Alliance Alert: The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is encouraged to see that more than one million Medicaid members have now been screened for health-related social needs through ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s Social Care Network program and the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Waiver. This milestone reflects a growing recognition that health outcomes are shaped by far more than access to medical services alone. Stable housing, reliable transportation, access to nutritious food, and other social determinants of health play a critical role in recovery, wellness, and community inclusion.
For many people living with mental health and substance use challenges, unmet social needs can create barriers to treatment, recovery, employment, education, and overall quality of life. Efforts to identify these needs and connect individuals to community-based supports can help prevent crises, improve health outcomes, and promote long-term stability.
The Alliance has long supported a whole-person approach to support that recognizes the importance of addressing both healthcare needs and the social conditions that affect health. We are pleased to see the continued growth of the Social Care Network program and the partnerships being built between healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and local communities throughout ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.
At the same time, it is important that we continue to maximize the opportunities presented by the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Health Equity Reform Waiver while these resources remain available. The waiver is currently authorized through at least March 2027 and represents a significant investment in strengthening community-based services, improving service coordination, addressing health disparities, and supporting social needs for Medicaid recipients. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ should continue leveraging these investments to improve outcomes and build sustainable systems that can continue supporting individuals long after the waiver period ends.
The Alliance will continue advocating for investments in both services and the social determinants of health that support recovery and wellness. Addressing housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and other social needs is an essential part of helping people achieve stability, recovery, and full participation in their communities.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ State Department of Health Announces Screening of More Than One Million Medicaid Members by ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Social Care Network Program
Milestone Highlights ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s Nation-Leading Effort to Connect Medicaid Members to Food, Housing, Transportation and Other Essential Services
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 4, 2026) – The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ State Department of Health today announced that more than one million Medicaid members have now been screened for health-related social needs through ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s Social Care Network program, helping connect ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈers to services that support healthier lives and communities.
The Social Care Network program helps eligible Medicaid members access services that address everyday challenges affecting health, including food insecurity, unstable housing, transportation barriers and difficulty navigating available resources.
“ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ is committed to caring for the whole person, not just their medical needs,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “Screening more than one million Medicaid members is a major step forward in identifying unmet needs and connecting people to critical supports like food, housing and transportation because health depends on the stability and dignity of everyday life.”
Through regional Social Care Networks, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ is strengthening partnerships among health care providers, community-based organizations and local partners to better identify needs and connect people with support in their communities.
Members screened through the program are connected to a social care navigator who helps link them to local services and supports through the program tailored to their needs.
“We are transforming health care in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ by recognizing that health is shaped by much more than what happens in a doctor’s office,” ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri said. “Screening over one million Medicaid members through the Social Care Network program reflects our commitment to helping people access essential supports that improve lives.”
The Department recently launched an updated to help Medicaid members, providers and community organizations more easily access program information and resources. The webpage includes information about program impact, available Social Care Network services and supports, member eligibility, resources for providers and community-based organizations and program guidance.
The webpage also includes the newly released which showcases key performance indicators and consumer testimonials.
The Social Care Network program is part of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s broader Medicaid transformation to improve health outcomes, strengthen community-based services and address the social drivers of health. As the program continues to expand statewide, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ is building a more connected system that helps Medicaid members identify unmet needs and access the services and supports that can improve long-term health and well-being.