LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS/AGENCIES LOCATED THROUGHOUTNEW YORK STATE (EXCLUSIVE OF NEW YORK CITY)

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Refugee HealthProgram announces the opportunity for qualified licensed health careproviders/agencies located throughout New York State (exclusive ofNew York City) to provide refugee health assessments and initial adultvaccinations to new refugee arrivals to the State. The refugee healthassessment is designed to promptly identify refugees with health conditionsof personal and public health concern; to introduce refugees intothe US health care system; to ensure refugees receive ongoing careand appropriate follow up for identified problems by referrals toprimary and specialty care providers; and to initiate vaccines requiredfor refugees to adjust their status for permanent residency. Therefugee health assessment consists of a set of basic screening componentsdesigned to identify health issues typically found in refugee populations. Assessments, completed according to the required protocol, will bereimbursed at an all-inclusive per capita rate of $338.50 (upstate)or $346.39 (downstate, which includes Nassau, Suffolk and Westchestercounties). Initial vaccines for adults will be reimbursed at a maximumof $208.00 per person, where those vaccines were administered duringa reimbursable health assessment and actual cost of the vaccines isdocumented. The program is supported by an annual allocation of RefugeeMedical Assistance funds awarded by the Federal Office of RefugeeResettlement through the New York State Office of Temporary and DisabilityAssistance. The total allocation for budget year March 31, 2013 toMarch 30, 2014 is expected to be $1,434,435. In the event funds forthe budget year are exhausted, a limit may be placed on the numberof health assessments to be provided.

Health care providers/agencies interested in participating inthe Program must complete and submit the NYSDOH Refugee Medical AssistanceProgram application, meet the requirements described therein, andbe approved for enrollment. An applicant must be a licensed healthcare provider (i.e., physician, nurse practitioner, community healthcenter, county health department or clinic); must demonstrate clinicalexperience and staffing capacity necessary to provide health screeningsin accordance with established protocols; must employ bilingual staffor provide interpreter services to overcome language barriers to care;and must demonstrate established linkages to services, whether onsite or by referral, to primary care, specialty care, and mental healthservices. Experience with the health and mental health needs of refugees,asylees, and victims of trafficking, and in conjunction with office/cliniclocation accessible to refugees and refugee service agencies is desirable.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. The Programoperates on a five-year contract cycle from March 31, 2010 to March30, 2015 with annual renewals. Contracts can be awarded to approvedapplicants at any time during this period, and will be in effect forthe remainder of the five-year contract cycle, contingent on providerperformance and availability of federal RMA funding.

For an application, contact: Department of Health, RefugeeHealth Program, Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, ESP Corning Tower,Rm. 575, Albany, NY 12237, (518) 474-4845, e-mail: [email protected]