Starting this April, Medicare will be issuing new cards that no longer contain Social Security Numbers. The new cards will have new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) instead of Social Security Number (SSN)-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) to help protect the identities of people with Medicare. The new card won’t change your coverage or benefits. You’ll get more information from Medicare when your new card is mailed. In the state of California, Medicare cards will be mailed in May 2018.

Here’s how you can get ready:
■ Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be
corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213.
TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

■ Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. We’ll
never ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new
Medicare Number and card.

■ Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card
might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.

3 Things to Know
1. People who are enrolling in Medicare for the first time will be among the first in the country to receive the new cards.

2. Your new card will automatically come to you. You don’t need to do anything as long as your address is up to date. If you need to update your address, visit your My Social Security account.

3. Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new card right away.

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kristin Mostowski | Director of Public Relations, Community Hospice | Kristin.Mostowski@hospiceheart.org | 209.578.6301

Community Hospice Recognizes Volunteers

MODESTO, CA (April 27, 2017) – Community Hospice the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider in the Central Valley celebrated and recognized their volunteers at their annual A World of Thanks Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and Award Ceremony on April 12, 2017. All volunteers received a certificate of recognition, several volunteers were recognized for outstanding service and dedication to the mission of Community Hospice and four dedicated volunteers were awarded the 2016 Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Volunteer of the Year Award. Named after the co-founder of Community Hospice, the awards are given each year to four volunteers for their outstanding service and spirit of excellence. One volunteer is chosen from the following: Community Hospice, Friends of Community Hospice, Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Stores and Camp Erin® of the Central Valley.

The Mary Jean Couer-Barron Community Hospice Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Inez Lewis. Ms. Lewis not only provides compassionate support to patients in their homes, facilities, and at the Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House, she is an outspoken supporter of Community Hospice and has dedicated numerous hours providing education to the community at various community events.

The Mary Jean Couer-Barron Friends of Community Hospice Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Mrs. Claudia Krausnick; current president of the Friends of Community Hospice. Mrs. Krausnick has served in many capacities to support the fundraising efforts of Community Hospice Foundation. She has played a significant role in the success of the silent and live auctions for the Foundation Annual Gala, the Santa Shares Breakfast as well as other events.

Mr. Wayne Burton was awarded the Mary Jean Couer- Barron Hope Chest Thrift Store volunteer of the year. Mr. Burton’s passion is serving in the book department at the Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift store in Oakdale. He spends many hours keeping the books organized so that customers can easily find particular books or authors. Through his endless efforts and dedication, he has sold more than 8,700 books since January 1, 2017.

The 2016 Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Camp Erin of the Central Valley award was given to Mr. Bob Taylor. Mr. Taylor has served as a cabin buddy for Camp Erin for the Central Valley for the past three years. His dedication to supporting our campers along their grief journey has been a blessing to many in our community.

In 2016, more than 500 volunteers contributed 24,413 hours in support of the Community Hospice mission. “Volunteers are the heart of Community Hospice and we are blessed to have so many community residents give their time and talents to support our mission,” said C. DeSha McLeod, President and CEO of Community Hospice. “We are grateful for all our volunteers that help support our patients and their families, and the programs we provide our communities.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities or any of Community Hospice’s programs or services, visit hospiceheart.org or call 209.578.6300.

Photo Caption: The 2016 Mary Jean Coeur-Barron Volunteer of the Year Award Winners (From Left to Right) Claudia Krausnick, Wayne Burton and Inez Lewis. (Not pictured: Bob Taylor)

About Community Hospice
Community Hospice is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice agency in the Central Valley. Serving the community since 1979, Community Hospice has cared for thousands of friends and neighbors offering compassionate and quality care, education and support to terminally ill patients and families, regardless of ability to pay. Care extends to over 200 patients each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and at the only inpatient hospice facility serving Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, the 16-bed inpatient Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides bereavement and grief support to anyone in the community. For more information, please call (209) 578-6300 or visit hospiceheart.org.

###

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kristin Mostowski | Director of Public Relations, Community Hospice | Kristin.Mostowski@hospiceheart.org | 209.578.6301

Community Hospice named one of the Best Places to Work: Central Valley

MODESTO, CA (April 28, 2017) – Community Hospice the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider in the Central Valley was recognized in April at the Dust Bowl Brewery and named alongside nine other organizations as one of the Best Places to Work in the Central Valley.

Best Places to Work: Central Valley is a program that surveys companies that are eligible and wish to participate. Companies must be located in Merced, San Joaquin or Stanislaus counties, have been in business for at least a year and have no less than 15 full- or part-time permanent employees.

“Community Hospice is honored to have earned the distinction of being one of the Best Places to Work in the Central Valley,” said C. DeSha McLeod, President/CEO of Community Hospice. “Our employees are the vessel for our mission and we strive to maintain a healthy and nourishing environment for staff to flourish in and enjoy. We would not be able to provide compassionate and quality care to our community without our amazing staff. Our dedication to our patients, families and to one another is what makes Community Hospice one of the Best Places to Work.”

All companies that participated in the 2017 Best Places to Work: Central Valley program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.

