REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – March 2025

Mitchell H. Katz, MD
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
March 27, 2025

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FACILITIES RECOGNIZE WOMEN’S HISTORY AND NUTRITION MONTHS

March marks Women’s History and Nutrition Months, and all our facilities participated in recognition events. For Women’s History Month, some of facilities featured the leadership of the health care system itself: retiring System Chief Medical Officer Dr. Machelle Allen, keynoted several events, including one at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, while the new Medical Director of Ambulatory Care at NCB Hospital, Dr. Michelle Soto, spoke to employees via video.

Across the health care System, facility teams held tabling events highlighting the importance of nutrition. NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem held a cooking competition and created an employee cookbook. Leaders in the Lifestyle Medicine program created a weekly webinar series called the “Power of Your Plate,” featuring insightful presentations from physicians and dietitians, plus a chef-led cooking demonstration.

HEALTH SYSTEM RETIREMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS

MACHELLE ALLEN, MD, SYSTEM CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, RETIRES MARCH 31

Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Machelle Allen, MD is retiring after nearly 50 years of service to the health System. Dr. Allen’s accomplishments include launching a systemwide Office of Women’s Health Services, teleradiology, and several clinical initiatives launched during the Covid-19 pandemic, including telehealth ICU.

A longstanding veteran of the health care System, Dr. Allen completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, worked as an attending physician at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem and Bellevue hospitals, served as the Associate Medical Director at Bellevue Hospital, and transitioned to system Deputy Chief Medical Officer in 2013. She was appointed system CMO in 2017.

Her last day is Monday, March 31.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR MCKINNEY NURSING HOME, BROOKLYN’S TOP-RANKED LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY

Daveth Forbes-Thomas, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, LNHA is the new Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney. She enters the role after nearly six years at McKinney, currently as Deputy Executive Director and previously as Director of Quality Management and Patient Experience Officer. During her tenure, Forbes-Thomas’ developed a formal Environment of Care and Life Safety program to support vital areas of operation that impacts the comfort and safety of the environment for residents, residents’ representatives, visitors, and staff, and built a robust Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Program. McKinney is New York City’s only nursing home to receive 5- star ratings across all four CMS metrics including quality measures, staffing, health inspections and overall rating — an accomplishment she shares with current CEO David Weinstein and the hardworking staff across McKinney. Forbes-Thomas will assume her new role effective March 31.

Forbes-Thomas was born in Jamaica and grew up just steps from McKinney in a neighborhood now referred to as “Little Haiti.” Her pathway to healthcare began at Clara Barton High School for Health Professions where she enrolled in the Licensed Practical Nurse program, which offered extensive clinical courses at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. Daveth-Forbes also credits her mother who retired as a registered nurse from Kings County Hospital as her inspiration.

Forbes-Thomas earned her Master of Science in Gerontological Nursing from Lehman College, and Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Brooklyn College. She is a Registered Nurse (RN) and holds professional designations including Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA), Nurse Executive – Advanced Board Certification (NEA-BC), Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), and Long-Term Care Infection Preventionist. Forbes-Thomas is a member of the National Honor Society of Nursing-Sigma Theta Thai International, American Nursing Association (ANA), American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC), and National Association for Health Care Quality.

ELLEN HAGOPIAN, MD APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS CANCER CENTER

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens appointed Dr. Ellen Hagopian as the new Director of the Queens Cancer Center. The highly regarded surgical oncologist is a board-certified surgeon and an esteemed Hepato- Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) specialist known for her expertise in treating complex cancers of the liver, pancreas, biliary tract, and upper gastrointestinal system. Dr. Hagopian is the recipient of the 2024 Nonie Lowry Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor from the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA), recognizing her contributions to surgical education and patient advocacy.

One of Queens Hospital’s four Centers of Excellence, the Queens Cancer Center has received Gold Level Commendation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer for exceptional care of patients and implementation of clinical trial initiatives. Enrollment in clinical trials increased more than six-fold since its inception in 2002 and is well above the national average in clinical trial accrual. The Queens Cancer Center works in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Mount Sinai Medical Center among others to employ their premier clinical research protocols for its patients, as clinical trials hold the key to overall advances in all cancers, along with measurable increases in early cancer detection which can ultimately be life-saving.

