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  • REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – October 2025

REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – October 2025

Mitchell H. Katz, MD
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
October 30, 2025

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS EMPLOYEE AND FACILITY RECOGNITIONS

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES NAMED AMONG NEWSWEEK’S BEST NURSING HOMES IN AMERICA

NYC Health + Hospitals’ five skilled nursing facilities have been recognized in Newsweek Best Nursing Homes list for 2026. NYC Health + Hospitals’ facilities ranked #2, #3, #4, #10, and #11 out of more than 600 nursing homes in New York State. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur, ranking #2 in the State, was the highest ranked nursing home in New York City. For the rankings Newsweek identified the top 1,200 facilities out of more than 15,000 nursing homes nationwide. The rankings are designed to assist patients and their families in making informed decisions about where to receive their long-term and post-acute care. NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, Gouverneur, McKinney and Sea View earned an overall five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which designates them among the top 10 percent of skilled nursing facilities in the country.

With over 600 nursing homes in New York State, the following NYC Health + Hospitals long-term care facilities were recognized among the best nursing homes:

FOR THE SECOND YEAR, NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS RECOGNIZED AS A 2025 WELLBEING FIRST CHAMPION, SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE WORKER WELLBEING

NYC Health + Hospitals has been recognized by ALL IN: WellBeing First for Healthcare as a 2025 Wellbeing First Champion. This is the second year in a row that NYC Health + Hospitals has been awarded this special recognition for its leadership in removing

invasive mental health questions from physician applications for medical licensure, credentialing, and insurance. According to a 2023 survey by the Physicians Foundation, 4 in 10 physicians were either afraid or knew another physician fearful of seeking mental health care given questions asked in applications for medical licensure, credentialing, or insurance. As a Wellbeing First Champion, all NYC Health + Hospitals credentialing applications have been verified as continuing to be free of any intrusive and stigmatizing language around mental health care and treatment. Verification is confirmed annually by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, a coalition of leading health care organizations that work to eliminate barriers for health workers to access mental health care.

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, AND CHOLESTEROL

The American Heart Association recognized several of the health care System’s sites with awards for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol control. Twenty-two of the health care System’s primary care sites received the 2025 Target: BP Gold + award, the highest possible award, for achieving blood pressure control for at least 70% of their patients. Twenty-three of the health care System’s primary care sites also received the 2025 Target: Type 2 Diabetes Gold award, the highest possible award, for having met high thresholds for diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors, hypertension, and cholesterol management. The twenty-three primary care sites also received the 2025 Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol Gold award, the highest possible award, for having at least 70% of their adult patient population at risk of cardiovascular disease on statin therapy. These three conditions – high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cholesterol – are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke.

SIXTEEN NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS NURSE LEADERS RECOGNIZED FOR ACHIEVING DOCTORAL DISTINCTION

On Tuesday, October 16th – sixteen nurse leaders who have attained doctoral-level education were recognized at the health System’s fourth annual Doctoral Circle of Excellence event. The Circle honors nurses who have earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), or Doctor of Education (EdD) in nursing. The program supports and promotes mentoring and networking among nurses across the health care System. It also connects nurse researchers with aligned interests to collaborate across facilities to generate new

knowledge and integrate nursing research and evidence-based practices into clinical and operational processes. These 16 nurses join 146 other nurses in the health care System who have achieved this level of distinction. In 2022, 17.4% of the nation’s registered nurses held a master’s degree and 2.7% held a doctoral degree. The current demand for nurses with a master’s or doctor’s degree who are prepared for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching, and research roles far outpaces supply.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN HOSTS INAUGURAL GALA TO COMMEMORATE 150-YEAR LEGACY OF PROVIDING CARE TO NEW YORKERS

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan hosted its inaugural gala commemorating 150 years of providing care to New Yorkers. Founded in 1875, Metropolitan Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in New York City and in New York State. The inaugural gala also honored Metropolitan Hospital’s historic partnership with New York Medical College, a partnership that represents the nation’s oldest municipal hospital–medical school affiliation.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL AWARDED DESIGNATION AS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN LUNG CANCER SCREENING

