Almeida to chair health council

Victoria M. Almeida, shareholder at the law firm of Adler Pollock & Sheehan, was elected chairwoman of the state’s Health Services Council. Almeida was reappointed to the council by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello, in recognition of her expertise in health care law and regulation. Almeida previously served as legal counsel to then-Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy. She currently serves as vice chairwoman of the Rhode Island Parole Board. She’s also a member of the board of directors of R.I. Legal Services and serves on the board of trustees of Salve Regina University.

What is the Health Services Council’s mission?

The mission of the Health Services Council is to serve as adviser to the director of the R.I. Department of Health in those matters involving certificate of need, change in effective control of health care facilities and license reviews. … The committee was recently reconstituted from 21 members to 12.

What are your responsibilities as chairwoman?

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It is my duty to facilitate the work of the council. There are two project-review committees. Project Review Committee I reviews and conducts hearings on all applications pertaining to Change In Effect Control of health care institutions. Project Review Committee II conducts all hearings relative to certificate of need application. I chair the hearings of both committees. … Upon the conclusion of the [public] hearings each committee makes a recommendation to the full council. … The recommendation of the council is sent to the director of the Department of Health.

What are some issues facing the health care industry?

Current issues include those known as the “Triple Aim Framework,” as identified by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo:

n Addressing the social and environmental determinants of health in Rhode Island.

n Eliminating the disparities of health in Rhode Island and promoting health equality and geographic health zones.

n Ensuring access to quality health services for all Rhode Islanders. •

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