Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that New York City will be expanding NYC Care citywide.
The mayor says NYC Care will expand to Queens and Manhattan four months ahead of schedule.
The citywide effort is in place to guarantee health care for all New Yorkers. NYC Care provides access to low-cost and no-cost primary care for those who are ineligible or can’t afford insurance. It also helps fight health care disparities made clear by COVID-19 and expands mental health services in hard-hit communities.
NYC Care is currently serving the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island.
The city plans to hire 26 providers to ensure a new primary care appointment in two weeks.
The approximately $37.5 million expansion is expected to reach nearly 54,000 residents, with 44,000 in Queens and 10,000 in Manhattan.
NYC also aims to reach 10,000 New Yorkers in NYC’s hardest-hit neighborhoods from July to December with mental health treatment.
The city will work with 270 front-line community and faith-based organizations at the neighborhood level to reach residents. The city will deliver one-hour virtual trainings on mental health disaster response and coping for community members.
The city will train staff at community and religious organizations to help their communities cope.