Joint Commission, Kaiser Permanente Recognize NYC Care for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity Nov 9, 2022
The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente today announced that NYC Health + Hospitals, New York, and Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, Houston, are co-awardees of the 2022 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity. The award, named for late Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson, a champion for healthcare equity, recognizes healthcare organizations that achieve a measurable, sustained reduction in one or more healthcare disparities. NYC Health + Hospitals is recognized for its NYC Care program, a healthcare access program for uninsurable New Yorkers, including undocumented individuals. Launched in 2019, NYC Care provides access to low or no-cost primary and specialty care, prescription medicines, member materials in multiple languages, a membership card, and a 24-hour customer service line. Since September 2020, NYC Care is available in all five boroughs. In addition, this year, the program announced the elimination of the six-month residency eligibility requirement, removing another barrier in access to care.
This initiative:
- Enrolled more than 100,000 members, who made 264,976 primary care visits and 227,481 specialty visits by February 2022
- Improved clinical outcomes: After six months of enrollment, 51% of enrollees with diabetes had improved hemoglobin A1C, and 68% of enrollees with hypertension had improved blood pressure
“I am proud of the entire team at NYC Care as we also honor the late Bernard J. Tyson: a trailblazer who worked tirelessly to improve healthcare disparities,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “As a health system, Tyson’s legacy serves as a guide for how we must continue to eliminate barriers to care and champion the health needs of the most vulnerable through both the NYC Care program and the overarching mission of our organization.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals has prioritized programs and initiatives that eliminate barriers to care and improve healthcare disparities, and we are honored to have our NYC Care program recognized with a 2022 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Care and Population Health Dr. Ted Long. “With this recognition, I hope we can inspire other cities to take a similar approach toward equity, advancing the cause that was championed by Tyson.”
“I am so proud that NYC Health + Hospitals has received this recognition for the NYC Care program. I am honored to be a part of the NYC Health + Hospitals team that has worked with such dedication and care to remove barriers to health care,” said Dr. Jonathan Jiménez, Executive Director of NYC Care from NYC Health + Hospitals. “NYC Care is a first-of-its-kind healthcare access program because of its comprehensiveness and scale. As a family physician, I have seen measurable improvements in the health and quality of life that NYC Care members experience firsthand. Thank you to The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente team for recognizing NYC Care for lowering barriers to care for our fellow New Yorkers. We will continue to honor Tyson’s legacy and pursue health equity tirelessly.”
“The Joint Commission is inspired by NYC Health + Hospital’s efforts that have resulted in more equitable care for their patients. We hope other healthcare organizations will move toward equity using NYC Care as an example of excellence,” said Ana Pujols McKee, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, The Joint Commission.
“We applaud this year’s Tyson awardees, NYC Health + Hospitals and Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, for their important work to advance our shared goal to reduce – and eventually eliminate – inequities in care,” said Andrew B. Bindman, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer for Kaiser Permanente. “We hope that this award, named in Bernard Tyson’s honor, will continue his legacy and inspire others to undertake meaningful, measurable efforts to address inequities based on race, ethnicity, immigration status and other social factors.”
NYC Care will be recognized in a virtual award presentation on November 29 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Please register here to attend.
To learn more about these initiatives and the award program, visit the Tyson Award webpage.
Contact: pressoffice@nychhc.org; 212.788.3339
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. Visit us at www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.
About NYC Care
NYC Care is a healthcare access program that provides comprehensive and low or no-cost healthcare services through NYC Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) 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) to learn more and sign up today – privacy and confidentiality guaranteed.
NYC Care became available at NYC Health + Hospitals locations in the Bronx starting in August 2019. NYC Care is now available in all five boroughs.
Contact NYC Care: Visit nyccare.nyc or call 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273)