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City Announces Additional Benefits for IDNYC Cardholders Through New Integrations With NYC Health + Hospitals and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

April 21, 2016

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viverito today announced expanded benefits for the city’s more than 830,000 IDNYC cardholders through a new partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Cardholders will be able to link their IDNYC number to their health care services during the patient registration process at NYC Health + Hospitals and use their IDNYC card to access DOHMH immunization records. These benefits will streamline patient registration and ease access to medical records. The IDNYC card will also serve as a membership card for ActionHealthNYC participants receiving health care services at designated NYC Health + Hospitals locations.

“Every New Yorker deserves access to quality health care," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "The IDNYC health benefits launching today will allow our more than 830,000 cardholders to use their ‘key to the city’ to unlock more streamlined access to our City’s health care system. This partnership will benefit so many New Yorkers – from the immigrant families in our ActionHealthNYC program to the student trying to access their immunization records for college.”

“Our IDNYC is the most expansive municipal ID program in the country, providing tens of thousands of New Yorkers with safe, secure identification and access to essential services. Now, we are pleased to announce that IDNYC will be expanding even further, providing cardholders with access to immunization records and new health care options. Every New Yorker, regardless of immigration status, deserves the opportunity to build a stable, healthy life in our city, and this expansion will help countless families get the healthcare access they deserve,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

In the second year of the program, IDNYC remains free and continues to serve more city residents than any other municipal ID across the country. Expanding on ways New Yorkers can access City services, IDNYC has partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals to allow IDNYC cards to serve as a registration card to help improve the patient experience by reducing registration wait times, streamlining the registration process and providing patients with a convenient way to register at patient care locations within the health system. Once a patient’s IDNYC card number has been linked in the system, the patient can use the IDNYC card during registration at any NYC Health + Hospitals patient care location. The initial NYC Health + Hospitals rollout has started at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island, with plans to expand citywide throughout 2016 and 2017. 

Further, starting this summer, in partnership with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, parents and guardians will be able to use an online portal to access and print immunization records that are needed for Department of Education enrollment and verification, college admissions, and camp enrollment. The online portal will be available in the summer of 2016 for parents that have obtained an IDNYC to access school records in time for fall enrollment.

Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery, Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals Dr. Ram Raju, and Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett made the announcement this morning at a press conference at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island. 

“Today we are announcing how IDNYC will serve as a tool to aid in the healthcare needs of New York City families. For the first time, parents and guardians will be able to use an online portal to access and print immunization records. IDNYC is taking an important step in fulfilling its promise of delivering City services equitably for all New Yorkers and serving as New Yorkers’ key to this great city,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery.

“Today IDNYC takes great strides connecting New Yorkers to their health care options with ease," said Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. “IDNYC’s partnerships with NYC Health + Hospitals and DOHMH are integral to ensuring that the health needs of all New Yorkers are met, especially those in our most vulnerable communities.”

IDNYC will also serve as the membership card for all participants in ActionHealthNYC, a new health care access program with services based at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur, and community-based health centers. ActionHealthNYC will offer low- or no-cost coordinated health care to enrollees contingent upon income eligibility. ActionHealthNYC is designed to serve immigrant New Yorkers that currently do not have access to or qualify for health insurance.

“IDNYC is making the City’s health care resources even more accessible and efficient for New York City families,” said Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “Today’s announcement demonstrates IDNYC’s value: to be a key to the services that improve the lives of New Yorkers and their families.” 

“Integrating IDNYC cards into our registration process reinforces our commitment to providing health care to all regardless of insurance or immigration status, and streamlines the registration process to improve the patient experience,” said Dr. Ram Raju, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “We believe all New Yorkers have the right to health equity and we promote an environment where patients and families feel secure while getting the care they need, without barriers.”

“New York City continues to make health care and City services more accessible to all New Yorkers, and IDNYC now makes it even easier for families to get immunization records,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “Having an IDNYC will simplify the enrollment process for the City’s educational institutions and help New York City families better access the information they need. I encourage parents to sign up for an IDNYC before taking their children to get the required vaccines this summer.”