Best Places to Work: Central Valley is brought to you by Opportunity Stanislaus, Prime Shine Car Wash, and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

About Community Hospice
Community Hospice is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice agency in the Central Valley. Serving the community since 1979, Community Hospice has cared for thousands of friends and neighbors offering compassionate and quality care, education and support to terminally ill patients and families, regardless of ability to pay. Care extends to over 200 patients each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and at the only inpatient hospice facility serving Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, the 16-bed inpatient Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides bereavement and grief support to anyone in the community. For more information, please call (209) 578-6300 or visit hospiceheart.org.
###

April 10, 2017 (Modesto)—Central Valley organizations with a strong workplace environment were recognized on Wednesday, April 19 at Dustbowl Brewery in Turlock. In front of a crowd of elite local businesses, the companies receiving the award for Best Places to Work: Central Valley were named.

The complete list of recipients is as follows:
• Ambeck Mortgage Associates
• Community Hospice
• DeHart Plumbing Heating and Air
• Grimbleby Coleman CPAs
• Huff Construction Company, Inc.
• Opportunity Stanislaus
• PMZ Real Estate
• Prime Shine Car Wash
• Warden’s Office Products

Best Places to Work: Central Valley is in its first year of program participation and expects double digit growth for the 2018 program, which will begin in November. “The organizations selected for this designation are leaders in their field without exception,” said David White, Chief Executive Officer of Opportunity Stanislaus. “Their cultures and emphasis on employee satisfaction are evident in their employee response and evidence shows prospective employees will look favorably on these rankings as they search for their next position.”

All companies that participated in the 2017 Best Places to Work: Central Valley program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment
programs.

Best Places to Work: Central Valley is brought to you by Opportunity Stanislaus, Prime Shine Car Wash, and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on Best Places to Work: Central Valley visit //bestplacestoworkcentralvalley.com/.

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Kristin Mostowski, Director of Public Relations | Community Hospice | Kristin.Mostowski@hospiceheart.org | 209.578.6301

Community Hospice Awarded BETA Healthcare Group Participant of the Year

MODESTO, CA (March 28, 2017) – Community Hospice, the community’s oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider serving the Central Valley, was awarded Participant of the Year by BETA Healthcare Group-Worker’s Compensation on February 23, 2017 at the Annual Participants’ Meeting held in Newport Beach, CA. BETA Healthcare Group formerly known as Alpha Fund, is the largest professional liability insurer of hospitals in California. Additionally, BETA provides workers’ compensation coverage for over 40,000 healthcare workers in the state.

Community Hospice takes pride in the Culture of Safety it has developed over the past years. Recognizing that culture isn’t built overnight, Community Hospice acknowledged that lacking this Culture of Safety would negatively impact its ability to deliver on the company mission of providing compassionate and quality care, education and support to terminally ill patients and their families, regardless of ability to pay. “Our staff is our most important asset in delivering our mission,” mentions Community Hospice’s Director of Human Resources, Jennifer Dunn. “If we were unable to provide a safe atmosphere for our staff to work in, we could not provide the education, support, training and patient care to our patients and families.”

With the leadership of President/CEO, C. DeSha McLeod and her team, Community Hospice has put into place measures to ensure employee and patient safety remain at the forefront of employees’ minds. “We take safety very seriously and upon ourselves and hold each other accountable to see safety risks and make corrections on our own to avoid potential problems” explained C. DeSha McLeod. From day one of employment, Community Hospice demonstrates to staff their commitment to this culture through extensive training, education and supportive programs all focused on health and safety. But the message doesn’t stop there; safety is woven into the fabric of their operations. Whether it be a vibrant and effective safety committee with members from every level of the organization, quarterly safety inspections of each facility, monthly safety presentations at all-employee meetings, or putting all employees through an extensive defensive driver training program, Community Hospice continually reminds employees of the importance of safety and how it fits into their daily tasks.

Community Hospice, Inc. serves as an outstanding example of what Commitment, Accountability, Responsibility and Engagement in a Culture of Safety can achieve. BETA Healthcare Group is proud to present this well-deserved award to Community Hospice, Inc.

About Community Hospice
Community Hospice is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice agency in the Central Valley. Serving the community since 1979, Community Hospice has cared for thousands of friends and neighbors offering compassionate and quality care, education and support to terminally ill patients and families, regardless of ability to pay. Care extends to over 2000 patients each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and at the 16-bed inpatient Community Hospice Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides bereavement and grief support to anyone in the community. For more information, please call (209) 578-6300 or visit hospiceheart.org.

About BETA Healthcare Group
BETA Healthcare Group is the largest professional liability insurer of hospitals in California, providing coverage to more than 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities. In addition, BETA provides workers’ compensation coverage for over 40,000 healthcare workers in the state. BETA also has a long-established and growing commitment to physicians with BETA providing medical professional liability coverage to nearly 6,000 physicians and more than 50 medical groups. Beyond primary liability and workers’ compensation coverage, BETA provides an entire suite of alternative risk and insurance services, including excess liability coverage, excess workers’ compensation coverage, third-party claims administration services, risk management consulting services and claims management consulting services. Whether with hospitals, medical groups, clinics or hospices, BETA has earned a reputation for financial strength, rate stability, quality service and breadth of coverage that is unparalleled in the industry. For more information, please visit www.betahg.com.
# # #