Today is Health Care for the Homeless Day 2014. Please join CHCANYS in recognizing the important work of the FQHCs and other organizations across the state that care for one of New York’s most vulnerable populations.
Each year, NACHC designates a day during National Health Center Week on which to celebrate FQHCs that serve our country's homeless population. These centers provide accessible, comprehensive care to patients who are not only uninsured, but also less likely to prioritize their health due to the competing need to seek food and shelter and therefore, are much more difficult to reach. As a result of New York's decision to expand Medicaid to people under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, many of our state’s nearly 77,000 homeless residents are now eligible for health insurance benefits. Health insurance education and outreach has proved challenging for homeless providers, as they must often take to the streets and visit shelters in order to access their patients. This ongoing effort is more than worthwhile, connecting homeless individuals and families to insurance and continuous care they so desperately need.
This year, we are also celebrating the life of the late Dr. Philip W. Brickner, a pioneer health care provider for homeless and underserved people who dedicated his career to addressing health disparities and to serving marginalized populations by bringing team-based medical care to those most in need. His ground-breaking homeless health outreach program led to the development of the Department of Community Medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital, now operated by the Lutheran Family Health Centers in Brooklyn, NY. Currently, there are 249 health care for the homeless programs across the country – each of them built on his commitment to high quality, patient-centered, accessible, compassionate and dignified models of care. The first ever Dr. Philip W. Brickner Memorial Award will be presented during CHCANYS’ Annual Conference and Clinical Forum, scheduled for October 19-21 in White Plains.