

A freilichen Chanukah! May the light spread to all of you and bring abundant bracha into your lives.
This month’s newsletter celebrates miracles—both the extraordinary and the everyday moments that touch our hearts. Here at Hamaspik, each one of you creates these miracles through your dedicated work. When our families tell us about the “little miracles” in their lives, they’re talking about how you find the right care workers, help with paperwork, coordinate arrangements, and manage their care with such devotion.
Simply put, you are all miracle workers, bringing hope and help to those who need it most.
While our primary mission is to make life easier for the families in our care, we never lose sight of our commitment to following all compliance laws and regulations. In this issue, you’ll get an inside look at the vital work our Compliance Department does to keep our services running smoothly and ethically.
Thank you for staying vigilant about these important rules and regulations. Your attention to detail ensures we can continue providing honest, reliable services to all the families who count on us.
We’re deeply grateful for all you do to make miracles happen every day at Hamaspik.
Happy Reading!
On Sunday, December 8th, we hosted our much-anticipated annual Chanukah party for all Hamaspik Parents at the Valley Terrace Hall. This year’s theme was “Brachos,” the hall was transformed into a vibrant celebration of blessings. Each table was adorned with delicious food, thoughtfully arranged to correspond to different brachos; as a special gift, they received a Brachos book for their children. The evening was filled with inspiration and joy, highlighted by an engaging speaker and a captivating video presentation. Combined with the warm atmosphere, the event was truly memorable. Parents eagerly anticipate this celebration each year, finding it fun, enjoyable, and uplifting.
We’re thrilled to gift all Hamaspik families with a complete Chanukah party package! The package contains a game booklet complete with a variety of fun games for the whole family to enjoy. We’ve also included a smores machine with the necessary ingredients for families to party with. We hope that it will enhance Chanukah and bring joy and light to all.
To accommodate the growing number of clients seeking support, the Wings Psychotherapy department has expanded with a new, inviting clinic room. Designed with client comfort in mind, the space offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere where individuals can feel safe and at ease during their therapeutic journey.
We are thrilled to share that our Comfort Health team has successfully gotten an approval for our first Assistive Technology project. This achievement comes after a lengthy 15-month process, which involved collecting a mountain of documents, resubmitting them three times to various parties, and finally receiving the much-anticipated approval. We hope this is just the beginning of many such approvals, allowing families to get the essential equipment they need covered by waiver services. Whether it’s therapy toys, ramps, technology, or even a dizzy disc, we are committed to ensuring that children receive the support they deserve.
Upclub, our respite program for kids, is now open on Sundays and legal holidays. Many parents have expressed interest in having the program available every day. In response to this growing interest, we’re considering extending our hours to 3:30 PM - 5:45 PM daily. Our goal is to provide the perfect recreational experience for kids, ensuring they have a fun and enriching time.
We traded paper piles for a digital solution with the Comfort Health Worklog app to better manage our extensive documentation. This significant change has greatly improved our organization. Despite some bugs and challenges, like occasional freezing, many providers have shared that they feel supported and appreciated. They know exactly who to contact for assistance, which has made a big difference. Our incredible team has been amazing in ensuring that our providers feel heard, valued, and appreciated.
Miracles - the word itself is hazy. Just what is a miracle?
A world-shocking event such as the splitting of the sea?
Or the constant human act of breathing?
On Chanukah, we celebrate the miracle of the Oil burning for 8 days – and the miracle of our existence.
The Inside Story invited Hamaspik employees and people like you to share the modern-day miracles they experienced.
Be uplifted by the tales of hope, resilience, and the extraordinary in everyday life.
Simi Klein*
“PURIM! PESACH!
PAPAYA!” My seven brothers were busy lighting candles and blowing them out. It was the night of Chanukah, and my parents tried to halt this hazardous activity. Shmuli, the middle of the bunch with a diagnosis of ASD, was having the time of his life and giggling his head off. His voice rang out amidst the cheering; it was a classic scene of boys playing with fire. Pun intended.
Night had barely settled when a sharp, acrid odor jolted my father awake after only so recently laying his head to rest. Within seconds, he groped his way to the door. And was
immediately consumed by a thick, heavy blanket of smoke. Mad-dashing down the steps, the shroud of smoke only grew darker and scarier.
