A Publication of NYCHSRO/MEDREVIEW

News in VOLUME 22, NO.4 October-December 2019 www.medreview.us Joe Stamm Joins President Trump for Hanukkah at the White House oe Stamm attended and “traffic in anti-Semitic hate.” He the White House Ha- promised that those who do not cease Jnukkah party on De- such activity would lose “the tre- cember 11 as a guest of mendous amount of federal dollars” President Donald Trump they receive annually. He specifically and the First Lady. Oc- condemned the Boycott, Divestment curring just a day after and Sanctions (BDS) a professed anti-Semitic movement, which couple murdered a Jer- he called an “anti- sey City police officer Semitic campaign and owners of a kosher against the State of market, the gathering Israel and its citi- was both celebratory zens.” and somber. nounce Members of the After acknowledging the latest tragedy, his plan Kushner family, in- the President reiterated the story of the to sign cluding Trump’s Hanukkah miracle and the ultimate rededi- an ex- daughter Ivanka and cation of the Temple in Jerusalem as a tes- ecutive son-in-law Jared, tament to Jewish survival. He then spoke order to and many other lu- of Jewish Americans today and throughout combat anti-Semitism, including the ban minaries attended history who “strengthen, sustain, and in- of federal funding to universities and in- the event. spire our nation.” stitutions that “engage in discrimination” The President also chose the day to an-

