{"id":1792,"date":"2019-08-15T17:40:50","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T17:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=1792"},"modified":"2019-08-15T17:40:50","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T17:40:50","slug":"speaker-corey-johnson-health-chair-mark-levine-and-hospitals-chair-carlina-rivera-introduce-sweeping-healthcare-access-legislation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2019\/08\/15\/1792\/","title":{"rendered":"SPEAKER COREY JOHNSON, HEALTH CHAIR MARK LEVINE, AND HOSPITALS CHAIR CARLINA RIVERA INTRODUCE SWEEPING HEALTHCARE ACCESS LEGISLATION"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York, NY \u2013 <\/strong>New York City Council Speaker Corey
\nJohnson, Health Committee Chair Mark Levine, and Hospitals Committee Chair
\nCarlina Rivera introduced groundbreaking legislation to create a citywide
\nhealth access program that would greatly increase access to care in the five
\nboroughs, connecting all participants to coordinated, personalized care in
\ntheir communities. <\/p>\n

The bill would require the City to develop and administer a
\nprogram that would offer individuals a medical home \u2013 a model of providing care
\nwhere participants have a primary care physician and\/or practitioner to develop,
\ndirect, and coordinate their treatment, testing, and service \u2013 and assign each
\nparticipant a patient navigator to serve as a personal medical concierge. The
\nconcierge will assist with coordinating primary and specialty care, accessing
\nmedication, and understanding\/minimizing costs. <\/p>\n

This program would benefit individuals without health
\ninsurance, including undocumented New Yorkers, who want care in their
\ncommunities and are looking for culturally competent care as well as insured
\nindividuals seeking coordinated care or just need help navigating the
\nhealthcare system in the City. Culturally competent care includes serving the
\nlinguistic needs of patients through clinicians or interpreters and provides a
\ndiverse workforce representative of patients that is responsive to predominant
\nsocial and cultural practices. <\/p>\n

\u201cHealthcare is an existential issue for so many New Yorkers,
\nand a deeply personal issue for me as an HIV-positive elected official.
\nHealthcare is a life or death issue, a make or break financial issue, and a
\npeace of mind issue, and as a city we could be doing a much better job of
\nmaking sure all New Yorkers have access to personalized, coordinated,
\nculturally competent healthcare. I look forward to working with Council Members
\nLevine and Rivera and with our colleagues in the Council to make this bill a reality
\nand change the way New Yorkers interact with the healthcare industry,\u201d said
\nCouncil Speaker Corey Johnson.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, including
\nundocumented immigrants, lack the basic security of health insurance–with dire
\nconsequences for their own health and for our city as a whole,\u201d said<\/strong>
\nCity Council Health Chair, Mark Levine<\/strong>. \u201cWe need a primary care program
\nfor the uninsured that reaches into every neighborhood in every borough. 
\nAnd we need to tap the resources not just of our public hospitals but the
\ncommunity-based clinics that are rooted in the very immigrant communities we
\nare seeking to reach.  This legislation will ensure that our city gets
\nthis right, that we go big, and that we create a program on a scale comparable
\nto the massive challenges our city–and especially immigrants–are facing in
\nthe Trump era.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn effective modern medical system starts with easy patient
\naccess to primary care. But far too many New Yorkers, from undocumented
\nimmigrants to the under or uninsured, feel they are forced to use the emergency
\nroom if they have any sort of medical condition. The bill we are introducing
\ntoday will guarantee that primary care is an option for every New Yorker in
\nevery neighborhood, at a public hospital or at a community-based clinic. I’m
\nproud that we are working to make our city’s medical system more accessible and
\naffordable, and I look forward to the passage of this groundbreaking healthcare
\naccess legislation,” said Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, Chair of the
\nCouncil’s Committee on Hospitals.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Enacted, this legislation would provide for medical homes
\nthat would be available in every community district in the City. Medical homes
\nwould include H+H facilities, as well as federally qualified health centers
\n(FQHCs), and other not-for-profit and private medical service providers. A
\nhospital partner providing specialty care would be guaranteed in every borough.
\nThe City would be required to select providers that provide care that meets the
\nprimary cultural and language needs of those they serve, as well the needs of
\nspecial populations, including the LGBT community. The health access program
\nwould also provide telemedicine and require providers to assist in sharing
\nmedical records. Program participants would not pay any participation fees, but
\nmay be required to pay for services on a sliding scale based on their ability
\nto pay for provided medical services.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity Health Centers provide care to everyone \u2013
\nregardless of their immigration status or ability to pay,\u201d said CHCANYS President
\nand CEO Rose Duhan. \u201c<\/strong>This legislation will provide access to community
\nhealth centers in every corner of New York City, ensuring that even more New
\nYorkers will have access to high-quality primary and preventive care \u2013 meaning
\nhealthier New Yorkers and healthier communities. We thank Speaker Johnson and
\nCouncil Member Levine for sponsoring this legislation, which aligns with
\nCHCANYS vision that every New York State community has primary care that
\nencompasses all aspects of each patient\u2019s health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to affordable and timely health care is
\ncritical,” said Max Hadler, Director of Health Policy at the New York
\nImmigration Coalition.<\/strong> “New York City took a major step toward
\nimproving care for uninsured city residents with the launch of NYC Care earlier
\nthis month. We look forward to working with the Council, Health + Hospitals,
\nand the Administration to build upon NYC Care and create the best possible
\nsystem for everyone in our city.”<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers in every community deserve access to high
\nquality culturally and linguistically competent health care, regardless of
\nincome or immigration status,\u201d said Gabby Seay, Political Director of
\n1199SEIU<\/strong>. \u201cWe applaud Speaker Johnson, Councilmember Levine and
\nCouncilmember Rivera for recognizing that through this proposed legislation,
\nand we look forward to working with them to secure its passage and
\nimplementation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity Health Centers and Health & Hospitals are the
\nmedical response team for disenfranchised and underserved New Yorkers.\u201d said<\/strong>
\nDr. Marjorie Hill, CEO, Addabbo Family Health Center<\/strong>. \u201cCreating a safety
\nnet partnership, dedicated to culturally competent care, is good for our
\ncity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe purpose of NYC Care is to guarantee healthcare for
\nevery New Yorker,\u201d said Anne K. Nolon, CEO, Hudson River Healthcare
\n(HRHCare)<\/strong>. \u201cThis aim aligns perfectly with the longstanding mission of all
\ncommunity health centers to provide affordable, culturally responsive health
\ncare to all people, regardless of ability to pay. We commend the City Council
\nfor taking this important step to promote patient choice and support even
\ngreater access to care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor over 50 years, Ryan Health has provided affordable
\ncomprehensive primary care and specialty services to New Yorkers most in need.
\nWe would welcome the opportunity to extend beyond those we currently reach
\nthrough NYC Cares,\u201d said Brian McIndoe, President and CEO of Ryan Health.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity health centers are a vital part of the health
\ncare safety net, offering the city\u2019s underserved populations culturally competent
\nand needed access.  Our meaningful participation in the NYC Care
\ninitiative can only result in healthier communities,\u201d said Morris Heights
\nHealth Center\u2019s President and CEO, Mari G. Millet.<\/strong><\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New York, NY \u2013 <\/strong>New York City Council Speaker Corey
\nJohnson, Health Committee Chair Mark Levine, and Hospitals Committee Chair
\nCarlina Rivera introduced groundbreaking legislation to create a citywide
\nhealth access program that would greatly increase access to care in the five
\nboroughs, connecting all participants to coordinated, personalized care in
\ntheir communities.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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