Mission of Hope rallies to send aid to Ukraine
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Charity Events, National News, Northern NY News, Peru Library News.
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If UnitedHealthcare is your medical insurance provider, you need to read this message
Message from UVM Health Network President and CEO Sunil Eappen
I’m writing to let you know about a developing situation affecting some of our patients in Vermont and Northern New York: In spite of our best efforts to reach a new agreement, UnitedHealthcare has decided to terminate its commercial insurance contract with the UVM Health Network when that contract expires on April 1. UnitedHealthcare’s decision does not impact other contracts with them, such as Medicare Advantage.
As of April 1, our hospitals, providers and skilled nursing facilities will no longer be able to provide in-network coverage to 2,660 UnitedHealthcare subscribers and their families. Extensions will apply for some patients: For example, any patients currently undergoing a course of treatment, such as cancer treatment or pregnancy care, likely will be entitled to continued coverage at the in-network level for a transition period. Patients should contact UnitedHealthcare for specifics. Additionally, as nonprofit health care providers, we will always care for patients in need of emergency care regardless of their insurance coverage.
UnitedHealthcare is expected to begin contacting patients who are affected by this situation as soon as this week. Our Network is undertaking outreach efforts: We have made information available to UnitedHealthcare policyholders on our website (UVMHealth.org/UnitedHealthcare), and we’re providing information for patients to our clinics and call centers. Patients should work with their current UVM Health Network provider to ensure a smooth transition to a new provider if they choose. A list of in-network providers can be found through UnitedHealthcare’s website or by contacting them directly.
The UVM Health Network’s mission is to provide high-quality health care to everyone we serve, and we are deeply concerned when decisions like this impact our patients. We apologize for the disruptions this situation may cause in your community, and across our region. It’s important to note that, for years, our ability to provide timely and appropriate care to patients covered by UnitedHealthcare’s commercial insurance plans has been affected by significant administrative and operational issues. Additionally, despite their financial strength, UnitedHealthcare has made every attempt to undercut their reimbursement rates to our nonprofit health system, which negatively impacts our budget and our ability to invest in patient services, our workforce and our facilities.
Last year, we were able to reach a last-minute agreement with UnitedHealthcare to keep their commercial customers in-network. Unfortunately, UnitedHealthcare has made the decision to end negotiations for renewal of the current contract. We proposed a plan that would have allowed current patients to continue accessing our care with their UnitedHealthcare coverage through the end of 2023, under financial terms that would have had a negative impact on our health system. But UnitedHealthcare declined.
There’s a dynamic happening nationwide that is harmful both to patients and to health care providers: As hospitals and health systems, including ours, struggle under the increased expenses of providing care, many insurers are posting high profits. We’re seeing that same dynamic in the current situation with UnitedHealthcare. As a health system, we need to be able to negotiate reasonable, responsible insurer contracts that allow us to meet our patients’ needs while allowing our providers to do their jobs, so we can be here for everyone we serve for the long run.
If you are impacted by UnitedHealthcare’s actions or know someone who is, please take the following steps regarding coverage or continuity of care:
- Go to our online resource for UnitedHealthcare members for information on how to navigate this transition. It can be found at UVMHealth.org/UnitedHealthcare.
- For questions specific to a UnitedHealthcare plan, patients should contact United directly.
- Patients who are receiving health insurance through their employer should speak with them about their available options.
- Patients enrolled in health insurance through non-employer plans may wish to change insurers during the next open enrollment period in order to ensure care at the UVM Health Network remains in-network.
Thank you for your continued leadership and partnership, and I’ll keep you updated on this situation and other news regarding the UVM Health Network and our communities.
Sincerely,
Sunny
Sunil Eappen, MD, MBA
President and CEO, The University of Vermont Health Network
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, Heathcare News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, Regional NY-VT News.
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Adirondack Center for Writing hosts event to help students with their writing
Saranac Lake, NY—The Adirondack Center for Writing is hosting a Teen Night on Friday, March 3, from 3 to 7 PM in order to help teenagers draft, revise, and send their writings to Wild Words: Adirondack Teen Writing Anthology. As the deadline to submit writing to the anthology is approaching (3/10/2023), ACW wants to support teenagers who aren’t sure what to write, what to send, or how to send it. ACW will have editors present to help teens get writing, make edits to their work, and get it submitted before the deadline. Teachers and mentors are welcome to bring groups of students to Teen Night as well. Registration is encouraged but not required (walk-ins welcome). Snacks and pizza will be served at 5 PM.
Wild Words is a brand new, yearly print publication. It’s a place for teens living in the North Country to publish their creative writing, including poetry, short stories, memoirs, personal essays, sci-fi, and fantasy. Any teen (age 13-19) living in the North Country is eligible to submit writing (10 pages max) for consideration in the anthology, which will be published in the spring of 2023. ACW has developed an online toolkit for teachers and organizations interested in sharing this opportunity with members of their communities, which can be found online at www.adirondackcenterforwriting.org/wildwords. Submissions are due by midnight on March 10, 2023.
A public book launch for the anthology is scheduled for April 22, 2023 at ACW in Saranac Lake (15 Broadway). Free copies will be distributed to contributors and locations throughout the North Country, with additional copies available to be mailed for a small fee to cover shipping.
The Wild Words anthology is a collaboration between Visiting Writer Erin Dorney and the Adirondack Center for Writing as part of the Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) Artist Employment Program. CRNY, a project of the Tides Center, is a three-year, $125 million investment in the financial stability of New York State artists and the organizations that employ them. Dorney will work with ACW over the next two years on a variety of projects designed to encourage creative writing and readership throughout the Adirondack Park.