Mayor de Blasio Heads a List of VIPs at NYCHSRO/MedReview Holiday Party Inside This Issue.... he 2019 NYCHSRO/MedReview holiday pleased to celebrate with Mr. Stamm, his • Joe Stamm Attends White House Hanukkah bash at India House on December 19 wife Anne, and company. Twas another rousing success, featur- One of the first to address the crowd Party…1 ing a bountiful was Scott Stringer, • Mayor de Blasio Heads a List of VIPs at feast, a DJ and former Manhattan Holiday Party…1,10-11 dancing, and Borough President the customary and the current 44th • Healthcare Headline Summaries…2 procession of lo- Comptroller of New • Client Activities…3 cal officials who York City. He is also came to enjoy a leading contender • Year in Review 2019…3,12 the food and rev- for the mayoral race • CTO McNamara Is a Voice for erie and to honor when Cyberdefense…4 the work of Pres- ’s ident and CEO term limits expire • Grab for Dollars: A Heart Stopping Bill for Joseph Stamm in 2021. Mr. Stamm Service…5 and company. introduced him as a • All in the Family: Congratulations...5 The gathering of “dear friend” who politicians was “spent his career in • Political Roundup…6-7 unexpectedly large, and all were clearly public service trying to ensure that every • Employee Champions…8-9 continued on page 10 • Five Pets Win Prizes for Their Humans…9 Healthcare Headline Summaries E-cigarette Vapor, Kids and Cancer—11-5-19 published in October in Proceedings of the among African American women. Co-author Tobacco smoke is known to be both ad- National Academy of Sciences, do suggest Dale Sandler, PhD, chief of the NIEHS Epi- dictive and toxic. It’s addictive because it caution and the need for further study. demiology Branch, cautioned that although contains nicotine, a chemical that stimu- “Our study results in mice were not meant there is some prior evidence to support lates the nervous system and causes physi- to be compared to human disease, but in- the association with chemical straighten- cal dependency. It’s toxic because the stead argue that e-cigarette smoke must ers, these results need to be replicated in smoke contains compounds that can cause be more thoroughly studied before it is other studies. cancer and other health problems. Nicotine deemed safe or marketed that way,” Tang When asked if women should stop dye- itself can be transformed into toxic com- says. ing or straightening their hair, Sandler said, pounds when tobacco is cured and burned. “We are exposed to many things that could E-cigarettes are marketed as a less Permanent Hair Dye and Straighteners May potentially contribute to breast cancer, harmful alternative to smoking tobacco, Increase Breast Cancer Risk—12-4-19 and it is unlikely that any single factor ex- but there is still much to learn about their NIH scientists found that women who plains a woman’s risk. While it is too early health effects. In addition to nicotine, they use permanent hair dye and chemical hair to make a firm recommendation, avoiding contain other chemicals, including flavor- straighteners have a higher risk of develop- these chemicals might be one more thing ings, and there is growing concern about ing breast cancer than those who don’t. The women can do to reduce their risk of breast the skyrocketing number of children and study published online in the International cancer.” adolescents using them. In an NIH-funded Journal of Cancer suggests that breast can- study, Dr. Moon-shong Tang and others at cer risk increases with more frequent use Tasty Names Boost Veggie Eating—12-15-19 NYU School of Medicine found that mice of chemical hair products. Everyone knows we should eat more exposed to nicotine-containing e-cigarette Using data from 46,709 women in the vegetables; yet only about 10 percent of vapor for 12 weeks showed DNA damage in Sister Study, the National Institute of En- Americans eat the recommended number their lungs, heart, and bladder. Their lung vironmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) found of veggies per day. A recent study, however, cells also showed a reduced capacity for that those who regularly used permanent found that tasty food descriptions can en- DNA repair. hair dye in the year prior to the study were courage people to make healthier eating The same study revealed that a chemi- 9% more likely than those who didn’t to de- choices. Researchers tested whether food cal process found in human cells could velop breast cancer. Among African Ameri- labels on vegetables served in dining halls convert nicotine into potentially cancer- can women, using permanent dyes every affected college students’ food choices. causing compounds. To understand how five to eight weeks or more was associated They tested three types of labels at five these processes may relate to cancer risk, with a 60% increased risk of breast cancer universities across the country: tasty, researchers performed a longer-term study as compared with an 8% increased risk for healthy, or basic. in mice. One group was exposed to e-cig- white women. The research team found Tasty labels used words linked to excite- arette vapor with nicotine for 4 hours a little to no increase in breast cancer risk ment, indulgence, tradition, or geographic day, 5 days a week for just over a year. A for semi-permanent or temporary dye use. locations. They included names like “Herb control group was exposed to e-cigarette “Researchers have been studying the n’ Honey Balsamic Glazed Turnips” and vapor without nicotine. A third group only possible link between hair dye and can- “Sizzlin’ Szechuan Green Beans.” breathed filtered air. cer for a long time, but results have been Healthy labels used names like “Healthy At the end of the year, research- inconsistent,” said corresponding author Choice Turnips” or “Nutritious Green ers looked for cancer and pre-cancerous Alexandra White, PhD, head of the NIEHS Beans.” Basic labels read “Turnips” or changes. Nine out of the 40 mice (22.5%) Environment and Cancer Epidemiology “Green Beans.” The dishes were the same exposed to the nicotine-containing vapor Group. “In our study, we see a higher every time. Only the labels changed. developed one or more visible lung tumors. breast cancer risk associated with hair dye Students were more likely to choose the By comparison, only one mouse in one con- use, and the effect is stronger in African veggies with tasty sounding names. They trol group developed lung cancer. Although American women, particularly those who chose them 14% more than those with ba- visible tumors weren’t found in the blad- are frequent users.” sic labels and 29% more than those with ders of any of the mice, tissue analyses An intriguing finding was the association healthy labels. Students even ate 39% more found pre-cancerous changes in the blad- between the use of chemical hair straight- of the “tasty” sounding veggies than the ders of 23 (57.5%) mice exposed to the eners and breast cancer. Dr. White and col- “heathy” veggies. nicotine-containing vapor versus only one leagues found that women who used hair “This is radically different from our cur- of the control mice. Researchers caution straighteners at least every five to eight rent cultural approach to healthy eating that these results can’t prove how e-cig- weeks were about 30% more likely to de- which, by focusing on health to the neglect arette vapor affects the human body. The velop breast cancer. of taste, inadvertently instills the mindset research had several limitations, including While the association between straight- that healthy eating is tasteless and depriv- using a relatively small number of mice ener use and breast cancer was similar ing,” says Dr. Alia Crum at Stanford Univer- that are naturally prone to developing lung in African American and white women, sity, who led the study. straightener use was much more common cancer. However, the findings, which were newsinhealth.nih.gov -2- Client Activities

Healthcare Headline Summaries xecutive Vice President Helen Mutchler and Director of Account Management and Data Mining Kathy Gonzales, manned the EMedReview booth at this year’s IFEBP Conference in San Diego. The three-day event began on October 20 and drew a few thousand attendees who work in, or provide services to, the employee benefits and compensation industry in the US and Canada. “We went to some educational sessions and talked with everyone who came by,” Gon- zales stated. “Like us, most exhibitors and attendees work directly in healthcare or provide ancillary services to the industry. We dis- cussed possible business intersections and exchanged information with many of them. We also presided over our annual iPad raffle.” Other giveaways included a MedReview carryall bag, Halloween can- dy, fresh cookies and brownies. A few weeks later on November 15, NYCHSRO/MedReview’s top three executives were at the Teamster Center Services 26th Annual Health and Benefits Expo at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in midtown Man- hattan to promote the company’s services. CEO/President Stamm, EVP Helen Mutchler, and SVP Spencer Young greeted visitors to the booth, raffled off an iPad, and gave away refreshments as they talk- ed business with current and potential clients. MedReview was also a 2019 Expo Sponsor along with United Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Emblem Health, CityMD Urgent Care, Optum Rx and other top names in the industry. On November 21, President Joe Stamm, Vice President Bob Rosenbloom and Director Kathy Gonzales met with Officials of Lead- ing Edge and Empire BC General Manager/Vice President Tom Canty at the Wall Street offices of Leading Edge, a third-party adminis- trator and current MedReview Utilization Management client, who will plan our DRG validation services in 2020. The meeting purpose was to kick-off an informative planning discussion involving all key stakeholders. On December 9, Director Kathy Gonzales joined SVP Spencer Young, Director of Project Management and Review Operations Donna Sutherland, and Assistant Director of Retrospective Review Rudy Moise for the 2019 Care for Kids Gala, an annual black tie event of 1199SEIU Funds. CMO Dr. Van H. Dunn hosted the gala, and Executive Director Mitra Behroozi, JD, was an honoree. Year inbreaking Review: records 2019 Breaks the Records