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) in Lung Cancer Screening by GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) for its ongoing commitment to providing the North Brooklyn community with patient-centered, evidence-based lung cancer screening. An estimated 237,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer annually, with most being found at an advanced stage of the disease. As a result, lung cancer has long been the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. By screening individuals at high risk for lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), this disease can now be found early, when it is most treatable and even curable.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS CELEBRATES THE 140-YEAR HISTORY OF GOUVERNEUR AND BRIDGING HEALTH CARE ACCESS TO NEW YORKERS

On October 22, NYC Health + Hospitals celebrated the 140th anniversary of Gouverneur, the former hospital built in 1885 in lower Manhattan. Gouverneur was the first municipal hospital to establish a tuberculosis clinic and the first hospital to have a female physician and ambulance surgeon, Dr. Emily Barringer. Today, Gouverneur serves as a premier community health center and skilled nursing facility in the Lower East Side community, continuing a long-standing legacy of care for all New Yorkers — without exception.

Originally, Gouverneur Hospital was designed to serve as an emergency hospital and ambulance station for the congested waterfront district, and to address patient overcrowding at Bellevue Hospital, just a few miles north. Each day, 150 patients were treated in a facility staffed by one visiting physician and surgeon, one consulting surgeon, and a three- member house staff.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND FACILITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES NYC BABY BOXES TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR NEW MOTHERS AND FAMILIES

New York City Mayor Eric Adams CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz celebrated the launch of “NYC Baby Boxes,” a program to welcome the newest New Yorkers and support New York City families by reducing early financial stress for new parents. Families of newborns at four NYC Health + Hospital locations will be provided with boxes that contain a collection of postpartum and newborn supplies, including diapers and wipes, clothing, games, and several resource guides.

The boxes contain a collection of postpartum and newborn supplies, including diapers and wipes, a “NYC Loves Me” onesie and cap, footie pajamas, a baby carrier, a baby thermometer, baby nail clippers, a nasal aspirator, burp cloths, baby shampoo, diaper rash cream, a Goodnight Moon board book, postpartum pads, nipple cream, and a New York City baby-themed diaper bag.

Additionally, the box includes a “Mother and New Baby Health Guide” with helpful information about what to expect after childbirth and when to contact a doctor. A “NYC New Family Resource Guide” will be handed out with the baby box, which includes information on City and community-based maternal and baby health supports.

The Adams administration launched NYC Baby Boxes to address the new and increased expenses that come with a new baby, coupled with the stresses that accompany many parents’ reduced income due to postpartum recovery and family leave. Households with children have a greater risk of struggling to meet their basic needs, and existing benefits available for families — like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — do not cover all of the new baby expenses, such as diapers. In a national survey, nearly half of families reported struggling to afford diapers and more than a quarter said they skipped meals in order to pay for diapers.

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES OPENING OF EIGHT NEW FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS AT SELECT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LOCATIONS TO HELP NEW YORKERS AVOID FUTURE MEDICAL DEBT

Mayor Adams celebrated the opening of eight new ‘NYC Financial Empowerment Centers’ run by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) at select NYC Health + Hospitals locations across the health system to help New Yorkers better plan and avoid going into medical debt in the future.

This announcement continues to fulfill two more key commitments made during Mayor Adams’ 2024 State of the City address, to relieve $2 billion of New Yorkers’ medical debt and embed additional financial counselors in New York City hospitals — providing more New Yorkers with access to vital personalized financial guidance.

NYC Financial Empowerment Centers provide free one-on-one financial counseling and coaching services to help New Yorkers reach their financial goals. The Financial Empowerment Centers can help New Yorkers learn how to create action plans and take small but meaningful steps to manage their money, establish or improve their credit, set up a spending plan, open a safe and affordable bank account, contact their lenders about debt, including student loans and medical debt, develop a strategy to reduce debt or lower payments, and more.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS DISCHARGES “MYRACLE” BABY

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens announced the ceremonial graduation and miraculous discharge of Myracle, a resilient infant born at 22 weeks and weighing just 1 pound, 0.6 ounces. Inspired by another baby’s successful treatment at Queens Hospital after being born pre-term, Myracle’s family chose Queens Hospital for her care, leading to a remarkable journey from fragility to flourishing health. After five months in the NICU, Myracle was able to go home from the hospital earlier this month weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