He stopped short at the kitchen door. He saw smoke billowing out from underneath, and Shmuli’s laughter mingled with
crying. He still can’t recall what happened first—whether he called the fire department or yanked my little brother out of the smoke-filled kitchen— everything unfolded in a frantic blur of panic and terror. But he did notice two things through the haze: Shmuli seemed fine, and the fire was out.
Much, much later, when the chaos had died down, the trauma had been processed, and the smoke had cleared, Shmuli enlightened us about his nighttime escapade.
He had woken up in the middle of the night and snuck downstairs to continue the
He stopped short at the kitchen door. He saw smoke billowing out from underneath, and Shmuli’s laughter mingled with crying.
game of Purim and Papaya, which he’d felt gypped from earlier. It was common for him to wake up at night, but he would usually tear papers or fill his time with something harmless (hopefully!).
But then things began spiraling out of control. The stubborn flame refused to extinguish, so he panicked and dumped the candle into the garbage can. My parents keep the garbage can in the cabinet under the sink. Officially, that is! In reality, it was usually out, near the door. That night, one of us plunked the garbage can where it belonged. The entire can lit up, and after a few minutes, a water pipe burst under the sink, and the water doused the fire!!
The fireman at the scene predicted that if the garbage can had not been in its correct place and the pipe exploded and doused the fire, none of us would’ve been here to tell the tale. And telling it we were, for days.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity.
Yermia Halberstam
I stretched my neck and shoulders to get the blood flowing again. A long day came to a close, and my mind was already on to the next. As I exited the building, I got a frantic call from a client. “I was disenrolled from Medicaid.” He was at a loss.
His family income went slightly above the bracket, and he was kicked off. Care management services are only approved through Medicaid, and he desperately needed one. As his care manager, I knew the situation all too well.
It was after work hours, and my weary bones called for a break. But I understood his worries and was compelled to remain on the phone. I guided him on reinstating Medicaid so he could continue receiving his life-saving services at Comfort Health. After our lengthy conversation, we hung up with a prayer on our
The world seemed to slow down as I watched, with my heart in my mouth, the deer tumble several times before it limped off.
lips that all should resolve as we perceive to be best.
Driving on Cherry Lane the following day, a deer came out of nowhere and darted into my car. I panicked and slammed on the brakes. The world seemed to slow down as I watched, with my heart in my mouth, the deer tumble several times before it limped off. Just like that. My hands shaking, I circled my car. There wasn’t a single scratch. Not one.
I felt my heartbeat steady, and I placed my head in my hands, overwhelmed with disbelief. I had just cheated death.
Just the day before, another care manager in Hamaspik made a l’chaim thanking Hashem for surviving a deer accident that totaled his car. His car was destroyed in the accident, but miraculously, he emerged unscathed.
The stark contrast was dizzying. Here I was, staring at my gleaming, scratch-free car. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that the after-hours help I extended to my client merited my miraculous near-fatal collision.
Elana Mizrahi*
It was a Friday morning, and I was in the kitchen using my new bottle of extra-virgin olive oil, creating tasty meals for Shabbos. In a rush, I plopped it down on a stool for a moment, and in my flurry of activity, I forgot to return it to the counter.
My little one, exploring the world on unsteady feet, toddled about and accidentally knocked the bottle over. It crashed and broke. Oil spilled onto the newly mopped floor.
Rather than letting it dampen my mood, I decided it wasn’t worth making anyone feel bad or beating myself up for my carelessness. So I rolled up my sleeves and focused on the task at hand: cleaning up the mess.
Note to self: Buy a new bottle of oil. But each time I went to the supermarket, I was in a rush, and for some reason, It kept slipping my mind. Thursday arrived; it was almost Shabbos. I still hadn’t purchased any olive oil.
A regular massage client of mine who has now also become a friend called: “Do you have time for me this morning?”
“Yes!” I replied.
She came an hour later. I pulled open the door to her smiling face. In her hand, she had a bag, a present for me. What would you give your massage therapist? A lovely cream or a scented candle? That would make sense. There could be a thousand things that she could have brought me as an unexpected, thoughtful gift. What was it ... that surprise in her bag?
