NYC Health + Hospitals' NYC Care Reaches 125,000 Members

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 -- The New York Health and Hospitals issued the following news release on Feb. 7, 2024:

NYC Health + Hospitals' NYC Care program today hosted an ethnic and community media roundtable at City Hall to announce reaching the milestone of 125,000 members enrolled in the program. NYC Care Executive Director Jonathan Jimenez, MD, MPH, was joined by NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro, NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU) Executive Director Adrienne Lever, Program Director at Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families Hager Shawkat, MPH, and NYC Care member Edgar. The speakers highlighted the numerous partnerships and initiatives that have fueled the rapid growth of the program, and urged NYC Care-eligible New Yorkers to enroll in the program to access the quality care they are entitled to. The speakers also encouraged eligible New Yorkers to enroll in the new health insurance option for undocumented immigrants aged 65 and older through New York Medicaid Managed Plans.

"Health care is a human right. That extends to our newest New Yorkers. Reaching the milestone of 125,000 enrollees in NYC Care is more than just reaching a new goal; it is symbolic of all those individuals and families that now have access to reliable, consistent care. Thank you to the NYC Health + Hospitals team that makes this work possible and thank you to all those at today's ethnic and community media roundtable for helping spread the word," said Anne Williams-Isom, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.

"Reaching the milestone of 125,000 members enrolled- well past our goal of 100,000 members- shows the transformative impact that NYC Care continues to have on the lives of New Yorkers since it was launched in 2019," said Jonathan Jimenez, MD, MPH, Executive Director of NYC Care from NYC Health + Hospitals. "Thanks to the NYC Care team and our partners in the community and in government, New Yorkers know they can go to NYC Health + Hospitals to get the care they need--before they get sick and without the worry of a costly medical bill or prescription. We will continue to encourage all New Yorkers to enroll in NYC Care and seek the care that they deserve, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay."

"We are proud to celebrate the impressive milestone of NYC Care, enrolling 125,000 New Yorkers and breaking down barriers to health care access regardless of immigration status. This new update to health care insurance ensures affordable and dependable healthcare is available for our elderly immigrant community," said Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. "We're proud to continue our monthly roundtables to ensure immigrant media continue to receive the latest updates on city services and resources. "

"From primary and specialized care to affordable prescription drugs, NYC Care has successfully provided essential services to 125,000 New Yorkers who otherwise would not have access to traditional health insurance coverage," said Adrienne Lever, Executive Director of the Public Engagement Unit (PEU). "PEU is proud to partner with NYC Care, and through our team's proactive community outreach, help to close the gap in health care access."

"As a community partner, it is empowering to know we do not have to turn anyone away who is looking for health coverage and care," said Hager Shawkat, MPH, Program Director at Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families. "We are fortunate to live in a city that has made that human right an accessible reality for all New Yorkers through NYC Care. We continue to spread the word about this valuable service and work to enroll those still in need of coverage and care."

A key driver of NYC Care's rapid growth has been its partnerships with government and community-based organizations. NYC Care has worked with the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, the NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit, and New York State of Health, among others, to organize virtual webinars, phone banking, and in-person resource fairs. NYC Care is currently partnering with the NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit's GetCoveredNYC team to call and text nearly 15,000 NYC Care-eligible New Yorkers and inform them of their eligibility in the program. NYC Care also works with over 20 community-based organizations, including Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and Families. The partners design and facilitate NYC Care general outreach, connect potentially eligible New Yorkers to NYC Care enrollment and re-enrollment appointments, and in some cases, facilitate direct NYC Care enrollment to eligible New Yorkers. NYC Care also operates across the Health System, partnering with NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, Gotham Health sites, and the MetroPlusHealth program to facilitate direct enrollment and organize outreach activities.

Since the program launched in 2019, NYC Care is up 382% from its first year, surpassing the original enrollment goal of 100,000 members. NYC Care's community-based organization partners have reached over 1 million New Yorkers, scheduled over 43,000 appointments, and facilitated over 17,000 direct enrollments, figures that do not include individuals who learned of the program from partners and enrolled on their own. In calendar year 2023, NYC Care members have scheduled 200,564 primary care visits and 538,955 specialty care visits. Last year, NYC Care released new patient data (https://www.nyccare.nyc/nyc-care-presents-new-patient-data-that-shows-strong-engagement-with-their-doctors-and-primary-care/) that showed strong engagement with their doctors and primary care. Overall, 76.9% of new NYC Care members returned to primary care for an additional visit in their first year, 80.7% received a referral outside of primary care, and 75.4% visited specialty care. For new members with two or more chronic diseases, 86.1% returned to primary care, 87.1% received a referral, and 86% visited specialty care. There was also strong engagement for new members who speak English as a second language, where 86.1% returned to primary care, 80.2% received a referral, and 74.7% visited specialty care. This data (https://academyhealth.confex.com/academyhealth/2023arm/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/58578) suggests that NYC Care has spurred patient engagement at rates comparable to Medicaid, and that the data reflects member satisfaction and confidence in the high-quality care they are receiving.

NYC Care continues to deliver positive health outcomes for its members. 53% of members with diabetes enrolled in the program for at least 6 months have seen an improvement in their hemoglobin A1C readings. Similarly, 72% of members with hypertension who have been enrolled in the program for at least 6 months have seen an improvement in their blood pressure. NYC Care leads in chronic disease control and improvement, which leads to improved health, which is demonstrated by data from June 2023, revealing significant improvements:

Metric ... Number (%)

Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence, overall ... 24,304 (20.4)

Diabetes Mellitus Control, Hgb a1c <8%, after six months ... 10,122 (73.2)

Diabetes Mellitus, Hgb a1c Improvement, after six months* ... 7,054 (53.1)

Hypertension Prevalence, overall ... 30,691 (25.7)

Hypertension Control, <140/<90, after six months ... 15,448 (73.1)

Hypertension, Systolic & Diastolic Improvement, after six months* ... 15,063 (72.4)

This year, NYC Care will support efforts to inform New Yorkers of the new health insurance option for undocumented immigrants over 65. The new insurance is through Medicaid Managed Care plans, with a carved-out Fee-for-Service pharmacy benefit. The new insurance adds preventive and primary care benefits, including routine doctor visits, recommended screenings, lab tests, wellness services, prescription drugs and supplies, and more. NYC Care will work with its community-based organization partners and the NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit to conduct city-wide outreach to ensure all New Yorkers can take advantage of the new health insurance option.

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About NYC Care

NYC Care is a health care access program that provides comprehensive and low or no-cost healthcare services through NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who cannot afford or are ineligible for health insurance. NYC Care provides a membership card, 24/7 customer service, access to comprehensive and affordable healthcare services, like primary care, mental health services, and sexual and reproductive healthcare, low-cost medications, and member materials in multiple languages - regardless of your immigration status or ability to pay.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, and post-acute care centers. We are a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlus. Our health system provides essential services to more than one million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the city's five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.

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Original text here: https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/pressrelease/nyc-health-hospitals-nyc-care-reaches-125000-members/