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Kenneth Schonbachler

Rouse Estates Hires New CEO

WARREN, Pa. — The board of directors of the Rouse Estate has announced that Kenneth R. Schonbachler has been named the new chief executive officer.

Schonbachler serves as owner and lead consultant of KRS Healthcare Consulting LLC headquartered in Lancaster. With more than 25 years experience in the healthcare industry, Schonbachler has served as director of rehabilitation services, business development and senior director of business development and patient transitions with the Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York and Kaleida Health. He led numerous growth initiatives for Visiting Nursing Association, including a major expansion of the rehabilitation program. Schonbachler served on transition teams for agency acquisitions assuring integration and growth of the organization and played an integral role in implementing models of care management, while also holding the role of leader on the executive level bundled payment for care improvement team.

“We are thrilled to have an executive of Mr. Schonbachler’s caliber joining the team at the Rouse. He’s a proven leader who understands what it takes to manage an organization of our size and complexity. His ability to contribute to the care we provide to multiple populations throughout Warren County will be extremely valuable,” said Greg LaRocca, chairman of the Rouse Estate Board of Directors.

Schonbachler earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Slippery Rock University; an masters in physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh and he holds an master of business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Schonbachler’s extensive experience in the areas of strategic analysis, clinical and financial process integration, rehabilitation and care management, and managed care will greatly assist the board in its oversight of the Rouse Estate’s growth initiatives and strategic direction.

The Rouse specializes in skilled nursing home care, outpatient rehabilitation, personal care, adult day services, residential care cottages and child day care. In each of their six facilities, the Rouse delivers care to individuals based on their needs and wishes, rather than following an institutional schedule. It consistently strives to maintain a culture of exceeding the expectations of its customers, their families and its employees.

Big BCBS Insurer Plans ACA Return

A big Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer is returning to the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges next year in several states, including markets like Texas and Illinois.

Health Care Service Corp. says it also intends to sell coverage in Oklahoma, where it is the only insurer on the exchange, as well as New Mexico and Montana.

Coverage options are growing thin in many parts of the country on the exchanges, the only place where people can buy insurance with help from income-based tax credits. Several insurers have already said they are retreating from this market. Some counties in Missouri, Ohio and Washington may wind up with no choices for next year.

A Health Care Service Corp. spokeswoman says the insurer has made no final decisions on its level of participation.

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