Click here to see the related press release.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, UHF, and partners in the Population Health Improvement Program (PHIP)* have released a plan laying out strategies to expand and improve the impact of the medical home model of primary care across New York City. A strong primary care system is essential to addressing health inequities and improving the health of New York City's residents, especially in communities that face high health disparities.
A medical home features expanded access to care, a team-based approach that is responsive to patient needs, coordination of care during care transitions, improved connections to community-based resources, and quality improvement tools. Adopting this model has been a central theme across New York State's signature health reform initiatives, including the State Health Innovation Plan, and it is a promising approach for supporting New York City's Take Care New York 2020 goals.
The plan, available here and on the website of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, includes geographical detail for a new methodology grouping the city into zones to help prioritize medical home adoption in communities with the greatest disease burden. It also underscores the importance of making sure medical home adoption is accessible and sustainable for small practices, which are key to addressing health inequities in New York City.
* In January 2015, the Fund for Public Health in New York joined in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, United Hospital Fund, and The New York Academy of Medicine to launch the New York City Population Health Improvement Program (PHIP). The NYC PHIP is one of 11 PHIPs created around the state, with funding from the State Department of Health, working to achieve inclusive health planning at the regional and local level.