Business February 8, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 19 Audrey Meyers, FACHE, of Ridgewood, president and CEO of Valley Health System and The Valley Hospital, was recently installed as board chair of the New Jersey Hospital Association, the state’s oldest and largest hospital and health care advocacy organization. The board chair’s official installation, as well as the appointment of new board officers and members, was held during NJHA’s 93rd Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. Meyers succeeds outgoing Chairman Thomas A. Biga, FACHE, of Barnabas Health in Livingston. In taking the reins of the NJHA Board, Meyers said, “Our ability to continue to serve faces many challenges. There are times in every industry when circumstances lead organizations to a crossroads - to a new frontier. Now is such a time.” Meyers challenged hospital leaders to continue to work together, both in New Jersey and with the American Hospital Association in Washington, D.C., to avoid potentially devastating cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. “In 2013 alone, New Jersey’s healthcare providers stand to lose $130 million in Medicare funding – on top of $4.5 billion in cuts New Jersey hospitals will sustain under the Affordable Care Act,” said Meyers. “Recognizing that Medicare already pays New Jersey hospitals and physicians at rates less than costs, these added cuts jeopardize healthcare quality. They jeopardize patient access to care, and they jeopardize jobs and other economic benefits that ripple throughout our communities. We must let Washing- Meyers named new board chair of Hospital Association ton know, in a clear and unified voice, that these cuts would have a devastating impact. “It is essential that we continue our keen focus on improving healthcare quality, patient safety, and efficiency. While we have made some significant gains in the last decade, there is still much to be accomplished. We should strive for nothing less than a 100 percent commitment to quality and patient safety.” Budget (continued from page 5) Campion explained that the township had originally received a bill representing a large increase in pension costs for 2012 but, as a result of changes in the pension regulations, that bill was reduced by about $500,000. If there had been increases in those two parts of the budget, the tax rate increase might have been higher than the two percent cap because the state does not require those budget increases to be considered in the cap calculation. Campion advised there were also some revenue increases in several areas last year, but there was no reduction in the township’s workforce as a result of this budget. Campion and Laforet both emphasized that this budget provides for the same level of services that are expected by township residents, such as the township’s accredited police department, public works department, the board of health and animal control services, emergency services, events and programs, garbage collection and disposal, and open space acquisition and maintenance. The budget will now be reviewed by the council. In past years, members of the council have interviewed department heads about their budgets, and have sometimes revised parts of the budget, before introducing the spending plan. This year’s state-mandated deadlines are Feb. 29 for introduction and April 20 for adoption. Audrey Meyers Martin Rocco of Ridgewood Huntington Learning Center recently received the “Five Years of Service Anniversary Award” at the 2012 Annual Huntington Learning Company Center Convention. Rocco is the senior managing director at the Ridgewood Huntington Learning Center. He is charged with helping the staff succeed in their roles as educators, reach center Rocco honored for service to Huntington goals, and give every student the best education possible. Highlights of the 2012 Convention included a presentation of the 2012 company center rebranding led by Raymond J. Huntington and the senior management team. The rebranding presentation was followed by the unveiling of the new television commercials, direct mail pieces, advertising collateral, and a marketing calendar for 2012.