Health Matters aims to end barriers to care for affected New Yorkers with disabilities

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Press release from CIDNY:

Bailey House, which has served low-income homeless and unstablyhoused men, women and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS since 1983and The Center for Independence of theDisabled, NY (CIDNY), a leading advocate for people with disabilities thathas worked for over 30 years to removephysical and social barriers and to ensure that people with disabilities havethe tools they need to live independently, provide for financial needs, andenjoy equal opportunities, announce a strategic alliance to improve thehealth outcomes of low-income men and women living with all types ofdisabilities – physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental and psychiatric. 
Thetwo agencies are launching this initiative, Health Matters - which combinestheir expertise in housing, case management, health coverage navigation,entitlement advocacy and legal advocacy - to end barriers to care for affectedNew Yorkers with disabilities.
Goals of the alliance includeending barriers to health care for disabled New Yorkers who are often forced touse costly emergency and acute care because they are unable to easily accessprimary care or mental health services in their communities. Three key factorsthat increase emergency department care by adults with disabilities includelack of access to care and prescription medications, the complexity ofindividuals’ health profiles, and disability status itself.
Susan Dooha, Executive Directorof CIDNY, describes the alliance: “Our partnership will help break through thebarriers that low-income New Yorkers with disabilities face as they try tomaintain their health.  Working with ourpartner Bailey House will ensure that people with the toughest health accesschallenges get prompt attention and services as a matter of course.”
Regina Quattrochi, Bailey House’sCEO, explains the objective of the collaboration: “We are excited to joinforces with CIDNY to tackle health disparities often faced by New Yorkersliving with disabilities. We know from the recent experience post SuperstormSandy that some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers - the unstably housed, peoplewith disabilities and the elderly - faced insurmountable barriers to obtainingcritical care and services during a crisis. 
What’s more disturbing, however, isthat many face the same insurmountable barriers even when the City is operatingnormally. Health Matters will serve as a model of what can be done whentwo agencies with strong track records join forces.”

Contacts:Bailey HouseLauren PalliesAssistant Director, Community Health(212) 633-2500 x332 or lpallies@baileyhouse.org
CIDNY
Margi Trapani
Director ofCommunications
646-442-4154 or mtrapani@cidny.org