Dear Members Families, & Friends,

We invite you to join us in celebrating PHP’s 7th Anniversary!

We Excelled

• An independent evaluation funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that PHP’s innovative solutions like the pharmacy management program reduced errors, unnecessary emergency department visits, and length of hospital stays.

• The telehealth program successfully resolved 90% of member’s concerns which prevented trips to the hospital.

• More members completed colorectal cancer screening; diabetes testing and controls; controlled high blood pressure; completed annual dental visits and received annual flu vaccines compared to national and New York State health plans.

• 90% of PHP members have received at least one dose of the primary COVID-19 vaccination.

• 70% of the eligible members have received the booster dose.

We Talked About Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

• We expanded the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Department, added more staff volunteers to our dedicated DEI council with representation from across the organization, held multiple cultural recognition forums and safe space conversations, and added to our DEI related education modules for staff.

We Expanded Our Services & Supports

• We added 1,200 new providers, including Stonybrook Medicine enhancing our Network for members on Long Island.

• Implemented an in-house Patient Care Assessment team to quickly get home care services in place.

• New contracts with DentaQuest & Ridehealth to provide better dental & transportation services.

• Partnered with Solvere Health to pilot specialized IDD mobile dental clinics at select-day service locations in Metro New York.

• Over-the Counter (OTC) cards were added to the benefit package for more than 600 community members.

• We launched a text messaging program to provide health care reminders, supporting preventative health care and wellness for our members.

We Supported You

• Our Designated Representative Committee met 96 times to review more than 700 Life Plans.

• PHP hosted 3 Member & Family meetings, 4 Participant Advisory Committee meetings, 6 family education sessions, and 8 Peer Empowerment Group meetings.

We Advocated

• Provided recommendations to OPWDD Commissioner Neifeld regarding COVID-19 protections for people with IDD.
• Members and families testified before the General Assembly on the 2023-2027 OPWDD 5.07 Strategic Plan.
  
• Members, families, and staff rallied at the NYS Capitol in support of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).

• Comments provided by PHP resulted in modifications to the proposed DOH 1115 waiver changes.

We Celebrated

• PHP earned NCQA-Certification on the HEDIS Compliance Audit

October is National Disability Voting Rights month, and one of our passionate self-advocates, Ackeem Duggan, was featured on CBS News New York, where he spoke about the vital importance of voting for people with IDD. Ackeem, who serves as a poll worker and coordinator in East Harlem, discussed how individuals with disabilities often face barriers to voting that aren’t always recognized.

Ackeem’s segment highlighted his role in ensuring voting accessibility, particularly through his work with specialized equipment like the Ballot Marking Device, which helps those with visual or manual limitations vote independently. His dedication to both advocating for those with IDD and providing first-hand support at the polls makes a powerful statement about the need for inclusion and accessibility in the voting process.

Hear Ackeem share his insights and experience as a poll worker, and why every vote matters for the IDD community. Watch the full segment below.

Dear PHP Members,

The New York State Health Department has issued an air quality alert due to the smoke in our region coming from Canadian wildfires.

We recommend following the guidance from the New York State Department of Health regarding precautions and reduction of risk due to exposure.

• Reduce outdoor exertion and avoid long-term exposure
• Vulnerable New Yorkers, e.g., those with heart disease, congestive heart failure, prior history of heart attach, asthma and COPD or other health risks should remain aware of their local air quality and take precautions,  as necessary.
• Exposure can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath
• People with heart or breathing problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to particulate matter

The NYC Department of Health is recommending properly-fitted, high-quality masks to help reduce exposure if you must go outside. Per the State Health Department, please limit outside exertion. If you experience symptoms of respiratory distress, please contact your primary care physician or seek emergency medical help.  There is a website you can use to check air quality in your zip code:  www.airnow.gov

If you have additional questions, please contact your Care Manager.  You can also check for updated information from the New York State Department of Health website at https://www.governor.ny.gov/news

Karleen Haines, Chief of Member Relations and Advocacy, appeared on the BronxNet OPEN to discuss the Partners Health Plan (PHP) non-traditional care management model that will be offering specialized dental care services for PHP members-- enrollees with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)-- via mobile dental clinics in a partnership with Solvere Health.

PHP is the first-in-the-nation, non-profit, provider-led managed care organization, designed by IDD experts, that fully integrates Medicare and Medicaid for individuals 21 years and older with IDD. 

Partners Health Plan Chief Operating Officer Courtney Skivington-Wolf, RN was interviewed by the Capitol Pressroom, a daily public radio program that reaches more than two dozen stations across New York. Host David Lombardo spoke to Courtney about the specific needs and challenges associated with vaccinating people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the flu and COVID-19. Click here to listen to the interview.

