article for readers that personal care attendants (PCA’s) are not subject to background checks and certification requirements as home health aides and visiting nurses. The prior article blurred the line between the two categories of workers, to which the Alliance had also taken action by submitting a letter to the Globe.

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Alliance Responds to Budget Shortfall Announcement

The Alliance has strongly urged the Patrick Administration to recognize that home health cannot sustain any further reductions and we will continue to advocate as necessary.

In response to the Governor’s recent announcement of a $600 million budget shortfall, the Home Care Alliance has sent a letter to Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, Assistant Secretary Jean McGuire, and their staff.

In the letter, which can be viewed here, the Alliance states:

As the administration works to implement its plan to address a $600 million shortfall, we offer our assistance as an organization and an industry, but also strongly urge you to recognize that home health care cannot sustain any further cuts. The cost-effectiveness of home health care has been well-documented during the past year and proves the industry’s value.

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Congressman Markey Holding Town Hall on Health Care

Following up on a recent town hall forum in the eastern part of his district, Congressman Ed Markey is heading further west to hold another meeting in Natick.

WHO: Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Malden)

WHAT: Health Care Reform Town Hall

WHEN: 7:00PM; Monday, October 19, 2009

WHERE: Wilson Middle School Auditorium
22 Rutledge St., Natick

Congressman Markey has an influential position in the national health care reform debate as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which was one among the trio of Congressional committees that introduced the “Tri-Committee Bill.”

If you are interested in attending this forum and would like information on the potential impact on home health, you can view the NAHC talking points, or contact us for more information.

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DMH Holding Forums Across the State

The state’s Department of Mental Health (DMH) Commissioner Barbara Leadholm will be holding a series of forums across Massachusetts over the next few weeks.

The series is titled “Sustaining the Vision of Recovery in Challenging Economic Times” and will focus on how DMH can continue to fulfill its mission and provide services to the mental health community given the fiscal circumstances. For more information, see the DMH announcement.

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Senate Finance Committee Passes Health Reform Plan

CNN.com is reporting that the Senate Finance Committee has voted 14-9 in favor of a plan that would bring coverage to an estimated 29 million Americans at a projected cost of $829 billion over ten years. See the CNN story here.

Maine Republican Senator Olympia Snowe crossed party lines to lend her support to the committee’s proposal and, in doing so, was the only Republican to vote in favor.

Other similar stories appeared in:

New York Times: Senate Panel Clears Health Bill with One GOP Vote.

FOX News: Health Care Reform Clears Final Senate Panel

USA Today: Health Care Bill Passes Senate Panel

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Professional Development for Healthcare Staff Opportunity

The course is free, but space is very limited for an all-day training session on professional development for health care staff, presented by PHI.

See this flyer to view details on the course, including information on how to register.

Professional Development for Health Care Staff: Teaching the Adult Learner.

When: Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Where: Milford Care & Rehab Center, 10 Veterans Memorial Drive, Milford, MA

Time: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Content: Tools and Techniques for Educators in a Health Care setting

Audience: Anyone with a staff training role

Credit: 5.5 contact hours from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (All participants must attend full day in order to earn CEU’s)

Cost: Free

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EOHHS Seeking Budget Input

Given declining tax revenues and the inevitable end to the influx of federal stimulus funds, the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is seeking input on “potential efficiencies, cost-saving initiatives and partnership opportunities that will preserve core services to the fullest extent possible without additional expenditures.”

EOHHS Legislative and Policy Affairs Director David Martin sent out an email saying that the budget hearings scheduled for early October had to be canceled until the full extent of the state revenue picture can be understood.

Also in the email, a questionnaire was distributed to be a guide for any future budget testimony, or to be included as a supplement to any testimony, submitted when the hearings are rescheduled.

Please take a look at the questionnaire and return answers to the Alliance so that we can submit as many comments as possible to EOHHS. If you have any questions, would like more information, or need any guidance on the questions, please contact us.

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Alliance Gets a Word in on Health Care Payment Reform

A stuffy hearing room in the State House played host to a packed crowd of people interested in offering comments, and witnessing the comments of others, regarding the recommendations of the Health Care Payment Reform Commission.

Click here to see more information on the Payment Reform Commission, including their recommendations.

On behalf of the Alliance, Board Member, Co-Chair of the Alliance’s Legislative Committee, and President of the Brockton VNA Beverly Pavasaris gave a great presentation of testimony to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Click here to view the Alliance’s testimony.

As Pavasaris explained in her comments:

A well-designed ACO model focused on cost and outcome could provide a chance for home health services to truly demonstrate our value. On the other hand, if the system is not open to home health’s participation as a partner, then I fear that many home health agencies serving the most vulnerable populations in every city and town could be left out and their centuries of successful public health and chronic care management experience lost.   It is interesting to note that although the daily home healthcare census in any local community is often greater than the number of hospitalized patients, home care received no mention in the Commission’s report, except perhaps in two or three references to “ancillary providers.”

Leading off the speakers were Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby and, on her last day on the job, Secretary of Administration & Finance Leslie Kirwan. They spoke of how Massachusetts can do better by providing more coordinated care and, although the state ranks near the top in issues of access, it is into the bottom half of states when it comes to cost and efficiency.

Secretary Bigby mentioned that the state can’t just create “another code,” but has to pay for a better system.

Other speakers included Massachusetts Inspector General Greg Sullivan and panels of testifiers from Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Hospital Association, Health Care for All, AARP, 1199 SEIU, and Cambridge Health Alliance.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

2010 Guide to Private Home Care Services Released

The Home Care Alliance has released the 2010 Guide to Private Home Care Services: A Directory of Private Home Care Agencies in Massachusetts. The directory offers Massachusetts residents a listing of reputable, professional home care providers by town and county as well as valuable information on how to both choose and pay for home care.

See the Alliance’s news release announcing the availability of the new guide and please click here to order your own copy.

Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.