Health Partners salutes Hal Augustine, recipient of the Health ...

Health Partners
salutes Hal Augustine,
recipient of the
Health Partners
Foundation’s first-ever
Lamplighter award.
Hal Augustine, Vice President & Chief
Information Officer, is the first recipient of
the Health Partners Foundation’s (HPF)
Lamplighter’s Award. This newly created
award is given to a Health Partners
employee who has demonstrated a strong
commitment to the Foundation and
successfully landed a significant donation to
fund the Foundation's various programs and
projects. Hal, 2005’s Spirit of Health
Partners Award recipient and an invaluable
leader in our organization, recently secured a
$1000 donation from PAETEC
Communications to support the Foundation’s
community outreach efforts.
To mark his dedication to HPF, Hal’s
name, along with that of the donating
organization and the dollar amount, is
currently displayed on a banner attached to
the Lamppost that was used at our recent
Open House and Lamp Lighting Ceremony.
At various intervals throughout the year, a
new HPF Lamplighter and donating
organization will be recognized in the
display.
HPF was founded and continues to be
significantly funded by Health Partners
employees, with the help of supportive
vendors and other individuals. Through the
generosity of its supporters, HPF truly
makes a profound impact on our community.
Some of the Foundation’s many outreach
initiatives include the “Making Dreams
Reality” scholarship program for high achieving, low-income students and the “Be There” perfect attendance program, for students who
achieve perfect attendance during the school year.
In addition, HPF provides food and clothing for disadvantaged families; helps men and women seeking employment through welfare-towork
and post-rehabilitation programs; and assists needy families in crisis, helping to pay heating and cooling bills and funeral expenses.
Please join us in congratulating Hal Augustine on receiving the first-ever HPF Lamplighter’s Award!
HP is Spam Free
Spam, or unsolicited electronic junk mail, often in the form of
advertising, is sent repeatedly to mass distribution lists, flooding email
inboxes everywhere. These messages can be annoying, intrusive and a
waste of time and energy. Additionaly, they often eat up network
bandwidth and email server space.
Health Partners’ IS department has the solution! The “Ironmail”
spam prevention system stands watch 24-7, blocking thousands of
unwanted messages each day. As new forms of spam are generated and
sent, “Ironmail” receives updates to block them. Once a new system
update has been received for a particular form of spam, the block
becomes permanent and that message never returns.
Occasionally, however, it can take a few days for the system to
catch up with the latest spam, which may allow a message or two to
get through. If any spam has made its way through to you, please
contact the Helpdesk by accessing Heat Self Service or by calling
ext. 4357.
Weekly Pulse 06/05/2006 Page 1

