VNA of WNY

Updated On: Apr 96, 2024

12/04/2023

Monday 12/4/23 Message From VNA Mobilization:

INTERESTING FACT: 120 DAYS UNTIL PRESENT VNA CONTRACT EXPIRES Happening this week:

On TUESDAY December 5th, 3 separate ZOOM MEETINGS will be held as follows:

Cattaraugus/Allegany – Zoom starts at 6 pm Chautauqua – Zoom starts at 6.45 pm GLOW/Steuben – Zoom start at 7:30 pm

A zoom invite for this meeting will arrive via EMAIL and TEXT as early as today (MONDAY. 12/4).

These meetings are being used to NOMINATE members to the remaining representational seats on the bargaining committee.

(See the full letter which was sent to our homes last month that we posted on the water cooler previously on November 22)

Someone else has to nominate you on the ZOOM meeting to accept that nomination.

Nominations for the Erie and Niagara office will be held in person THURSDAY December 7th at the MEMBERSHIP MEETING at the IRON WORKERS HALL 196 ORCHARD PARK RD. West Seneca NY 14224. Food is at 5:00 pm and the Meeting starts at 6:00 PM .

An electronic election will be held the following week and everyone should receive an invitation to vote via email.

That’s why we needed everyone’s correct info and we’ve been updating and correcting data at the union every day.

I have a special request of the ERIE and NIAGARA members – please make that THURSDAY meeting this week. In October, at the last membership meeting we had a record turnout for VNA! The food is great, the nominations for seats on the bargaining team are taking place that night – PLUS, it’s our annual CHRISTMAS PARTY! Maybe Tori and I will sing a few Classic Christmas Duets for you! Who knows???

10/25/2023

Leave Reminders

See important reminders about Family Medical Leave, New York State Disability and Paid Family Leave.

	KaleidaConnect
	Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Family Medical Leave (FMLA)

Kaleida Health has recalled the administration of FMLA services from our carrier, Sun Life.

Any new FMLA requests should be directed to the Kaleida Health Integrated Absence Department
Requests for FMLA can be forwarded to fax (716) 859-8671 or sent via email to KHIAP@kaleidahealth.org
Forms have been updated and are available on KaleidaScope via the Benefits Form page or can be picked up at your site Human Resources Department
- Medical certification forms and FMLA request forms must be completed in order to process FMLA requests
- FMLA will continue to run concurrent with other leave types as appropriate and as eligible

New York State Disability & Paid Family Leave (DBL/PFL)

Sun Life will continue to manage paid leaves, including Disability and Paid Family Leave.

Submit your claim by phone
- Call the toll-free number, 844-209-0462 and select option 2, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET
- A client service specialist will help you file your claim by asking you a series of questions related to your leave
Submit your claim online
- Sun Life has an easy-to-follow online tool that walks you through the claim submission process. To get started, sign into your Sun Life account at www.sunlife.com/account and click on “Submit a claim”

For intermittent PFL claims:

Employees will report the first day of use to the carrier to initiate start of the claim
Kaleida Health will then report intermittent days of use on behalf of our employees to the carrier
Simply ensure when utilizing intermittent PFL days that these are appropriately reported to your manager or timekeeper for entry into the Kronos timekeeping system
- This includes up to 30 days in advance notice for baby bonding
- Pre-scheduled appointments
- Utilizing the established call-in procedures for your department

For any questions or concerns, please contact the Integrated Absence Department at 716-859-8000. Offices are staffed Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Also, feel free to contact us at our email KHIAP@kaleidahealth.org.

For administrative issues, please contact Megan Tuberdyke at MTuberdyke@kaleidahealth.org and/or Jen Bader at JXBader@kaleidahealth.org.

04/12/2023

Just a quick update regarding the ongoing issues with Highmark as presented during our meeting with Don Boyd:

Vicki Brandon Director of HR benefits presented to CWA1122

Acknowledged the difficulties of Highmark acquiring BC/BS- our plan is a custom plan which was rolled out locally and Highmark needed to train the local providers on how to utilize Navi Net to locate our custom plan. They have since identified which large providers are not using the system correctly and are educating them. They have improved staffing and training. The residual focus is on our align plan
1. The reimbursement avenue for those who have submitted receipts for the incorrect copays are being examined. Some of those checks will come from the medical provider , some from Highmark and some from Kaleida. So reimbursement is TBD.
2. Customer service is improving and the customer service line is dedicated to Kaleida employees.
3. As this is a Highmark issue, members who call Vicki will be channeled to Highmark.
4. FAQ’s sheet will be sent out by Paul Coleman to assist with commonly asked questions.