YCHSRO/MedReview’s success in That growth led to a further expansion Donna Sutherland, and Director of Coding 2019 exceeded the best expecta- of company office space, including a sec- Ravi Moses. Ntions of President and CEO Joe ond full floor at 199 Water Street, a fact In the Third Quarter, Mr. Stamm joined Stamm and the Board of Directors thanks that made real estate headlines in the New by Spencer Young, Helen Mutchler, Terry to some historic accomplishments and in- York Post in April. In total, NYCHSRO/Me- Patterson, Pavan Devineni, Ravi Moses, novations across many areas of business. dReview added 35,454 square feet of space and Edward Saxer, MD, had ongoing meet- Chief among these were the company’s as well as many new personnel and new ings with UHC to resolve technical issues of expanded relationships with clients—most positions across the ranks. These included data overloads on their electronic system notably with United Healthcare, who Board member Martin Golden, the former and to maximize efficiency. The bottom called MedReview a “strategic partner” City Councilman and State Sena- line, Mr. Stamm noted with satisfaction, is during an historic visit by this organiza- tor; the organization’s first Director of Ac- that MedReview had met their target num- tion’s top brass to their headquarters in count Management and Data Mining Kathy bers before the new year. Ireland in January. Gonzales; Director of Project Management Leading Edge Administrators also joined continued on page 12 -3- CTSO Da n McNa m a r a Is a Voic e f o r Cy b e r d e f e n s e i n CNBC In t e r vi e w

n a CNBC online story published on security in mind at all times as part of their Still, everyone in October 13, journalist Scott Steinberg job. Along with the federally mandated the company got Ireported that a single cyberattack HIPAA training about protection of patient a firsthand les- costs companies “of all sizes” an aver- information, we also teach our staff that son on the impor- age $200,000 each, putting many out of cybersecurity—which is all about protec- tance of personal business within six months. Yet, he noted, tion of information—is the responsibility vigilance against CTO/CSO Dan McNamara of NYCHSRO/ of every employee from the receptionist cyberattack. MedReview asserts that his employer’s to the executive suite. Then, we prepare “In the Third multi-faceted approach to cybersecurity them to participate in a meaningful way in Quarter of 2019 has enabled its staff of 350 to avert the this priority.” alone, this com- most serious risks and costs of phishing and This was not hyperbole. McNamara went pany thwarted other forms of attack that enable outsid- on to disclose a controlled experiment to about three to ers’ access to otherwise protected infor- test the efficacy of this training company- five million at- mation. wide. With the help of outside cybersecu- tempted cyberat- This feat was a big reason why Steinberg rity experts, McNamara arranged for the tacks per month, with Russia, China, and invited McNamara to the conversation. As delivery of a package to the front desk, Iran among the main culprits,” McNamara McNamara commented, the day-by-day where longtime receptionist Patricia Black noted. Compared to “10 to 20 million at- loss of productivity due to this type of tacks per day on, say, a Citibank,” he blackmail can be a deadly stranglehold added, NYCHSRO/MedReview’s data- on a small company, which cannot sus- driven business is small potatoes. On the tain the forfeiture of daily income due “We train everyone from the front other hand, he said, at the cost of tens to loss of access to the very data that is desk up to the CEO in what consti- of thousands of dollars per day, small its business. companies can least afford the risk and tutes smart high-tech behaviors. We According to technology experts at loss of productivity. Accenture, cybercrime is the fastest- make every employee into a security Indeed, the CTO/CSO notes that bad growing form of illegal activity. Small engineer — and then we employ actors around the world continue to businesses—typically defined as 500 AI and machine learning because “throw stuff against the wall in broad- employees or less—are the target in 43 they are at work when our spectrum attacks.” In response, McNa- percent of all such attacks; yet, “only staff is home sleeping.” mara has created “A Very Attacked Per- 14 percent are prepared to defend them- sons Report,” as he calls it, which tracks selves.” Breaches of this sort have cost -Dan McNamara the number of phishing-related emails an estimated $5.2 trillion worldwide or hacking attempts on internet pass- over five years. Their very vulnerability words in the company’s executive suite is what makes small businesses “a favorite and beyond. target,” Steinberg wrote. accepted and opened it, as her job re- “It’s important to take a multi-faceted So how has NYCHSRO/MedReview been quired. Inside was a USB drive and a letter approach to cybersecurity,” McNamara told able to thwart the growing band of cyber- to the finance directors explaining that the Steinberg, noting that millions of breach criminals? drive contained “the accounting proposal attempts on the company occur in early “Even with the help of AI machine learn- and salary documentation, as discussed.” morning hours and on weekends. In addi- ing to protect data,” McNamara explained, In fact, the drive contained would-be tion to employing AI and autonomous ser- “the biggest threat to security actually malware—a deliberate “backdoor” into vices and “real-time cybersecurity tools,” comes through regular users who go into the computer system that could provide NYCHSRO/MedReview encourages “every an email or even a website and click on an outside actor with access to company person on staff to play a role in combating something that contains a virus. Just think programs and data. Thanks to her training, online threats.” of Hillary Clinton’s hacked emails in the however, Ms. Black sensed something sus- “We believe that every employee is re- last election, which gave her rivals’ access picious about the delivery and immediate- sponsible for helping to maintain security,” to proprietary information of the DNC. ly notified NYCHSRO/MedReview’s security McNamara told CNBC. “We train everyone For reasons like that, we have shifted the team. They discovered the ruse, and Ms. from the front desk up to the CEO in what focus of our cybersecurity strategy away Black and her colleagues passed the test constitutes smart high-tech behaviors. We from just a single team or individual. with high marks. No data or person was make every employee into a security engi- “Instead, we teach everyone through harmed in the process. In the worst case, neer. And, then we employ AI and machine comprehensive training to be proactive the secret collaborator would have con- learning because they are at work when participants in a culture that keeps cyber- tacted CTO/CSO McNamara immediately. our staff is home sleeping.”

