Healthfirst in the Community
Healthfirst
We provide no-and low-cost health insurance in NYC, Long Island, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, and Westchester counties.
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Healthfirst in the Community, a newsletter designed to highlight activities that we have brought, and plan to bring, to communities throughout our Healthfirst service area.?As Healthfirst’s Vice President of Community Engagement I have the distinct pleasure of working with an extraordinarily committed team of professionals that are true champions for health equity and social justice.?This spring, we celebrated Easter, Passover, and Ramadan and here we are sharing some highlights of our recent faith-based efforts. We were also excited to welcome the Jamaica community to our new community office with a grand opening that featured outstanding local artists, performers and local faith and community leaders. A common theme you'll find in this newsletter is our hyperlocal approach to serve people where they are, in every respect: physically, spiritually, mentally.?
Until our next edition!
Regards,
Miguel Centeno
Renewing Our Commitment to Jamaica, Queens
One of the ways cultural competency at Healthfirst is developed is by integrating our presence into the communities we serve in order to produce better health outcomes for our members. While you'll often see Healthfirst team members joining community activities, we've also invested in physical locations to meet members where they are. On April 27th, Healthfirst celebrated the grand opening of the Jamaica community office, our 26th community office overall and 6th in Queens where Healthfirst serves more than 350,000 members alone.
The grand opening celebration featured performances by the Blue Angels Drumline, Edge School of the Arts (ESOTA) , BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF PERFORMING ARTS INC , ABAKUA AFRO-LATIN DANCE COMPANY , Sister Aviola Joseph from the Jamaica Seventh-day Adventist Church, and a photo exhibit by local photographer Nat Valentine.
We want each of our community offices to be a place where people feel comfortable and know that knowledgeable representatives who understand their needs and speak their language will provide answers to their healthcare questions. Pat Wang, President and CEO of Healthfirst, touched on the importance of our hyperlocal approach to supporting our members.
Read more about the grand opening of our Jamaica community office here .
Assisting Members with Coverage Renewals
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Healthfirst Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Managed Long-Term Care enrollees had their coverage automatically renewed. With the public health emergency now ended, individuals enrolled in these plans must renew their coverage by their renewal deadline, which varies from member to member. Healthfirst has kicked off a campaign offering our members personalized guidance and tools for renewing their health insurance coverage with personalized outreach to members by email, text, and phone. The campaign is also supported by content on healthfirst.org and the Healthfirst NY Mobile App, and in Healthfirst’s member portal. Healthfirst members can also rely on face-to-face customer service at our 26 community offices and community events. Members, and people interested in enrolling, can schedule an appointment online . For more information on renewals, visit healthfirst.org/renew.
The Power of Partnership: Collaborating with our Faith-Based Network
The Healthfirst Community Engagement team collaborates with key stakeholders to provide essential support to communities in need. We recently partnered with The Ark Church and Church of God of Prophesy to provide free health screenings.
In addition to screenings, Healthfirst focuses on education around potential benefits available to members. Part of our commitment to the communities we serve is helping older adults live happier and healthier lives. Knowledge around benefits available to them and the facilitation of activating those benefits?are key factors in producing better health outcomes for older adults. Last reported in 2019 , there are more than 1.1 million adults over the age of 65 in New York City. Those who don’t regularly see their primary care provider face increased risk of cognitive decline, avoidable ER and inpatient visits, and social isolation. To bring older adults together and help produce better health outcomes, Healthfirst creates educational workshops at community center locations that our older adult members frequent.
In this latest workshop, Healthfirst partnered with a local expert to educate attendees on how to control their blood sugar A1C. Additionally, the educator explained the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes while encouraging the seniors to exercise daily as a way to stay healthy.
Medicare Savings Program: Educational Outreach
Included in our outreach to older adult members is education on eligibility for enhanced benefits through the Medicare Savings Program.?Here’s Katherine Fitzpatrick , Director Medicare Sales & Retention at Healthfirst, speaking about our educational efforts.
For additional information, or if you would like to partner on a community education workshop on the Medicare Savings Program, please contact Raymond Thornhill at?[email protected] .
领英推荐
Supporting Immigrants and Refugees with Access to Healthcare?
On a cold, spring-weather morning in mid-March, Healthfirst partnered with DentaQuest and the 美国哥伦比亚大学 Institute for Training Outreach and Community Health (InTOuCH) program to provide care for 118 asylum seekers huddled in the small backyard of a mosque in the Bronx. We are grateful to DentaQuest for providing free and full dental screening for attendees.
Our effort that day was not limited to what we as a health insurance organization could offer. The compassionate spirit and humanity that had been absent for many of those who journeyed from their home country was present at this Bronx gathering. Healthfirst team members also gave hugs, handshakes, and smiles, along with guidance through different screening tables. The gratitude of those who came to seek care at the mosque that day was reflected in the only English phrase they knew, “Thank you."?
After the event, Healthfirst received a kind note from the Jamhiyatu Ansaru-Deen mosque that captures the spirit of relationship and work towards improving access to care:
Dear Healthfirst,
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude for your sponsorship of the recent event at the JamhiyatuAnsaruDeen Mosque. Your support has enabled us to provide much-needed services to our community members, many of whom are recent migrants to America.
Your event, which brought in dental hygienists, checked blood pressure and sugar levels, and helped individuals apply for medical coverage, was a tremendous success. We were also grateful for the food you provided, which helped to ensure that our community members did not go hungry.
It is partners like Healthfirst who make a real difference in the lives of our community members. Your commitment to the health and well-being of our community is deeply appreciated, and we are honored to have worked with you. Your dedication to providing critical services to our vulnerable population is an inspiration to us all, and we are grateful for your partnership.
Once again, thank you for your generous support. Your contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of those in need, and we look forward to continuing our work together to improve the lives of our community members.
Sincerely,
JamhiyatuAnsaruDeen
Furthermore, to show our support during the month of Ramadan, on Sunday April 2nd the Nassau County Asian American Affairs Department created an interfaith event, bringing the community together to understand the importance of and breaking bread.
The department’s director, Arooj Islam , and its senior program coordinator, Own Naqvi, led the event. Bruce Blakeman , County Executive of Nassau County, supported the event and attended, along with Commissioner Pat Ryder, to speak to the community and attendees at large. Imam Abdul Malik spoke about the history and importance of Ramadan, and awards were given to community leaders. Members of Hamza Academy treated attendees to a cultural performance.
Healthfirst in the News
Looking Ahead!
New York CaribNews Health and Wellness Town Hall: June 3, 2023
Town Hall being led by Carib News will be held at Wake Eden Church. Healthfirst will provide information about Medicaid Recertification's, Medicare Savings Program, as well as health and wellness tips from Karen Costley MD, MPH !
Learn more and register to attend here: https://myhf.org/3MexNTg
Claremont Health and Wellness Expo - June 24, 2023
The Claremont Health and Wellness Expo will be a family fun day along with free medical screenings and health education! Partners include Montefiore BronxCare, WILLIAM HODSON COMMUNITY CENTER INC , Claremont Community Center, CS 55, New York City Police Department Community Affairs Bureau.
Learn more and register to attend here: https://myhf.org/3MmHpeM
Pharmacy Manager
1 年Looking forward to join your team in the near future
Executive Director Community Affairs at Aetna, a CVS Health Company
1 年Congratulations Miguel Centeno and team. Keep shining and supporting our communities!