During her graduation ceremony, Myracle received a commemorative certificate featuring her footprint. The family expressed their gratitude with a framed thank-you and special gifts for Dr. Alice Garner, Chief of Newborn Services, and Dr. Paul Gleason, who worked closely with the family to deliver Myracle, cementing the hospital’s bond with Myracle and her family. Myracle’s remarkable progress was achieved thanks to the seamless collaboration between the Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics, Neonatology, and dedicated NICU teams who ensured her healthy development.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS UNVEILS TRUEBEAM LINEAR ACCELERATOR AND STATE-OF-THE-ART INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY SUITE WITH SUPPORT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DONOVAN RICHARDS AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JIM GENNARO

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens celebrated the unveiling of two significant healthcare innovations: the introduction of the TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, a $5 million investment, and the newly renovated Interventional Radiology Suite. These advancements were made possible through the support of Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Jim Gennaro, marking a new chapter in the hospital’s commitment to improving patient care in Queens.

The TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, replacing an end-of-life machine, brings state-of-the-art radiotherapy capabilities to a community where cancer rates are disproportionally high. This cutting-edge technology delivers precise, high-dose radiation with unparalleled accuracy, allowing for the use of advanced techniques such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). These innovative methods enable treatment to be precisely targeted at cancerous cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues, leading to improved patient outcomes, reduced side effects, and shorter treatment times. The presence of such advanced technology ensures that patients can receive the best possible cancer care right in their own community, without the need for extensive travel.

The $3.3 million renovation of the Interventional Radiology Suite, supported by $2.4 million from Borough President Richards and $900,000 from Council Member Gennaro, equips NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens with the General Electric Allia IGS 7 system. This renovation has expanded the suite by 88 percent to 900 square feet, enhancing the hospital’s capabilities in performing complex, minimally invasive procedures.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM RECOGNIZES NATIONAL HEALTHCARE QUALITY WEEK

Last week NYC Health + Hospitals celebrated Healthcare Quality Week. The week is an annual observance recognizing the work of health care quality professionals and highlighting the importance of safe, effective, and patient-centered care. The health care system’s quality team brought together interdisciplinary teams from across the system to honor and recognize those who do this work every day.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS ADVISES NEW YORKERS TO RECEIVE THEIR ANNUAL FLU AND COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

NYC Health + Hospitals announced that the 2025–2026 updated influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are now available for patients at its hospitals and Gotham Health facilities across the City. All New Yorkers 6 months of age and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19.

These vaccinations, as well as the RSV vaccine for eligible patients, can be administered at the same time and are a safe, effective way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community during respiratory virus season. Vaccinations are available at no cost to established patients at all NYC Health + Hospitals and Gotham Health sites.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL OPENS NEW MINOR SURGERY SUITE, EXPANDING ACCESS AND ENHANCING PATIENT EXPERIENCE

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull unveiled its new Minor Surgery Suite, a modern and efficient addition designed to enhance patient access, reduce wait-times, and optimize surgical operations across multiple specialties. The new suite provides a comfortable, streamlined environment for same-day procedures, supporting a wide range of services and helping to free up capacity in the hospital’s main operating rooms for more complex surgical cases. Built in alignment with Joint Commission and Department of Health standards, the suite reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to safety, efficiency, and patient-centered care.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE ANNOUNCES NEW LITERACY PROGRAM FOR NICU FAMILIES

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue announced Our Story Begins, a first-of-its-kind literacy program in New York that encourages families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to read to their babies as part of routine care. The initiative provides families with books and literacy education, supporting bonding and promoting healthy language and cognitive development from the very start of life. Our Story Begins is distinguished by the parent education provided by nursing and medical staff, in combination with resources that enable families to build personal libraries and continue these reading practices beyond discharge. Encouraging families to read to their babies also helps families feel in control and more involved in their baby’s care.

Since its start in May, Our Story Begins has distributed nearly 300 books to families and trained Bellevue Hospital’s NICU staff to guide parents on the benefits of reading aloud. All materials are provided in English and Spanish, and families receive books based on the length of their baby’s stay, along with coaching from nurses on how a caregiver’s voice can comfort, calm, and stimulate development. The program was developed in partnership with Children of Bellevue’s Reach Out and Read Program, which supports caregivers in fostering healthy relationships with their young children through shared reading.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN EARNS GOLD SAFE SLEEP HOSPITAL REDESIGNATION, MANHATTAN’S ONLY HOSPITAL WITH THIS DISTINCTION

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan announced its second consecutive Gold-level Safe Sleep Hospital Certification from Cribs for Kids, a milestone reflecting the hospital’s sustained commitment to infant safety and education in accordance with the highest national standards. Metropolitan Hospital is the only hospital in Manhattan with this designation, which it has maintained since 2018. Hospitals like Metropolitan Hospital, which primarily provide care to underserved communities, play a vital role in reducing risks by providing families with clear guidance on creating safe sleep environments.

