Overview
Amida Care is a not-for-profit community health plan that specializes in providing comprehensive health coverage and coordinated care to New Yorkers with complex conditions, including people affected by HIV. We are the HIV and gender-affirming care experts and the largest Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan (SNP) in New York.
Established in 2003 by several non-profit community-based health organizations in New York City, Amida Care developed a highly effective, specialized model of care to provide individualized attention and support to people with HIV/AIDS and other complex health issues, including behavioral health disorders.
Service Area
We serve the five boroughs of New York City. With our understanding of the range of issues that affect New Yorkers, we are able to deliver expert care to New York populations with the greatest need.
Sponsor Organizations
Acacia Network, Sun River Health, Community Healthcare Network, Harlem United, Housing Works, St. Mary’s Center, and Village Care
Members
Currently serving more than 9,360 members throughout the five boroughs of New York City, we offer our Live Life Plus health plan to Medicaid recipients who are:
- living with HIV/AIDS
- transgender (regardless of HIV status)
- experiencing homelessness (regardless of HIV status)
We facilitate care access for communities experiencing serious health disparities. Our member population includes:
- 55% African American
- 32% Hispanic/Latine
- nearly 30% transgender and gender non-conforming individuals
Providers
People with complex health conditions need access to providers with specialized knowledge. Our wide network of top health care providers includes:
- 200+ HIV-specialist primary care providers (PCPs)
- 6,800+ general primary care physicians (PCPs)
- 17,000 specialists
- 5,700+ behavioral health providers
- 48 federally qualified and community health centers
- 37 hospitals in the five boroughs of NYC
How We Are Different
- Each member is assigned to an Integrated Care Team (ICT) of Amida Care health professionals who design and oversee individualized care plans that support members’ unique health needs and goals. The ICT also works closely with members to help them address non-medical needs that may impact their health, such as housing, job skills, and transportation.
- Our community health outreach workers go out into the community to visit members where they live and encourage them to stay in care, take prescribed medications, and follow a wellness plan.
- Amida Care is more than a health plan—we strive to create a wellness community. To help our members achieve the best quality of life possible, we offer special “Live Your Life” member wellness programs, such as healthy cooking, African dance, Zumba, yoga, meditation, art therapy, and more.
- Through a variety of member engagement activities, such as town hall meetings, a Member Advisory Council, and member representation on our Board of Directors, we seek participation and feedback from members to ensure that their needs are being met.
Results
Amida Care has generated many impressive health outcomes that save lives and produce millions of dollars in New York State Medicaid cost savings, including:
- Engaging 94% of members in regular outpatient care
- A 74% decrease in hospital admissions/readmissions
- A 64% decrease in ER visits
- A 35% reduction in hospital length of stay
- An increase in the viral load suppression rate of our HIV-positive members from 60% in 2006 to 80% today
- 1,200 members cured of Hepatitis C (95% cure rate)
Advocacy
Amida Care advocates for policies and initiatives that support equitable health care access and social justice for the populations we serve. Amida Care’s President and CEO Doug Wirth served on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Task Force to End the AIDS Epidemic in New York State by 2020, which produced the Blueprint to End the Epidemic (ETE), outlining plans to reduce the rate of new HIV infections in the state. Amida Care has actively supported and contributed to the advancement of ETE goals through robust viral load suppression and PrEP programs and outreach. We have also spearheaded job training and placement programs to help our members find living-wage employment, a key social determinant of health.
Amida Care supports efforts to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, two of our most powerful tools in the fight to end HIV in the U.S. and provide health care equity for all Americans.