VNS Health in 2025 — Year in Review
What an amazing year 2025 was for VNS Health!
Here, following, is a month-by-month summary of some of our many notable accomplishments and happenings that occurred in the past year.
January
Onward and Upward: Moving in on Our 100,000 Strategic Goal
We start 2025 with 73,000 patients, members and clients in our care on any given day. By year’s end, that number will have topped 85,000.
Our Medicare Health Plans Enroll Over 10,000 New Members in 2024!
A big reason for this increase in our daily census? Our Health Plans are very popular! Our 2024 open enrollment period, which in January has just ended, brings more than 10,000 new members into our EasyCare, EasyCare Plus, and Total health plans.
Home Care Achieves 3-Star CMS Rating for Patient Satisfaction
In the latest report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), VNS Health Home Care achieves a 3-Star rating for patient satisfaction—a significant improvement after being in the 2-Star range for several years. CMS’s survey-based patient satisfaction ratings are separate from their quality ratings, which reflect performance on specific quality metrics. Our Home Care team has consistently maintained a 4.5 Star (out of 5 Stars) CMS quality rating in recent years, placing us among the top-rated programs in New York State for quality.
Jessica Fear: 2025 Trailblazer in Health Care
City & State New York magazine names Jessica Fear, SVP, Behavioral Health, to its 2025 Trailblazers in Health Care list, recognizing her nearly 30-year career delivering comprehensive behavioral health services at the community level. Read more here.
HHA Resource Center Refresh
VNS Health Personal Care and our Communications team collaborate to redesign and launch the online HHA Resource Center. The refresh is shaped directly by feedback from our Home Health Aide team members, reflecting our continued commitment to supporting frontline staff. Check out the redesigned website by clicking here.
February
“10 Minutes with Keith”: CFO Keith Patterson Looks at the Year Ahead
In his first video of the year, Chief Financial Officer Keith Patterson breaks down the financial results from 2024 and looks at what’s ahead in 2025. Additionally, he sits down with Kathleen Baer and Jared Shure to discuss each of their team’s successes. To watch, click here.
A Knife Is Lying on the Subway Floor. What Should You Do?
Keeping team members safe, particularly those in the field, is a top priority of VNS Health. We actually have a team member who is dedicated to keeping us safe—Emergency Management and Employee Safety Director, Lauren Campbell. In this article, Lauren shares five real-life incidents that actually happened to VNS Health team members and offers advice on how to handle similar situations. Click here to read more.
Personal Care Team Is Named “Provider of Choice”
Activated Insights, a company that offers software support for long-term and post-acute care providers, names our Personal Care team a Provider of Choice. To learn more, click here.
March
VNS Health Acquires Alliance Home Services
VNS Health welcomes more than 200 new Home Health Aide team members when it acquires Alliance Home Services, a licensed home care services agency (LHCSA) that serves the Bronx. To read more, click here.
VNS Health Total Is Approved for Expansion to Erie and Monroe Counties
New York State grants approval to VNS Health Total, our Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) plan, to begin enrolling members in Erie and Monroe Counties in Western New York, which include the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, respectively. With this expansion, Total is now available in 13 New York counties, including its 10 largest counties by population.
Happy Social Work Month!
Nearly 100 Social Services Professionals gather for a celebratory breakfast that features presentations by CEO Dan Savitt and SVP, Behavioral Health Jessica Fear. To view photos of the celebration, click here.
And the Winner of VNS Health’s First-Ever Social Services Professional of the Year Award Is… Lizzie Cogan!
The inaugural Social Services Professional of the Year Award goes to Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cogan. Chosen from among dozens of other nominated social services team members, Lizzie is honored for embodying our Core Values of Empathy, Agility and Integrity. To read a profile of Lizzie, click here.
Five Years After the Start of the Pandemic, Team Members Reflect on the Challenges of COVID-19
In a Frontline special feature, VNS Health team members from across the organization look back on how their teams supported vulnerable New Yorkers in the face of the largest pandemic in modern history. To read their recollections, click here.
Our New Patient-Centered Care Model: Age-Friendly Care
In his “Inside Provider Services” column, Chief of Provider Services David Rosales explains why VNS Health is embracing an “Age-Friendly Care” model. By using the “4-M” framework—What Matters, Medication, Mobility, and Mentation—Age-Friendly Care improves health outcomes and empowers our team members to make an even more meaningful impact on our patients’ lives. To read more, click here.
Happy Birthday, Lillian Wald!
Lillian Wald is featured in a television news story on the Rochester-based CBS affiliate WROC’s Rochester News 8. In addition to spotlighting Wald’s legacy of public health contributions, the news clip highlights our collaboration with Elderwood IPA to support our Health Plan members in Western New York. To view the video, click here.
“20 Minutes with Dan” Explores Call to Action
In his latest “20 Minutes with Dan” episode, CEO Dan Savitt looks at how each of us and the work we do is directly tied to VNS Health’s mission and our 3-year Strategic Plan. To watch, click here.
VNS Health Expert Testifies on the Importance of Our Behavioral Health Programs
Deirdre DeLeo, Director, Behavioral Health Programs, testifies at New York City’s preliminary 2026 budget hearings, advocating for our Geriatric Mental Health Initiative (GMHI) and Promise Zone Initiatives. To read more, click here.
April
Celebrating the Centennial Patchwork Quilt That Hangs in Our 220 Office
In this short, heartfelt video, Regional Operations Coordinator Michele Nation-Cupid talks about the history of the Centennial Patchwork Quilt that hangs in the sixth floor lobby of our 220 East 42nd Street office. In addition to explaining how and why the quilt came to be made 32 years ago, Michele reveals some amazing details about it, including hidden messages in the stitching. To watch, click here.
Our New Integrated Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Clinic Opens
On April 17th, more than 100 VNS Health team members, elected officials and community members attend the ribbon-cutting of the new Integrated Mental Health and Substance Use Clinic at our Mott Haven location in the South Bronx. The clinic’s client-centered services—available to anyone, regardless of ability to pay—include coordinated mental health and substance use treatment and crisis intervention. To see photos and videos of the ribbon-cutting, click here.
Medicare Plans Rank Among the Nation’s 5 Fastest-Growing for 2025
Becker’s Hospital Review recognizes our three Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans as being among the five fastest-growing nonprofit Medicare Advantage plans for 2025, according to analysis from the healthcare advisory services company Chartis. With the recent addition of Erie and Monroe Counties in Western New York, our EasyCare MA plan is now offered in 20 New York Counties, while our EasyCare Plus MA plan and VNS Health Total, our integrated Medicare-Medicaid plan, are each available in 13 counties.
Nurse Residency Program Officially Accredited By ANCC
VNS Health’s Nurse Residency program receives official accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This coveted honor, shared by only five other home care organizations worldwide, is one of the highest forms of recognition a nurse residency program can receive! To read more about this achievement, click here.
Congratulations to Cecile Hall: Our Occupational Therapist of the Year!
Our 2025 Occupational Therapist of the Year is… Cecile Hall. In her 13-plus years with VNS Health, Cecile has learned that listening carefully and observing closely are the best ways to meet her patients where they are so she can help them get to where they want to be. To read Frontline’s profile of Cecile, click here.
“Bring Your Child to Work Day” Offers Kids an Inside Peek at Their Parents’ Vital Roles
On April 24th, 125 children of VNS Health team members visit their parents’ workplace for “Bring Your Child to Work Day”! The kids learn all about health care through presentations, demonstrations, and fun activities, and also enjoy a pizza lunch followed by ice cream. To see the heartwarming photos of a day that was memorable for children and parents alike, click here.
Celebrating Our 200+ Volunteers
In recognition of National Volunteer Week and the more than 200 individuals who donate their time and services to help out our team members as well as our patients, members, and clients, Frontline profiles six VNS Health volunteers. To read, click here.
May
Launch of iCIMS Platform Revolutionizes Hiring Process
The Talent Acquisition team, including Amy Mitchell, VP, HR Systems and Services, and Kristen Rosen, Director, Talent Acquisition, launch iCIMS (pronounced “eye-sims”), an AI applicant tracking system. On the very first day, the new online hiring platform enables the Personal Care team to connect with over 3,000 HHA candidates! To read more about how iCIMS has revolutionized VNS Health’s recruiting process—and is helping achieve our Top Company Objective to make our field-based roles the obvious choice for top talent—click here.
Happy National Nurses Month!
In honor of National Nurses Month, VNS Health hosts celebratory events in all five boroughs of New York City as well as Westchester and Long Island. Our Bronx event is attended by Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and NY1 is on hand to cover the festivities. Click here for links to photos from each event, plus videos of special tributes.
Our First-Ever Nurse of the Year Award Is Announced. And the Winner Is… Jean Verlus!
Congratulations to Bronx Home Care Nurse Jean Verlus, VNS Health’s 2025 Nurse of the Year! Jean, who has spent more than 32 years working with patients across New York City, was selected as the first recipient of this brand-new award from a total of 44 nominees. For more about Jean, click here.
New Tablets Empower Clinicians with Faster, Lighter Technology
We begin rolling out upgraded clinical tablets to our Home Care team while the Hospice team launches their own pilot to test the tablets, with deployment of the tablet planned to continue through mid-2026. The new Samsung Tab Active5 tablets, which are available in two different sizes, offer faster processing speeds, a rear-facing flash for enhanced wound care photography, a lightweight design, and longer battery life that’s ideal for clinicians on the go.
Using “Rachel,” an AI Care Specialist, to Connect with Health Plan Members
To connect with hard-to-reach Medicare Advantage plan members in a more efficient and effective way, the Health Plans team partners with Hippocratic AI, a health-tech company that uses artificial intelligence (AI). Working with Hippocratic AI, the Health Plans team uses a computer-generated AI care specialist named “Rachel” to talk on the phone with newly enrolled EasyCare and EasyCare Plus members. To read more, click here.
VNS Health Golf Classic Raises Over $250,000 for Our Veterans Program
The 2025 Golf Classic, co-chaired by EVP and Chief Legal and Risk Officer Kerry Parker and VNS Health Board member Ray Falci, draws 128 participants and raises $252,000 for our Veterans Program. To see photos of the event, click here.
Christine Lee Honored at Chinese American Nurses Association Gala
On May 9th, VNS Health is a proud sponsor of the annual Chinese American Nurses Association (CANA) Gala, where RN Christine Lee receives the association’s Passionate in Community Health Award for her commitment to advancing health and wellness. To learn more, click here.
Behavioral Health Team Hosts 14th Annual Mental Health Fair
In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, the Behavioral Health team hosts the Annual Children’s Mental Health Fair. The theme is based on the children’s animated movie “Inside Out,” and more than 200 local residents attend! To view photos, click here.
Congratulations to Our 2025 Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year: Jennifer Hansen!
This year’s SLP of the Year Jennifer Hansen treats all of her patients like family, and she finds making a difference in their lives every day incredibly rewarding. To read more about Jennifer and her achievement, click here.
“10 Minutes with Keith” Features Finance and Tech Updates
In his second video of the year, CFO Keith Patterson shares VNS Health’s 2025 first-quarter financial results and chats with Tim Peng, Maria Breslin-Ravitz and Robert Kenney about technological advancements and “micro-transformation.” To watch the video, click here.
Nurse Residency Program Video Receives Prestigious Silver Telly Award
VNS Health wins a Silver Telly Award for the video, A Day in the Life of a VNS Health Nurse Residency Program Graduate! The video follows a VNS Health Nurse Resident graduate—Home Care Nurse Alysson Arikian—through a typical day, highlighting the rewarding nature of her work, her dedication in the face of unique challenges, and the essential impact of the Nurse Residency Program. To watch the video, click here.
New Documentary Highlights NORC Program and Aging in Community
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) releases Aging in Community: A New York First Model, a documentary that offers an in-depth look at New York’s innovative Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) program. The film features the powerful story of transformative friendship between VNS Health Personal Care NORC nurse Jana Kozlowski and her patient. To view the film, visit NYSOFA’s NORC Program webpage.
June
To Help Us Stay Vigilant Against Bad Actors on the Internet, the IT Team Launches Bite-Sized Security Reminders
To enhance cybersecurity training for VNS Health team members, the IT team enlists Arctic Wolf, a leading security services provider, to implement a new Managed Security Awareness Program. For more on the program, click here.
Congratulations to Our Latest Nurse Residency Grads!
In early June, a celebration is held at our 220 East 42nd Street office for the latest cohort of nurses to graduate from VNS Health’s Nurse Residency Program: Yael Abramov, Alysson Arikian, Jonathan Cantillo, Ruby Davudov, Anna Khurshudyan, Quintarra Lee and Malaysia Mills. To see photos from the celebration, click here.
Kathy Bowles and Devin Woodley Represent VNS Health at the Home Care 100 Conference
The 2025 Home Care 100 conference brings together the leaders of America’s largest home care, hospice, and personal care providers. This year, Dr. Kathy Bowles, Director of VNS Health’s Center for Home Care Policy & Research, was a featured speaker and Devin Woodley, VP, Managed Care Contracting and B2B Sales, participated in a panel discussion. To read more, click here.
Keith Patterson Is Named to Crain’s 2025 Notable Leaders in Finance
Our Chief Financial Officer Keith Patterson is selected as one of Crain’s New York Business 2025 Notables in Finance. To read more, click here.
First Cohort Completes “Leadership Unlocked” Program
Fourteen Vice Presidents and Directors from across the organization complete our first “Leadership Unlocked” program, a dynamic 15-week leadership development program designed to deepen each participant’s leadership capabilities. To see photos of their graduation and final presentations, click here.
Joy Jackson is the 2025 Shared Services Contact Center Agent of the Year!
Congratulations to VNS Health’s 2025 Shared Services Contact Center Agent of the Year, Joy Jackson! Chosen by her peers, Joy is known for her patience, kindness, and professionalism. For more about her, click here.
July
New Up Close with Dan Video Series Is Introduced
In this new video series hosted by CEO Dan Savitt, we meet colleagues and leaders up close, like we did in “20 Minutes with Dan”—but each segment is now 3 minutes or less. Watch them all here.
We Hold These Truths to Be Self Evident…
In a special 4th of July video, team members from across the organization share inspiring words from the Declaration of Independence. To watch this stirring video, click here.
Our New Top Company Objective: Harnessing AI
As part of VNS Health’s Strategic Plan Refresh, we embrace a new Top Company Objective: Harness AI to transform how we engage, support, and care for those we service, empowering our teams to achieve superior health outcomes.
Spotlight on Summer Interns
VNS Health employs 49 interns over the summer! To hear about their experiences and what lessons they took away from their time with the organization, click here.
Congratulations, Nassau Nurse-Family Partnership Grads!
New graduates from our Nassau Nurse-Family Partnership are featured in LIHerald.com. Read the article here.
Hospice Completes Successful CHAP Accreditation Visit
VNS Health Hospice receives its triannual site visit from the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) surveyor team in early July. In addition to renewing our Hospice accreditation, the CHAP surveyors praise our wound documentation, the well-organized state of our HR files, our readiness for implementation of the HOPE tool, our alignment with CHAP’s Age-Friendly Care protocols, and the enthusiasm and dedication of our clinical staff!
Introducing Sohee Khim, Our New Chief of Staff & Board Liaison
Sohee Khim joins VNS Health as the new Chief of Staff & Board Liaison. In this newly created role, Sohee will be working closely with President and CEO Dan Savitt to advance organizational priorities, support executive operations, and coordinate activities across the Executive Leadership Team. She also serves as the primary point of contact to the VNS Health Board.
August
AI Solutions for Health Plans and Provider Services
In their Frontline columns, John Burke and David Rosales highlight some of the ways our Health Plans and Provider Services have begun to harness AI. To read John’s column, click here; to read David’s column, click here.
“10 Minutes with Keith” Shares Financial Update on First Half of 2025
In his latest video, Keith Patterson highlights the financial results for the first two quarters of 2025. He also talks to Esther Conteh, VP, Care Management MLTC Care Coordination, about how the organization uses data to personalize care plans for members. To watch the video, click here.
Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Orientation
More than 40 physician fellows participate in our annual Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Training Program Orientation event. Organized by our Hospice team, the event emphasizes the importance of the Fellowship Program to the professional development of physician fellows and to the lives of hospice patients and their families. For more on the event, including photos, click here.
