NY Launches Virtual COVID-19 Care Service Amid Rising Omicron Cases

To expand care for COVID-19-positive patients, the New York State Department of Health has collaborated with NYC Health + Hospitals to implement a free hotline service that provides treatment plans and various remote care resources.

NYC Health + Hospitals provides care to residents of New York through inpatient, outpatient, and home-based services. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the health system to create the Virtual ExpressCare program in March 2020. The program enables people with urgent health issues to connect with an NYC Health + Hospitals emergency medicine provider from their computer, phone, or tablet device.

The new state hotline service — 888-TREAT-NY — created in partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals provides COVID-19 patients without a healthcare provider access to the Virtual ExpressCare program.

The launch of the hotline comes amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases spurred by the spread of the Omicron BA.5 variant, leading to an increased need for care access.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently shared data showing that as of July 9, Omicron BA.5 accounted for 65 percent of total COVID-19 cases. There were a daily average of 5,619 hospital admissions and 306 deaths due to COVID-19 as of July 12.

"We've made real progress in our fight against COVID-19, but as new variants continue to spread it's important to continue to adapt and expand our efforts to protect New Yorkers," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release. "Our new COVID-19 treatment hotline will provide New Yorkers with better access to early treatments that help prevent severe illness."

The hotline service is available to state residents who receive a positive COVID-19 test, regardless of insurance status and income level. Those who engage in the hotline will receive a clinical assessment to determine a proper plan for treatment.

"NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to partner with the Governor's Office and the State Health Department to offer COVID-19 therapeutics to the entire state through our proven Virtual ExpressCare program. Virtual ExpressCare has been a vital part of our strategy to ensure that everyone in New York City has access to the COVID-19 care and treatment they need, and it will bring the same expertise and commitment to all New Yorkers across the state," said Mitchell Katz, MD, NYC Health + Hospitals president and CEO, in the press release.

Regarding payment, those insured will be responsible for co-pay to cover their portion of the costs, and the New York Department of Health will provide payment for those who are uninsured.

Increasingly state health departments are leaning on virtual care options to expand COVID-19 care.

In May, the state of Massachusetts began offering its residents access to a COVID-19 telehealth treatment program to help determine if they qualify for a prescription of Paxlovid.

Further research shows that leveraging virtual care for COVID-19 patients is effective. A recent study found that using remote patient monitoring to support treatment for COVID-19 was linked to improved patient outcomes, such as lower hospitalization levels, reduced use of intensive care, and shorter lengths of stay.