HEALTH SYSTEM AND FACILITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAYOR ADAMS, CITY LEADERS HONOR LIVES LOST TO COVID-19

On Friday, March 7 at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Mayor Eric Adams, former Mayor Bill De Blasio, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, and Elmhurst Hospital CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde, Ph.D. honored City health care workers, first responders, essential workers, and those who lost their lives to COVID-19 on the fifth anniversary of the first confirmed death in the five boroughs from the global pandemic that saw New York City as its epicenter. City Hall and several other municipal buildings were lit in amber tonight in honor of those who lost their lives and the first responders and essential workers who worked tirelessly to serve their fellow New Yorkers during the pandemic.

Since the pandemic was declared in the City of New York in 2020, there have been more than 3 million cases of COVID-19 in New York City, more than 240,000 hospitalizations, and more than 46,825 people have died from the virus. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst became the epicenter of the pandemic, and as emergency departments flooded with sick patients across all five boroughs, health care heroes sprang into action, rushing to the frontlines to provide care for their patients and fight back against an unknown virus that, at the time, left the world wondering about its infectivity, diagnosis, and treatment.

CITY HALL’S “MENTAL HEALTH WEEK” CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF THE HEALTH SYSETEM’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BLUEPRINT AND ITS UPDATE

Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz kicked off the City’s “Mental Health Week” by celebrating accomplishments in the first year of the Adams administration’s comprehensive three-year plan — “Behavioral Health Blueprint: Turning Crisis into Opportunity” — to strengthen and expand its behavioral health services. The “2024 Behavioral Health Annual Progress Report” details the advancement of initiatives to build capacity and resilience into the city’s behavioral health services and health workforce. Specifically, the report tracks progress — between 2024 and 2026 — across the blueprint’s six core strategies: restoring and maximizing inpatient capacity; expanding access to outpatient services; increasing services to special populations; enhancing social work, care management, and peer services; preventing violence and increasing safety; and building the behavioral health workforce.

Adams administration celebrated “Mental Health Week,” highlighting the city’s multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers efforts to address mental health, ranging from serious mental illness to expanding resources to underserved communities — all supporting Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City commitment to make New York City the best place to live and raise a family.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM INCREASES THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL RESPITE BEDS

Mayor Adams joined NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz to announce an expansion to its medical respite bed program, which offers patients experiencing homelessness a place to stay for up to 90 days after a major health event, in addition to expanded medical services that are not available in shelter. The 24 additional beds will serve 100 more patients each year, connecting medically-frail New Yorkers experiencing homelessness with critical care, including connecting them to medical professionals who offer services such as wound care, wellness checks, and physical therapy. During their stay in medical respite facilities, New Yorkers will also receive intensive housing case management to help them identify future housing options.

NYC Health + Hospitals’ medical respite provides patients with short- term housing and access to home-based clinical services, including wound care, oxygen, IV infusion, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Additionally, patients receive medically-tailored meals, medication monitoring, coordination of and transportation to medical appointments, and intensive housing case management. Studies show that patients discharged from hospitals to respite have better health outcomes compared to those discharged to shelter directly.

Furthermore, by offering a place to recuperate with access to medical services, the respite program shortens patients’ hospital stays, frees up acute care beds for patients with critical needs, and offers a more supportive setting for patients to recover in their communities.

Through the end of 2024, NYC Health + Hospitals’ medical respite program has served over 1,400 patients. Nearly 360 patients have been discharged from respite into stable housing, including supportive and affordable housing, allowing them to reunite with their families, and in some cases, secure assisted living placements. The majority of the remaining patients were connected to New York City Department of Homeless Services’ shelters and safe havens with appropriate services, while some returned to the hospital or other interim living arrangements. Currently, medical respite is fully funded by NYC Health + Hospitals, which is the largest provider of medical respite in New York state. With this expansion, the City’s health system now has a total of 75 medical respite beds — 50 beds operated by the Institute of Community Living and 25 beds operated by Comunilife.