For the past two years, New York State has not invested in direct care staff who work for nonprofit agencies (just those who work in State operated facilities).  Individuals with IDD and their families, our members, need the individuals they depend upon to earn a living wage. The system is in crisis! 

A phone campaign is underway for advocates to call Governor Hochul and tell her to invest in people with IDD by making DSPs who work in nonprofit agencies a budget priority.  

Please help elevate awareness! Follow these steps:

STEP 1: Call Governor Hochul's office at: 518-474-8390, press 3, then press 2 to speak to a person or 1 to leave a message.

STEP 2: Message script:

My name is (NAME) from (your city/town) and I am (a person IDD/family member of a person with IDD/friend of a person with IDD). I am calling to urge Governor Hochul to include money in the Executive budget proposal for Direct Care professionals who support people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). These are essential workers for the health, safety, and quality of life for people with IDD. They need a living wage as they barely earn above the minimum wage and are leaving their employment to find work to support their families. Our state has a terrible worker shortage because NY doesn’t pay a living wage for non-profit Direct Care Professionals.  We need Gov Hochul to include a wage increase for Direct Care Professionals who work for NON-PROFIT IDD PROVIDERS in her Executive Budget proposal. Thank you!

STEP 3: When you've made your phone call, please enter in this tracking form: Record your participation in Call The Governor Campaign (google.com)

Partners Health Plan will be at the 2022 Hudson Valley Autism Conference: Living Your Best Life Neurodiverse Partnerships to share information about PHP, member benefits and more.  LEARN MORE about the conference and how you can register to join.

An amazing podcast, Building Better Businesses in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), featured Partners Health Plan Medical Director, Dr. Steven Merahn, MD.

Dr. Merahn shares his views on health as a social imperative to equitably improve the ability for individuals with IDD to succeed in the world on their own terms and participate authentically as active members of family and community.  

Specialized Dental Care for those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Comes to Metro NY.

January 9, 2023 — New York
Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) are known to have poorer oral/dental health than people without IDD. Studies show that people with IDD have 30% more untreated cavities, 50% more missing teeth, and 150% more gum disease.

The biggest reason for this health disparity is access to oral health care for children and adults with IDD: lack of preventive and regular care, including management of secondary medical conditions that are related to oral health, leads to more significant oral health problems. Wait times for IDD specialized services can be as long as a year at practices and dental school programs that offer them.

But Partners Health Plan (PHP), a NY-based health plan that is exclusively dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of individuals with IDD, is committed to ensuring the oral health of its members.

“Improving access to dental care for our community of service in New York State is mission-critical,” added Steven Merahn, MD, Medical Director, Partners Health Plan. “Our overarching goal is to improve the quality of life of our members and the relationship between oral health and overall well-being is well established.”

To achieve this goal, PHP has partnered with Solvere Health to deploy specialized IDD mobile dental clinics at select-day service locations in Metro New York to reduce travel demands. Solvere Health is a company that specializes in the delivery of high-quality clinical services through group health events via mobile medical units or pop-up clinics to underserved populations. Individuals with IDD may struggle with the sights, sounds and experiences encountered during dental care, and the PHP-Solvere Dental Health Program will conduct specialized desensitization sessions to prepare individuals for the dental care experience and mobile clinic environments. The mobile dental units are also fully accessible for individuals with mobility challenges.

“Expanding the availability of quality healthcare services to underserved communities is central to Solvere Health's mission. We view the collaboration with Partner Health Plan as a way to make quality dental care accessible to persons with I/DD,” stated Edward Lorch, CEO, Solvere Health, “Our mobile clinics offer a solution that is empathetic and considerate. We factor in the patient population's comfort (including desensitization), convenience, mobility, and communication. When engineering and staffing the mobile clinic, we understand that taking a holistic view of the patient leads to a positive oral healthcare experience and repeat preventative care.”

“This mobile dental clinic initiative is a very exciting opportunity as it will open access to oral healthcare,” noted Rita Marie Bilello, DDS, CEO, and former Dental Director of Metro Community Health Centers. “This new dental care model will bridge a much-needed gap for Partners Health Plan (PHP) members, all adults with IDD, who have been unable to access routine preventative oral health care services. Mobilizing dental services will begin to address some of the access issues and will allow for PHP to better assist in getting their members the oral care that they need.”

The first mobile dental clinic for PHP members is scheduled at the PHP corporate headquarters located at 2500 Halsey Street in the Bronx on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Future mobile health clinic locations will include locations in the New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), Rockland County, and Westchester County where PHP operates. PHP welcomes partnerships with local agencies to serve as destination sites for a mobile clinic.

For more information please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

News organizations that want to attend/cover the first clinic should reach out to Elizabeth Wales, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 518-410-5629.