A bottle of olive oil!
Coincidence? No, definitely not. This was one of the countless “little” events in my life where Hashem lets me know if I’m open to seeing it: “I’m here. I’m watching out for you. I’m in control of even the smallest details.”
*originally published on Chabad.org/Chanukah. Copyright and rewritten with permission
Imagine the monumental miracles witnessed by the valiant Jewish fighters who defied the mighty Greek army over 2,100 years ago. Consider the more minor, daily miracles: the simple act of walking or the serendipitous discovery of the perfect item you were looking for at the grocery store.
As we celebrate Chanukah, let us offer additional prayers and songs of gratitude for both the grand miracles of the past and the countless blessings we experience in the present. By lighting the menorah, we acknowledge not only the historical triumphs; but also, Hashem’s ongoing, gentle miracles: Hashem’s little kisses.
How often would you gift your employees during Chanukah?��
Every day of Chanukah Once at the beginning of Chanukah I would think about it but never get around to it I wouldn’t give gifts because I pay them for their work already I would plan to give gifts but might forget
What type of gifts would you give?
For whom would the gifts be intended?
All employees Only top performers I would never finalize the list I wouldn’t give to anyone because it creates a sense of entitlement. Whoever I remember to give them to
Expensive gifts like vacation packages Whatever I find a good deal on Whatever I can find last minute, like air pods I wouldn’t be able to decide Something they can use at the office, like office supplies I wouldn’t give gifts because it makes employees too busy with it during work
How would you distribute the gifts?
Through department managers During a company-wide event Everyone differently; some I call into my office, others I catch in the hallway I wouldn’t give gifts because it disrupts the workflow I would plan to distribute them, but end up finding them in the storage room on Erev Pesach Through Department managers
Would you include a personal message with each gift?
Yes, a printed quote with nice graphics Yes, a handwritten one If I remember to No, I wouldn’t want my employees to read it while ignoring ringing phones No, I don’t think it is necessary to express appreciation via gifts I would write it, but accidentally leave it on the copy machine.
What’s your philosophy on gifting during Chanukah?
It’s important to spend generously to show appreciation Gifts should be modest but meaningful It’s a bonus if employers give gifts, and employees shouldn’t expect it.
I don’t believe on mixing work and holiday celebrations If my competitor gives gifts, I would do the same.” If my competitor gives gifts, I would do the same
The trend of exchanging Chanukah gifts became popular in the 1950s. Jewish child psychologists and rabbis promoted this practice to help Jewish children feel happy and proud of their heritage.
Donut season at Sander’s bakery kicks off at Rosh Chodesh Kislev! They sell a whopping 80,000 donuts annually, with a 100% sales boost during Chanukah. Their hottest donut? The custard-filled delight!
Those delicious chocolate coins, known as Chanukah gelt, have a fascinating origin. Some believe they symbolize the independence gained by the ancient Jews, who minted their own coins after their victory over the Greeks.
The most popular Chanukah gifts flying off the shelves of Toys4U are the Pallino toy, the Playmags Road set, and the Abnormal card game. They experience a 400% increase in sales during the Chanukah season!
Gelt Tradition:
Did you know that this tradition might have started because students used to give money to their teachers during Chanukah? Originally, students in Europe gave gelt to their teachers. Since teachers couldn’t accept payment for teaching Torah, parents would give their kids money to pass on to them. Eventually, the kids started asking for their own share of gelt, leading to the custom of giving gelt to children.
Lasting Memories: Often, what children remember most about holiday celebrations are not the gifts but the positive memories their parents create. A present is quickly unwrapped and soon forgotten, but the sensation of being in a home filled with guests, joy, and the aroma of freshly baked latkes may last forever.
Hi Chaya, can you describe NHTD/TBI Services?
Nursing Home Transition and Diversion services are available for individuals age18 or older who have traumatic brain injuries or physical disabilities that require a level of care typically provided in a nursing home but want to stay home.
Could you describe your primary responsibilities?
I supervise a fantastic team of 8 coordinators. Together, we create detailed plans, handle all the documentation, and do a ton of auditing. Once a year, I join the service coordinator at the individual’s home for the annual meeting.
