Fallon Health Names Medical Director of Medicaid Programs, ACOs

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WORCESTER, Mass. — Fallon Health, a mission-focused, community-based not-for-profit health care services organization, has appointed Dr. Linda Weinreb as medical director of its Medicaid programs and Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations.

A family physician with more than 25 years of experience directing clinical programs for, and conducting research with, vulnerable populations, Dr. Weinreb is a nationally recognized expert on the health and support needs of homeless families and the integration of behavioral health and primary care services for vulnerable populations. Dr. Weinreb has extensive expertise on the impact of social determinants on health and ways to address these issues in the context of health care and in collaboration with community partners. Recently, she became a member of a newly established task force by Worcester’s City Manager for sustaining housing first solutions.

At Fallon, Weinreb will oversee clinical operations for the organization’s three ACOs, which launched March 1. ACOs are partnership plans with MassHealth designed to improve health outcomes by providing coordinated and patient-centered care in partnership with community providers. Fallon’s ACO Partnership Plans are Berkshire Fallon Health Collaborative (with provider partners Berkshire Health Systems, Community Health Programs and several Berkshire County community physician groups); Fallon 365 Care (with provider partners Reliant Medical Group and Southboro Medical Group); and Wellforce Care Plan (with provider partners from the Wellforce health system, including Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization, Lowell Community Health Center, New England Quality Care Alliance [NEQCA], Hallmark Health, Circle Health and Tufts Medical Center).

Previously, Weinreb served as vice chair and professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at University of Massachusetts Medical School and medical director of the Family Health Center of Worcester's Homeless Families Program, which provides trauma-informed, integrated health, mental health and support services to homeless and at-risk families. Under her leadership, the health center’s program developed into a nationally recognized model for addressing the comprehensive needs of homeless families and has been recognized by the Surgeon General and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Weinreb earned a medical degree from Pennsylvania State Medical School and a bachelor of arts in biology at Washington University.

 

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Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 
 
"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 
 
The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 
 
The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 
 
Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center
 
The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 
 
The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.
 
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