As the only hospital in Manhattan to hold Gold-Level status, Metropolitan Hospital demonstrates its commitment to not only safeguarding infants in its care, but also to extending that commitment through community outreach and education. This designation reflects the collaborative efforts of the hospital’s multidisciplinary teams and leadership to uphold the highest standards of infant safety.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/NORTH CENTRAL BRONX AND LEHMAN COLLEGE UNITE TO BOOST THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx has joined forces with Lehman College in an effort to increase the number of students pursuing health-related careers through the Emergency Department (ED) Ambassador program. The initiative provides students with a comprehensive, months-long experience in the emergency department, where they provide direct support to patients while gaining critical insight into healthcare delivery. Nearly a dozen ED Ambassadors have participated in the program since its inception two years ago, with new students enrolling each semester. During their internship, ED Ambassadors engage in hands-on care activities that bridge the gap between medical staff and patients, experiencing firsthand the fast- paced reality of emergency medicine.

Under the guidance of care teams, ED Ambassadors gain practical experience in patient care—listening with compassion, helping patients feel comfortable with small but meaningful gestures, such as bringing blankets, water, or snacks, and alerting medical staff to any concerns. They make regular rounds throughout the emergency department, introducing themselves to patients and actively checking on their comfort levels. They also focus on improving the overall patient experience, including assistance with guest WiFi access and using the patient portal, MyChart.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LEADS SIMULATION FOR MERS, A VIRAL RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

NYC Health + Hospitals recently conducted a simulation exercise to evaluate a portable isolation unit designed for rapid deployment during infectious disease emergencies. The exercise focused on standing up the unit, safely isolating a simulated patient with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and practicing infection control measures for a highly contagious airborne illness.

In the scenario, an adult patient presented to the Emergency Department at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health with fever, cough, and shortness of breath after recent travel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The patient’s history included exposure to known MERS risk factors, including close contact with camels and consumption of unpasteurized camel milk.

The exercise tested the hospital team’s ability to quickly deploy and operate a portable isolation unit—on loan from the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. This unit can create a temporary airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) when existing hospital isolation rooms are at capacity. The goal of this exercise was to assess whether this tool could serve as a practical and effective asset for managing patients with special pathogens in real-world settings.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FACILITIES PARTICIPATE IN BREAST CANCER AWARENESS ACTIVITIES

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and all NYC Health + Hospitals facilities participated in awareness activities from tabling at their facilities to bake sales to walking in Central Park. Every year 17,000 women in New York state are diagnosed with breast cancer. From October 2023 to September 2025 the health care system completed approximately 135,000 breast cancer screenings. Over 77% of our patients are up-to-date on their screenings.

As part of the awareness effort, the very large, inflatable pink chair made its way to several events, including one at 50 Water Street run by Community Care. NYC Health + Hospitals facilities raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer awareness, and almost all of them participated in Making Strides, the American Cancer Society-sponsored walk that happens in every borough and Central Park.

BRIDGE TO HOME UPDATE

A NEW CARE MODEL FOR NEW YORKERS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS

Last month, NYC Health + Hospitals celebrated the opening of the public health care system’s first “Bridge to Home” facility, an innovative support model designed to provide transitional housing with on-site clinical services for New Yorkers with severe mental illness. The program fills a critical gap for patients who are ready to be discharged from our hospitals but do not have a safe place to continue their recovery. Bridge to Home offers patients a stable, home-like environment with onsite clinical services and behavioral health care to ensure they can continue their recovery while transitioning to permanent housing.

Located in Midtown West, the 46-bed facility provides guests private rooms and access to psychiatric care, nursing, case management, and housing navigation. By offering patients intensive treatment and comprehensive support, Bridge to Home aims to keep patients on a path toward sustained success, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, decreasing homelessness and reliance on shelters, and lowering interactions with the criminal justice system. The program builds on the city’s broader efforts to improve housing outcomes for individuals with severe mental illness, working in tandem with initiatives like our Housing for Health program.