93 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPEN ON NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL CAMPUS

Mayor Adams joined NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. at the opening of the Woodhull II Residence, a new, $41.5 million 93-unit apartment building that contains both supportive housing and affordable housing for NYC Health + Hospitals patients experiencing homelessness, as well as housing for low-income seniors and low-income New Yorkers.

The residence is the latest to be opened as part of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Housing for Health initiative between the health system, HPD, and non-profit Comunilife. Located on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, the residence provides stable housing and support services. Eligible patients of NYC Health + Hospitals experiencing homelessness who move into the building’s 56 units of supportive housing will have access to on-site services from Comunilife and health care from Woodhull Hospital. The building also includes 21 affordable units for extremely low-income seniors, 15 affordable units for low-income New Yorkers, and one super’s unit. New Yorkers can apply for the affordable housing units on NYC Housing Connect.

This is the second phase of affordable and supportive housing development on the Woodhull Hospital campus. The first phase opened in 2019 and has 89 units of affordable and supportive housing.

NEW 16th MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC OPENS IN NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

As a part of “Mental Health Week,” Mayor Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos celebrated the opening of the 16th school-based mental health clinic, fulfilling a promise Mayor Adams made last year to help bring mental health services to more than 6,000 students in New York City Public Schools across the Bronx and Central Brooklyn. The NYC Health + Hospitals-staffed clinics offer students access to individual, family, and group therapy, with connections to outpatient clinics and telehealth services as needed. Additionally, teachers and school staff have access to mental health clinic staff for consultation, trainings, and workshops to ensure students are appropriately supported and referred to care. Schools also receive support so they can respond to mental health crises without contacting 911 unnecessarily and avoid needless emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This week, the Adams administration is celebrating “Mental Health Week,” highlighting the City’s multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers in addressing mental health, ranging from serious mental illness to expanding resources to underserved communities, and advancing Mayor Adams’ 2025 State of the City commitment to make New York City the best place to raise a family.

The 16 new satellite clinics expand on the five existing mental health clinics that NYC Health + Hospitals already utilizes in the City’s public schools. The clinics are funded with $3.6 million from the Adams administration’s Mental Health Continuum, a $5 million partnership between NYC Health + Hospitals, New York City Public Schools, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and Advocates for Children announced as part of the Adams administration’s mental health agenda: “Care, Community, Action: A Mental Health Plan for New York City.” The clinics also received $700,000 in grants from the New York State Office of Mental Health through the Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Service Program.

In addition to the 16 new school-based satellite clinics, an additional 34 schools have access to rapid referrals for evaluation and treatment directly into NYC Health + Hospitals’ outpatient mental health clinics. In total, this program serves over 20,000 students across 50 schools in the South Bronx and Central Brooklyn.

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES “NYC BABY BOXES” INITIATIVE TO SEND FAMILIES HOME FROM NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FACILITIES WITH VITAL SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES

Earlier in the month, Mayor Adams announced “NYC Baby Boxes,” a new program to welcome the newest New Yorkers and their families. NYC Health + Hospitals and partner United Way of New York City (UWNYC) will develop a collection of postpartum and newborn supplies to include in the boxes, including diapers and wipes, clothing, bathing and feeding supplies, a “Made in NYC” onesie, and the upcoming “NYC New Family Resource Guide.” Additionally, families will receive their first book complements of UWNYC’s “Books from Birth” program.

Later this year, NYC Baby Boxes will be distributed to every family delivering their baby at four NYC Health + Hospitals facilities – Elmhurst, Kings County, Jacobi, Lincoln Hospitals — where more than 7,000 babies are delivered each year.

Seeded with an initial investment of $2.6 million — the initiative is part of the Adams administration’s commitment to making New York City the best place to raise a family.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS HAS CONNECTED MORE THAN 1,000 MEDICALLY- VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS LEAVING RIKERS ISLAND WITH SMARTPHONES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services has connected more than 1,000 medically-vulnerable New Yorkers leaving Rikers Island with smartphones as part of its smartphone access program, enabling them to remain engaged in health care, mental health treatment, connect with job and housing resources, and stay connected to loved ones upon returning to their communities.