TECH UPDATE TECH UPDATE TECH UPDATE TECH UPDATE TECH UPDATE -4- Grab for Dollars: A Heart-Stopping Bill for Service 59-year-old female underwent a scheduled heart surgery a normal rhythm. The procedure worked; a normal heartbeat known as a coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG. Her sig- resumed; and the doctors completed the operation without Anificant medical history included coronary artery disease; further incident. heart attack; a birth defect commonly known as a hole in The hospital’s bill for this surgery included a separate the heart; congestive heart failure; and a heart code for a diagnosis of ventricular fibrillation, which valve disorder that affects blood flow. significantly increased the charges for the entire A coronary artery bypass is a procedure procedure. The cardiac surgeon who reviewed that restores necessary blood flow to the this case on behalf of MedReview, however, heart muscle by using a graft to divert denied this as a separate and distinct di- the flow around a blocked section of agnosis. the coronary artery. To accomplish As the reviewer noted, the manage- this, the surgical team normally ment of such an abnormal rhythm during places the patient on a machine that phase of open-heart surgery is not that provides continued blood flow a valid secondary condition. Rather, in to the rest of the body while the such a setting, it is integral to the per- heart itself is cooled to stop its formance of the basic cardiac procedure, beating. This enables surgery on the in which some fibrillation commonly oc- arteries that feed the heart muscle curs as the heartbeat starts up on its own to take place on a non-beating heart. again. In fact, such ventricular fibrillation, Once done, surgical staff warm the heart which is termed a “re-warming arrhythmia” to resume normal beating and then remove in the setting of a scheduled bypass surgery, is it from the mechanical bypass. a commonly occurring event and within the normal In this particular case, while in this rewarming range of variation. process, the patient’s heart fibrillated. A fibrillating heart is incapable of contracting—i.e. beating— in a coordinated way and thus cannot pump blood to the body as needed. To correct Original Bill: $225,175.00 the condition, the surgical team used an electrical defibrilla- Corrected Bill: $121,690.00 tor to shock the heart to break the fibrillation and return it to Client Savings: $103,485.00

