NYC Health + Hospitals Commemorates 5-Year Anniversary of NYC Care With Day of Action

NYC Health + Hospitals Commemorates 5-Year Anniversary of NYC Care With Day of Action

Over one million primary care appointments have been provided for NYC Care members

City-wide outreach initiative mobilized community-based organizations, volunteers, and government agency partners to encourage New Yorkers to enroll in the program

NYC Care is a health care access program available to New Yorkers regardless of ones' immigration status or ability to pay

Jul 31, 2024

NYC Health + Hospitals' NYC Care today launched a city-wide day of action to commemorate its five-year anniversary and encourage New Yorkers to enroll in the health care access program. The inter-agency initiative mobilized partners from the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit, New York State of Health, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as well as community-based organization (CBO) partners and dozens of volunteers for in-person and digital outreach. The sites selected for canvassing and tabling were identified as having the highest rates of uninsured New Yorkers and the lowest rates of NYC Care enrollment. NYC Care Executive Director Jonathan Jiménez, MD, MPH, supported the outreach teams across the city to answer questions and assure New Yorkers that NYC Health + Hospitals does not record information about the immigration status of its members. The day of action kicks off the five-year anniversary of the program in August. NYC Care is the only program of its kind in the nation, setting the standard for how municipalities can address health inequities among their low-income and undocumented population.

"NYC Care's 5-year anniversary is a testament to the dedication of our staff, partners, and volunteers who put our mission and values as a Health System into action. I couldn't be happier with the program's continued growth, and I look forward to supporting it and introducing it to even more New Yorkers in the years to come," said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD.

"Health care is a human right. On the anniversary of 5 years of the NYC Care program, I want to encourage all those who are eligible to apply and to share the opportunity with your community. It is a first in the nation model, offering health care to people regardless of immigration or socioeconomic status. Thank you to the NYC Health + Hospitals team making this program work and to all our interagency partners coming together for the Day of Action," said Anne Williams-Isom, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.

"Since NYC Care first launched in the Bronx in 2019, we have grown rapidly to meet the needs of New Yorkers, starting with providing exceptional primary care," said Jonathan Jiménez, MD, MPH, Executive Director of NYC Care from NYC Health + Hospitals. "I couldn't be prouder to lead this program, and I am especially grateful to those who helped us get here: Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, our leadership and team at NYC Health + Hospitals, our partners in government and the community, and to all who have helped spread the word about the program and trusted us with their care. No matter who you are, if you are a New Yorker, you have a right to health care."

"NYC Care has been a lifeline & significant program for NYC's immigrant communities and families while promoting social integration and reflecting NYC's commitment to human rights and dignity. This program serves as a successful model for cities across the country," said Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. "We're proud of the team at NYC Health + Hospitals for their work in making this program a success and grateful for our agency's collaboration with NYC Care over the years to make health care in NYC accessible to ALL New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status."

"We at Emerald Isle Immigration Center ("EIIC") would like to congratulate and join NYC Health + Hospitals in celebrating 5 years of the NYC Care program. EIIC has been a Community-Based Organization partner of the NYC Care program since the program launched in 2019 and we feel very proud to be able to continue connecting community members with preventive and primary care, and building a healthier NYC," said Siobhan Dennehy, Executive Director of Emerald Isle Immigration Center.

The program has grown to over 145,000 active members and has provided over one million primary care appointments for its members. It has provided hundreds of thousands of specialty care appointments, including 365,226 Women's Health appointments, 284,766 Eye Care appointments, and 187,425 Behavioral Health appointments. Preliminary analyses have also shown improved chronic disease control. 53% of members with diabetes enrolled in the program for at least 6 months have seen an improvement in their blood sugar. 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.

In June, the program announced that over 500,000 calls have been received by the NYC Care 24/7/365 hotline. From working with the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene to launch the Groceries to Go program providing discounted groceries for members, to developing multi-lingual video series about the program and deploying public awareness campaigns, NYC Care continues to champion the health needs of the city's most vulnerable.

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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. Call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273) or visit NYCCare.NYC to learn more and sign up today - privacy and confidentiality guaranteed.

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. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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