The smartphone access program through NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) provides free smartphones and wireless plans to vulnerable New Yorkers immediately upon their release from Rikers Island at the CHS reentry service center. The Point of Reentry and Transition (PORT) clinic is designed for CHS patients recently released from a correctional facility. Smartphones and service plans have helped former CHS patients connect with health care providers, pick up their prescriptions, and access jobs, housing, and substance use disorder resources. Smartphones have been an especially valuable tool for the 74 percent of recipients who have had serious mental illness or were receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder at the time of their release, and the phones help give easier access to continued medical care.

FOR NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS CELEBRATES OVER 2 MILLION PLANT-BASED MEALS SERVED TO PATIENTS

For National Nutrition Month, NYC Health + Hospitals in partnership with Sodexo celebrated over 2 million plant-based meals served since the program began in March 2022. In 2024 alone, NYC Health + Hospitals served over 900,000 plant-based meals to its patients. Scientific research has shown that plant-based eating patterns are linked to significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. They can also be effective for weight management as well as treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. In addition to the considerable health benefits for patients, the transition to a plant-based menu led to a reduction in carbon emissions of 36% and a cost savings of 59 cents per meal. Patients who ate plant-based meals at NYC Health + Hospitals reported a satisfaction rate over 90%.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/LINCOLN LAUNCHES PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln launched a paid internship program for college students interested in a career in healthcare. The Leadership Education Administrative Rotation and Networking (LEARN) Program at Lincoln provides college students with an opportunity to gain valuable skills and hands-on experience in hospital administration. The first cohort of the program began this semester with five students from Lehman College. During their 5-month rotation at the hospital, the students will have the opportunity to work with leadership staff in various departments, including Finance, Hospital Administration, Human Resources and Ambulatory Care.

The program will partner with colleges, especially in the Bronx, to provide opportunities for students currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program at a college, community college, or university.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LAUNCHES NEW SEASON OF THE REMEDY, A PODCAST FROM THE LARGEST SAFETY NET HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES

In early March, the health care system launched the second season of its podcast, The Remedy, featuring leaders and health care providers from the nation’s largest municipal health care system. Season 2 of the podcast will include seven episodes, focusing on frontline workers that often provide care outside the walls of public hospitals and health centers, with a new episode released every two weeks. The podcast is available now at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio and other podcast platforms.

Episode one of the second seasons features Community Health Workers and their vital role in bridging the gap between medical care and social needs like housing, food, and transportation. With over 250 community health workers, NYC Health + Hospitals has built one of the largest programs in the nation.

Episode two looks at how NYC Care helps uninsured New Yorkers. It covers how the health care access program provides health care to low- income and uninsured New Yorkers—regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS SCREENED NEARLY 60,000 PATIENTS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER IN 2024 WITH AT-HOME FIT TEST, A 12% INCREASE OVER 2023

For National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, NYC Health + Hospitals announced that it screened nearly 60,000 patients for colorectal cancer in 2024 using the at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT), a 12% increase over 2023. FIT is an easier, less invasive screening test for colon cancer. In 2024, the Gotham Health network partnered with the American Cancer Society to enhance colorectal cancer screening rates. This initiative focused on improving FIT workflows, resulting in a 5% improvement in FIT returns and an overall increase in screening rates for Gotham patients. To further enhance patient engagement and accessibility, the health system ensured all patients had access to mail-in FIT kits by distributing prepaid return envelopes at all NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. Instructions for completing the test were provided in 14 languages to eliminate language barriers and make it easier for patients to collect their sample and return their test to the lab for processing.

Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, occurs in the colon or rectum and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in New York City. NYC Health + Hospitals offers colonoscopies and FIT kits to help prevent colon cancer or find it early when it is more treatable. When colon cancer is detected at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 90 percent; however, only 4 out of 10 colon cancers are found this early.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL UNVEILS NEW HOSPITALITY ROOMS TO ENHANCE PATIENT AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull announced the opening of two new hospitality rooms designed to enhance the experience of patients, their families, and visitors. These rooms have been thoughtfully created with the diverse needs of the hospital’s patient population in mind, providing a comforting and welcoming space and honoring the cultural and religious preferences of the local community. The quick- access, self-service spaces are equipped with essential amenities, including coffee, tea, water, a microwave, sink, and new countertops, offering families and visitors a convenient area to refresh during their visit.

DEP AND PARTNERS CELEBRATE $6.7 MILLION STORMWATER DRAINAGE UPGRADES AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/JACOBI

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi last week to announce the ongoing stormwater drainage upgrades at the Jacobi Hospital campus. DEP is investing nearly $5 million to build stormwater drainage and storage systems beneath three of the parking lots on the campus through its Resilient NYC Partners program. When completed, the stormwater drainage and storage systems will be able to capture more than 5 million gallons of water per year. The project will not only help to protect the hospital’s facilities, staff and visitors, but also create additional capacity in the larger Pelham Parkway sewer system, helping to reduce flooding throughout the neighborhood. DEP and Arcadis, who is managing the construction at each site, recently completed similar upgrades at Flushing Hospital in Queens and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with a $1.78 million investment.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS EMPLOYEE AND FACILITY RECOGNITIONS

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN SURGICAL SAFETY

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced that it has been nationally recognized by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation and has earned the AORN Go Clear Award. This recognition demonstrates the commitment of Bellevue’s Operating Room Nursing Leadership and Nursing team to provide a safe and healthy environment for both patients and surgical staff by eliminating surgical smoke, a hazardous byproduct of powered surgical instruments and lasers that poses significant health risks to those exposed. The AORN Go Clear Award is presented to facilities that have shown a proactive approach to protecting the health and well-being of everyone in the operating room by ensuring a smoke-free surgical environment.

CITY & STATE NEW YORK RECOGNIZES TWO NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS CEOS ON 2025 “QUEENS POWER 100” LIST

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, MPH, PhD, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens CEO Neil J. Moore, MBA, MPA, FACHE, were recognized by City & State New York in their “Queens Power 100” list for 2025. The annual recognition list highlights accomplished leaders across a range of industries with significant political influence who have shaped the lives of New Yorkers in Queens and beyond. City & State is a premier media organization dedicated to covering New York’s local and state politics and policy.

MODERN HEALTHCARE RECOGNIZES NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ AVP SHEREEN ZAID AS “RISING STAR” ON “LEADING WOMEN” LIST

Shereen Zaid, NYC Health + Hospitals’ Assistant Vice President for its Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRC) program, was been named to Modern Healthcare’s 2025 “Leading Women” list and distinguished as a “Rising Star” in recognition of her efforts to provide asylum seekers living in humanitarian centers critical resources, including nearly 60,000 meals per day. Shereen’s leadership of the HERRC Hospitality & Logistics team has ensured that tens of thousands of people living at the public health system’s humanitarian centers received the resources necessary to care for themselves and their children. Her management of HERRC community partnerships has helped secure the donation and distribution of over 10,000 holiday gifts, 10,000 winter coats, and 8,000 pairs of sneakers and established extensive community programming. In addition, as the former Senior Director of Logistics for the NYC Test & Trace Corps (T2), Shereen helped create a network of over 250 community-based testing distribution sites that provided New Yorkers over 150 million at-home tests and secured testing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and quarantine resources to support New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST RECEIVES PATIENT SAFETY AWARD FROM ASSOCIATION OF PERIOPERATIVE REGISTERED NURSES

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst announced that it has earned national recognition as Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety and received the Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI award from the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN). This prestigious award recognizes Elmhurst’s commitment to minimizing the risk of surgical errors and enhancing patient safety through advanced education and training of its surgical team in preventing unintentionally retained surgical items (RSI). The Center of Excellence designation signifies that the hospital has successfully completed AORN’s comprehensive, evidence-based program, adopting and implementing best practices to ensure the continued safe care of surgical patients.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE JOINS NEW BRONCHIECTASIS AND NTM CARE CENTER NETWORK

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced that the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association has accepted Bellevue Hospital as a Bronchiectasis and NTM Clinical Associate Center, part of the new Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network (CCN), a national network of 33 sites in 23 states and the District of Columbia. The CCN aims to facilitate access to specialized care and support for the hundreds of thousands of people with bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease.

