Yesterday, EmblemHealth and its provider partner AdvantageCare Physicians made an important announcement to its employees that reflects its commitment as a health care company to do all it can to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Effective now, any employed individuals entering one of its facilities must be vaccinated by Oct. 31. In addition, anyone doing business on behalf of the company at an external meeting or event must also be vaccinated by the deadline.
In announcing this policy, CEO Karen Ignagni said the following, “ We are continuing to see the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths rise across the country. This is a troubling situation that calls upon all of us to do everything we can to protect ourselves, each other, and the people we serve. Our federal, state, and local authorities, as well as the private sector, have begun to shift the dialogue on vaccinations from one of encouragement to making it a requirement. This is due largely to two reasons: the Delta variant has proven to be much more contagious and data shows the efficacy of these vaccines in reducing severe illness, hospitalization, and that death from this virus declines over time.” Ignagni added, “With team members spread across multiple locations, in the field, in their homes, or other office spaces, it is incumbent on us to implement an enterprise policy that demonstrates our mission and commitment as a health care company to create safe spaces.”
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About EmblemHealth
EmblemHealth and its family of companies is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health insurers, with 3.2 million members and an 80-year legacy of serving New York’s communities. The company offers a full range of commercial and government-sponsored health plans to employers, individuals and families, as well as convenient community resources. As a market leader in value-based care, EmblemHealth partners with top doctors and hospitals to deliver quality, affordable care. For more information, visit emblemhealth.com.
About ACPNY
AdvantageCare Physicians, one of the largest primary and specialty care practices in the New York area, provides quality, personalized care that is focused on the whole patient. With more than 40 medical offices across the five boroughs and Long Island, serving more than half a million patients, including 120,000 Medicaid members, AdvantageCare Physicians takes a team-based approach to care where physicians work with nurses, social workers, nutritionists, behavioral health specialists and other professionals. Visit www.acpny.com to learn more.