Community Spotlight

Haverhill Public Library Helps Residents Plan for Medicare with Jan. 24 Talk

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Health insurance outside of employer-sponsored coverage, Medicare enrollment timeline, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans and programs available to early retirees are among the topics to be presented during an upcoming Planning for Medicare talk. Led by a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts representative, the free presentation is geared towards individuals approaching Medicare eligibility. It takes place Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 6-7 p.m., at the Haverhill Public Library’s Johnson Auditorium, 99 Main St., Haverhill. Those interested may register at haverhillpl.org/events or by emailing Rebecca Lazan at [email protected].

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Offers Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Thursday

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The Haverhill Public Health Department plans a Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic this Thursday. The clinic is open to Haverhill residents age 12 and above and takes place Thursday, Jan. 11, from noon-4 p.m., at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., Haverhill. Residents may pre-register online and follow the link for available appointments. Walk-in space is limited.

Business Bulletin

Yawkey Foundation $100,000 Grant Provides Additional Mobile Clinic to GLFHC

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A program that brings health care to the most vulnerable and overlooked populations in the Merrimack Valley has received a $100,000 boost from the Yawkey Foundation. The Yawkey grant will be used to help Greater Lawrence Family Health Center purchase a new clinical vehicle for its Mobile Health Program, expanding a program serves more than 1,100 patients a year. “For many years, the single highest health-related need for residents in the Merrimack Valley has been access to care,” said Greater Lawrence Family Health Center President and CEO Guy L. Fish. “Our mobile health program delivers high quality care to those least in a position to access care. We have proven the model works and, with a great partner in the Yawkey Foundation—who values providing resources, opportunity and dignity to the vulnerable—we can do even more.”

The Mobile Health Program provides critical health care, substance use disorder support and social services to patients and non-patients, both housed and homeless.

Haverhill

U.S. House Advances Relief That Would Aid Greater Lawrence Family Health Center

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Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, with offices in Haverhill, Methuen and Lawrence, is among community health centers nationwide that could enjoy continued and expanded federal aid if legislation approved by the U.S. House becomes law. Congresswoman Lori Trahan a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, hailed passage Monday of bipartisan legislation she helped advance. “Community health centers like Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lowell Community Health Center and Community Health Connections are critical parts of our health care system. These facilities are part of a network of health centers across the Commonwealth that provide critical, often lifesaving care for over one million people each year,” she said. The bill, called the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act includes an immediate 10% increase in mandatory funding for community health centers and a 137% increase over the next seven years for the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education Program, which provides additional funding to teaching health centers like Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and Lowell Community Health Center.

Haverhill

Steward Health Care to Close Stoughton Hospital; Says Move Helps ‘Safeguard’ Holy Family

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The Dallas-based owner of Holy Family Hospital, with campuses in Methuen and Haverhill, plans to close its Stoughton rehabilitation hospital due to multi-million-dollar losses. Steward Health Care’s decision to close New England Sinai Acute Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Hospital by early April, company officials say, will help and not harm its Merrimack Valley hospitals. “In fact, the difficult decision to close NESH was made specifically to safeguard the strength of operations of other Steward hospitals, including ours, and protect our standard of care,” Holy Family Hospital President Craig A. Jesiolowski told staff Wednesday by email. “Holy Family will continue to serve the families of the Merrimack Valley and we will continue to ensure we can meet the demands of the health care industry as it continues to change.”

Steward said in a press release this week, “Nearly 75% of Steward hospital patients are public pay (Medicare and Medicaid) which chronically underpay, sometimes at rates less than the cost of delivering services. As a result of these chronic low reimbursement rates, Steward has lost $22 million from NESH operations and cannot afford to keep the facility open.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Offers Free Flu Vaccinations Next Two Thursdays

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As part of its mission, WHAV provides information and resources targeting health and wellness, food insecurity, after-school programs, education and housing to residents of Greater Haverhill and the Merrimack Valley. To submit news of events, fundraising appeals and other announcements, click on the image. Free flu vaccinations will be available for Haverhill residents during the next two Thursdays. The City of Haverhill Public Health Department is providing the free influenza vaccines on Thursday Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday, Nov.

Health

Local Nurses at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Methuen Plan Strike Today, Expect Lock-Out Next 2 Days

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Registered nurses and nurse practitioners working at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Methuen say they plan to strike today for one day in an attempt to reach a fair contract. Further, a spokesperson said they expect to be locked out of their jobs for the following two days. “It is outrageous that Dana-Farber executives would rather spend untold money on travelers and lock us out rather than simply meet the needs of nurses and support the cancer care we provide in Merrimack Valley,” said spokesperson Kate Mitchell. “What does it say about Dana-Farber executives that they cannot compromise with nurses on wages and benefits, but they can bring in outside nurses to extend a one-day strike into three days? Dana-Farber’s decision confounds us and will undermine cancer care access in our community.”

The union charged Dana-Farber has made “minimal movement since nurses announced their strike, including no agreement on benefits and daily overtime standards.”

Methuen Firefighters Local 1691 is joining Massachusetts Nurses Association in support of the strike.