FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2009
Network Health Appoints Director of Quality
(Medford, Mass.) — Network Health announced today the appointment of James Merola as director of quality. Merola is responsible for overseeing the plan’s quality improvement plan, and within this capacity, he will serve as Network Health’s quality officer; oversee the development of the plan’s annual improvement plan; and monitor, develop, and direct improvement projects. In addition, Merola will help Network Health meet MassHealth and Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority requirements on quality initiatives and objectives.
“We are excited to welcome Jim to Network Health,” said Dr. Pano Yeracaris, vice president and chief medical officer for Network Health. “Jim joins Network Health with extensive experience in the health care industry. Jim’s expertise in data analysis and data integrity, paired with strong managerial and team-building skills, gives us confidence in his ability to strengthen our quality team and spearhead our improvement projects.”
Merola previously served as senior vice president for sales and marketing for Court Square Group, where he provided consulting and support services for life sciences organizations, including audit services, business process design, hosting of IT services, and service management using best practices. In this capacity, Merola built a sales team to develop a life sciences practice while launching new life sciences product lines.
Prior to joining the Court Square Group, Merola served as vice president, strategic partnerships, for Sentillion. In this role, he evaluated, created, and modified formal relationships with technology, co-marketing and service partners, and was responsible for revitalizing relationships with at-risk hospital association partners in order to re-establish strong working relationships.
Merola earned a Doctorate in Psychology from Boston University, a Master of Education from Lesley University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from College of the Holy Cross.
About Network Health
Since 1997, Network Health has provided access to high-quality health care to low- and moderate-income residents of Massachusetts. Based in Medford, Mass., Network Health is a comprehensive health plan serving members through its Network Health Together™ (MassHealth) and Network Health Forward™ (Commonwealth Care) plans.
Network Health provides its Together members with all the benefits of MassHealth, plus additional free and discounted benefits. Network Health’s Commonwealth Care plan extends access to affordable health care for qualified Massachusetts residents 19 years or older who earn at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or up to approximately $31,000 a year for an individual (up to approximately $63,000 a year for a family of four). In addition to core health care benefits, Network Health offers its Forward members extra benefits designed to encourage wellness.
Network Health is nationally recognized for its integrated model of care, which provides a team of in-house medical, mental health, social service, and pharmacy professionals to coordinate the care of members with complex health needs and address their non-medical barriers to care. In its efforts to improve the health and well-being of its members and their diverse communities, Network Health partners with a growing network of more than 16,000 primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and community organizations to serve members in more than 300 cities and towns across Massachusetts.
Individuals must be eligible for MassHealth to join Network Health Together, a MassHealth plan. To learn about MassHealth eligibility, Massachusetts residents can contact the MassHealth Enrollment Center at 888-665-9993 (TTY: 888-665-9997), Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once enrolled, MassHealth members can learn about their MassHealth health plan options by calling the MassHealth Customer Service Center at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To learn about Commonwealth Care health plan options, call the Commonwealth Care Customer Service Center at 877-MA-ENROLL or 877-623-6765 (TTY: 877-623-7773), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or visit www.mahealthconnector.org.
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