Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/tag/athenahealth/)
Athenahealth will be leaving its longtime home in Watertown and the company’s headquarters will be relocated to Brighton. For nearly 20 years the health care tech company has been located at the Arsenal on the Charles, a complex the company once owned. Athena has leased 100,000 sq. ft. at Boston Landing in Brighton for its corporate headquarters, the according to the Real Reporter.
The following release was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice:
A national electronic health records (EHR) technology vendor based in Watertown, Massachusetts, athenahealth Inc. (Athena), has agreed to pay $18.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying unlawful kickbacks to generate sales of its EHR product, athenaClinicals, the Justice Department announced today. In a complaint filed in conjunction with today’s settlement, the United States alleged that Athena violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute through three marketing programs. First, Athena invited prospective and existing customers to “Concierge Events,” providing free tickets to and amenities at sporting, entertainment, and recreational events, including trips to the Masters Tournament and the Kentucky Derby with complimentary travel and luxury accommodations, meals, and alcohol. Second, Athena paid kickbacks to its existing customers under a “Lead Generation” program designed to identify and refer new prospective clients to Athena. Under this program, Athena paid up to $3,000 to existing customers for each new client that signed up for Athena services, regardless of how much time, if any, the existing customer spent speaking to or meeting with the new client. Finally, Athena entered into deals with competing vendors that were discontinuing their EHR technology offerings to refer their clients to Athena.
The area of Arsenal Street near School Street will be repaved beginning this week. The project, which is being overseen by Athenahealth. is slated to begin with milling (scraping off the top layer of asphalt) on Nov. 19, weather permitting. The work on Arsenal Street goes from School Street to the entrance to the recently built West Garage in the Arsenal on the Charles.
One of the largest employers in town and owner of the Arsenal on the Charles seeks to sell their headquarters property, but plans to stay in Watertown. The potential sale may impact a partnership athenahealth entered with the Town and a state agency. The Boston Globe reported that the health data tech company would like to sell the 29-acre former U.S. Army Arsenal property which it purchased from Harvard University in 2013. The article indicates that athena would like to sign a long-term lease with the new owners. “Since the change in our company ownership earlier this year, we at athenahealth have been striving to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality and sustainable health care for all,” the company said in a statement.
The following announcement came from athenahealth:
athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of network-enabled services for ambulatory and hospital customers nationwide, announced today that Luis Borgen has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Luis most recently served as CFO for Vistaprint, a global e-commerce brand that empowers small businesses to market themselves with physical and digital marketing products. In his new role, Borgen will lead athenahealth’s finance organization to help propel the company’s strategic goals. “Our vision is to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high quality and sustainable healthcare for all. This is now possible with a complete leadership team and with Luis leading a strong and engaged finance organization,” said Bob Segert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of athenahealth.
There is good news, and some not so good news for people waiting for a public shuttle bus in Watertown, the Town Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee learned Tuesday night. The Watertown Transportation Management Association (TMA) is close to creating what will be known as the Watertown Connector, which will serve Arsenal Street and other parts of the Eastside of town. However, at first, the shuttles will only be available for people who work for businesses or live in apartment complexes that are part of the TMA. The TMA is made up mostly of companies and projects required by their building permits to contribute to the TMA (and in most cases the shuttle), some who have joined voluntarily, plus the Town of Watertown. The shuttles would be an expansion of the current Athenahealth shuttle system, said Bridger McGaw of Athenahealth who also serves as president of the Watertown TMA.
Roads inside and outside of the Arsenal on the Charles will be repaved in early June. Roadwork will soon resume at the intersection of North Beacon Street and Charles River Road near the driveway to the Arsenal on the Charles. Athenahealth and its contractor, Charles Contracting, announced that road paving will take place in the area on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 beginning at 9 a.m. (weather permitting). Athena owns the Arsenal on the Charles complex. Residents on that stretch of road are being asked to remove cars from driveways prior to this time “as you will not have access to driveways during this process,” the announcement said.
Roads inside and outside of the Arsenal on the Charles will be repaved in early June. Some of the roads inside and outside Arsenal on the Charles will be repaved beginning June 10, 2019. Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 10, the area where North Beacon Street meets Charles River Road (near the Arsenal on the Charles driveway). Also starting that day is work on roadways inside the complex, including the area off the east entrance to the complex from Arsenal Street (Talcott Avenue). The top layer of the roadway will be ground, or milled, down 1.5 to 1.75 inches, and the manhole and other castings will be adjusted.