On February 11th, Willett Public Affairs planned and organized a successful lobby day for its client iHealth, a statewide coalition of non-profit community-based organizations that provide care management services for the Health Home program. Over 65 iHealth staff members, some of whom had once been Health Home clients themselves, engaged in meaningful discussions with over 50 Assemblymembers and Senators from across New York State, highlighting the profound benefits of New York’s Health Home program.
iHealth is a coalition of 20 care management agencies within the state's Health Home program, created in 2013 as a response to the reforms the Medicaid Redesign Team implemented. iHealth’s members have decades of experience providing services to individuals living with some of the most complex and highest medical, behavioral health, and social service needs of the Medicaid population; this includes multiple, chronic, and complex health conditions such as HIV, hepatitis, substance abuse, mental illness, and other behavioral health challenges.
During the legislative meetings, members of iHealth shared their personal experiences with the Health Home program. They stressed the need to promote the program and ensure its adequate funding, and advocated for a 15% rate increase in this year’s state budget. The increase is critical for the program to continue changing the lives of those struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or complex diseases.
Willett Public Affairs is proud to have played a significant role in the success of iHealth's 2025 lobby day. We value our work with iHealth and we look forward to continuing our advocacy to ensure that these critical health services are maintained with an adequate level of state and federal funding.
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