WholeYouNYC Screens 600,000 Medicaid Members for Social Needs

Operated by the nonprofit Public Health Solutions, the network serves as a primary test case for New York’s Medicaid 1115 Waiver program. By integrating social services—ranging from utility assistance to maternal care—directly into the healthcare framework, the initiative aims to reduce costly hospitalizations and stabilize long-term health outcomes for low-income residents. The program currently partners with over 200 community-based organizations to provide targeted interventions for identified risks, such as eviction prevention or food insecurity.

Zachariah Hennessy, Chief Strategy Officer at Public Health Solutions, emphasized that while the model has proven effective at scale, its future remains tied to the expiration of the state’s current waiver in March 2027. Leadership at the organization, alongside local partners like the United Hands Organization and Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, are advocating for sustained investment to prevent a service gap. The program’s impact is evidenced by personal outcomes, such as families receiving emergency rent support, which organizers argue confirms the necessity of maintaining these community-based structures to ensure equitable access to care.