September
You Asked, We Did: Employee Engagement Survey Moves to September
In their responses to 2024’s Employee Engagement Survey, team members asked if the survey, which traditionally has been sent out towards the end of the year, could come out at a less busy time. Leadership listened: This year, the 2025 Employee Engagement Survey comes out in September. The survey gets an 80% response-—one of our highest survey participation rates ever. To hear why team members think it’s so important to take the survey, click here.
When One Week Just Isn’t Enough to Celebrate Our Amazing Rehabilitation Therapists
In celebration of National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, VNS Health holds events throughout the month of September across all of our regions to honor our physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists. To see photos of the celebrations, click here.
VNS Health Has a New Board Chair: Deborah Sale
Deborah Sale is named Board Chair of VNS Health, replacing outgoing Chair Dr. Andrew Schiff. A VNS Health Board member for the past five years, Deborah draws on a broad healthcare background spanning executive leadership, public health initiatives, and statewide healthcare oversight.
Video: 3-Year Strategic Plan Update
The health care landscape is changing—and quickly. In this 4-minute video, CEO Dan Savitt takes us through recent changes we’ve made to our strategic plan that will help us meet today’s challenges and ensure that we keep delivering exceptional care. To watch, click here.
Without Home Care, What’s at Stake?
That’s the question asked in a series of one-minute videos that our Government Affairs and Communications teams collaborated on and that our Social Media team is pushing out on all of our social media platforms. To watch the video and read about our advocacy efforts, click here.
It’s Official—VNS Health Named One of the Best Places to Work in New York City!
VNS Health makes Crain’s 2025 Best Places to Work in New York City list! To watch a short video about what makes us a great place top work, and to see photos of the Crain’s 2025 Best Places to Work event, click here.
Meet Our 2025 Home Health Aide of the Year Winner!
Congratulations to Karen Williams on being named the 2026 Home Health Aide of the Year! For Karen, being a Personal Care Home Health Aide means showing up every day with a smile—and never giving up. When she tells her clients “I’m not leaving,” she means it. To read more about Karen and her award, click here.
2025 Personal Care Honor Awards
On September 30th, the Personal Care team holds its annual Personal Care Awards Ceremony, honoring dozens of incredible team members. To view photos of the event and see names of all of the Personal Care team members who received Honor Awards on this special evening, click here.
Our First-Ever Advanced Practice Clinician of the Year: Caroline Williams!
Congratulations to Behavioral Health’s Chief Psychiatrist and Associate Clinical and Education Director, Dr. Caroline Williams. Caroline is the inaugural winner of VNS Health’s Rose Madden-Baer Advanced Practice Clinician of the Year Award. To read about Caroline, click here.
NIH Awards VNS Health Researcher $3 Million Grant to Study Caregiver Intervention
VNS Health senior research scientist Dr. Barbara Reigel is awarded a $3 million multi-year grant by the National Institute on Aging. The grant will be used to study the benefits of virtual health coaching in relieving stress, depression and anxiety among caregivers of patients who suffer from both congestive heart failure and cognitive impairment. Also in September, it’s announced that Dr. Riegel has received the American Heart Association’s 2025 Clinical Research Prize for her work on self-care in relation to chronic disease.
HR Launches Next Level Leadership Excellence Training
Our HR team expands its Leadership Excellence Series with the launch of the Next Level Leadership Excellence (NLX) training program. Designed for leaders who have completed the Foundational Leadership Excellence (FLX) training program—which has over 340 graduates to date—NLX spans multiple sessions aimed at preparing participants for next-level challenges and organizational success. Topics covered include conflict management, technology for leaders, executive presence, and performance alignment, as well as practical strategies for managing complexity, driving change, and fostering team empowerment.
VNS Health TODAY Refresh
Our quarterly newsletter to our external partners, VNS Health TODAY, receives a design and content refresh. To view the online version of the first issue featuring the new look, click here.
October
Michael Dolton Is Our 2025 Physical Therapist of the Year!
Congratulations to Michael Dolton, winner of VNS Health’s 2025 Physical Therapist of the Year Award! To read his profile, click here.
Watch the Fall Episode of Up Close with Dan!
This episode of Up Close with Dan features a visit with a patient on the importance of preventing falls… an AI workforce transformation by our Health Plans Reauthorizations team… a special message from Health Plans Director Alex Diaz… plus some musical inspiration from Hospice RN Verlina Sylvester. To watch, click here.