All in the Family Congratulations 1. Dr. Sheree Starrett on the birth of her grandchildren Talia Rose Bennett on January 5 and Isaac Graham Keane on December 14 2. Sha-Tisma Williford on the birth of her son Abdoulaye N’Diaye on February 19 3. Stuart Stillman on the birth of his granddaughter Atara Spiegel on March 12 9 1 4. Maurice Bortz on the birth of his granddaughter Tamar Yehudit Feder, sister to Eliana Sara, on April 22 5. Srikanth Tanubudhu on the birth of his daughter Veronica on July 29 6. Arthur Jerry Kremer on the birth of a his granddaughter Logan Elizabeth Ruben on November 7 7. Joyce Lam on the birth of her son Ivan Li on November 20 8. Dr. Richard Bonforte on the birth of his grandson James Albert Bocchino on December 1 8 2 9. Jacob Hauptman on the birth of his daughter Shira on December 31

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-5- V V Political V Roundup

ustavo Rivera, State Senator from children—especially the underserved and up assistance. The event drew political the Bronx and Chairman of the underinsured—is building a state-of-the-art luminaries including Congressman Jerry GHealth Committee, made his first 25,000-square-foot facility on its Boro Park Nadler, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, State visit to the offices of NYCHSRO/ Senator Simcha Felder, Assistant MedReview on November 5 to meet Speaker of the Assembly Felix Ortiz, with Mr. Stamm and other executives Assemblymembers and hear their concerns critical to the and , and NYC healthcare review industry. Primary Councilmembers Robert Cornegy, Jr., among these were issues regarding the Chaim Deutsch, Mathieu Eugene, and proper application of precertification . Councilmember Kalman and retrospective review criteria in Yeger emceed the event. the auditing process. The Senator Democratic State Assemblyman Sean gave a generous amount of time to the Ryan of Buffalo, who is making a bid discussion, which included EVP Helen for State Senator, and his campaign Mutchler, VP Robert Rosenbloom, 1 director Michael Senay of Berger/ Medical Director Dr. Ed Saxer, and Hirschberg Strategies met with NPR Director Maurice Bortz. President Stamm in the boardroom On November 18, Mr. Stamm joined on November 20. Assemblyman Ryan with prominent New Yorkers at the requested the meeting as part of his groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion site. The Center provides comprehensive effort to meet with New York business of the Ezra Medical Center in . The care all under one roof, a sliding-fee people to learn about their industry and multispecialty health center for adults and discounted schedule, and insurance sign- their concerns going forward.

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On the evening of November 21, Joe Stamm and held jointly by Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul Maurice Bortz gathered with community leaders General of Israel in New York, and the New and “stakeholders” for a “meet and greet” York Board of . There, as a guest speaker with the newly appointed Police who addressed the issue of antisemitism, James Commissioner, Chief Dermot Shea. Chief Shea also spoke of her friendships with and great shared his vision and plans for his tenure and regard for both the Stamms and referred to Mr. spoke of his interest in hearing peoples’ concerns Stamm as a “confidant.” On December 2, EVP and “working together to better” life in the city. Helen Mutchler joined Mr. Stamm for a second12 The event was at the Jewish Children’s Museum event with the Attorney General. in Brooklyn. On December 3, NPR Director Maurice Bortz Mr. Stamm joined NYS Attorney General stood in for Mr. Stamm at an event with Letitia James on two occasions this quarter. On Councilmember Mark Levine of New York’s 7th November 25, accompanied by his wife Anne, he District in Northern Manhattan. The Democrat is 9 attended the Lay Advisory Cocktail Reception, the former Parks Chair of the City Council and a successful advocate for equal access to parks, affordable housing, and tenants rights. Mr. Stamm joined with community members on the evening of December 17 at the Vodka & Latke Cocktail Reception, also held by the New York Board of Rabbis, this time in honor of Hanukkah, the “season of freedom and rededication.” The evening included the traditional lighting of the holiday candles, but the larger purpose of the gathering, the invitation stated, was to 10 11 12 bring together the interfaith community “to celebrate our shared values” and “recognize those who work towards the dignity of all people.” Eric Dittelman, the world-renowned mentalist and finalist on America’s Got Talent Season 7, provided the evening’s entertainment, and Jeffrey Wiesenfeld of Bernstein Private Wealth Management hosted the event at the company’s midtown offices.

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President Joe Stamm with: 1. NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera and NYCHSRO/MedReview executive team 2. NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli 3. New York’s top politicians at Ezra Medical Center groundbreaking ceremony 4. NYS Assemblyman David Weprin & NYC Councilman Kalman Yeger 5. Steven Patzer, who is seeking a City Council seat in Brooklyn’s District 47 6. Deputy King and Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 7. Congress member Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-R) at Hanukkah party hosted jointly with Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-D) 8. NYC Councilman Robert Cornegy, Jr. 9. NYC Police Commissioner Dermot Shea 10. NYS Senator Simcha Felder 11.NYC Councilman Chaim Deutsch 12.NYS Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein 13.EVP Helen Mutchler and NYS Attorney General Letitia James 14.NYS Assemblyman David Weprin 15. NYS Assemblyman Sean Ryan 12 24 1325 16 16. Maurice Bortz and NYC Councilman Mark Levine -7- Employee Champions

