CBICC logo

Category: Blog

Final countdown on for seniors to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2026

Posted on by Jules Slater

Dec. 7 deadline to sign up for a plan that helps seniors fill coverage gaps

DANVILLE, Pa. – With the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) deadline quickly approaching on Sunday, Dec. 7, there’s still time for eligible seniors to evaluate and enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2026. Medicare Advantage plans help older adults fill health care gaps that traditional Medicare does not cover, such as vision, dental and prescription benefits.

Geisinger Gold, recently named one of the best Medicare Advantage Plans in Pennsylvania by U.S. News and World Report, offers access to a comprehensive care network with more than 30,000 doctors, 180 hospitals and 3,000 pharmacies. It also includes perks like wellness programs, prescription discounts, financial assistance and Silver Circle membership, a free program designed for men and women 55+ that promotes physical, emotional and social well-being. 

Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage plans achieved 4.5 out of 5 Stars in the 2026 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star Ratings program for its performance across multiple criteria, including positive clinical outcomes, preventive care, prescription drug services and customer service. CMS evaluates plans every year.

Click here to learn more about Geisinger’s Medicare Advantage health plans.

Information sessions are also taking place at various locations. To sign up for a session, visit go.geisinger.org/seminar.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

###

Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.

Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and HMO D-SNP plans are offered by Geisinger Health Plan/Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company/Geisinger Quality Options, Inc., health plans with a Medicare contract. Continued enrollment in Geisinger Gold depends on contract renewal. Geisinger Health Plan, Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company, and Geisinger Quality Options, Inc. are part of Geisinger, an integrated health care delivery and coverage organization. Risant Health is the parent organization of Geisinger.

Lauren Weaver named director of Geisinger College’s School of Nursing

Posted on by Jules Slater

SCRANTON – Lauren Weaver, MSN, RN, CNE, has been named the new director of the Geisinger School of Nursing.

Associate Dean for Nursing Student Education Rebecca Stoudt, DNP, PhD, MSN, CRNA, said the appointment is effective immediately.

“Lauren brings a wealth of experience in nursing education, clinical practice, and academic leadership,” Dr. Stoudt said. “I am confident she will continue to make our School of Nursing the first choice for aspiring nurses looking for hands-on education that prioritizes their own communities’ health and well-being.”

“I am excited to take on this leadership role,” Ms. Weaver said. “Geisinger has a respected tradition of superior nursing education and practice. I look forward to shaping our future colleagues to be ready to not only carry on that legacy, but to become leaders in their own right, prepared to respond to emerging challenges in health care.”

Since joining Geisinger School of Nursing in April 2023, Ms. Weaver has served as faculty, academic advisor and mentor, playing a pivotal role in course development, student evaluation and faculty onboarding. She was instrumental in preparing the self-study report for the School of Nursing’s initial ACEN accreditation visit in 2024.

Before coming to the School, Ms. Weaver was a faculty member at the Geisinger Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing from 2019 to 2023, where she led courses across multiple specialties and contributed significantly to the school’s ACEN re-accreditation efforts.

Ms. Weaver’s clinical background spans over 15 years, including roles in medical/surgical units, home health and hospice care. Her leadership experience includes managing home health operations and stepping in to support program director responsibilities at the School of Nursing.

She holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a Nurse Educator focus from Chamberlain University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Eastern Mennonite University. She is a certified nurse educator and maintains multiple clinical certifications.

###

About Geisinger College of Health Sciences

Educating. Inspiring. Leading. At Geisinger College of Health Sciences, we bring innovation and purpose together to educate the next generation of healthcare leaders. As the academic and research arm of the Geisinger family, our college was founded to enhance and improve community health, with a focus on discovery, hands-on learning and applied practice across our system. Today, we offer a research institute, graduate medical education, schools of medicine and nursing and faculty and professional development programs. Visit geisinger.edu/gchs

The College is committed to nondiscrimination in all employment and educational programs or activities. Concerns or questions may be directed to the Title IX coordinator whose contact information is available at //geisinger.edu/titleix.

Reliance Bank Names Leadership for New Bellefonte Branch

Posted on by Jules Slater

Bellefonte, PA – [November 25, 2025] – Reliance Bank is announcing the hiring of two experienced community banking professionals to support relationship development & customer service at its new Bellefonte branch, scheduled to open in early 2026.

Greg Wendt, Vice President and Senior Commercial Banker, will play a key role in cultivating and managing business relationships in the Bellefonte area, where he has spent most of his banking career. Greg’s nearly 30 years of experience in commercial lending and banking will help to support local businesses looking to grow in the rapidly expanding Centre County region. Greg is actively involved in the Centre County United Way, serves as the Treasurer of the Bellefonte Area Industrial Development Authority, and is a member of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) at CPI – Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.

Nichole McClellan, Assistant Branch Manager, will lead day-to-day operations at the Bellefonte branch. Before joining Reliance Bank, Nichole worked in financial service roles locally, where she built strong relationships with residents and local businesses.

“Greg and Nichole both share a mission to deliver community focused banking, and their presence will help us build trusted and lasting relationships in Bellefonte,” said Reliance Bank President & CEO Phil Freeman. “Their personal connection to Bellefonte, combined with their professional experience, makes them the right leaders for our new branch.”

Reliance Bank has been actively lending in Bellefonte for the past twenty years since opening its State College branch at 100 Hawbaker Industrial Drive. The new Bellefonte branch will be located at 801 E. Bishop Street, a site formerly occupied by PNC Bank.

About Reliance Bank

Reliance Bank is a community bank serving Central Pennsylvania. Products and services include checking and savings accounts, personal loans, mortgages, lines of credit, commercial loans, agricultural loans, cash management, digital banking, and more. Reliance Bank prides itself on providing exceptional personal and commercial banking services since 1940. For more information, visit www.reliancebank.bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Geisinger Health Plan recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a 2026 Best Insurance Company for Medicare Advantage

Posted on by Jules Slater

DANVILLE, Pa. – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in health care rankings and consumer advice, has named Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) a 2026 Best Insurance Company for Medicare Advantage in Pennsylvania.

The ratings of the Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage evaluate private insurance companies on the basis of U.S. News’ proprietary analysis of 30+ quality measures published by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Less than one-third of Medicare Advantage providers nationwide were named Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage.

“This is once again a testament to Geisinger Health Plan’s continued commitment to providing high-quality medical coverage and excellent member services to Medicare beneficiaries across Pennsylvania,” said Karen Murphy, PhD, RN, president of Geisinger Health Plan.

“U.S. News’ comprehensive, data-driven methodology recognizes the insurance companies that deliver the best Medicare Advantage plans,” said Sumita Singh, executive vice president and general manager of Health at U.S. News.

“By evaluating every company’s Medicare Advantage plans based on dozens of quality measures and recognizing top performers in key areas – including Screening & Prevention and Care Continuity – we’re highlighting those that deliver superior plans and hopefully better outcomes for beneficiaries,” Singh added. “U.S. News’ Medicare Advantage ratings are a powerful tool for beneficiaries as they make one of their most important health decisions.”

For the 2026 edition of Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage, U.S. News considered CMS data and quality measure results for every evaluated insurance company’s Medicare Advantage health plans for the 2026 calendar year. U.S. News, in consultation with industry experts, selected 30+ CMS quality measures and assigned each measure a weight reflecting its relevance to consumers. The results for a provider’s plans were averaged together, with greater weight assigned to plans having the most seniors enrolled. Additionally, U.S. News calculated insurers’ ratings for three specific Medicare Advantage award categories: Screening & Prevention, Care Continuity and Highest Satisfaction.

For more information, visit Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period ends Sunday, Dec. 7. Click here or call 800-482-8163 to learn more about GHP Medicare Advantage options.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

Geisinger recognized as top employer by military organizations

Posted on by Jules Slater

DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger has been recognized as a top employer for its continued support of military veterans and active service members with two recent designations. The Pennsylvania-based health system earned the 2026 Military Friendly® Employer with Gold distinction designation by VIQTORY and was also recognized by Military Times on its 2025 Best for Vets: Employers list.

This is the 7th consecutive year Geisinger has been recognized with a Military Friendly® Employers designation and the 4th year in a row the system has achieved the gold ranking. It’s also the 6th consecutive year Geisinger has been recognized by Military Times. 

Both honors demonstrate Geisinger’s ongoing commitment and efforts to building programs and opportunities for military veterans.

Companies earning the Military Friendly® Employers designation were evaluated using public data sources and survey responses. More than 1,200 organizations participated in the Military Friendly® survey.

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders from the military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score with an assessment of the organization’s ability to meet thresholds for recruitment, new hire retention, employee turnover and promotion and advancement of veterans and military employees.

Geisinger will be showcased as a 2026 Military Friendly® Employer in the winter issue of G.I. Jobs® magazine and on militaryfriendly.com. 

For the Best for Vets recognition, Military Times evaluates the areas of greatest importance to transitioning service members, veterans and their families when looking for an employer. Recruitment and employment practices, along with retention and support programs, were given the most weight in scoring and final rankings.

Geisinger employs more than 900 veterans and active-duty service members throughout the system. As part of its commitment to the military and its veterans, Geisinger offers a paid military leave benefit, which allows service members employed by Geisinger to be paid for time at annual trainings, encampments and drills. It’s also part of a military fellowship program that eases the transition of active-duty service members looking to move into a civilian career.

To learn more about Geisinger’s veteran programs and career opportunities, visit jobs.geisinger.org/veterans.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

###