CHAP Awards VNS Health Deemed Status and Age-Friendly Care at Home Certification
The Home Care team completes a successful CHAP site visit in October. Besides getting reaccredited, the team earns Deemed Status, which exempts Home Care from separate tri-annual inspections by New York State’s Department of Health. Additionally, thanks to our clinicians’ consistent use of the Age-Friendly 4-Ms protocol, Home Care receives CHAP’s Age-Friendly Care at Home Certification. Way to go, Team! To read more about these important designations, click here.
We Are the One! Our Health Plans Team Kick Off the Annual Enrollment Period
October 15th marks the beginning of Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), a crucial period for Medicare Advantage enrollment. This period, which runs through December 7th, is an opportunity to continue growing the membership of our Medicare Advantage plans, VNS Health EasyCare and EasyCare Plus. Growth of our EasyCare Plus plan also expands the pipeline of potential members for our integrated Medicare-Medicaid plan VNS Health Total. More than 10,000 new Medicare members were enrolled during last year’s AEP.
To see a pair of short videos created to help support and inspire our Health Plans team members during this year’s AEP, click here.
A Special Evening Celebrates 38 Fantastic Team Members from Across the Organization!
On October 27th, team members from across the organization gather for a very special evening to celebrate 38 team members who are being honored at our 2025 VNS Health Annual Awards Ceremony. For a complete list of award winners, click here. To see photos, a short highlights video, and a full recording of the awards ceremony, click here.
Bronx Nurse-Family Partnership Graduates 31 Moms
VNS Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership holds a graduation celebration for 31 graduating Bronx NFP mothers and their families. This year’s ceremony is the first in-person Nurse-Family Partnership graduation since the pandemic, so it’s extra special! To see photos of the event, click here.
November
2025 Gala Is a Huge Success!
VNS Health’s 2025 Gala raises more than $1.1 million to support our Charitable Care and Community Impact programs, which provide essential services to New Yorkers in need. The event brings together VNS Health supporters, partners and leaders to celebrate our mission and honor the impact of our community programs. Click here to see the photos!
Welcome to Terri Meldrum, Our New Chief Legal and Risk Officer
Terri Meldrum starts as our new Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer, succeeding the retiring Kerry Parker. Terri brings 30 years of legal experience and will oversee our Legal, Compliance, Risk Management and Insurance, and Internal Audit departments.
Dan Savitt Named “Power Player in Health Care”
CEO Dan Savitt is included in this year’s amNY/PoliticsNY’s “Power Players in Health Care” list, recognizing his leadership in expanding services and advancing community-based care. His accompanying profile highlights the organization’s growth under Dan’s direction as well as his advocacy for stronger support for home-based care.
Health Plans Gives Away 400 Turkeys in Washington Heights
The Health Plans team hosts its annual turkey giveaway in Washington Heights on November 20th, distributing 400 turkeys to residents in partnership with Centro Médico Dominican. Community members are welcomed with coffee, donuts, and music, and New York State Senator Robert Jackson greets attendees. The event helps ensure that older adults and families in need can enjoy a special holiday meal. Read more here.
Home Care Team Receives Excellence Award from Homecare Homebase
The software provider Homecare Homebase salutes the outstanding work of our Home Care team—including the low hospitalization rates of our Home Care patients—with its 2025 KPI Excellence Award for Home Health. VNS Health is one of just three home health organizations selected for the award, which honors recipients for “excelling in acute care hospitalizations, highlighting strong care coordination and proactive approaches that reduce avoidable hospitalizations and improve outcomes.” Here’s a link to the Homecare Homebase press release.
December
With 5-Star Rating, VNS Health Total Is New York’s Top-Rated MAP Plan for 2nd Year in a Row…
For the second year in a row, VNS Health Total, our integrated Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) plan, receives an Overall Quality Rating of 5 stars from the New York State Department of Health (NYS-DOH)—the highest rating possible. VNS Health Total is the only MAP plan in New York to earn this top rating, which is based on the quality of care and member satisfaction with the care and services received.
… And Our MLTC Plan Gets 5 Stars Too!
