NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that NYC Care, a health care access program that is a key component of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to guarantee accessible and affordable health care for all New Yorkers, has enrolled more than 10,000 New Yorkers in the Bronx since its launch in August, two months ahead of projected schedule. To date, all new members were offered a primary care appointment within the first two weeks of enrolling. After its successful implementation in the Bronx, NYC Care will launch in Brooklyn and Staten Island in January 2020, and will be available citywide by the end of next year.
“In the world’s wealthiest nation, no person should ever have to choose between taking their child to the doctor and putting food on the table, said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “In New York City, we are making this right a reality, and providing low-cost affordable, healthcare to all those who need it. With over 10,000 Bronxites now enrolled in NYC Care, we are showing firsthand what it means to be a City that puts working people first.”
NYC Care is the new no- or low-cost health care access program of NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who are not eligible for insurance or who cannot afford it. The program, which is now operating in the Bronx and will be available citywide by the end of 2020, is expected to dramatically change the way the City’s public health system connects people to personalized, coordinated primary and preventive care at its 70-plus patient care locations throughout the five boroughs, including 11 hospitals and its Gotham Health Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network. NYC Care offers affordable medications day or night, culturally responsive care, extensive language access and interpretation services, and provides new 24/7 customer service support.
Through the program’s extended pharmacy hours, members have filled over 14,000 prescriptions in the program’s extended pharmacy hours in just the first four months, most commonly for prescriptions to treat diabetes and hypertension, conditions that require timely medication management and adherence. Through a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to contract with five Bronx community based organizations to conduct culturally appropriate outreach to prospective NYC Care members. To maintain the enrollment momentum, NYC Health + Hospitals and MOIA will extend funding to these five organizations for an additional six months
The five Bronx community based organizations, Bronx Works, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Mekong NYC, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and Sauti Yetu Center for African Women, will receive additional funding for six months to help connect more New Yorkers in the Bronx to primary and preventive care. As part of outreach efforts, CBOs conduct culturally appropriate outreach to prospective NYC Care members in the Bronx. The five CBOS were selected through a request for proposal process.
In addition, NYC Health + Hospital is running a borough-wide multilingual public awareness campaign including advertisements in public transportation, social media, neighborhood stores, ethnic and community media and LinkNYC terminals as well as street marketing outreach and special ethnic media partnerships.
Eligible New Yorkers can enroll by calling 646-NYC-CARE to meet with a financial counselor at a health system patient care site. Members will receive a personalized membership card in the mail to star enjoying NYC Care services.
“Health care is a human right, and NYC Care is fundamental to Mayor de Blasio’s vision of guaranteed and affordable health care for every New Yorker,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Raul Perea-Henze. “The swift achievement of our 10,000-member enrollment goal in the Bronx shows the urgent need for regular access to high-quality primary care, especially within our immigrant and lower-income communities. We look forward to changing more lives with the upcoming expansion of NYC Care to Brooklyn and Staten Island.”
“We are proud to say that over 10,000 members in the Bronx now have enhanced access to high-quality, affordable healthcare,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “Meeting this enrollment milestone in a short period time confirms what we already knew, that this program is a necessity for many New Yorkers to receive care to live their healthiest lives.”
“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our Bronx community-based partner organizations, we have met our goal and have connected over 10,000 Bronx residents to NYC Care two months ahead of schedule,” said Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “We are thrilled that these partnerships will be extended, and even more Bronxites will be connected to quality, affordable health care. As the program expands to Brooklyn and Staten Island in 2020, we look forward to continuing our work with NYC Health + Hospitals, and connecting more New Yorkers to the care they need, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.”
“We’ve been working hard on the ground to connect New Yorkers to much-needed services such as primary and preventive care, low-cost prescriptions, and a new member experience,” said NYC Care Executive Director Marielle Kress. “This 10,000-member milestone is significant as we prepare to engage with additional community partners to connect even more New Yorkers in Brooklyn and Staten Island to the care they need.”
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