About Partners Health Plan
Partners Health Plan (PHP) is the first-in-the-nation, provider-led managed care organization that fully integrates Medicare and Medicaid for individuals 21 years and older with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), so they have the most complete care package. PHP provides person-centered care for whole-person wellness addressing the physical, behavioral, and social needs of individuals to assist them in living a quality life. The plan operates in 4 New York State regions (nine downstate counties): New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), Rockland County, and Westchester County. For more information, visit www.phpcares.org.

About Solvere Health
Working with state and federal, institutional, and corporate partners, Solvere Health brings a business discipline to health challenges across the United States through onsite, mobile, and digital healthcare solutions. Deploying a team of highly motivated, accountable problem solvers, we stand up sustainable, end-to-end programs in rapid response to group health events, disaster relief, and underserved rural communities, via onsite pop-ups, mobile clinics, and strategically placed brick-and-mortar locations. Our efficient approach combines exacting strategic planning, comprehensive compliance management, unparalleled logistics, state-of-the-art mobile healthcare technology, and emerging digital health applications.

July 26, 2023

Dear Members, Families, and Friends,

Today, we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of passing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It was signed into law by George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

Together, we must remove the physical barriers we have created and the social barriers that we have accepted. Our nation will never be truly prosperous until all within it prosper.

George H. W. Bush
41st President of the United States
July 26, 1990

This landmark law, enacted 33 years ago, provides Americans with disabilities a comprehensive civil rights protection against discrimination in everyday activities including access to medical services. The law strives to ensure independent living, equality of opportunity, and economic self-sufficiency.

Thanks to the ADA, individuals with disabilities can participate in all aspects of society. It also paved the way for the Supreme Court Olmstead decision in 1999, which protects the right of people with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting possible providing them with greater independence and opportunities to live, work, and participate in their communities.

Additionally, the ADA anniversary coincides with Disability Pride Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating how individuals with disabilities take pride in their diverse human experiences. The ADA and Disability Pride Month symbolize decades of activism toward embracing the identities and rights of people with disabilities. These events inspire us to see disability through the lens of equity.

Our entire team provides members and their families with the most innovative Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) care coordination so they may live life to the fullest with tailored supports and services. We are dedicated to advocating to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.

In the more than three decades since the passage of the ADA, there is still much work to be done to remove barriers and achieve true inclusion and equality for people with IDD. This includes expanding and strengthening the workforce of direct support professionals and improving support to family caregivers that provide the most assistance for individuals with IDD to be truly included in their communities. I’m confident that together with our members, their families, and our partners, we will continue to create positive change and continue to improve the quality of life for members and families.

On behalf of the entire team, thank you for putting your trust in us. Today, on the ADA anniversary, let us recommit to shaping a future where persons with disabilities enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In Gratitude,

Kerry Delaney
CEO

Dear Members, Families, and Friends,

Across the country today, June 19, we mark the 159^th anniversary of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, as it is also known. Juneteenth, a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth," celebrates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in the United States. Our offices are closed to demonstrate our commitment to racial justice and to support our core values in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

Establishing Juneteenth as a corporate holiday is one of many actions we have taken to promote understanding and foster mutual respect. Our foundational DEIB work is shaping a transformative culture to advocate for greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our workplace and in support of members and families.

On June 13, we held our first DEIB Round Table for external stakeholders. The event provided a forum to listen and gather issues that matter to members and families. These diverse insights and perspectives will help to inform our advocacy strategies for members and families to ensure they represent the diverse perspectives of our members. 

Our advocacy platform is built on a strong foundation of championing disability inclusion and bringing about meaningful change for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). In our proactive efforts, we are advocating for safe and affordable housing, meaningful employment, education, access to culturally competent holistic health care, and adequate funding in the IDD delivery support system. We are committed to advocating for individuals with IDD so they may participate fully, safely, and free from prejudice in their everyday lives.

Let us gather and celebrate this Juneteenth to reflect on the history and contributions of the Black and Latin American communities. The 2024 national Juneteenth theme, “Their Wildest Dreams,” honors the achievements of freed slaves and their descendants. It is a reminder that our history is important and that while some progress has been made, there is still much work to be done. Click here for details on 2024 Juneteenth events in New York State communities that will provide opportunities for us to learn, celebrate and reflect on the holiday’s historical significance.

Our commitment to members and families is embodied in our values. These values help us demonstrate our priority of helping people with IDD live life to the fullest and on their terms. On Juneteenth, and beyond, let us discover our similarities and find new ways to shine our light and support each other!

In Gratitude & Community,

Kerry Delaney, CEO

Transcript:

Hi, I'm Dr. Steven Merahn, Medical Director at Care Design New York and Partners Health Plan.  

It's Fall, also known as flu season. Unfortunately, at the same time, we're seeing an increase in the number of cases of COVID infection in New York State.  