resident and CEO Joe Stamm hosted with a high mortality rate.” As such, Ra- stated one coworker. “She makes sure the a staff breakfast in the boardroom on fael has been a named presenter at pro- team functions well and addresses con- PDecember 10, where he announced fessional conferences as well as an author cerns in a very timely fashion.” Described the six new Employees of the Month for or coauthor on numerous papers. One of as “very humble, approachable and sup- the second half of 2019. As usual, portive to all staff,” Meriam also he took great pleasure, first, in “makes herself available to share making his staff guess each win- her knowledge whenever she can” ner based on department name and “deserves to be admired, re- and nominators’ descriptions and, spected and recognized.” then, in inviting everyone to en- joy the plentiful table of bagels, October EOM: Vitaliy Kaganov cream cheese, tuna and egg salad, Vitaliy, a two-year veteran of pastries and drinks. SVP Spencer MedReview, is a Scanning Depart- Young and Finance Director Winnie ment clerk whose coworkers ea- Yuen helped to give out the win- gerly acknowledged the benefit ners’ plaques and checks. they get from the “very positive and united atmosphere” his pres- July EOM: Louisa Noel ence creates. Described as pa- As a bookkeeper with the com- tient, kind, and understanding, pany for five years, Louisa Noel he is “always eager to help in caught the attention not only of anything when needed and could her coworkers in Finance but also definitely find a shortcut of others in the company who to almost anything so have had the pleasure to cross her we are able to run more path. One such fan called Louisa quickly and efficiently” a “unique” individual who “is per- as a department. One haps best known as the blur that coworker nicknamed Vi- walks past you and says ‘beep taliy “the Clark Kent of beep,’ which is appropriate since MedReview because he she moves like the Roadrunner is always willing to lend around the office.” a hand and set a good Louisa also received praise as example of going above an exceptional, dependable, pro- and beyond.” fessional, and honest team player with “a strong work ethic.” She is November EOM: “just a good person” who is warm, Charles Satterley genuine, thoughtful, and upbeat, Charles Satterly, Di- stated a nominator. rector of the HEDIS and MLTC programs, supervis- August EOM: Rafael Fernandez these was published in the peer-reviewed es a team of nurses who, under NYCHSRO’s As the Regional Epidemiologist who American Journal of Infection Control in government contracts, perform assess- works offsite under contract with the Com- June. ments of healthcare facilities as required municable Disease Program for the NYS- Rafael’s DOH supervisors described him under various federal and state statutes. DOH Epidemiology and Infection Program, as “an experienced, well-trained, pleas- This year, he has assisted with a demand- Rafael Fernandez was unable to attend the ant, thoughtful and well-respected” pro- ing Medicaid-related project known as breakfast and hear his praises sung in per- fessional who demonstrates “initiative and DSRIP. His peers praised him as an “invalu- son. However, Mr. Stamm read the long list willingness to take on extra responsibility able asset” in accomplishing the task. of accolades with gusto. as his schedule allows. “Charles has helped with QA and train- Since 2015, Rafael has worked in the ing of new staff in a delightful and cordial State offices in Westchester, and as one September EOM: Meriam Alcantara manner,” said one colleague. “The staff nominator asserted, this means “his quali- Utilization Management Administrator absolutely love him. He is a pleasure to ties of leadership and initiative are all the Meriam Alcantara received colleagues’ work with, very knowledgeable regarding more critical.” He also received praise praise not just for what she does, but how the subject matter, and always willing to for his “considerable expertise in a newly she does it. “She usually takes charge of ask for advice. He rarely if ever says no to emerging multi-drug resistant infection the team in absence of our manager,” a request.”

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December EOM: Debra Murphy sive that three of Debra’s team members and ability to motivate staff and get the Debra Murphy’s admirers point out that have also been Employees of the Month, most out of them. More importantly, ev- though “she was previously awarded this demonstrating her outstanding leadership ery time there is a project in the office prize in 2018, it is time to that needs assistance, recognize her again” for Debra volunteers and her “outstanding” work as then motivates her staff Program Director of NYCH- to volunteer alongside SRO’s WeCARE contract un- her.” der New York City’s Human “That is what leader- Resources Administration. ship is about and that She anticipates and is what should earn her meets “all the needs” of a repeat award,” the the client, said a fan. “She nominator concluded. has shown outstanding leadership in her depart- ment, helping to develop a training program for WeCARE vendors that was widely praised by HRA.” As one colleague noted, “It was particularly impres-