RESPONDING TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS – SERVICES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

Over the month of March, NYC Health + Hospitals took significant steps in shifting its role responding to the asylum seeker crisis. Moving forward, we will house fewer asylum seekers in emergency humanitarian centers and continue to prioritize our efforts to ensure families have the case management and health resources they need to pursue a better life.

Last month, we successfully decommissioned three humanitarian centers at the Watson Hotel, Creedmoor Psychiatric Facility, and Hall Street. These centers, which collectively housed approximately 6,000 people during the peak of their operations, including many families with children, were essential in providing asylum seekers safe housing and comprehensive support at the height of the crisis. Their closure marks a pivotal moment in our response, as we transition from emergency housing demands to supporting asylum seekers achieve long-term stability.

We are tremendously proud of the hundreds of staff members who helped manage these facilities, showing up with unwavering kindness 24 hours a day to support our guests. Thanks to their dedicated work in collaboration with our case management teams, we have now helped nearly 90% of eligible adults apply for or receive work authorization.

We know that providing dedicated case management support and opportunities for asylum seekers to work, including connections to employment and job training, are key to their stability. Our commitment to providing the supports they need to succeed remains steadfast.

NYC CARE UPDATE

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS, NYC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND NYC MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RELEASE ‘OPEN LETTER TO IMMIGRANT NEW YORKERS’ PROMOTING HEALTH CARE ACCESS

Last week, NYC Health + Hospitals, the NYC Health Department, and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs released a joint letter, entitled ‘Open Letter to Immigrant New Yorkers,’ detailing the City health care services available to all New Yorkers, the protections afforded to those seeking care, and encouraging all immigrant New Yorkers and their families to seek care without fear. NYC Health + Hospitals’ public hospitals and health centers are located city-wide, and patients can also utilize the Virtual ExpressCare service to access care from anywhere. The NYC Health Department provides health care services at its eight sexual health, immunization, and tuberculosis clinics and three Neighborhood Health Action Centers located in Brooklyn, East Harlem, and the Bronx. Together, the agencies highlight their unwavering commitment to health care access, regardless of ones’ immigration status, ability to pay, or English proficiency.

ARTS IN MEDICINE UPDATE

LARGE-SCALE ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST PAINTING INSTALLED AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/LINCOLN

NYC Health + Hospitals announced that abstract expressionist painter Ilya Bolotowsky’s 6-foot-by-21-foot painting Untitled (1973) has been permanently installed in the lobby of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln after years in storage. Initially created by the artist for NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, the work returns to the public thanks to a $70,000 donation by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Twenty smaller works by the artist will also be framed and installed throughout NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. Nearly 900 works of art in NYC Health + Hospitals’ collection are available to view worldwide on the free Bloomberg Connects app, and these works now have informational wall text and a QR code leading to additional material on the app.

Artist Ilya Bolotowksy (1907-1981) developed his abstract artistic practice after immigrating to New York from St. Petersburg, Russia. An early practitioner of integrating the arts into healthcare settings, Bolotowsky was commissioned by the Work Progress Administration in 1941 to paint a mural for a hospital on Roosevelt Island. Today, NYC Health + Hospitals has over 20 works by the artist in its collection.

METROPLUSHEALTH UPDATE

METROPLUSHEALTH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROGRAM: EMPOWERING RECOVERY AND SUCCESS

MetroPlusHealth’s Peer Support Specialist Program leverages the lived experiences of individuals who have navigated mental health and substance abuse disorders to offer validation, understanding, and practical guidance. By sharing their personal journeys, peer specialists are able to foster a sense of hope, community, and connection, which plays a crucial role in promoting recovery and empowering individuals to reclaim control of their lives.

