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Health Equity

At Fidelis Care, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life. It’s our mission to ensure New Yorkers have access to high-quality healthcare, so they can get the care they need when they need it.

But many other factors contribute to an individual’s health and wellness beyond access to healthcare. Socioeconomic conditions can influence health risks and outcomes. Poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, education, employment, access to transportation and other circumstances contribute to health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations.

Fidelis Care is committed to removing those barriers to health to improve access, quality, and affordability. It is an ongoing process that requires working together with our members, providers, and community-based organizations to support fair and just opportunities to equal access to healthcare.

Learn more about our different approaches to improve health equity:


Key partnerships

Wellness commitment to Buffalo Urban League

To nurture social entrepreneurship, facilitate wellness, and strengthen organizations focused on Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Buffalo’s East Side, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation donated $1.1 million to the Buffalo Urban League (BUL) to help establish its new headquarters and develop a Wellness and Entrepreneurial Center.

In addition, Fidelis Care partners with BUL through community programs and at events held in the city focused on health, family support and stabilization services, foster care, adoption, education, job training, employment, scholarships, and more.

Buffalo-Urban-League

Mental health alliance with The Jed Foundation

As part of our behavioral health efforts, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation awarded $1.1 million to The Jed Foundation (JED) to protect the mental health of New York State’s youth.

Through the funding, JED will expand its current services, providing at least five youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) with consultation or strategic planning services, including expert guidance, educational workshops, and training programs, equipping young people with life skills and connecting them to mental healthcare when they are in distress.

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More Health Equity News


3/26/2026 • Posted by Fidelis Care • in Health and Wellness, Women's Health
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Fidelis Care sat down with one of the experts in our provider network, Dr. Katherine Cartwright of Albany Obstetrics and Gynecology, to learn and share about this painful condition affecting one in 10 women in their reproductive years. Q: What is endometriosis? Dr. Cartwright: Endometriosis is when cells that look and act like the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus. Most of the time these cells are in the pelvis — on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the outer surface of the uterus. They can also show up on the bladder or bowel. More rarely, they’re
3/12/2026 • Posted by Fidelis Care • in Children's Health, Health and Wellness
National Poison Prevention Week March 15-21. It’s a good time to talk about an important but often overlooked safety issue: accidental poisoning. Many poison emergencies happen at home, and adults can help prevent them. Here are a few simple steps to protect you, your children, and your loved ones. Common Poison Risks at Home Poisoning can happen when everyday items are used the wrong way or stored unsafely. Common causes include: Medications, both prescription and over the counter Cleaning products and laundry pods Pesticides and bug sprays Alcohol and vaping liquids Carbon monoxide from gas appliances Even small amounts of these items can
3/6/2026 • Posted by Fidelis Care • in Children's Health, Health and Wellness
  We all know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. We usually notice how important sleep is when we don’t get enough of it. We feel tired, cranky and maybe a little sick. In fact, sleep is key to our well-being. Studies show that good sleep helps: Energy Keeping a healthy weight Heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and hormones The ability to fight off sickness and heal from injuries Focus, memory and other brain functions Mental health, like our moods and ability to cope with stress Good sleep isn’t just about how many hours you sleep. It’s also about how
3/4/2026 • Posted by Sharon McLaughlin, MD, FACS • in Health and Wellness
For many years, doctors believed colorectal cancer — cancer of the colon or rectum — mostly affected older adults. That idea is changing fast. In the United States, colon cancer is rising in people under age 50. At the same time, it is going down in people over 50. Why? Because more older adults are getting screened. Doctors can find and remove small growths before they turn into cancer. Why Colon Cancer Is Often Missed in Young People Here’s one of the most important, and frustrating, parts of the problem. When a 70-year-old has belly pain or rectal bleeding, doctors quickly think about cancer.
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