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Amida Care News

Amida Care News

Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care, Honored with “Responsible 100” Award from City & State

December 19 2018

New York, NY (December 19, 2018)—Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care, New York’s largest Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan (SNP), was recognized with a Responsible 100 award from City & State on December 18 at Sony Hall. The Responsible 100 honors New York’s most outstanding responsible executives, thought leaders, visionaries, and influencers who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication, and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change.

“At Amida Care, the focus of my work has been to promote access to high-quality, comprehensive, culturally competent health care that gives people the chance to live their best lives and contribute to their communities,” said Doug Wirth. “Amida Care helps New Yorkers living with or at higher risk for HIV access the care they need, which prevents new HIV infections and gets us closer to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York. I am deeply honored that City & State recognizes work that supports New Yorkers in living their most authentic, healthiest lives. I greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Amida Care executives and staff who have embraced our mission wholeheartedly; they share in our successes and this honor.”

The Responsible 100 honorees embody the Core Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility: Charity, Diversity, Environment & Sustainability, Equity, Ethics, Privacy, Sourcing, Transparency, Volunteerism and Community Engagement. Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network, was a featured speaker and Lifetime Achievement honoree at the awards luncheon. Co-Founder and Board President of Stockade Works, Mary Stuart Masterson, received the Commitment to Excellence Award.

Under Wirth’s leadership, Amida Care has increased the viral load suppression rate of its HIV-positive members from 60% in 2006 to 76% today, an achievement made by engaging 94% of their members in regular outpatient care, leading to a 74% decrease in hospital admissions/readmissions, a 64% decrease in ER visits, and a 35% reduction in hospital length of stay. These improvements have resulted in Medicaid savings of $150 million for New York State between 2008 and 2017. By focusing on providing individualized support, comprehensive health coverage, and coordinated care, Amida Care helps its members living with HIV become virally suppressed (or “undetectable”) and live healthier, longer lives, saving millions of dollars in reduced health care costs in the process. Amida Care has expanded to accept HIV-negative people who are homeless and HIV-negative transgender individuals, and is now working on approval to expand eligibility to other populations at higher risk for HIV, including young gay and bisexual men, women of color, injection drug users, and HIV negative partners in sero-discordant couples.

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