Bridge to Home has now completed its fifth full week of operations and welcomed approximately fifteen guests who are receiving services and 24/7 support from a dedicated team of NYC Health + Hospitals psychiatrists, nurses, community health workers, and social workers. The program is actively engaging with the local community through partnerships with the Midtown HUB and local Business Improvement Districts. The Bridge to Home Community Advisory Board (CAB) held its first meeting in late October to ensure ongoing community involvement and feedback.

ARTS IN MEDICINE UPDATE

CARNEGIE HALL’S LULLABY PROJECT CONNECTS WITH PARENTS AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST TO CREATE LULLABIES

NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute today announced a new season of the Lullaby Project. The program created by Carnegie Hall pairs professional musicians with parents or expecting parents to write a personalized lullaby for their family. The Lullaby Project is available to patients and staff of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, and the free workshops will take place at the hospital on most Thursdays from October to April. Research shows that creating and singing lullabies promotes overall family well-being by supporting parental health, early child development, and the connection between parent and child. This year, researchers will also evaluate how this creative process affects hospital staff who help connect families to the project. The evaluation will be led by WolfBrown, known for their work with Carnegie Hall on impact research.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS AND JUILLIARD EXTENSION LAUNCH HARMONIZING FOR HEALTH PROGRAM TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BURNOUT

NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department and Juilliard Extension today announced a new collaboration to launch Harmonizing for Health, an observational music program for health care providers to help combat staff burnout and compassion fatigue. Led by faculty and musicians from Juilliard Extension, workshops will offer time for music, dialogue, and personal reflection during the workday. The pilot program will support about fifty hospital employees at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue over several months. Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health will assess whether the intervention effectively addresses staff burnout and could contribute to retention. Harmonizing for Health is funded by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

A large body of scientific research has shown that music can have a profound effect on our health. Music reduces symptoms of depression, supports pain management, provides a safe environment to contribute to healing from trauma, and builds resilience while decreasing anxiety and blood pressure. Music improves our sleep quality, mental alertness, memory, and overall health and well-being.

CREATIVE CARE IN ACTION OPENS AT THE LAURIE M. TISCH ILLUMINIATION FUND OFFICES

The exhibition Inside the Hospital Artists-in-Residence Program: Creative Care in Action officially opened at the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund offices to showcase the wonderfully colorful, bright, and inspiring artworks created by hospital workers who have participated in Artist-in-Residence initiative. The program is currently active across six facilities — NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Kings County, Lincoln, North Central Bronx, South Brooklyn Health, and Gotham Health, Morrisania—offering weekly moments of creative care for healthcare heroes. Since 2022, more than 6,300 staff have taken part in artmaking sessions. This exhibition was thoughtfully curated by Mónica Mariño from Arts in Medicine and Sheila Fontanive and Liz Rubel from the Creative Center at University Settlement.

METROPLUSHEALTH UPDATE

MEDICARE STAR RATING REFLECTS STRENGTH OF INTEGRATED SYSTEM PARTNERSHIP

MetroPlusHealth’s Medicare STAR Rating saw major gains in clinical quality, member experience, and operational performance. This progress reflects the strength of the integrated care model and supports NYC Health + Hospitals’ strategic goal to improve patient satisfaction across the MetroPlusHealth–NYC Health + Hospitals partnership.

With nearly 60% of MetroPlusHealth’s Medicare beneficiaries receiving care at NYC Health + Hospitals, the health care system’s clinical performance is foundational to the plan’s STAR Rating success. These results demonstrate the impact of the shared systems, aligned priorities, and a joint commitment to health quality and equity.

The STAR Ratings Program, administered by CMS, evaluates Medicare Advantage plans across 45 measures spanning clinical quality, member experience, drug safety, and operational performance. Plans are rated from 1 to 5 Stars, with higher scores unlocking increased rebates and Quality Bonus Payments (QBP) that support supplemental benefits such as an OTC card to help members pay for eligible over-the-counter items like vitamins, first aid supplies, and personal care products.

