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Garrity is currently chief operating officer of the Family and Children’s Center in La Crosse, where he has worked for 18 years.
“I am excited to assume a role in bringing this innovative and cost-effective program to western Wisconsin,” Garrity said. “The move toward outcome-based, person-centered care is precisely what attracted me to this position.”
Family Care started as a state pilot program in La Crosse County in 2000, eliminating waiting lists and introducing managed care to Medicaid-paid services for frail elders and adults with disabilities.
The state decided to expand Family Care, and La Crosse County’s Care Management Organization is being spun off to create Western Wisconsin Cares, which will serve an estimated 3,600 people in Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Trempealeau and Vernon counties. The regional program starts enrolling members Oct. 1, 2008.
The district’s governing board made the job offer to Garrity April 25, said Melissa Gilbert, project coordinator for the district. He starts May 27 and will earn $95,284 a year.
Garrity was one of three finalists interviewed after a six-month search. The other finalists were Michael Eckstein, marketing and sales director of Health Traditions health plan in La Crosse, and Carl Phillips, human services director of Monroe County, Gilbert said.
Garrity will replace Pat Killeen, who had been administrator of the La Crosse County CMO since May 2006. La Crosse County Personnel Director Robert Taunt said Killeen’s position was eliminated as part of creation of the new organization. Killeen left in February, but “was kept on payroll, in the event we needed to consult with him about anything until May 9,” Taunt said.
Garrity noted the importance of long-term care reform in light of an aging population and said he looks forward to leading the implementation of a regional Family Care program to help meet local needs.
WWC will replace the existing Family Care program in La Crosse and several long-term support “waiver” programs currently administered by the seven other participating counties. WWC plans to begin enrolling members on a county-by-county basis beginning in October and eliminate wait lists for home- and community-based services in the region by early 2011.
Garrity holds a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master’s degree in counselor education with an emphasis in community counseling from Winona State University. For the last nine years he has been chief operating officer of Family and Children’s Center, a regional provider with offices in Rochester, Winona, Viroqua, Holmen and Black River Falls.
Under Family Care, enrolled members work with a case manager and a nurse to identify desired outcomes and create an individual service plan to achieve those objectives. The program allows member needs to be met in a more cost-effective manner by providing greater access to home- and community-based services, such as help with housecleaning, meal preparation and medication administration, than traditional Medicaid.
Reid Magney can be reached at (608) 791-8211 or rmagney@lacrossetribune.com.