What do you discuss at the meeting?
NHTD/TBI Supervisor
It’s always nice to meet the people behind the names, they are more than a case but people who are struggling. We also follow up to see how things are going, if there are any updates, or if adjustments are needed.
How many individuals do you currently service?
Over 100.
That’s a lot of home visits a year!
Yes, it does involve lots of traveling.
What do your plans include?
We start by understanding each individual’s background and why they need our services. Our goal is to determine how we can set them up at home maximizing their comfort level.
We handle all the advocacy needed, including approving aid coverage and coordinating all the necessary support. For example, for a wheelchairbound individual, we’ll work to get an accessible bathroom or steps approved. If they need a specialist, like a podiatrist, we’ll arrange for a doctor to make a home visit.
That’s quite a load! What parts of your job do you find most fulfilling?
Seeing families so committed to keeping their loved ones at home. It’s so heartwarming and inspiring. We all know it’s a tough job, and although a nursing home might be an easier route, they recognize that it will be better for the individual— and make it work!
Our remarkable service coordinators always go the extra mile working hard to approve extras and things and in ways I sometimes wouldn’t have thought myself. Recently, one of our coordinators answered a phone call on Thanksgiving when we were closed and assisted with a transportation issue. Another time, a coordinator even picked up cleaning supplies for a family in need.
Wow! What are some hard parts of your job?
Seeing the pain in the family’s eyes. They turn to us when their loved ones are declining, facing fear and the unknown. Yet Baruch Hashem, we also get to celebrate the milestones
and progress with them. Recently, we enrolled a family whose only son fell and suffered a severe brain injury. It’s been incredibly rewarding to witness his significant improvement. Being part of our work’s positive impact helps alleviate the pain we observe. Even when an elderly family member is experiencing decline due to their condition, it’s gratifying to know that we’ve contributed to keeping them at home with their loved ones.
It is amazing to be a part of it.
What are the technical challenges you face?
How do you deal with that?
We try to remember that it is not about us– it’s their pain. And make an extra effort to be compassionate and commiserate with them. We try to resolve whatever issue they’re facing with gentleness and understanding.
Thank you, Chaya! I appreciate your time! It was an inspiring chat!
Ensuring all files are properly organized and scheduling is updated. I encourage everyone to use the calendar for reminders. On occasion, as happens with everything in life, some families can get frustrated by all of these challenges. It’s exacerbated when coverage options or aides don’t meet their needs.
Chaya lives in Passaic and has a daily drive that takes about 40 minutes.
Chaya is a supermom to twin 8-year-old boys, and two other boys aged 10 and 4.
Chaya has a degree in social work, even though she’s not currently practicing. This background gives her a unique perspective on helping others and understanding people’s needs.
Location: The Monsey Hub
Compliance Director: Idy Paskes
Number of employees: 2 + Compliance Committee
Hi Idy! Can you describe your team set-up?
We are a team of two. I oversee operations as the compliance officer, and Chana Rivka Tress conducts the internal audits. Our compliance committee, comprising of department directors, meets every quarter. The committee reviews legal requirements, monitors processes, and gives feedback about the compliance activities.
What is your core program?
Hamaspik gets money from the government to help the people we care for.
But we can’t just spend it how we want. There are strict rules we have to follow, and the compliance team makes sure we’re always
doing the right thing with every dollar.
Why did you start implementing this program?
It’s a must-have, there are no two ways about it. Medicaid pours millions of dollars into helping those who need it. These resources are a lifeline for many people. Back in 2006, Governor George Pataki was worried that the funds could be used improperly, and he didn’t take any chances. He created the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG). Their job? To protect taxpayer money.
To keep things legit, OMIG demands that all healthcare providers have a compliance team. Hamaspik of Rockland County is a Medicaid provider, so we follow OMIG’s guidelines to prevent fraud and
bad billing. Zissy Reich started our Compliance Program back in 2006, and I took over the reins in 2018.
What does OMIG expect from our compliance program? They set very specific rules for any Medicaid billing provider, whether a small Buffalo pharmacy or a huge Manhattan hospital. Everyone across New York has to follow these 7 guidelines:
What does it include? First, we need clear rules and guidelines. Employees can always find these in the Empeon hub.
