Home Care Association of NYS Names New President

Joanne Cunningham to Join Organization

ALBANY, NY (06/28/2007)(readMedia)-- Albany, New York– Charles Blum, Chairman of the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) today announced that Joanne Cunningham has been named president of HCA and will join the organization in mid-August. Ms. Cunningham will be responsible for developing advocacy and legislative strategies that meet the changing needs in the home care field at both the state and national levels. She will create and implement new programs; develop strategic initiatives to keep HCA members informed of the changing health care climate and regulations; and serve as the chief spokesperson for the organization.

“As the nature and complexity of the health care delivery system in the United States evolves, especially as it relates to the importance of home care in the continuum of services available, it is vitally important that our organization is led by an individual with a vision for the future,” Mr. Blum said. “The Board is confident that Joanne will utilize her knowledge of the field, and keen understanding of the system, to help us improve the quality, accessibility, and availability of home health care for all New Yorkers.”

Ms. Cunningham currently serves as Executive Director of the Healthcare Trustees of New York State, a position she has held since 2001. She joined the staff of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) in January 1997 and has held positions of increasing responsibility since then. She came to her leadership position at HANYS after a long professional history in the health care policy arena, having worked in Washington DC for over a decade.

Ms. Cunningham holds a Masters of Health Science in Health Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Potsdam. Active in her community, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurse Association of Albany, Inc. and the Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency as well as serving as a member of The American Hospital Association Leadership Development Network Steering Committee.

The Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) was founded in 1977. Its mission is to promote and enhance the quality, accessibility and availability of home care by enabling its members to meet the needs of the individuals and communities they serve. HCA’s membership totals over 500 and represents certified home health agencies (CHHA), licensed home care service agencies (LHCSA), long term home health care programs (LTHHCP) and hospices in New York State. To learn more about HCA, visit www.hcanys.org.

###