In addition, VNS Health’s stand-alone Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan, which provides Medicaid long-term care benefits without a Medicare component, also achieves a five-Star rating in NYS-DOH’s latest consumer-facing Stars quality ratings.
Medicare Plans Top 55,000 Members on Strong Enrollments and Member Retention
Driven by strong end-of-year enrollment of new members, the combined enrollment in our three Medicare plans—EasyCare, EasyCare Plus and Total—exceeds 55,000 members for the first time, including 8,500 members in our integrated Total plan. Our Health Plans team also reports their best numbers ever for member retention. Overall, the Health Plans have 85,000 members between them by year’s end.
VNS Health 2025 Media Stories Reach an Audience of 1.5 Billion+
Our organization is featured in more than 2,000 print, broadcast or online media stories in 2025, delivering VNS Health-branded messages to more than 1.51 billion consumers and health professionals. Among these, close to half of the unique stories focus specifically on our Health Plans upstate—expanding awareness among providers, community-based organizations and consumers. Our priority growth area of upstate New York also sees an impressive 242 VNS Health-related stories published locally. To see the media stories from the past year and the team members who were featured in them, click here!
Retention of Clinical Team Members Is at Industry-Leading Levels
Our HR Team reports that VNS Health’s retention rate for all clinical team members is on track to end the year at around 88%—including an 86.9% first-year retention rate for new clinical hires—placing us among the best in the home care industry for these categories. The team also reports that in 2025, VNS Health added 71 full-time nurses across Home Care, Hospice and the CMO, exceeding our target by over 33%.
City & State New York Names Our Behavioral Health Team a “Top Mental Health Care Provider”
Our Behavioral Health team makes City & State New York’s inaugural “Top Mental Health Care Providers” list. The list, which features dozens of elite mental health providers in New York State, puts a spotlight on the innovative programs and standout services that our Behavioral Health team provides each day. To learn more, click here.
Behavioral Health Fellowship Holds Graduation Ceremony
The Behavioral Health Multidisciplinary Fellowship program honors eight graduating members of this year’s cohort. The one-year program provides psychiatric mental health professionals at VNS Health with additional specialized training on various aspects of community mental health. Congratulations to the 2025 Fellowship graduates: Margaret Isoh, Sam Humleker, Shantel Mayris, Dominique Miller Dean, Reneicea Hughes, Usha Persaud, Susie Moscou, and Daphney Louis. Rebecca Miller Martinez also received a Certificate of Participation. See the photos here below.
Research Center Ends Year with 60+ Journal Publications
During 2025, our Center for Home Care Policy & Research team has over 60 research articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Collectively, the journal articles provide a wide range of important information that will be useful for evidence-based clinical practice, program development, and policy-making decisions going forward.
Sonali Wilborn Named VP for Hospice Services and Hospice Chief Medical Officer
VNS Health welcomes Dr. Sonali Wilborn, MD, MBA, to our organization as Vice President for Hospice Services and Hospice Chief Medical Officer, effective January 5th, 2026. Board Certified in Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Internal Medicine with an Executive MBA from the University of Michigan, Sonali brings more than two decades of clinical, operational, and executive leadership experience across hospice, palliative care, and post-acute care—most recently as National Medical Director at Bristol Hospice, which operates in 25 states and 80 locations.
VNS Health Hosts Holiday Chicken Giveaway at Our Sunset Park Community Center in Brooklyn
On December 9th, VNS Health distributes more than 200 free rotisserie chickens at our Brooklyn Chinatown Community Center, supporting older adults and celebrating a beloved holiday tradition. Click here below to see the photos.
In Case You Missed It, Be Sure to Watch Our VNS Health 2025 Holiday Card!
And Be Sure to Catch the Special Holiday Edition of Up Close With Dan If You Haven’t Already! (Including On-the-Go Segments!)
In this special holiday episode of Up Close with Dan, the theme is all about caring and making connections. Watch as CEO Dan Savitt wraps up 2025 with a visit to HHA Vivien Bacott and her long-time client… a look at how ambient AI is transforming Home Care start-of-care assessments… an eye-catching summary of our many 2025 accomplishments… a heartfelt word from Jim Rolla, SVP, Personal Care… and a closing song that will have you walking on air! Click here to watch.
