Fidelis Care — the statewide Catholic-sponsored health plan — recently added Rochester’s Strong Health to its provider network.
The goal of Fidelis Care — which was founded by the eight bishops of New York state — is to provide quality health care to New Yorkers who don’t have access to health insurance.
Fidelis Care currently serves more than 245,000 people in 35 counties across the state. It has a presence in every Catholic diocese in the state except the Diocese of Rochester, although that may soon change, according to Jack Balinsky, diocesan director of Catholic Charities.
With the addition of Strong Health, Fidelis Care might have network sufficiency begin operating in Monroe County, said Balinsky, who serves as Bishop Matthew H. Clark’s representative on the Fidelis board of directors. Fidelis is currently in negotiations with state and county officials, who want to ensure that the plan has enough providers and adequate geographical coverage for those who would enroll, Balinsky said.
If Fidelis Care does begin operations in Monroe County, that development could open the to a Fidelis Care presence in the other 11 counties of the diocese, he added.
