News

The NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) today announced an agreement with the largest physician practice in New York State to help provide patient care services in New York City correctional facilities. The Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY), a non-profit professional service organization, will employ approximately 900 direct patient care providers in correctional health. Through this partnership, HHC will be better able to attract and retain qualified medical and mental health professionals in the field of correctional health.

The two-year, $192.8 million contract was approved by the HHC Board of Directors today and will be effective January 1, 2016. Under the agreement, the majority of the funds will be dedicated to competitive salaries and benefits, as well as costs associated with recruitment and staff retention. The contract includes $2.6 million per year to cover administrative expenses to perform functions such as financial reporting, regulatory filing, and ensuring adequate staffing at all correctional health sites.

The HHC Board also approved an agreement with the Correctional Dental Associates (CDA) to provide dental services to patients in the New York City jail system. CDA has been the dental services provider in New York City correctional health facilities for the past 10 years. The three-year, $13.4 million contract with CDA is effective January 1, 2016.

“We are pleased to build on existing relationships with two professional services groups that will support our important work to provide health care in correctional health facilities,” said Patricia Yang, DrPH, Sr. Vice President, HHC Correctional Health Services. “PAGNY has deep ties to many HHC hospitals and community health centers and understands the essential mission of the public health care system. And CDA already has an established record of providing high quality dental care to our patients. These are important partnerships we will leverage to improve the quality and continuity of care we provide to our patients in the NYC jail system.”

“PAGNY welcomes the opportunity to partner with HHC to deliver compassionate and high quality health care to this important and underserved patient population,” said Reginald Odom, Esq., PAGNY Chief Human Resources Officer.

“For the past 10 years, Correctional Dental Associates has successfully provided emergency dental care, routine general dental care and on-site oral surgery for tens of thousands of patients in the New York City jail system,” said Dr. Leslie Hayling, Jr., Director of Dental Services for Correctional Dental Associates. “Accessible and effective dental care is critical to the overall health of our patients, and we are looking forward to working with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation to continue providing this necessary care to our patients in the system.”

As part of the de Blasio administration’s commitment to reform the City’s correctional system, the City assigned the management of correctional health services to HHC effective August 2015 and will not renew contracts with Corizon, Inc. and Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. after their expiration in December of 2015 and November of 2016 respectively.

HHC is conducting background checks, credential reviews and evaluations of all correctional health workers employed by Corizon. This includes approximately 1,200 physicians, mental health clinicians, substance abuse counselors, pharmacists, and other people who provide or support the provision of, direct patient care. Those who are eligible, qualified and interested in continuing employment will be recommended for employment by PAGNY. Corizon employees who work as clinical and administrative leaders are being considered for employment directly by HHC. A similar process will be conducted for the 75 people currently employed by Damian.

HHC currently contracts with PAGNY to provide physician services at Coney Island Hospital, Harlem Hospital Center, Jacobi Medical Center, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Metropolitan Hospital Center, North Central Bronx Hospital, and three HHC neighborhood health centers.

Contact: Press Office,212-788-3339
Jane Zimmerman, PAGNY,646-672-3651

About NYC Health + Hospitals

The NYC Health + Hospitals health care system is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system, the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country, and one of the New York area’s largest providers of government-sponsored health insurance, MetroPlus Health Plan, the plan of choice for nearly half a million New Yorkers. The NYC Health + Hospitals health care system serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. The system provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, five skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. NYC Health + Hospitals/Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. The NYC Health + Hospitals system was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission’s John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org or find us on https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or twitter.com/NYCHealthSystem.