At Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.® (CHNCT), we believe that a company is more than the sum of its parts. Help us make a difference.
In 1995, a group of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) came together to form Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.® (CHNCT), a not-for-profit managed care organization dedicated to improving medical services and health outcomes for Connecticut’s Medicaid-eligible residents.
They had a clear vision, to create a model that would bring managed care to underserved populations in the same way that federally qualified health centers bring them medical services.
Over the organization’s first 17 years, CHNCT transformed from a small group’s dream into a premier health plan, recognized on both local and national levels. The leadership and staff of CHNCT had a passion to serve Connecticut’s population, unmatched by any organization. During this time, CHNCT grew from an underdog company into the largest managed care organization in the state, serving over 300,000 members.
From the beginning, people have been at the core of the work that CHNCT does. Person-centeredness is the guiding principle that we follow when working with members and healthcare providers. It is a way of thinking and doing things that sees the whole person. It is an approach that brings the person into the planning, developing, and monitoring of care to ensure that it meets the person’s needs.
After announcing it would move to an innovative self-insured administrative services organization (ASO) model, the Department of Social Services selected CHNCT as the sole medical ASO. CHNCT has helped the state to improve health outcomes for members, reduce costs for both the State of Connecticut and healthcare providers, and improve transparency and accountability. Under the ASO model, CHNCT proudly serves nearly 1,000,000 members.
We work with patients, healthcare providers, community organizations, and governments to solve complex healthcare problems. It is through our work with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients that we improve the health and lives of Connecticut residents.
Our Goals:
CHNCT is dedicated to improving the health of underserved and vulnerable populations by providing equitable and culturally appropriate access to high quality and comprehensive health care to all Connecticut residents.
Our members, providers, policymakers, community organizations and others will recognize CHNCT as a leader in building healthier communities in which demographics do not impact health outcomes. This includes race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and economic status. They will know us for putting our members first, by our organizational integrity, the quality of our services and innovation and success in collaborating with community health centers, other providers, and various organizations.
At CHNCT, we take pride in our integrity, teamwork, excellence in all areas of our business and in being a diverse and inclusive organization. We recognize the importance of what we do and how it impacts the individuals and communities we serve. We also acknowledge that inequities in health and health care, limit the continued improvement in the quality of care and overall health of the population.
The values that are most important to us are:
We are a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise who aim to improve the lives and health of Connecticut residents as much as possible.
Suzanne Lagarde, MD – Chair
CEO
Fair Haven Community Health Care
Michael R. Taylor – Vice Chair
CEO
Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center
Don Thompson – Treasurer
President & CEO
StayWell Health Center
Mollie Melbourne – Secretary
President & CEO
Southwest Community Health Center
Vernette Townsend
President & CEO
Charter Oak Health Center
Melissa Meyers
CEO
Generations Family Health Center
Karen A. Daley
CEO
Optimus Health Care
Sylvia B. Kelly (Ex Officio)
President & CEO
Community Health Network of CT, Inc.
Shawn K. Frick (Ex Officio)
CEO
Community Health Center Association of Connecticut
Suzanne Lagarde, MD
Chair
Sylvia B. Kelly
Vice Chair
Carl A. Mikolowsky, DDS
Treasurer/Secretary
Ronald E. Coursey II
Director
John H. Senechal, MD
Director
Tarsha Calloway
Consumer
Sylvia B. Kelly
President & Chief Executive Officer
Lawrence Magras, MD, MBA, FAAPL, FHM
Sr. Vice President, Population Health &
Chief Medical Officer
Abe Benitez
Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Cory Ludington
Sr. Vice President, Administration &
Chief Compliance Officer
Maryann G. Keaveney
Chief Human Resources Officer &
Vice President, Human Resources
Gregory P. Barbiero
Vice President, Population
Health Management
Steve Bartolotta
Vice President & Chief Information
Security Officer
Dina Blaney
Vice President,
Finance
Ray Connelly
Vice President &
Chief Information Technology Officer
Carolyn Grandell, MSN, RN, CCM
Vice President, Care Management
Kristine Lisi, MD
Vice President, Clinical Affairs
Tracey Saucier
Vice President, Operations
Tressa Spears Jackson
Vice President, Community Affairs &
Corporate Communications