Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Dr. Jonathan Jimenez, Executive Director of NYC Care at NYC Health + Hospitals
Host: Laura Deardo
Date: October 19, 2025
Episode Theme:
Fostering Healthcare Access and Equity for Immigrant Communities in New York City—Deep Dive on the Multilingual “Light the Way” Campaign and NYC Care’s Impact

Episode Overview

This episode explores how NYC Care, a program within NYC Health + Hospitals, is pioneering healthcare access for all New Yorkers—regardless of immigration status or health insurance. Dr. Jonathan Jimenez, family physician and Executive Director of NYC Care, discusses the motivations and impact behind the new multilingual "Light the Way" campaign, which aims to destigmatize care, build trust in immigrant communities, and promote health equity throughout the city.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Jimenez’s Background and Mission

• [01:28] Dr. Jimenez shares his story of being born in Queens at Elmhurst Hospital and returning to serve the same community through NYC Care, which is part of the nation’s largest public health system.
  • “I was really proud to be able to come back and serve the community that I came from.” — Dr. Jimenez, 01:32

NYC Care & “Light the Way” Campaign Overview

• [02:22] NYC Care is an access program for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration or insurance status.
• The “Light the Way” campaign is a proactive, multilingual effort using print, digital, video, and on-the-ground outreach to inform immigrant and uninsured New Yorkers about their right to care.
  • Collaborates with 22 community-based organizations for effective outreach.
  • Aims to “invite everyone, every New Yorker to take advantage of the services that the public health care system has to offer.” — Dr. Jimenez, 02:23

Partnerships & Community Touchpoints

• [04:10] Dr. Jimenez highlights the importance of listening to both patients and longstanding community organizations:
  • “We try to keep an open mind and really listen to the patients we serve and… the community organizations that we’re partnering with.” — Dr. Jimenez, 04:14
• Innovative outreach includes partnerships with local consulates, connecting with immigrants who may not realize they have access to care.

Building Trust Among Immigrant Communities

• [05:52] Trust-building is central. The campaign leverages:
  • Ongoing advertising, success stories, and multilingual messaging.
  • Regular data monitoring to ensure NYC Care enrollees are continuing to access services.
  • “One of the things I’m actually most proud of is that we’ve been doing this work since the launch of the program to have our NYC Care name well known in the community [and] share success stories... in multiple different languages.” — Dr. Jimenez, 05:54
• Emphasizes safety and confidentiality for undocumented and uninsured individuals seeking care.

Impact & Health Equity Outcomes

• [07:53] NYC Care serves over 139,000 active members and facilitated 1M+ primary care appointments.
  • Patients often access healthcare for the first time in years through the program.
  • Published research shows NYC Care members have engagement and chronic disease outcomes (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) on par with or better than Medicaid enrollees.
  • “We are achieving the health equity that is so often an aspirational goal. We are achieving a piece of that through this program.” — Dr. Jimenez, 09:23

Cultural & Linguistic Inclusivity Strategies

• [10:16] New York’s diversity presents challenges and opportunities for outreach.
  • Materials are routinely published in 13 key languages; broader materials reach up to 50 languages.
  • “We try to maintain a pretty wide net in everything we do… and sometimes we do target some of our outreach based on where we think… some communities might be less connected to care than other communities.” — Dr. Jimenez, 11:13
• Outreach is data-driven, focusing on neighborhoods and communities with higher uninsured rates or lower existing engagement.

Scaling and Future of NYC Care

• [12:50] NYC Care recently added a Durable Medical Equipment benefit, providing essentials like wheelchairs and blood pressure cuffs.
• Ongoing goals:
  • Further expand benefits and awareness through campaigns like “Light the Way.”
  • Ensure every New Yorker has a primary care provider.
  • “Our goal is for every New Yorker to have a primary care doctor or a primary care provider.” — Dr. Jimenez, 13:27

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Healthcare in New York City is a right through NYC Care and New York City health and hospitals.”
  — Dr. Jimenez, [02:38]

• “I see patients in my clinic frequently who have not seen a doctor in 10 years and it’s because they heard about the NYC care program.”
  — Dr. Jimenez, [08:00]

• “We have practice at it... All of our materials are published in 13 different languages... I believe the last time it was 50 different languages to make sure that they're available.”
  — Dr. Jimenez, [10:35]

• “We are achieving the health equity that is so often an aspirational goal.”
  — Dr. Jimenez, [09:23]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 01:28 — Dr. Jimenez’s personal background and his path to NYC Care
• 02:22 — NYC Care’s mission and the "Light the Way" campaign launch
• 04:10 — Community partnerships and outreach strategies
• 05:52 — Building trust in immigrant and marginalized communities
• 07:53 — Impact stories and health equity research outcomes
• 10:16 — Language and cultural inclusion; deciding where and how to focus outreach
• 12:50 — Recent benefits added and Dr. Jimenez’s vision for the future

Episode Takeaways

• NYC Care is a national model for public health access, focused on removing barriers for underserved and immigrant populations.
• Multilingual, culturally tailored outreach is key to building trust and ensuring that “every New Yorker” can access necessary healthcare.
• NYC Care’s data and outcomes demonstrate real movement towards health equity.
• The program is committed to continual improvement, benefit expansion, and broadening its reach to new and existing communities in need.