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Please visit the The Arc of New York advocacy platform to email Governor Hochul and ask her to establish a wage enhancement and an 8.5% Cost -of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in the 2023-2024 NYS Executive Budget.
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.”
“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:
News organizations that want to attend/cover the first clinic should reach out to Elizabeth Wales, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications at
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.
Provider Update, Provider News, Advocacy, PHP In The News, Press Releases, Member News
Listeners are asked thought provoking questions such as, “What type of support do I need to provide individuals, so they are successful? What are the positive outcomes when employing people with a disability? How are we writing the job descriptions and recruiting to ensure we have a diverse candidate pool?”
PHP Member, Ackeem Duggan, shared his personal employment journey. We learn about his challenges and ultimate rewards of financial gain, stability, independence, professional, and personal growth, community inclusion and belonging, making new friends, and experiencing improved mental health and personal well-being.
The program emphasizes that successful employment outcomes are rooted in advocacy. This episode is a testament to effective care management and coordination to assist individuals with disabilities live their best lives. Care Managers, who are fierce advocates for the individuals they support, ensure the necessary supports and services are in place. Does an individual have a job coach who can help them make meaningful connections and provide training and onboarding support?
Ackeem describes how those pieces and previous successes were in place for him. Today, he is happy and successful working for the NYPD Director of Community Affairs.
Listen to this episode and let us know what you think! Ep. 10: Inclusion Benefits All – The Case for Employing Neurodiverse Individuals - MediSked, LLC
Advocacy, PHP In The News, Press Releases, Member News, Employment Stories
If You Are Concerned About Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. A lot of what you eat turns into sugar (glucose) and goes into your blood. As your blood sugar goes up your body produces insulin to let the blood sugar go into cells to produce energy. If you have diabetes your body doesn’t produce insulin (Type 1) or the cells don’t respond to insulin (Type 2), so too much sugar stays in your blood.
The biggest health risks of diabetes are associated with high blood sugar, which can increase the likelihood of blood clots and impaired blood flow by making cells sticky and blood vessels stiff. This can damage tissues, resulting in high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and skin infections, especially on the feet. A blood test called Hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1c) can measure the effects of blood sugar on their cells over time. Regular measures of blood sugar will allow a person with diabetes or pre-diabetes to take measures to reduce their risks and improve their health.
Making deliberate food choices is an excellent way to manage your weight, which makes a difference to controlling diabetes. Here are some tips:
Schedule activities such as walking, taking stairs, gardening, house cleaning, playing with a pet, anything that gets you moving!
If you have diabetes, we are here to support you, your care manager can assist you with making sure you see your PCP and specialist if needed (Diabetes doctor called an Endocrinologist). To support your best health, it is important to see your doctors regularly and make sure you take all medications as prescribed. Your doctor may take a blood sample to check your A1c (this is a test to check how much sugar has been in your blood over the last few months), this test is a great way to see how you have been doing managing your diabetes.
Schedule a visit with your doctor. And it’s always a good idea to have someone you trust come with you. Sometimes when we get to the doctor, we get nervous and don’t always hear what the
doctor is saying. Having a second pair of ears helps. Also, that person can help you remember all your questions and give you support during an exam the doctor may need to do.
Remember if you have any questions or need help to make an appointment, find a doctor to support you or need help getting your medication, your care Manager is here to help. For more information check out this helpful flyer.
Details can be found: https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/g20495209/diabetes-friendly-thanksgiving-recipes/
Actual recipes: https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/diabetic-friendly-recipes-for-thanksgiving/ and https://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/holiday-and-special-occasions/thanksgiving-recipes
Visit Partners Health Plan's Health Resources to learn more about the diabetes as well as other informative health-related articles.
H9869_Diabetes Article_2022
November 18, 2022
Dear Provider:
Partners Health Plan (PHP) wants to provide you with an update regarding the NYS Workforce Stabilization Longevity and Retention Supplemental pass-thru payments that we will be distributing on behalf of NY State.
We have received the pass-through dollars related to the two Calendar Year 2021 ARPA Workforce Stabilization Initiatives – the cost-based Longevity Payment and the survey-based COVID-19 Service Payment. Accordingly, payments to the providers will be remitted by November 22 pursuant to the list provided to PHP by the Department of Health so your funding should be received shortly thereafter.
As we previously informed you, the payments will be made in the form of a check. Unless we have been provided payment instructions pursuant to our previous solicitations specific to this process, payments will be sent based on provider-payment information from our claim system. If your payment is not received within a reasonable period of time after November 22, please contact us at
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Partners Health Plan provides links to web sites of other organizations in order to provide visitors with certain information. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that web site. Once you link to another web site not maintained by Partners Health Plan, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that web site, including but not limited to its privacy policy.