We also make sure everyone knows these rules through training sessions.
Now, if an employee sees something fishy – like someone faking their time or sharing secrets they shouldn’t – we
have an open-door policy. If an employee is uncomfortable raising a concern, they can use our anonymous methods, like the reception drop-box or our hotline: 845-503-0202.
How do you ensure that compliance training is engaging and effective, especially for remote or less-engaged employees?
We’ve been creating cartoon episodes and have produced 12 of them this past year! We wove them into our culture by regularly dropping them into everyone’s inbox. After all, who can resist a fun cartoon?
It is fun!
We’re also in charge of selfauditing the company, and
Chana Rivka Tress is our go-to person for this. Each year, we dive into multiple departments. She examines documentation and reviews workflows, catching the tiniest errors. She’s great at her work. Her thoroughness often uncovers unintentional mistakes, like double-dipping or timing errors on timesheets.
How do you approach it?
We investigate each case, and 99% of the time it’s just human error. We dig deep to understand why it happened and brainstorm ways to prevent it in the future. It’s all about learning and improving!
Can you share some examples of errors you uncovered while auditing?
An employee clocked in electronically upon arriving at a house. However, she discovered that the individual wasn’t home yet. She clocked in again when the individual arrived home, completed her session and clocked out. When the coordinator reviewed the punches. She saw the double punch and, without calling the employee, assumed the middle one was wrong. Meanwhile, the individual’s program also clocked in for that hour, causing an overlap. The incident taught both sides a lesson. The DSP should report errors right away. The coordinator should double-check and avoid assumptions.
In another department, a provider worked with an individual who had a similar name to another individual. After finishing the session, she
wrote a summary, including the goals worked on, start and end times, and accidentally entered it under the wrong individual’s name. Medicaid paid her for the wrong patient. She noticed the overlap when processing for the correct one. Realizing it was a human error; they learned to be more careful by cross-checking DOBs.
Wow. How do you let Medicaid know that there was an overlap?
We void the claim in the software, and if there’s an overpayment, like an extra $400, it’s automatically refunded back to the state.
Do you get suspicious reports?
Hardly ever. Fortunately, our culture centers around honesty and compliance, but we can at times receive concerned reports from supervisors with questionable timesheets, like an employee who they think was on vacation at the time that she billed. Such instances are rare and do not reflect our office’s
strong ethical standards. How do you approach it?
If it does happen, which seldom does; we investigate to uncover what really happened. If needed, we take appropriate actions, which may include warnings, suspensions, or even terminations.
Even when nobody is looking.
What’s the most challenging part of your work?
Keeping up with the regulations. It feels like the health department and state oversight agencies roll out a new law every day! But Baruch Hashem, we manage to stay on
top of it by regularly checking their site for updates.
The government maintains a blacklist of people and companies who have violated Medicaid rules in the past. Those on this list are banned from receiving any payments from the government. We must screen every employee we hire and every business we engage with against this exclusion list. Additionally, we are required to recheck the list every 30 days to ensure that existing employees have not been added during that time. Currently, the list has 80,352 individuals, and we perform these checks electronically using specialized software.
Thank you, Idy, for your time and the overview of the Compliance Department’s crucial responsibilities!
This month’s gift card winner:
Laurie Poretsky
CareManagerSupervisor
Special mention goes to Shoshana Hami! She faced a truckload of roadblocks while working with one family but showed the persistence of a marathon runner. The child’s initial provider was unsuitable, and finding the right one took significant time. Then, the school was not equipped to accommodate him, and the subsequent provider also could not meet his needs. On top of that, extenuating family circumstances needed delicate handling.
Shoshana had to navigate the school district while managing the family’s limitations in fulfilling their responsibilities. The amount of paperwork and documentation required from her was overwhelming. Despite these constant challenges, she met all the needs and completed this long and tough journey, ultimately saving the day, month, and year for her client.
