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Don’t Wait: CDPAP Consumers Must Take Action By March 28

To keep getting your personal care services (CDPAP), you and your Personal Assistant need to sign up with Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), the single Statewide Fiscal Intermediary (SFI) for CDPAP.

There are several ways you can sign up:

  1. Call PPL’s support center at 1-833-247-5346 or TTY: 1-833-204-9042. A PPL team member will help you.
  2. Sign up online at PPL’s website: pplfirst.com/cdpap.
  3. Get help from a CDPAP facilitator like Independent Living Centers (ILCs). You can find a list of approved facilitators at pplfirst.com/cdpap-facilitators.

October 21-27 is PrEP Aware Week

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that helps prevent HIV and supports sexual health.

PrEP is available to everyone, regardless of whether you’re straight, gay, or bisexual. It is also for individuals of any gender, including male, female, transgender, or gender non-conforming people.

PrEP is designed for individuals who are HIV negative (not living with HIV). Since 2014, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has strongly recommended PrEP as a safe and effective, evidence-based biomedical approach to HIV prevention. It plays a vital role in promoting sexual health.

The FDA has approved three medications for use as PrEP: Truvada (TDF/FTC), Descovy (TAG/FTC), and Apretude (CAB LA). Your healthcare provider can help you determine which option is best for you. Truvada and Descovy are taken orally, while Apretude is administered as an injection.

Dental Benefit Updates

Starting January 31, 2024, SelectHealth will be covering crowns and root canals in certain circumstances so that you can keep more natural teeth. In addition, replacement dentures and implants will only need a recommendation from your dentist to determine if they are necessary. This will make it easier for you to access these dental services.

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Arthur Fitting Named to 2023 LGBTQ+ Power Players List

Congratulations to Arthur Fitting, VNS Health LGBTQ+ Program Manager, for being chosen for the 2023 LGBTQ+ Power Players List, published yearly by PoliticsNY, Gay City News, and amNY Metro. Arthur has dedicated his extensive career to addressing health care disparities within the LGBTQ+ community and has remained committed to improving health care access and quality for all.

Arthur Fitting and Shannon Whittington Named by Crain’s as Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders

We’re proud to announce that VNS Health team members Arthur Fitting, LGBTQ+ Program Manager and Shannon Whittington, Clinical Director, Gender Affirmation Program have each been named to the annual Crain’s Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders List for 2023. Read more about Arthur and Shannon’s impact in the LGBTQIA+ community and other Crain’s 2023 honorees at https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/notable-lgbtq-leaders-and-executives.

Nationwide Shortages of Nutrition Supplements

If your doctor has prescribed a liquid nutrition supplement (such as Ensure, Glucerna or Nestle Boost), be aware that the companies making these drinks are having inventory problems

This means that even if your health plan has approved your doctor’s request for you to get a supplement, the specific drink your doctor prescribed may not be in stock. If that happens,  we will let your doctor know so that they can suggest a different product.

You can also ask your doctor to check what nutrition supplements are available when they submit your prescription.

Watch out for Medicaid scams!

Be on the alert for scammers who ask for a fee to help you renew or recertify your Medicaid coverage. Never give out your Medicare or Social Security Numbers over the phone or in a text.

VNS Health and/or your local Medicaid office will send you notices about the renewal process, which may include reminders to update your contact and income information. But we will never ask for money to renew or apply for Medicaid.

If you get a text, phone call or email that you think may be a fraud, contact your local Medicaid office.

COVID-19 Tests

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023.  However, since you have coverage through Medicaid, you will have access to COVID-19 over-the-counter and laboratory testing through September 30, 2024. After that date, coverage of testing may vary by state.

For more information, please read the Consumer Fact Sheet here.

Don’t lose your Medicaid coverage!

Make sure Medicaid has your current contact info.

What you need to do:

Please contact your Medicaid office to give them your current address, phone number, and email address.

  • If you live outside of New York City, please call your local Medicaid office:
    – Nassau: (516) 227-7474
    – Westchester: (914) 995-3333
  • If you live in New York City, call the Human Resources Administration (HRA) number below.
    1-888-692-6116 (TTY: 711)
    Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5:30 pm

 

Why is this important?

Medicaid must have your current contact information to mail you your Medicaid renewal notice. If you do not renew on time, you could lose your Medicaid and be disenrolled from your health plan.

 

Why is this happening?

As of June 30, 2023, Medicaid auto-renewals that allowed people to keep their coverage active and enrolled in our plan will end.

 

What happens next?

Over the next eleven months, sixty days before it’s time to renew, your local Medicaid office will send you a renewal notice. This process will start at the end of March for anyone with a June 30, 2023 renewal date. Please follow the instructions inside the packet.

 

If you have questions, or need help filling out your Medicaid renewal, please call us. We’re here to help.

Your Care Team
1-866-469-7774 (TTY: 711)
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm