Western Mass Physician Associates Inc

“Certain officers and directors of Western Mass Physician Associates, Inc. are employed by a related tax-exempt organization which has common officers and/or directors. By virtue of this arrangement, certain individuals listed in Form 990, Part VII have a business relationship with one another.”

“The sole member of the Organization is MassWest Services, Inc.”

“MassWest Services, Inc. elects the members of the governing body of the Organization. MassWest Services, Inc. also has the power to remove any member of the governing body, with or without cause, at any time by giving written notice to such governing body member.”

“Significant decisions of the governing body of Western Mass Physician Associates, Inc. are subject to the approval of MassWest Services, Inc. as specified in the Organization's bylaws.”

“There are no committees with the authority to act on behalf of the governing body.”

“A copy of Western Mass Physician Associates, Inc.'s Form 990 was provided to each voting member of the governing body prior to its filing with the Internal Revenue Service. The Form 990 was prepared with the assistance of an independent public accounting firm and thoroughly reviewed by the Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO and key financial staff of the Hospital prior to distributing it to the governing body for review.”

“The conflict of interest policy of Western Mass Physician Associates, Inc. (WMPA) is monitored and enforced as part of the Valley Health Systems, Inc. System and is reviewed annually by the System's conflict of interest committee. WMPA board members and officers complete and sign a conflict of interest questionnaire annually. All signed questionnaires are then submitted to WMPA and to Valley Health Systems, Inc. (parent) for review and monitoring.”

“The compensation committee of the Valley Health System, Inc. utilizes a market compensation survey to recommend to the Board the approval of its determination of the appropriate compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. During that process, the Committee also reviews the compensation levels of other senior management and key employees of the System. These individuals are not members of the compensation committee and do not participate in this process. The CEO, as a member of the Board of VHS, does not participate in the approval process of that officer's compensation.”

“The governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements of Valley Health Systems and Affiliates, which includes supplemental information of the filing entity, are available to the public upon request at the Organization's administrative office at 575 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA.”

“The individuals listed in Part VII as voting members of the governing body are employed by Holyoke Medical Center, Inc. and receive compensation in their capacity as a physician of the Hospital or (as in the case of Mr. Hatiras and Mr. Vitarisi) as the top management and top financial official of the Holyoke healthcare system. The individuals listed in Part VII as voting members of the governing body do not receive compensation in their capacity as members of the Organization's board of directors.”

“Equity transfers from affiliates 855,000.”

“The audit process has not changed from the prior year.”