Cabán questions DOHMH on NYC Health Map maintenance and provider verification
Cabán notes the Health Map's LGBTQ health services portal and asks how often provider information is verified. Andrea Howard is sworn in and says the section launched in 2018, participation is voluntary, and DOHMH is reviewing and surveying providers, including updating Mount Sinai and NYU listings.
Thank you, Council Member.
I have, I think, just two more questions at the moment.
I want to touch on the New York City Health Map.
We have it, right?
Okay, great.
So it currently features a dedicated LGBTQ health services portal that allows New Yorkers to search for providers by geographic proximity and medical need.
Can you talk a little bit about how the map is maintained and specifically how frequently provider information is verified and updated?
Please raise your right hand.
Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before these committees and to respond honestly to council member questions?
Sorry, yes I do.
Good afternoon.
My name is Andrea Howard.
I'm the Deputy Commissioner for Disease Control at the New York City Health Department, and I use the pronouns she, her.
So the LGBTQ health services are a section of the health map, and that was first launched, this particular section, in 2018.
And since that time, it's gone ad hoc updates.
Participation is voluntary, and providers have to consent to their information being included in the health map.
And participating providers are responsible for informing the health department when that information needs to be updated because of contact information changes or services change.
Now, recognizing that that is not always done,
Particularly in light of the recent changing care landscape, we're undertaking a comprehensive review of this section.
This will include surveying all providers that are currently included in the health map to make sure that they continue to provide culturally competent and affirmative services and that the information is accurate.
We'll also be reaching out to additional providers.
Through consultation with our networks to see if they would like to be included.
Now, in the interim, we have reached out to certain providers when we know that services have been changed.
For example, we reached out to Mount Sinai and to NYU facilities, and we revised their listing to reflect that they no longer offer gender-affirming care to youth.