And while the number of COVID cases remains low, there are some significant increases in the number of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID in individuals who are most vulnerable to severe infection.  

These risk factors for severe infection include advanced age, multiple medical conditions, including heart and lung disease or cancer, history of smoking, and of particular importance here, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

Vaccines are the single most powerful tool we have to prevent severe disease for both flu and COVID. And while the vaccines may not always prevent infection, they are well proven to reduce the risk of severe infection and hospitalization, as well as making your symptoms milder and shorten the course of any infection. 

So, please get your flu vaccine and COVID vaccine as soon as possible. You can safely get them both together. And keep in mind that the new COVID vaccine is not a booster. It's a new formulation designed to protect you against new variations of the virus.  

Other ways to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, practicing cough etiquette, covering your mouth with a tissue you dispose or coughing into your elbow, and many people are choosing to wear a mask when in public or crowded places. Many health systems are having their professional staff wear masks to protect patients and visitors.  

Flu and COVID share many signs and symptoms in common. This includes cough, runny, stuffy nose, tiredness, fever, muscle aches and pains. 

First, if you start to feel sick, stay out of public places, work, or group programs.  

Second, if you start to feel sick, test for COVID as soon as you can. Early detection of COVID is important and there are medications, one is called Paxlovid, you can take early in the course of an infection that can induce your risk of serious infection. To be most effective, they need to be taken in the first five days of your illness, and that's why early testing is so important. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about medication once you get a positive test.  

Finally, whether flu or COVID infection, you should always seek medical care if you have trouble drinking fluids, have trouble breathing, or don't have enough breath to finish a sentence, your lips or nails are discolored or blue, your fever doesn't respond to medications, or you're just too sleepy to stay awake during the day.  

I know this was a lot of information, but I hope it helps you have a healthy fall and winter season.  

And thanks for listening.  

For more information, reach out to your Care Manager. 

Dear Members, Families, and Friends,

Over the last few months, a number of new forms (also known as “variants”) of COVID-19 virus have appeared in communities across the United States. This has been associated with an increase in the number of people getting sick, and hospitalized, due to COVID-19 infection. .

While the total number of cases remains low, in New York State the number of positive tests has increased 400% since June. Experts are sure this is the beginning of a wave of infections that will continue to increase into the Fall and Winter.

We are keeping track of this but want to make sure the IDD community remains safe. People with IDD, as well as the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses such as lung disease, cancer, heart disease and others, are vulnerable to severe illness, increased risk of hospitalization, and other consequences of COVID-19 infections.

Let’s make sure everyone – people with IDD and those that care for, and about them - is protected and can protect each other.

FIRST, with vaccines that are well-proven to prevent severe illness

Please get a flu vaccine as soon as possible.  The flu and COVID-19 can “look and act alike” and getting a flu vaccine will protect you from a known health risk every Fall and Winter. Care Managers can help ensure you get all the vaccines needed to protect your health.

There will be an updated COVID-19 vaccine that will be available in the Fall, one that will offer protection against some of the new variants. Even if you have not received a booster in the past, you should get this version.

Finally, if you or your loved one is over 60 years of age, talk to your primary care provider about getting the new vaccine against RSV, a virus that can cause severe lung disease in older adults. Last year the rate of hospitalizations for RSV among adults was 10X higher than usual. The RSV vaccine can be given at the same time as the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

If you have any questions about vaccines, please reach out to your healthcare provider.

AND, with physical precautions

Handwashing, physical distancing, and mask usage are all well-established, easy to use and well proven ways to prevent spread of all respiratory infections. 

Masking remains a personal choice. However, healthcare professionals are increasingly considering a return to masking as a precaution in healthcare and residential settings, like hospitals and nursing homes.  Some experts are suggesting that caregivers for those who are at risk should consider using masks as well. Healthcare settings like clinics and hospitals are also reinforcing the importance of workers – including healthcare professionals like nurses and aides - staying home if they are sick.

FINALLY, with early interventions

If you find yourself with ‘flu-like’ symptoms like fever, cough, headache, or muscle pain, get tested as soon as possible. If you test positive, have mild to moderate symptoms and are in a high-risk group, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for a medication called Paxlovid. Paxlovid can reduce hospitalization rates by 80% if taken within five days of symptom onset.

People who are positive for COVID-19 should stay home or isolate themselves for at least five (5) days. 

We will keep track of the trends and any changes in recommendations for prevention and treatment. 

Thanks for your attention,

Steven Merahn, MD
Medical Director

References:

• Positive Tests Over Time, by Region and County | Department of Health (ny.gov)
• COVID-19 Forecasts: Hospitalizations | CDC
• Americans at high risk advised to wear masks as new Covid variant detected | Coronavirus | The Guardian
• Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Updating Our Approach to Masking in Health Care Facilities | Annals of Internal Medicine (acpjournals.org)