“Seeing your words published in print means a lot to any writer,” says Dorney. “For teens living in the North Country, this is a great opportunity to share their unique voices, experiences, and identities with a wider community of writers and readers. ACW believes teens have lots of important things to say, and we’re excited to read through the submissions that come in.”
The Adirondack Center for Writing (ACW) has been bringing people and words together for over 20 years. For more info about ACW and our latest programs, visit www.adirondackcenterforwriting.org and follow @adkctr4writing on social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook).
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Adirondack Region News, Education News, Northern NY News, Youth News.
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Snowstorm to impact Vermont, New York beginning Wednesday night
.Snow will begin falling Wednesday night, with moderate to heavy snowfall early Thursday morning.Lighter snow will continue Thursday, Thursday night and Friday morning.
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Northern NY News, Regional NY-VT News, Weather News/History.
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St. Augustine’s Soup Kitchen Menu for Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Macaroni & Cheese
Veggie Burgers
Dessert
Served take-out only, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Parish Center, 3030 Main St., Peru, NY 12972
All are welcome!
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Community Events, Peru News.
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Update: National Weather Service Winter Weather Watch
257 AM EST Tue Feb 21 2023
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…Heavy snowfall. Total snow accumulations of 7 inches or
more, with ice accumulations of a light glaze possible in
Rutland and Windsor Counties.
* WHERE…All of northern New York, and central and northern
Vermont.
* WHEN…From Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult, especially on the
Thursday morning commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…A period of moderate to heavy snow will
occur primarily Wednesday night before tapering off on Thursday.
Snowfall rates of greater than an inch per hour will lower
visibilities to a half mile at times during the heaviest snow.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Northern NY News, Regional NY-VT News, Weather News/History.
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Major fire destroys barn in Saranac
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Fire Department News, Northern NY News.
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New York’s political leaders silent about state’s failure to raise cannabis funds
Posted: February 21st, 2023 under Border News, Political News, State Government News, State Legislator News.
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LPCA presents Sacre by Circa Contemporary Circus, Feb. 22
Posted: February 20th, 2023 under Adirondack Region News, Arts and Entertainment, Youth News.
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FBI joins criminal investigation of New York state troopers PBA
Posted: February 20th, 2023 under Law Enforcement News, National News, State Government News.
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President Carter in hospice care
Posted: February 18th, 2023 under National News, Political News.
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Staying Alive: Responding to Emergencies Set for February 18
The free program offers information about AED use, fire safety, Narcan administration, Stop the Bleed, and more.
PLATTSBURGH, NY (02/08/2023) — “Staying Alive: Responding to Emergencies” is a free community event planned for Saturday, February 18, at the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The health and information fair will be held in the hospital’s Main Campus auditoriums, located on the first floor.
The event will feature displays, exhibits and information from the CVPH Clinical Education team, Alliance for Positive Health, EMT of CVPH and the Plattsburgh Fire Department. Topics include providing assistance to someone choking, needing CPR or having a stroke; fire and safety prevention; using an AED; administering Narcan; using Stop the Bleed principles, and caring for yourself in an emergency.
“We’ve come together to share important information – specifically for people with little or no medical background. Emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, to anyone. Having some basic knowledge can make a difference while you wait for medical help to arrive. Our goal is to provide practical, useful information,” explained Shana Riel, CVPH Clinical Education Coordinator.
Participants are encouraged to use CVPH’s Main Entrance. Masking requirements remain in place.
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Community Events, Heathcare News, Northern NY News.
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Three northern New York high schools earn high school cheerleading sectional titles
Saranac, Northeastern Clinton Central and Moriah high schools all earning hardware in 2023
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Education News, Northern NY News, Sports News.
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Peru Free Library Closed today, Friday, February 17, 2023
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Peru Library News, Peru News.
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Beta Technologies, CV-TEC in Plattsburgh launch partnership to train workforce
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Business News, Education News, Northern NY News.
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Icy conditions, light snow likely for morning commute in Vermont, New York Friday
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Highway Dept. News, Northern NY News, Regional NY-VT News, Weather News/History.
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What are baseball’s new rules and why make changes?
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under National News, Peru/Regional History, Sports News.
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NYS officially recognizes SUNY Plattsburgh as a University
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Education News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, State Government News.
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Glenn McRae: Libraries are more than books
A reaction to the Vermont State University (NOT UVM) closing its libraries
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Education News, General News, Regional NY-VT News.
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Peru Central Closed Today – Friday, February 17, 2023
Posted: February 17th, 2023 under Education News, Peru School News, Weather News/History.
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Editorial: North Country cell service is an ‘insult’
Posted: February 16th, 2023 under Adirondack Region News, Business News, County Government News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, State Government News, State Legislator News.
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CCC, SUNY Plattsburgh sign new integrated nursing program
Integrated program comes with big applause from educators and students alike
Posted: February 16th, 2023 under County Government News, Heathcare News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History.
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Free snowmobiling weekend coming March 3-5
First weekend in March now dedicated as Free Snowmobile Weekend each year
Posted: February 16th, 2023 under Adirondack Region News, Northern NY News, Recreation opportunities, State Government News.
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Panel discusses addiction and overdose crisis in North Country
Posted: February 16th, 2023 under Heathcare News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News.
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Icy conditions, light snow likely for morning commute in Vermont, New York Friday
A mix of freezing rain and light snow overnight will create slick conditions during the morning commute and could lead to school delays and tough travel.
Posted: February 16th, 2023 under Northern NY News, Regional NY-VT News, Weather News/History.
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