Winter 2026
Clinic Offers Integrated Behavioral Health Services Across New York
A nurse practitioner, left, and a peer advocate, right, discuss treatment plans. Both are part of VNS Health’s Bronx-based Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic care team that serves clients in the South Bronx and across the New York City area with in-person and remote treatment capabilities.
Clinic Offers Integrated Behavioral Health Services Across New York
To help meet the urgent need for integrated mental health and substance-use disorder (SUD) services across the metro New York region, VNS Health has opened a federally funded Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in the South Bronx. The clinic offers both in-person and remote mental health-SUD treatment.
Why it matters: By making integrated mental health-SUD services accessible to residents across metropolitan New York, VNS Health is addressing a significant resource gap—particularly in the Mott Haven neighborhood where the clinic is located, which has one of the highest opioid overdose rates in New York State.
The clinic treats individuals of all ages with a special focus on youth and young adults, providing coordinated mental health and addiction treatment, crisis intervention, and linkage to broader health care and safety net services. While the clinic takes all insurance types—including Medicaid and Medicare—no one is declined services due to inability to pay.
The clinic’s care team includes a psychiatrist, an addiction medicine physician and nurse practitioners. Importantly, it also has a trained peer advocate whose lived experience provides special insight into clients’ needs. For convenience, the clinic is open Monday through Friday until 9 p.m., allowing clients to visit after work, and on Saturdays until 6 p.m.
To make a referral to VNS Health’s integrated mental health-SUD clinic, contact us at
718-742-7000
or email
[email protected].
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Driven by Community Engagement, VNS Health Medicare Plans Grow to 55,000+ Members
Driven by Community Engagement, VNS Health Medicare Plans Grow to 55,000+ Members
VNS Health was recently named one of America’s five fastest-growing not-for-profit Medicare health plans. Notably, after starting 2025 with 24,600 members, VNS Health has now exceeded the 55,000-member mark for its three Medicare Advantage plans—EasyCare, EasyCare Plus, and VNS Health Total, its integrated Medicare–Medicaid plan for people with long-term care needs.
This growth is being spurred by the health plans’ strong community presence, including VNS Health’s multi-lingual team of community liaisons—most of whom live in the same neighborhoods where they work.
“Our compassionate, culturally attuned community liaisons maintain ongoing, close ties with the communities we serve, helping to drive broad interest in the products we offer,” says David Robinson, Vice President, Sales and Partnership Development for VNS Health. “Besides connecting community members with VNS Health’s plans, these liaisons also assist them in navigating the plans once they’re enrolled.”
Plan members across New York State are also attracted by VNS Health’s generous plan benefits, dedicated care managers, and empathetic network of providers.
Why it matters: VNS Health’s Medicare plans are designed for seniors who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and the plans’ growth shows they’re filling a real need in the market. The organization’s community liaisons are helping to ensure that New York seniors connect with these plans and have access to the services and support they need to continue living safely in their homes and neighborhoods.
If you are a medical professional interested in joining the provider network for VNS Health’s Medicare and/or Medicaid plans, please click here to fill out our form.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about VNS Health’s plan benefits and how to enroll, please click here.
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VNS Health Achieves CHAP Age-Friendly Care Certification and Deemed Status
VNS Health Achieves CHAP Age-Friendly Care Certification and Deemed Status
In late October, after several days of onsite visits, inspectors from CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Partner) renewed accreditation for VNS Health Home Care. In addition, for the first time ever, CHAP awarded the Home Care team Age-Friendly Care at Home certification and Deemed Status.
The CHAP inspectors also praised the quality of care that VNS Health clinicians are providing to patients and commended the compassion and dedication of the entire Home Care team.
Why it matters: Age-Friendly Care certification affirms that VNS Health Home Care’s clinicians are consistently utilizing the Age-Friendly Care “4-Ms” protocol with patients. This evidence-based, patient-centered care delivery model has been shown to improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction levels.
In addition, CHAP awards Deemed Status to home care providers who display a consistently high quality of care, based on a rigorous review of operations. The designation highlights the overall excellence of VNS Health Home Care’s clinical and support operations and also exempts the organization from separate tri-annual inspections by New York State’s Department of Health.
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Making It Possible for Patients with Complex Medical Conditions to Heal at Home
Thanks to its expanded wound care program, enhanced remote care monitoring capabilities and customized approach to patient care, VNS Health’s Home Care team is now admitting and successfully treating complex cases who in the past might have remained hospitalized.
Making It Possible for Patients with Complex Medical Conditions to Heal at Home
Over the past year, VNS Health has been ramping up its ability to provide in-home care to patients with complex medical conditions. Since many of these are wound patients, the organization has been steadily expanding its Home Care nursing staff who specialize in wound care and providing them with enhanced wound management technology.
VNS Health’s Home Care team has also adopted enhanced remote care monitoring capabilities and a customized approach to complex patient care that includes cross-referrals to VNS Health’s Care Management Organization, Behavioral Health, Social Work and Personal Care teams, and other resources as needed.
Result: VNS Health Home Care is now admitting and successfully treating complex patients who in the past might have remained hospitalized—all with the goal of optimizing their outcomes and avoiding rehospitalization.
Why it matters: With shorter post-surgical hospital stays, an increasing number of procedures being performed in outpatient settings, and an aging U.S. population, the need to manage post-surgical complications and chronic conditions is greater than ever. By ramping up its ability to care for these patients, VNS Health Home Care is enabling them to recover where they most want to be—in their homes—and do so at a much reduced cost compared to treatment in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
To make a referral to VNS Health, please call: 1-866-632-2557 or click here.
