Public-Private Partnerships Promote Children's Health
By Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Last year, I launched HealthStat, a comprehensive, citywide
initiative to provide uninsured New Yorkers with access to existing
health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Child Health Plus.
I am pleased to announce that the first year of HealthStat has been
a tremendous success and we have programs in place to ensure that
2001 will bring even bigger gains.
Prior to HealthStat, there were an estimated 325,000 uninsured children
in New York City who were eligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus.
In just one year, children's enrollment in these programs grew by
125,000. We are well on our way to ensuring that all children receive
the vital health coverage for which they are eligible.
To build on last year's momentum, I have added a new component to
HealthStat called the School Incentive Program. This initiative
offers cash awards to schools that help enroll uninsured children
in Medicaid and Child Health Plus. Schools can win up to $50,000,
depending on the number of uninsured children they enroll. More than
200 schools are actively participating in this program today.
The rules are simple. Schools enrolling 70% of their uninsured children
in insurance programs qualify for a $25,000 award; schools enrolling
100% of their uninsured children qualify for $50,000. Schools with
fewer than 100 uninsured children are eligible for smaller awards.
The awards can be used for any educational purpose such as buying
new computers or purchasing new books for the library.
Schools are embracing this program because they know that children
without access to regular health care are 25% more likely to miss
school. A healthy child is a better student. And the cash awards allow
schools to provide extra services to students.
Many schools are working with other City agencies or private partners
to sponsor enrollment activities. For example, the Fire Department
sponsored a Health Fair for the families of children in P.S. 75 in
Brooklyn on June 9. The FDNY collaborated with Wyckoff Medical Center
to provide free health screenings for families. Enrollers were at
the Health Fair to assist parents in signing up their children for
Medicaid or Child Health Plus.
As the school year comes to an end, the City will be presenting the
first round of cash awards to several schools that have hit their
enrollment targets. Schools will continue working through the summer
and the next school year to identify uninsured children and get them
enrolled in health programs. Ask your children's principal if your
school is participating and how you can help.
I have also created a NYCHA Incentive Program to get tenants of public
housing developments involved in HealthStat. Tenant organizations
throughout the city are enrolling children in public health insurance
programs for a chance to win cash awards of up to $12,500. These tenant
groups can use the cash awards for any purpose, including educational
programs, sports activities, or enhancing community center activities.
Finally, HealthStat is not just for children anymore. In September,
the State will begin implementing a new program called Family Health
Plus, which will expand health coverage to many uninsured adults --
including some without children -- who earn too much to qualify for
Medicaid. To learn whether you or your children could qualify for
Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or Family Health Plus, call the City's
new automated phone line at 1-888-NYC-6116.
