Network Health Executives to Share Strategies on Care Coordination

Dr. Pano Yeracaris and Mary McKendry to present at upcoming Health Integrated Executive Leadership Summit

MEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Network Health, a nonprofit Massachusetts health plan that provides access to high-quality, comprehensive health coverage for more than 215,000 Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes, announced today that two of the health plan’s senior leaders will be speaking at the Executive Leadership Series Summit hosted by Health Integrated in Clearwater Beach, Florida on March 20-21, 2013. Dr. Pano Yeracaris, the health plan’s vice president and chief medical officer, and Mary McKendry, the health plan’s vice president of clinical affairs will speak on the topics of care coordination, quality, and cost.

“With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act on the horizon, there has never been a more important time for health care providers to incorporate patient-focused care coordination into their overall approach”

To improve the health and wellness of the members and diverse communities Network Health serves, the health plan takes a fully integrated, in-house approach to address member needs across the care continuum. This holistic strategy treats the whole person and involves a multidisciplinary team, with strong provider and community partnerships, who collaborate on care management to improve health outcomes. Dr. Yeracaris will be presenting on strategies to address shifting utilization patterns in a Medicaid population. Mary McKendry will be speaking on the importance of care coordination for a high-need population.

“With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act on the horizon, there has never been a more important time for health care providers to incorporate patient-focused care coordination into their overall approach,” expressed Dr. Pano Yeracaris. “Innovative care management strategies can lead the way to dramatically enhanced quality of care, while improving efficiency and lowering costs.”

Health Integrated is the leading innovation partner for health plans, serving more than 7 million individuals nationwide. Their goal in hosting the Executive Leadership Summit is to bring together leading health plan executives to discuss key health care issues and learn from one another. This collaborative setting will help provide evidence-based solutions to accelerate the achievement of health management goals for improved clinical outcomes, quality measures, and cost containment.

Dr. Yeracaris has over 30 years' medical practice and leadership experience. He directs Network Health’s clinical affairs activities which include integrated care management, medical management, behavioral health, social care management, clinical community outreach, program evaluation, pharmacy services, and quality improvement. He also oversees Network Health’s clinical and wellness programs for members with chronic and acute medical conditions and special needs. Prior to Network Health, he served as chief medical officer of Health Services Partnership and medical director for its two member health centers, and as physician leader at Health Care Plan. Pano earned his medical degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also earned a master's degree in public health and a bachelor's degree from Harvard University. He is board certified in family medicine.

Mary McKendry leads Network Health's integrated care management, medical management, behavioral health, social care management, and quality teams. Prior to joining Network Health, Mary served as the director of health services at Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, vice president of operations for Renaissance Health Care, and senior director of strategic relationships and consulting at McKesson Health Solutions. Mary earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., as well as a nursing degree from Salem Hospital School of Nursing.

About Network Health

Since 1997, Network Health has provided access to high-quality health care for Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes. Network Health is a nonprofit, comprehensive health plan serving members through Network Health Together^® (MassHealth), Network Health Forward^® (Commonwealth Care), Network Health Extend^™ (Medical Security Program), and Network Health Choice (an individual and small-group plan).

To improve the health and well-being of its more than 215,000 members and their diverse communities, Network Health offers fully integrated, in-house care management, providing a team of medical, behavioral health, social care, and pharmacy professionals who coordinate member care. Network Health partners with more than 20,000 primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and community organizations statewide.

Network Health earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) “Excellent” Health Plan Accreditation status, NCQA’s highest accreditation rating, for its Network Health Together plan. In 2012, NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings ranked Network Health as the third highest Medicaid Health Plan in the United States. Since 2010, Network Health has ranked among the top 10 Medicaid health plans nationally, according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Medicaid. Network Health is among 10 health plans nationally and the first health plan in New England to earn the NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction. Additionally, Network Health is nationally recognized for its innovative programs; it won the Dorland Health Case In Point Platinum Award for “Best Integrated Case Management Team” in 2012 and “Best Overall Case/Care Management Program” in 2010. Network Health is also recognized for its top leadership team among health plans nationwide by HealthLeaders Media.

Network Health became a subsidiary of Tufts Health Plan in 2011. Tufts Health Plan is a nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage to its more than 999,000 members. For 2012 – 2013, its HMO and POS programs are ranked second in the nation according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Private, and its Medicare Preferred HMO received a 4.5 star rating from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2013. With headquarters in Massachusetts, Tufts Health Plan also serves members in Rhode Island. For more information visit www.tuftshealthplan.com.

For more information about Network Health, call 888-257-1985 or visit www.Network-Health.org. Follow Network Health on Facebook and @_NetworkHealth on Twitter.

To learn about health plan options, Massachusetts residents can call the Health Connector at 877-636-4654 (TTY: 877-623-7773), Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.mahealthconnector.org; call MassHealth at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.mass.gov/masshealth; or call the Medical Security Program at 800-908-8801, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit www.mass.gov/dua/msp.