DPC and HLA joint letter to Chris Palmieri, President and CEO of Commonwealth Care Alliance

Dear Chris,

We are writing in regard to your role as President/CEO of Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA). When we spoke last month about the welfare of CCA’s members and the organization’s financial difficulties, you said that you would be willing to step aside if it was in the best interest of CCA’s members. We believe the time has come for you to step down as CEO.

The Boston Globe reported yesterday that you requested and reached an agreement with the CCA Board to receive a fee of $2 million if CCA is successfully acquired. We do not believe this arrangement is in the best interest of CCA’s members. Instead, it is an impediment to considering all appropriate options for CCA. Decisions about CCA’s future should be based on the best interests of the people it serves as opposed to a potential financial windfall for a decision-maker. The fee is also inappropriate because of CCA’s grave financial position that has reportedly led to the loss of 100 CCA employees and disruption in care to members.

We understand this may be a difficult decision to make. However, we hope that you will resign and allow a new leader to seek preservation of CCA’s original vision of providing services to the most vulnerable.