Five Pets Win Prizes for Their Humans

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he end-of-year companywide photo contest featured pictures th of employees’ pets. Altogether, staff submitted 114 snapshots 5 Tof their beloved creatures, which included cats, dogs, a horse announced the winners and handed out the cash prizes at the and a reptile. The snapshots, which were displayed on the glass Holiday Party on December 19. wall of the main boardroom, attracted large crowds who enthusi- The winners were: First Place, Adnan Dibra; Second Place, astically debated among themselves which photos were the cutest, Deborah Coyne; Third Place, Jasmine Belardo; Fourth Place and the prettiest, the sweetest, the funniest, and the best overall. two-time photo contest winner, Mike Manilov; and Fifth Place, Many noted that it was going to be difficult to choose just five Joanna Zischang. favorites, but, indeed, they did in record numbers. Mr. Stamm, as- sisted by Board Member and former State Senator Marty Golden,

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New Yorker has an equal opportunity ter. Obviously, he would not be able to make it in our city.” to do it if all of you here did not do Comptroller Stringer returned the work.” the admiration, noting that “Joe’s Bichotte then introduced her friend leadership” has impressed him over and fellow politician Farah Louis, many years. “This really is your ex- City Councilmember for District 45 in tended family,” he said referring to Brooklyn. Louis told the crowd, “The the large gathering. “People do love holiday is about love and gratitude— and respect you, and there really and, remember, 2020 is going to be a is a sense of mission.” Stringer also big year!” Simcha Eichenstein, the newly elected successor to and protégé of retired Brooklyn Assemblyman , briefly spoke next, followed by President Stamm, who introduced the Mayor of New York. “He is not just a mayor to me,” Stamm said. “Bill de Blasio is a dear friend—to me, to my wife, to my fam- ily, to this organization.” Noting the many times de Blasio has visited his home and offices, Stamm added, “I can tell you there isn’t a finer, nicer, noted MedReview Board member Bill kinder, sweeter individual.” Thompson, Jr., the former City Comp- The Mayor was equally gracious. “I troller who was also at the event. “He feel like I never left the last party!” is someone I have learned a lot from he began, referring to his consistent over the years.” attendance at NYCHSRO/MedReview’s While several lo- cal leaders had declined their party invitations due to prior commit- ments, many made sur- prise show- ings anyway. Key among these was New York Assembly member Rodneyse annual event. “They’re all great par- Bichotte of the 42nd District in Brook- ties,” he said to rousing applause. lyn, where Mr. Stamm lives. “I found “Joe has been for me an amazing myself in Manhattan, and I was hun- friend. He is someone highly respect- gry,” she said to much laughter. She ed in our community in Brooklyn. He went on to praise Stamm and the or- is someone who is honest, and consis- ganization. tent, and decent.” “It is a pleasure to have this man The Mayor also honored the wom- as my constituent. I sit on the Health- an who has stood beside Joe Stamm care Committee and a lot of what he for more than four decades—his wife does helps us to make our lives bet- Anne, whom de Blasio called “Joe’s

-10- greatest blessing.” He then spoke about his own blessings, including a “thanks to all.” “I know that so many people in this room really care about New York,” he said, “and do a lot to make this city a better place in your communities and through the work you do at Me- dReview. I don’t know every nuance of it, but I do know this: It’s about making sure that people get quality healthcare, that the taxpayer and everyone is respected in the process, ford not to come to Joe’s!” and that the right healthcare is provided for The last public figures at the po- the right cost. I think that is really important dium were political hopefuls from work.” Brooklyn: Steven Patzer, a first-time Every politician who followed also spoke candidate for City Council in 2021, and of Joe Stamm’s friendship and of what he Renee Collymore, former Democratic does personally and through his business for District Leader and current City Coun- his Brooklyn community and New York State cil candidate. Executive Vice President in general. Some were relative newcomers; of the New York Board many had lifelong civic of Rabbis Joe Potas- careers. As Brooklyn City nik also greeted the Councilman Kalman Yeger “The work you do at crowd. told the crowd, he has MedReview is about Other VIPs known Mr. Stamm “since making sure that who stopped before I could shave.” by the party in- Indeed, Brooklyn was in people get quality healthcare, that the cluded: the house, with many oth- Assemblyman er elected officials from taxpayer and David Weprin, the borough. Mr. Stamm everyone is respected who has en- introduced each one. in the process, and that tered the race Assemblyman Walter T. the right healthcare is for City Comp- Mosley, whom Mr. Stamm troller in 2021; called “a true friend provided for the right cost. Executive Vice to this organization,” President of thanked him in return for I think that is really the New York his support and urged ev- important work.” Board of Rab- eryone “to go higher and —Mayor Bill de Blasio bis Joe Potas- higher in what you want nik; Publisher Neil Tepel to achieve.” Assemblyman of the Labor Press; radio Steven H. Cymbrowitz—“a host Zev Brenner; Advisor dear friend first, before he was a politician,” to the Office of the State Comptroller Jake Mr. Stamm noted—also thanked the crowd Adler; NYPD’s Clergy Outreach Unit Detec- “for all the work you do.” He then introduced tive Mohamed Amen; and businessman Willy Chaim Deutsch as “my neighbor and a City Pilku, CEO of CORE Scaffold Systems, Inc. Councilman” and described him “a young in- Other guests included cybersecurity special- dividual who has really made a mark and is ists Maddie Snyder, Vinesh Vasnani, and Brad well-respected.” Deutsch then spoke of the Hong of Darktrace. partygoers’ diversity of “cultures and back- Former State Senator Marty Golden also grounds” and called Joe Stamm a person who spoke as this company’s newest board mem- “unites people from all political levels.” ber. When he called Dr. Mathieu Eugene to the “I’m extremely impressed not just by mike, Mr. Stamm noted that he is nearing his how the board works,” he said, “but by how term limits as City Councilman. “I hope Dr. the management of this team—and you, the Eugene moves up to a higher position!” he team—have made this such a successful year declared. The Councilman responded that through your hard work, Joe Stamm’s leader- while he had ten events on his calendar that ship, and our good chairman and board. evening, “I said to myself that I could not af- “Give yourselves a round of applause!”

