Press Release

Neighborhood Health Plan Employee Honored for Work with HIV/AIDS Patients

Boston, MA - November 19, 2010 - Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP) today announced that Kathy Foley, NP, is the 2010 recipient of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) Frontline Nursing Distinguished Service Award. Foley works with the Community Medical Alliance (CMA), a wholly owned clinical affiliate of NHP since 1999.

The award recognizes an ANAC member who is currently in a direct patient care bedside registered nurse position and is a role model in compassionate nursing care to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. ANAC's award focuses on recognizing recipients that demonstrate innovation, inspire peers in their practice, and promote excellence in HIV nursing.

"Kathy is an exceptional clinician and a powerful advocate for her patients," said Priscilla Meriot, Executive Director of the Community Medical Alliance at NHP. "I've always been impressed by her superb clinical and care management skills, but what is remarkable to me is the true affection she has for her patients, even those who are most challenging to work with. Every day Kathy practices her belief that everyone deserves the best care and treatment possible; she is a true humanitarian and one of our quiet heroes."

Foley has been involved in working on the HIV epidemic since 1988, and has been with the Community Medical Alliance as a nurse practitioner since 1994.

"It is an honor to receive this award," said Foley. "I have the opportunity to help our AIDS patients be as healthy as they can be while living with their disease. I see them at home and get to know them very well, often over the course of many years. I work with them on achieving the best possible adherence to their complex medication regimes, deal with difficult issues such as substance abuse and other behavioral health issues, and help them navigate the health care system."

The award was presented to Foley at the 23rd Annual ANAC Conference in Reno, Nevada on November 18.

About the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) was founded in 1987 to address the specific needs of nurses working in HIV/AIDS. ANAC has rapidly become the leader in the response to HIV disease and AIDS. The mission of ANAC is to promote the individual and collective professional development of nurses involved in the delivery of health care to persons infected with or affected by HIV and to promote the health and welfare of infected persons. This is accomplished through the creation of an effective network among nurses in AIDS care in local ANAC chapters, through educational conferences; studying, researching, and exchanging information, experiences and ideas leading to improved care for persons with HIV infection; and providing leadership to nursing community in matters related to HIV/AIDS.

About Neigbhorhood Health Plan

Neighborhood Health Plan is a not-for-profit health insurer serving more than 210,000 members across Massachusetts, offering a wide array of government-funded and commercial products.  NHP provides health care programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, through small business employer groups, and through Massachusetts' groundbreaking health care reform.  Founded in 1986 by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and the Greater Boston Forum for Health Action, NHP focuses on offering members access to care from over 2,800 primary care physicians and over 10,400 specialists in over 300 primary care locations throughout Massachusetts. NHP is recognized as a national leader in care for medically complex and severely disabled populations. Central to Neighborhood Health Plan's mission, the organization places special emphasis on serving culturally diverse, traditionally underserved, and vulnerable populations.

Media Contact: Rhian Gregory - Neighborhood Health Plan - 617-620-0517