Helping a Patient with 30+ Wounds Heal Safely at Home
Helping a Patient with 30+ Wounds Heal Safely at Home
VNS Health’s Home Care team recently admitted a patient with a rare skin condition that left him with over 30 painful wounds. He had been recuperating in a skilled nursing facility, but when his recovery stalled, the patient’s physician referred him to VNS Health for in-home treatment. Through the attentive care of two wound care nurses and their branch director—who collaborated to arrange for around-the-clock home health aide care and nutritionist support—the patient’s wounds are now healing well.
Why VNS Health Is My First Choice When I Refer Patients to Home Care
Why VNS Health Is My First Choice When I Refer Patients to Home Care
Dr. Albert Rozo is the President and Chief Medical Officer of Queens Medical Office, a primary care and cardiology practice operating in five Queens locations. When a patient under his care needs home health services, Dr. Rozo’s first choice is VNS Health Home Care—including for himself. In his own words, here’s why:
1. VNS Health offers a full array of high-quality services.
VNS Health has the ability to develop plans of care to meet all of my patients’ treatment needs—whether it be nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, social work support, or connections to outside resources. VNS Health is also extremely good at quickly obtaining and adjusting needed equipment, like rollators and walkers. And for my patients who need further outpatient treatment following an episode of home care, VNS Health can identify treatment sites in the patient’s neighborhood.
VNS Health has the ability to develop plans of care to meet all of my patients’ treatment needs—whether it be nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, social work support, or connections to outside resources. VNS Health is also extremely good at quickly obtaining and adjusting needed equipment, like rollators and walkers. And for my patients who need further outpatient treatment following an episode of home care, VNS Health can identify treatment sites in the patient’s neighborhood.
2. The VNS Health team provides thorough, individualized care.
Once someone is admitted to VNS Health Home Care, their teams are great at engaging with that patient—in most cases, in their preferred language—and making sure the patient understands what’s needed to support their own recovery.
Once someone is admitted to VNS Health Home Care, their teams are great at engaging with that patient—in most cases, in their preferred language—and making sure the patient understands what’s needed to support their own recovery.
3. They also provide excellent support and follow-through.
I know this not only as a doctor but as a patient. Last year, I received home care services from VNS Health. They were tremendous. I could easily call in to find out when my physical therapist was arriving and ask questions about my case. All my information was stored in VNS Health’s system, so I never needed to tell my story a second time, which is a real plus.
I know this not only as a doctor but as a patient. Last year, I received home care services from VNS Health. They were tremendous. I could easily call in to find out when my physical therapist was arriving and ask questions about my case. All my information was stored in VNS Health’s system, so I never needed to tell my story a second time, which is a real plus.
To make a referral to VNS Health, please call: 1-866-632-2557 or click here.
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3 Questions for VNS Health’s New Board Chair, Deborah M. Sale
3 Questions for VNS Health’s New Board Chair, Deborah M. Sale
In 2025, Deborah M. Sale was named Board Chair of VNS Health, replacing outgoing Chair Dr. Andrew Schiff. A VNS Health Board member for the past five years, Sale draws on a broad healthcare background spanning executive leadership, public health initiatives, and statewide healthcare oversight.
What drew you to join VNS Health’s Board?
My major reason for joining VNS Health is that the organization represents the future of health care—which is to say, care in the home, managed in a way that really focuses on and benefits the patient or health plan member. Today, it’s more possible than ever for patients and members with complex health care needs to be cared for in the warm and loving environment of their own home, rather than in a hospital. So it’s an exciting time for organizations like ours.
My major reason for joining VNS Health is that the organization represents the future of health care—which is to say, care in the home, managed in a way that really focuses on and benefits the patient or health plan member. Today, it’s more possible than ever for patients and members with complex health care needs to be cared for in the warm and loving environment of their own home, rather than in a hospital. So it’s an exciting time for organizations like ours.
What do you see as VNS Health’s biggest opportunities?
In New York we’re growing statewide, and that represents an enormous opportunity for us. We’re also utilizing AI in what I feel is a very good way. We’re fortunate to have a great leadership team, and we’re making the right decisions. The Board has tremendous confidence in VNS Health’s strategic direction, and we believe we are really at the cusp of more growth.
In New York we’re growing statewide, and that represents an enormous opportunity for us. We’re also utilizing AI in what I feel is a very good way. We’re fortunate to have a great leadership team, and we’re making the right decisions. The Board has tremendous confidence in VNS Health’s strategic direction, and we believe we are really at the cusp of more growth.
With their ongoing growth, what makes VNS Health’s Health Plans so appealing?
Our Health Plans do a very good job of managing their members’ care—among the vulnerable Medicaid and Medicare populations we serve, I think we do a better job than anyone. Our ability to connect with diverse populations is a particular strength. The many people from New York’s different cultural communities and individuals in our upstate expansion counties who have joined our plans are a good example of that. The relationships our Health Plans have developed within these communities are remarkable.
Our Health Plans do a very good job of managing their members’ care—among the vulnerable Medicaid and Medicare populations we serve, I think we do a better job than anyone. Our ability to connect with diverse populations is a particular strength. The many people from New York’s different cultural communities and individuals in our upstate expansion counties who have joined our plans are a good example of that. The relationships our Health Plans have developed within these communities are remarkable.
To make a referral to VNS Health, please call: 1-866-632-2557 or click here.
To read the Winter 2026 issue of VNS Health TODAY online, click here.
To learn more about VNS Health, please visit
vnshealth.org or call 1-800-675-0391
vnshealth.org or call 1-800-675-0391