Key Drivers of Improvement

MetroPlusHealth’s overall rating increase was driven by statistically significant gains in 21 measures, including:

  • Clinical Quality: Strong performance in Care for Older Adults (Medication Review, Pain Assessment), Diabetes Care (Eye Exam, Blood Sugar Control), and Controlling High Blood Pressure.
  • Care Transitions: High scores in Notification of Admission, Receipt of Discharge, Patient Engagement, and Medication Reconciliation.
  • Medication Adherence: Improved adherence across all three-Part D measures—diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol.
  • Operational Excellence: Reflecting improved member retention and satisfaction.
  • Patient Experience (CAHPS): As a core component of the Medicare STAR Ratings, CAHPS measures reflect how members experience their care—including access to care, communication, and service. MetroPlusHealth’s year-over-year gains in CAHPS were driven by targeted and coordinated outreach by the Plan and the Health System, cross-functional training, and system- wide service enhancements.

Notably, MetroPlusHealth earned 5 Stars in the overall rating of our health plan, a reflection of significant improvements in member experience. It saw measurable gains in two key access- related CAHPS measures, Getting Needed Care and Getting Appointments and Care Quickly, each increasing by a full Star.

These improvements have had a meaningful impact on the overall rating of the health plan and reflect efforts to reduce barriers and streamline scheduling. It also highlights the effectiveness of the integrated care model, which enables real-time data sharing, coordinated transitions, and proactive member engagement.

A key driver of this success was the close collaboration between MetroPlusHealth’s care management and quality teams and the NYC Health + Hospitals Contact Center. Together, they helped members, especially those discharged from non – NYC Health + Hospitals facilities — secure timely appointments with primary and specialty care providers. This level of coordination not only improved access and continuity of care but also contributed meaningfully to the overall STAR Rating improvement.

NYC Health + Hospitals’ Clinical Performance: A Key Driver MetroPlusHealth’s gains are directly tied to the exceptional clinical performance of NYC Health + Hospitals, particularly in the Managing Chronic Conditions domain, which carries significant weight in STAR Rating calculations. For those six critical measures, the plan received four and five Stars, solely driven by NYC Health + Hospitals’ performance. Members with hypertension and diabetes receiving care at H+H show markedly better outcomes, to the tune of 2-5-fold, compared to those served by other NYC-based providers.

A Unified Model for Better Outcomes

This achievement reflects the power of our integrated care model, which removes traditional barriers to care. Through shared systems like Epic, aligned quality goals, real-time admission data exchange, and streamlined operations, we’ve built a system where coverage and care work hand-in-hand. These improvements directly support NYC Health + Hospitals’ strategic goal to enhance satisfaction across the MetroPlusHealth–NYC Health + Hospitals partnership and position it as the leading health insurance plan/provider model for low-income New Yorkers.

Together, we are closing care gaps, improving satisfaction, and advancing health equity—delivering on the promise of our strategic goals and building a stronger, more responsive system for all New Yorkers.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS UPDATE

City

On October 23rd, NYC Health + Hospitals provided testimony and participated in Q&A for the Committee on Hospitals and Committee on Women & Gender Equity hearing: Improving Maternal Health in NYC at the New York City Council. Dr. Wendy Wilcox, Chief Women’s Health Officer provided testimony and participated in Q&A.

State

Earlier this month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Health + Hospitals and Maimonides were selected to be a part of the New York State Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program. This program incentivizes partnerships between safety net hospitals and health care organizations. We continue to work with our partners at the State and Maimonides on advancing this partnership in service of the Brooklyn community and patients.

On the legislative front, of the 854 bills that passed both houses of the New York State Legislature, 517 have been acted upon by the Governor. 30 bills have been vetoed thus far, and the Governor has until the end of the calendar year to consider the remaining bills. Most of the health care bills we are tracking have not been delivered to the Governor yet.

Federal

The federal government shutdown is in its fourth week.

Funding implications:

  • Absent a Continuing Resolution, the Medicaid DSH cuts went into effect October 1. However, New York State will be able to pay out DSH funds for the first quarter of FY 26.
  • Similarly, in the FY 25 funding agreement, Congress allocated funding for the Medicaid program for the first quarter of FY 26.
  • Both of these programs will not see funding cuts as long as the shutdown ends prior to the end of the year.

Community Affairs

The Council of Community Advisory Boards met on October 7th and received a presentation on the Impact of Potential Cuts to Medicaid from Deborah Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer. Ms. Brown also shared an update about the government shutdown with the CAB Chairs.

On October 14th, Allie Nudelman, AVP of External and Regulatory Affairs, presented a virtual presentation to all the CAB members about the Impact of Potential Cuts to Medicaid. 57 CAB members from across our system joined the call.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYSTEM

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