#PersistencePaysOff #SchoolDistrictSurfe
Submitted by: Gitty
Goldschmidt
Laurie Poretsky recognized that her team was going that extra mile and wanted to show her appreciation. She treated each team member to a drink of their choice from Hava Java and gifted them with a charming stressrelief trinket. As much as they were doing their jobs (and a bit more than that) the team was gratified by her thoughtfulness.
#BeyondTheCallOfDuty #HavaJavaHappiness
Submitted by: Perel Fischer
Leah Rosenberg, CH Care Manager, had a tough case on her hands. Her client, a child with severe medical conditions, was unexpectedly denied HCBS. Determined to get the child’s needed support, Leah contacted the child’s specialists at Mount Sinai Hospital. It wasn’t easy. The hospital was busy, and getting the necessary documents and justifications took a lot of reminders and phone calls. But Leah didn’t give up. She kept pushing, and finally, her persistence paid off. She obtained the crucial forms and got the child approved for HCBS. The child’s mother was incredibly grateful to finally receive the much-needed services for her child.
#FightingForWhatMatters #GoingAboveAndBeyond
Submitted by: Elky Fekete
These past few weeks have been incredibly hectic, with my workload often stretching well beyond the typical workday. Despite being swamped with her own tasks, Esty Bodek graciously steps in to assist me. She helps with documents and anything else I need to meet my deadlines, making a huge difference in managing the workload.
#TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork
#GratefulForEsty
Submitted by: Shayna Neuburger Rivky Eisenberg recently conducted an IDT meeting, determined to make it as smooth and comprehensive as possible. Typically, care managers invite all the child’s providers, but attendance can be hit or miss. Rivky was proactive and called each provider to get the necessary updates so that they could be included in the meeting. As part of this effort, she spoke with not only the mother and child but also the teacher, school para, BCBA, OT, and speech therapist!
#AdvocacyInAction #CoordinationQueen
Submitted by: Gitty
Goldschmidt
Chana Schwartz, formerly HCBS secretary and now QA Coordinator, still receives requests from former team members regarding secretarial duties, as they see her as the goto for technical issues. A member approached Chana’s for help obtaining more copy paper and making copies. Chana wasn’t at her desk at the time. However, when she heard about the request, she didn’t shrug and say, ‘Oh well, she’ll figure it out.’ Instead, she cheerfully and graciously sought out her colleague and assisted her, although it was no longer her responsibility!
#KindnessAtWork #PositiveAttitude
Chaya Ziet
NHTD/TBI Service Coordinator upon the birth of her baby girl
Leah Grunfeld
HR Compliance and Payroll Assistant upon the birth of her baby boy
Gitty Brach
HR Director upon the engagement of her daughter to Weinstock from Montreal
Fraidy Katz
Shlomie Kornbluh
Director of Operations upon the birth of his baby girl
Aaron Rubinstein
IT Director upon the marriage of his daughter to Epstein
Miriam Derbaremdiger
EI OSC
upon her engagement to Oberlander from Monsey
Assistant to Director HCBS/Waiver services upon her engagement to Kohn from Williamsburg
Chaya Rechy Baum FI Coordinator
Devory Moskowitz IT Secretary
Hadassah Davis
OPWDD CH/RH Coordinator
Comfort Health Coordinator
Overview: Provide outreach and enrollment services for New York State’s Children’s Health Home program.
Qualifications: BA or master’s degree, one year of office experience.
Hours: Flexible.
Suri Schwartz QA Coordinator
Zissy Felberbaum FI Coordinator
EI Service Coordinator
Overview: Coordinate early intervention services for children with confirmed diagnoses or developmental delays.
Qualifications: Minimum 2 years of service coordination experience.
Hours: Flexible
Overview: Coordinate services for individuals with a traumatic brain injury or requiring nursing home level care.
Ideal Candidate: Compassionate, sensitive, organized, and detail-oriented.
Required: Bachelor’s degree or MA Degree.
Hours: Part-time / full-time.
Front Desk Secretary
Overview: Performs administrative and office support tasks, including filing, phone calls, visitor reception, and invoice processing.
Ideal Candidate: Proficient in basic computer programs, strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Qualifications: Ability to multitask, work efficiently, and communicate effectively
Hours: Full-time.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
The other is as though everything is a miracle.” There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.