Issues with the Formulary:
1. When Highmark took over there was to be less than a 3% disruption to service. That did not happen .
2. Kaleida does not manage the formulary; it is done primarily through Express Scripts.
3. The disruption occurred when Highmark moved TIer 1 medications to Tier 3.
  1. This has been suspended for the duration of 2023 and all the meds will be moved back and remain in the appropriate tier. This will be readdressed in 2024.
  2. Medications that require significant prior authorization will not need this authorization through June of 2023. Members whose medications may be used off label for their issue ( ie weight loss med which is for Diabetes) will be given a letter stating that their medications will need this auth and these letters are being sent out soon.
  3. If you paid increased copays for medications since 1/2023 the member will be mailed a check to cover the increased rate. Be aware that it will be mailed to the person who the benefit affected. For example if your child had an issue with medication co pay the check will be in the child’s name.

That was the most immediate information that I wanted you to have . Call HR with any further questions or concerns. OR as always reach out to the union hall.

03/28/2023

The JFS contract has been ratified as of 3/8/2023. I am working with JFS to have the final copy edited and will then post it here on the website and on your bulletin board once that has been done.

11/18/2022

As the Weather Turns

Every year our members need to head out into inclement weather. If you encounter driveways or pathways that are hazardous, it’s important to think about your safety.

Remember if you get hurt it becomes a trip to the ER for you.

If you get stuck in the driveway you end up losing PTU time to cover the incident and incur towing expenses.

**The agency has not covered or excused this in the recent past.**

We encourage you to be aware of your surroundings, how they change with the weather and if you are safe enough to get into and out of patient driveways.

If you decide the area is too risky, call your manager AND email them to let them know of your situation.

If the company is not sympathetic to your issues, please reach out to a union steward.

Stay safe

In solidarity

12/20/2022

Branch updates - Sarah Sweeney thought the Casual Coffee chats were successful and brought up issues from the staff.

NWPA and the GLOW office are looking for a new location

Paul Coleman:

For December and January the VNA has recruited LPN’s , RNs , OT’s ,PT’s and 2 CSS throughout the organization. 1 per diem in GLOW went full time

Open interviews in GLOw are scheduled for January 10th at the Chamber of commerce

Open interviews for Steuben are scheduled for January 12th

Advertisement Campaign is being done through GOOGLE , facebook and instagram. The agency is also using billboards around college campuses as well as increasing the referral bonus .

They are beginning to expand the new grad program into the outer counties.

Recruiting from GCC, JCC , Alfred state college, Monroe cc and Finger Lakes cc.

The agency reports that to date for the year we have hired 75 nurses and 73 nurses have retired/resigned.

Patient Satisfaction continues to improve.

Our Quality update included that we are above the benchmark but continue to need improvements in Bed transfers , dyspnea and medication management.

For the Oasis E which will be starting in January there will be an analysis done by McBee.

McBee has been analyzing the process to improve clinical operational and revenue cycle performance.

This analysis will allow the agency to breakdown, by team and clinician, to optimize referral processes.

**********************IMPORTANT *********************************

New Insurance Cards will be coming. The group number will change so your old card may not work. Be aware of this if you go to the MD on January 2nd or 3rd!!!!!!!!!

Swabbing Clinics will be closed on the observed Holidays .

******************************SUPER IMPORTANT************************************************

ELECTRONIC VISIT VERIFICATION starts in January for all Medicaid patients

This will monitor your visit including your GPS coordinates for the visit that you do. Remember to not open the case until you see your patient’s eyes.

This is how the federal government will monitor billing and verify payment to the agency.

Kelly Wlodarczyk and Dean Carroll:

Inquired about the status of the staffing committee which has merged with the Preceptor and mentor committee.

We will need to discuss MOA to incorporate the committees vs separating them again to address issues such as complexity of cases and time to complete, feasibility of the schedules that clinicians are given as well as management response to clinicians who call in at 2 pm to discuss their day.

The union requested more education for clinicians on Blood draw and Catheter management. Hands on and in person education.

The agency to look into how the labs might help with a Blood draw for a day and to Marge Lynette to set up teaching opportunities.

Addressed safety issues that are still on going - this will be addressed by Lisa Buckley and Peggy Weisand in a f/u email to the Union.

The union questioned response from the state regarding the HC bonus. Paul Coleman to look into progress on that front noting that once the state issues the money Kaleida has 30 days to disperse the Bonus.