The program is built on the understanding that recovery is not a one- size-fits-all journey but a deeply personal process. MetroPlusHealth’s ten peer specialists are at the heart of this initiative, actively engaging members during their inpatient stays at various NYC hospitals, including H+H and private facilities, as well as substance abuse treatment centers. In 2024, the Peer Support Specialist Program successfully engaged 2,297 unique members in peer support care management, a significant achievement that demonstrates the demand and impact of such services. The engagement methods have been diverse, with 46% of interactions occurring telephonically, ensuring that distance or logistical barriers do not prevent individuals from receiving crucial support. However, the impact of face-to-face interactions has been particularly notable, with engagements increasing to 65% in community settings.

Peer specialists offer emotional support and actively connect members to practical resources that address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) needs. In 2024, the specialists made 1,503-member referrals to essential services such as housing, food assistance, clothing, employment opportunities, self-help groups, legal assistance, Social Security benefits, and community college enrollment. Through these referrals, many of members have been able to achieve signgificant milestones, such as securing full-time employment with reputable organizations like the MTA, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Department of Corrections.

Peer specialists provide services in home and community-based settings, assist members in identifying and reaching their goals, coordinate with collateral support, and connect members to various resources. They advocate for the needs of our members, encouraging self-advocacy and offering guidance in navigating complex systems. In times of crisis, they also provide immediate intervention, helping to de-escalate situations and connect individuals with the appropriate resources to address their immediate needs.

The success of the Peer Support Specialist Program has far-reaching impacts, and as MetroPlusHealth continues to track progress, it is committed to expanding the program in the future.

External Affairs Update

City

On March 6, NYC Health + Hospitals testified before the New York City Council on the Preliminary Budget. Dr. Katz provided testimony while Dr. Patsy Yang and James Cassidy joined him for Q&A.

State

On the State level, the start of the new state fiscal year begins on April 1st.

Earlier this month, the Assembly and Senate each passed its one house budget in response to the Governor’s proposed Executive budget.

Fortunately, both houses address the majority of NYC Health + Hospitals priorities. Both the Senate and the Assembly amend the Governor’s language which would eliminate indigent care pool funding and conditions the language upon receipt of federal approval. We were pleased to see that both the Senate and Assembly provide additional Medicaid investments for hospitals, nursing homes, and health centers. Also, the Senate’s one-house budget restored the 10% capital reimbursement cut for hospitals and nursing homes H+H requested.

At this time, it is unlikely the budget will be passed by the April 1st deadline and we continue to advocate for the needs of the health care system.

Federal

On the Federal level, NYC Health + Hospitals continues to advocate to Congressional leaders, in collaboration with our hospital association partners. We are grateful for the support of our Congressional delegation. The top federal advocacy priority is preventing cuts to Medicaid, with additional federal priorities including preventing Medicaid DSH cuts, now slated to go into effect on October 1, maintaining telehealth flexibilities, preventing Site Neutral Medicare cuts, and funding for Graduate Medical Education, safety net hospitals, and health care infrastructure.

We are also currently working with our Congressional delegation to submit Congressional Directed Spending requests for facility capital and infrastructure priorities.

Community Affairs

The NYC Health + Hospitals’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion joined the Council of Community Advisory Boards (CABs) on March 4th to present on systemwide efforts to ensure “Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services at NYC Health + Hospitals.” The Council of CABs voted to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CABs and NYC Health + Hospitals at its meeting this month. The MOU will be the set of uniform guidelines for each of the 21 CABs and replaces all individual by-laws. Multiple CABs hosted legislative breakfasts at their facilities this month, including: Bellevue, Harlem, Metropolitan, Elmhurst, Kings County, Queens, and South Brooklyn Health. The events were informative, sharing the needs of the facility and the health system, and were well attended.

The Central Council of Auxiliaries hosted their first meeting of the year on March 5th. The new Co-Chair Karen Lester was introduced to the group, as well as other new auxiliary chairs. The group discussed ideas for collaboration and best practices for fundraising. The Community Affairs team has also visited Elmhurst Auxiliary, Metropolitan Auxiliary and South Brooklyn Health Auxiliary at their monthly meetings.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYSTEM

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