Fidelis Care is the New York State Catholic Health Plan, providing quality, affordable health coverage to children and adults in 42 counties statewide. The mission of Fidelis Care is to ensure that every resident, regardless of income, age, religion, gender, or ethnic background, has access to quality health care, provided with dignity and respect.

From its origin in 1993 as the Catholic Health Services Plan of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc., Fidelis Care has grown -- both in the scope of its mission and the services it provides. Today, through a network of more than 30,000 providers, Fidelis Care serves more than 437,000 people in 42 counties across the state, making Fidelis Care one of the largest government programs-based health plans in the state.

Fidelis Care offers free or low-cost comprehensive health insurance through the Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, and Medicaid programs, covering checkups, prenatal care, preventive care, well-child visits, immunizations, lab tests, x-rays, hospitalization, emergency treatment, and more. Members receive care from their own primary care physicians – whom they know and trust. Following a recent expansion, Fidelis Care now offers Fidelis Medicare Advantage and Fidelis Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage to New Yorkers in 22 counties. Fidelis Care also offers Fidelis Dual Advantage for residents eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, and a program called Partners in Community Care (PICC), a managed long-term care program for adults in Orange and Rockland counties. PICC members are Medicaid-eligible individuals who qualify for nursing home care, but are capable of staying safely in their own home, enjoying greater independence.

Through partnerships with providers and local communities, Fidelis Care works to foster healthier futures for members and their families. Fidelis Care offers a spectrum of health and wellness programs and services, such as AsthmaCare, DiabetesCare, BabyCare, and InfantCare - with a special focus on health awareness and prevention activities.

While the benefits of coverage are many, members tell us that one of the most important advantages is that the Fidelis Care card symbolizes dignity and respect.

Fidelis Care’s regional offices are located in Rego Park, Queens (Greater Metropolitan); Albany (Northeast); Syracuse (Central); and Buffalo (Western), with satellite offices in Poughkeepsie and Rochester. Information for providers, members, and prospective members is available toll-free by calling 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547).

In 1993, Fidelis Care began its mission of service as the Catholic Health Services Plan of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc. Through the leadership of John Cardinal O’Connor, Archbishop of New York, Fidelis Care received approval for expansion across New York State in 1996.

Fidelis Care offers the Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, and Medicaid programs, as well as a Medicare Advantage program to serve residents of 22 counties across New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Central New York. Fidelis Dual Advantage is available in 17 counties statewide. Partners in Community Care (PICC), a subsidiary of Fidelis Care, is available in Orange and Rockland counties.

Additional Information

• Enrollment has grown from nearly 20,000 in 1996 to more than 437,000 today in 42 counties statewide.
• Fidelis Care is dedicated to reaching out to the 2.5 million uninsured New Yorkers, which includes more than 434,000 children.
• Community outreach through partnerships with Dioceses, churches, schools, employers, and local social service agencies helps Fidelis Care reach those in need.
• Quality care is a priority. In the New York State Department of Health’s Quality Assurance Reporting Requirements (QARR), Fidelis Care tied as the highest-ranked health plan for ensuring that Medicaid members visited the dentist for a checkup during the year and also scored above the statewide average in several areas.
• Partnerships with physicians and community agencies strengthen Fidelis Care’s focus on access to preventive care.
• Members tell us that the Fidelis Care card symbolizes dignity, respect, and health security.
• For more information, call 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit www.fideliscare.org

Recent Accomplishments

• Expanded into Cayuga and Tompkins (Sept. '08) and Sullivan and Otsego (Jan. '08)  counties with the Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, and Medicaid programs.
• Expanded into Monroe County (July '07) and opened a satellite office in Rochester in March 2008 to serve the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes Region.
• Received approval to offer Medicaid in Hamilton, Clinton, and Essex counties, and Medicaid and Family Health Plus in Ulster County.
• Opened a new office in Poughkeepsie in October 2007 to serve the mid-Hudson Valley. Expanded regional office locations in Albany (NERO) and Rego Park (GMRO).
• Awarded Fidelis Care and CenterCare providers more than $21 million and $3 million respectively for the provision of quality care to members as part of a redesigned Quality Care Management Incentive (QCMI) program.
• Launched a Provider Portal as part of fideliscare.org, offering 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week access to membership, eligibility, and claims information. After an initial rollout to providers with the highest volume of Fidelis Care members, an online registration process was also made available.
• Performed well in the New York State Department of Health’s Quality Assurance Reporting Requirements (QARR). Fidelis Care tied as the highest-ranked health plan for ensuring that Medicaid members visited the dentist for a checkup during the year and also scored above the statewide average in several areas.
• Implemented Enterprise Content Management (ECM) as a major initiative to streamline application and enrollment processes.
• Provided or committed to more than $1.8 million in charitable funding through the Fidelis Care and CenterCare Community Grant Fund (formerly the Diocesan Grand Fund) and other provider grants and sponsorships to support patient care and health care access initiatives.
• Integrated all call centers through a new phone system that provides greater responsiveness to members and providers.
• Welcomed more than 1,100 key providers to the statewide network, increasing member access to care.
• Donated more than 6,000 certificates for holiday turkeys and participated in Coats for Kids campaigns to support local families and children in need.
• Rewarded employees in several departments with more than $325,000 in incentive payouts for exceeding quality and productivity standards.
• Advanced the ministry of caring and service on behalf of the 2.5 million uninsured in New York State.