HP Leaders Publish In Our Own
Words Effective Management Guide
Earlier this year, Health Partners’ Organizational Learning
Center (OLC) announced a new initiative called the
Executive Invitational, an effort to help leaders at all levels
within our organization enhance and enrich their leadership
skills. The first series, which took place in April, was called
the “Leader’s Daily Dozen” (based on the principles
contained in John C. Maxwell’s book - The 360˚ Leader).
At this first workshop, conducted by Bill Austin,
Manager, Organizational Learning Center, leaders
throughout the organization shared their thoughts about
what it means to be a good, effective leader. One of the
many positive outcomes from the Invitation was the
development of an informative booklet called In Our Own
Words. This collaborative effort, spearheaded by Bill
Austin and co-authored by 41 other Health Partners leaders,
is a collection of thoughts and notes that attendees shared
during their sessions regarding the practical application of
Maxwell’s “Daily Dozen.” To get a copy of In Our Own
Words, contact Bill Austin in the OLC.
Health Partners Law Unit:
Defense Team in Action
When it comes to appealing a denial or reduction in
service, Health Partners members have options. Of course,
they can take advantage of our internal complaint and
grievance process, but did you know that members can also
file a simultaneous appeal by requesting a Fair Hearing
with the Federal Bureau of Hearings and Appeals
Fair Hearings are handled by the Law Unit of Health
Partners’ Legal Affairs Department. The Law Unit’s job is
to defend assessments made by other departments at Health
Partners, who coordinate and deliver member care services.
However, if possible, the Unit seeks to work with these
other departments to resolve appeals before they go to
Hearing. Sometimes it’s just a matter of reaching out to the
member to explain in more detail why the request was
denied. This often results in an appeal withdraw, which
ends up saving time and money for Health Partners.
“If, after investigating the issue, we find that we could
not have done anything differently,” explains Christine
Lewis, Paralegal for Legal Affairs, “the Law Unit is
prepared to defend Health Partners’ position with the help
of witnesses from various departments within the
organization.”
In 2005, the Law Unit investigated and prepared to
defend 41 Fair Hearing cases and our statistics were
excellent! Overall, 28 cases were “won” by the Law Unit,
either resulting in the Court upholding Health Partners’
position or granting the Law Unit’s motion to dismiss the
case based on a legal/procedural issue. Additionally, 12
cases were withdrawn before going to Hearing and one
appeal was overturned in favor of the member.
These excellent statistics show how the Legal Affairs’
Law Unit uses legal training and business skills to work
with other Health Partners departments toward the
corporate goal of achieving operational excellence.
Claudia Tucker-Keto, Manager, Community Affairs, introduces Angelia
Nelson, PhD, author of “The Ghetto Is Not My Final Destination” and
guest speaker, at the Health Partners Foundation’s “Be There” perfect
attendance awards ceremony at the National Liberty Museum last
week. During the ceremony, nearly 70 high school students from
Murrell Dobbins Vocational Technical High School, Norristown Area
High School, Randolph Career Academy, and Roosevelt Alternative
School, were honored for achieving perfect attendance for at least three
marking periods during the 2005-2006 school year.
Health Partners saluted Porter’s Day Care and Educational Center
(PDCEC) during its 25th Anniversary celebration at City Hall last
week. Pictured (L-r): Darlene J. Davis, Director of Finance,
PDCEC; Deborah D. Greasham, Executive Director, PDCEC; and
Leyla Moreno, Public Affairs Representative, Health Partners.
Congratulations to:
Terra Swiggett, Manager of Specialty Programs, Provider
Affairs Specialist Network, who recently graduated with
honors and received her Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) degree
in Health Law from Widener University’s School of Law.
Way to go, Terra!
Weekly Pulse 06/05/2006 Page 2

HP IN THE COMMUNITY
The Wellness of You,
Inc. treated
elementary school
students at the
Universal Institute
Charter School and
their parents to a funfilled
day of face
painting, aerobics
demonstrations,
mascot appearances
and more at the
Eighth Annual
Children’s Wellness
Health Fair,
sponsored in part by
Health Partners.
Pictured clockwise:
Lamont Queen,
Health Partners;
Leyla Moreno, Health
Partners; Terry
Mulligan, The
Wellness of You, Inc.;
Soulman,
Philadelphia Soul;
Swoop, Philadelphia
76er’s; and students
from the Universal
Institute Charter
School.
Pre-schoolers from the Bucks Meadows YWCA don red, blue and gold caps and gowns, courtesy of
Health Partners, during their recent graduation ceremony. Back row (L-r): Leela Samson, Children’s
Center Coordinator, YWCA of Bucks County; Lorna Michelson, Executive Director, YWCA of Bucks
County; Netta Hughes, Public Affairs Representative, Health Partners; Kristin Chapin, Director of Youth
Services, YWCA of Bucks County; and Malini Chandra, Assistant Teacher, YWCA of Bucks County,
celebrate with the graduating class of 2006.
In the News
A photograph of Felicia Phillips, Senior
Communications Specialist; Judy
Harrington, Vice President of Business
Development; Sylvester Johnson,
Philadelphia Police Commissioner; and
Terri Heavens, Vice President of
Corporate Communications and Public
Affairs, at the 2006 PAL Silent Auction
and Awards Ceremony, was included in
the May 25 issue of The Public Record.
Health Partners was mentioned in an
article about Rep. Ronald Water’s Third
Annual Senior Luncheon in the May 25
issue of the Public Record . A
photograph of Jorge Lopez, Medicare
Sales Representative and Rep. Waters,
was included in the photo spread that
accompanied the article.
An announcement about Don
Daddario’s promotion to Senior Vice
President of Pharmacy Business and
Debra Kircher’s promotion to Senior
Vice President of Operations, was
included in the business section of
today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. Headshots
of Don and Debra were also included.
Weekly Pulse 06/05/2006 Page 3