"By providing parents with secure online access to their child's immunization records, this innovative partnership will make it easier for families to complete the enrollment and verification process. This is a valuable resource that will allow families across the city to safely access important resources to best support their child's needs,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. 

“IDNYC enables all New Yorkers to participate in the benefits and services of our City, whether it’s providing access to our world-class cultural institutions or making it easier to obtain essential health information, access and care,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “This partnership is a great example of how City agencies can join forces to make valuable services available to everyone.”

"This innovative use of the IDNYC card and partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals offers easier access to services and better health outcomes to more New Yorkers,” said Director Mindy Tarlow of the Mayor’s Office of Operations.

Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito launched the IDNYC program in 2014 to make government work more efficiently and effectively for New Yorkers by expanding access to the services, programs, and opportunities available to all residents across the five boroughs. IDNYC serves as valid identification when interacting with the NYPD, grants access to all City buildings, functions as a library card across all three library systems and serves as primary identification for opening a bank or credit union account at partnering financial institution across NYC. IDNYC benefits every city resident, including the most vulnerable communities who may have difficulty obtaining other government-issued ID. For many immigrant communities, as a government-issued photo identification card, IDNYC secures the peace of mind that comes from having recognized identification.

"Integrating IDNYC‎ and public health services just makes sense," said Council Member Corey Johnson, Chair of the Committee on Health. "The accessibility and convenience of IDNYC has the potential to expand health services to more New Yorkers, particularly in immigrant communities. I thank Mayor de Blasio and his Office of Immigrant Affairs for their commitment to expanding services to all New Yorkers through innovative programs like IDNYC."

“IDNYC keeps getting better. IDNYC registrants will now have three important healthcare components along with the dozens of benefits already in place. IDNYC improves the lives of individuals and strengthens our communities – just as we’d hoped,” said Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Chair of the Committee on Immigration. “If you’re registered, make sure you’re getting your benefits.  If you haven’t registered, join me and sign up!”

"IDNYC cardholders now have even greater access to City services thanks to this new expansion," said Council Member Daniel Dromm. "These new health care integrations will help thousands of cardholders live happier and healthier lives. I urge everyone to immediately apply for their IDNYC card, which is available to all New Yorkers regardless of gender identity, immigration status or homelessness."

“IDNYC has already proven itself to be an invaluable resource for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. It’s great news that the de Blasio administration is making the program even better by enabling cardholders to access and integrate their health records by using their IDNYC cards,” said Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried of Manhattan, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Health.

"Make the Road New York applauds the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs for working to expand the use of the IDNYC to include more health services. With this expansion, our community members will have better access to healthcare through NYC Health + Hospitals as well as the new ActionHealthNYC program. MRNY is currently conducting outreach to immigrant communities to enroll them in the ActionHealthNYC program. We have received a positive response from community members on the use of the IDNYC to help improve coordination of services. We look forward to working with the City to continue to improve access to healthcare for immigrants,” said Becca Telzak, Director of Health Programs, Make the Road New York.

“The New York Immigration Coalition welcomes this integration of IDNYC with important health information, services, and programming," said Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition Steven Choi. "IDNYC is already a critical resource for the city's immigrant communities. Expanding its use for City health services by making it easier for patients to use NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, access their health information and access crucial primary care services is a smart and worthy effort that will only further benefit our communities."

"The Community Service Society of New York lauds Mayor de Blasio, Dr. Basset and Dr. Raju for their leadership in stepping up to address the health needs of our immigrant residents left behind by the Affordable Care Act," said Elisabeth R. Benjamin, Vice President of Health Initiatives at Community Service Society. "Providing a welcoming health program for immigrants is an important step in ensuring their equality in our great city."

IDNYC cardholders are eligible for myriad benefits including cultural institution discounts and memberships, fitness center and pharmacy discounts, exclusive entertainment offers and more. 

All city residents age 14 and above are eligible to get a municipal ID card, and enrollment is free for anyone who applies in 2016. All IDNYC applicants must have documentation that proves identity and residency in New York City. The City will protect the confidentiality of all IDNYC card applications and will not ask applicants about their immigration status. For more information on IDNYC eligibility criteria, benefits, enrollment centers across the five boroughs and more, applicants can visit nyc.gov/idnyc or call 311.

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