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Year inbreaking Review: records 2019 Breaks the Records continued from page 3 for them. In April, CMO Seth Lewin, MD, Donavan Richards and Farah Louis, and re- MedReview’s client roster earlier this year, and Senior Medical Director Ed Saxer, MD, tired public official H. Carl McCall. initially signing on for Health Utilization conducted one of their periodic training As part of the Anwar Sadat Congres- Management services, high dollar retro- sessions for physician advisors regarding sional Gold Medal Commission, Mr. Stamm spective reviews, and case management. medical reviews conducted for clients. met in February with Egyptian President By year’s end, their Director of Cost Con- el Sisi at the Heliopolis Palace in Cairo. tainment Avrumi Friedman, a satisfied In July, he attended the official farewell customer, who plans to add DRG valida- party for Egyptian Ambassador to the tion reviews to their list of MedReview US Yasser Reda, and in September, he services. Following months of telephone attended the debut of the Sadat Gold meetings and a visit by MedReview offi- Medal Design at the United States Mint in cials to their Wall Street offices, Fried- Washington, DC. man and his colleagues paid a visit to 199 Back in the office, the CEO also cel- Water Street for a tour of these offices ebrated a number of notable events with and a mutually enjoyable meet-and- staff. He made auditing history in July greet with the staff working on their ac- when he joined the company’s WeCARE counts. review team for a visit to a newly opened In September, Mr. Stamm and his team This year also saw official visits to the vendor site in Brooklyn. As Quality Review- marked NYCHSRO/MedReview’s 39th year MedReview boardroom by State Senator er Melanie Barrett described, his presence as a review organization for 1199 SEIU Ben- and Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rive- gave the team “the opportunity to reflect efits Funds at their annual meeting with ra and State Assemblyman Sean Ryan, who on their own audit processes, supported CMO Dr. Van Dunn and his colleagues. As is making a run for State senator. In turn, by his fresh-eyed view.” In June and again usual, the year also saw a round of profes- MedReview’s CEO and key staff attended a in December, Mr. Stamm honored six staff sional trainings for clients as well as staff, round of events with other leaders, start- who were voted by their peers as Employ- including HIPPA, PHI and other conduct ing in the new year with the inaugura- ees of the Month. In October, CTO/CSO codes and ethics for the workplace, led by tions of Governor , State Dan McNamara was interviewed for a story VP Robert Rosenbloom. In February, NYCH- Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and State by CNBC about NYCHSRO/MedReview’s un- SRO’s review team led by Debra Rush-Mur- Attorney General Letitia James. Over the usual success in the area of cybersecurity phy provided training for HRA vendors as next months, MedReview’s leadership also and the protection of health information. the renewed WeCARE contract went into attended various celebrations with Con- “It was a very good year for our clients, effect. In March, at the invitation of the gressman Max Rose, Assembly Speaker Carl our workforce, and our company. I am NYC Office of Labor Relations, company E. Heastie, Assemblyman Walter Mosley, proud of all that we have accomplished,” leaders attended a meeting regarding the Assemblyman David Weprin, City Comp- the CEO said. possible expansion of our review activities troller Scott Stringer, Councilmembers

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