Dear WholeYouNYC Partners,
At July’s Medicaid conference, we were pleased to hear that despite the near-daily challenges to science and public health, New York's commitment to addressing health-related social needs through the Medicaid program remains firm.
If you didn’t have the chance to attend, I encourage you to watch the afternoon panel on the NYHER 1115 waiver as well as the closing remarks by Liz Fowler, former Director of CMMI. As many New Yorkers face the loss of essential benefits and services, WholeYouNYC stands as a growing force for delivering vital resources to those who need them most and strengthening the community health sector.
Since our last newsletter, our momentum has accelerated. Nearly 200 organizations are now live on the network. Major healthcare partners—Northwell Health, One Brooklyn Health, AdvantageCare Physicians, and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center—are now interoperable. Together, we have screened more than 80,000 unique members for unmet health-related social needs so far, with many now beginning to receive the new enhanced services. One small but powerful example: installing our first air conditioner for a member during this summer’s extreme heat—a true lifesaver!
To meet New York State’s ambitious goals, we have launched several new initiatives to expand access and accelerate impact. Our new incentive program for community-based organizations provides significant payments for achieving key milestones: increasing screenings and service initiation, completing eligibility assessments, and ensuring timely acceptance of referrals. These payments are designed to help organizations scale activity and improve member experience.
We have also begun a comprehensive marketing campaign to raise awareness of WholeYouNYC, with outreach spanning bus and subway ads, local media, digital campaigns, text messaging, and even door hangers in public housing developments. Our target: to screen more than 25% of our region’s Medicaid members by March 31, 2026.
Through it all, we remain focused on the people we serve. Guided by our Governance Committee and Medicaid Member Advisory Council, we are committed to improving the experience of both members and our network partners. This fall, we will conduct a pulse survey to follow up on last year’s survey and interviews, ensuring we understand your evolving needs and how we can serve you better.
The road ahead is steep, but the prize is real: a network that not only reaches members but can transform their lives. Every screening completed, every referral accepted, every service delivered is another step toward a healthier, more connected New York. We may have only a short time to demonstrate our impact, but our strength is collective, our mission urgent, and the moment is now.
Yours in service,
Zachariah Hennessey
Chief Strategy Officer, Public Health Solutions
Executive Vice President, WholeYouNYC
