CONGRATULATIONS TO DONNA BARIBAULT

Promoted to Senior Veri cation Coordinator

Donna Baribault joined PTSMC in 2004. She started part time in our Waterbury clinic as a Patient Services Coordinator, and then transferred to Watertown where she spent 12 years working with Partner Pete Catuccio as a Patient Services Coordinator and then a Patient Services Administrator. In 2017, Donna joined the remote Veri cation team. To state that Donna has institutional knowledge is an understatement!

As the leader of the veri cation team, Donna will focus on ensuring the team has the most current insurance policy information for veri cation, she will manage the distribution of work and consistently nd ways to improve e ciency, and help others increase their knowledge. Donna is a trainer at heart. She loves hearing, “Okay, now I get it!”

Donna also commented that, “At this very early and crazy stage in this journey I have immensely enjoyed the one-on-one and small group interactions with my team, the PSCs and PSAs, and the front desk trainers, Stevie (Fell) and Michael (Sousa).”

Donna loves to have fun times with friends and family – especially milestone celebrations! She is an avid reader, a gift from here mom from birth; she reads anytime, anywhere, anything ~ For pleasure, to increase knowledge and to experience things through another’s eyes.

Financial Moves for the New Year

By Jim Hungerford, CPA Director of Accounting and Finance

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to organize and review your nances. Many of us have experienced changes through the previous year, and now is a great time to get our nancial house in order in preparation for the coming year.

Check your Bene ciaries: Have you had a child? Have you gotten married or divorced? You should check that your bene ciary designations are correct. This includes brokerage accounts, bank accounts, insurance policies, and other investments, including 401(k) accounts. 401(k) accounts require your spouse to be the 100% primary bene ciary. Please update if applicable. If you do not want your spouse to be the 100% bene ciary, there are forms to ll out. Remember to also check your will to make sure that it re ects any new changes in your life. Reach out to Sandra Boccialetti for help.

Daycare Expenses: Did you know you can pay for daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars? PTSMC o ers a pre-tax dependent care account where you can pay for up to $5,000 of daycare expenses. If you would like to consider this option, contact Sandra Bocialetti.

College Savings: Now is a great time to consider college savings for your child or grandchild if you haven’t started already. Connecticut o ers a 529 college savings plan called the CHET, where you make contributions on behalf of your child or grandchild. You get a state tax deduction for the contributions, and all earnings within the account are tax-free and the monies, when withdrawn for college expenses, are tax free.

Pay Down Debt: Plan to make a dent in debt in 2023. This can be as simple as planning to pay an extra $50 on a credit card balance. Or, put an extra $100 or more towards principal on a car loan or your mortgage to save potentially thousands in interest.

Review Home, Auto, and Umbrella Insurance: With home values increasing and construction costs going up, your dwelling coverage may be insu cient. You also may not have enough liability insurance on your homeowners or auto insurance policy. You should also have an Umbrella Insurance policy, which provides additional liability protection at a small cost. Have your insurance agent or nancial planner review it to see if they nd any areas that need to be addressed. If you haven’t shopped your insurance in a few years, it may be time in 2023 to do a gut check on your current insurance costs/coverages.

Start an Emergency Fund: An emergency fund is invaluable. The true bene t of such a fund is its ability to help you avoid more debt. An emergency fund lets you pay for emergencies that life throws your way. Experts agree you should have 3-6 months of monthly expenses stored away in a savings account for unexpected emergencies.

Increase Contributions to our 401(k): If you are contributing to the PTSMC 401(k) plan, consider increasing your contribution for 2023. The contribution limits have increased substantially for 2023. Even a small increase from each paycheck will make a big impact when you retire. If you do not contribute, consider starting now! Reach out to Mallory Mason if you need assistance updating your 401(k) contributions.

Make or increase your HSA contribution: If you are part of PTSMC’s health plan, consider contributing to your HSA to cover out of pocket medical costs. These contributions are free from federal, state and FICA taxes (a rare triple bene t!), and the 2023 contribution limits have been increased. Reach out to Sandra Boccialetti if you need assistance updating your 401(k) contributions.

Review your budget: Review what worked and adjust what didn't. Don't have a budget? Consider starting one. Categories can include rent/mortgage, food, utilities, groceries, meals out etc. Before you can save more you need a good idea as to where your money is going each month.

Update your W-4 forms: You may need to add a dependent. You also may want to consider how much is being withheld. You may have received a large refund last year. Adjusting your withholding to take out less for taxes will let you use that money now instead of Uncle Sam earning interest on your money.

Request your Free Annual Credit Report: Getting your credit report can help protect your credit history from mistakes, errors, or signs of identity theft. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows you to receive a free credit report annually from each of the three national credit reporting companies – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Celebrating Black History Month

By Marilex Santiago, DEI Leader & Administrative Coordinator

Black History Month is an important time to recognize, remember, and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals of African and African American descent that have pushed boundaries, broken down barriers and in uenced the development of our nation. The integral contributions from Black Americans that have evolved the eld of Physical Therapy have often been overlooked in American History. In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to highlight a physical therapist whose contributions made physical therapy what it is today.

Theodore “Ted” Corbitt, PT, MPT, was an Olympian, army veteran, professor, and clinician with a career spanning over 40 years. Ted was truly a master clinician and was one of the most in uential voices of the PT profession. Ted was one of the rst physical therapists to teach connective tissue massage, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, progressive resistance exercise, and applied kinesiology, as he studied directly with those who founded the techniques.

Ted also fought in World War II and upon his return became the rst African American Olympic marathon runner to represent the United States. Beyond all his incredible achievements, Ted was known for being an incredible human being, friend, teacher, and mentor. “His range of expertness in therapeutic exercise approaches is extraordinary and he masters not only the theoretical bases but becomes an outstanding demonstrate of the technique” – A Testimonial written in 1989 by Arthur J. Nelson, Ph.D., PT