Refugee Medical Assistance

The NYS Department of Health, Refugee Health Program (Program), contracts with medical providers across upstate New York (exclusive of New York City) to offer initial health assessments for newly-arriving refugees through the Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) project.  The project supports a network of dedicated health assessment providers to screen new arrivals for the purpose of following up conditions identified on overseas medical screening, identifying any additional conditions of personal or public health concern, ensuring appropriate care and treatment is available to address infectious or other identified conditions, ensuring refugees achieve a level of immunization consistent with US guidelines, and assisting refugees in establishing ongoing care in their new communities.  Health assessments are performed in two visits according to a required protocol and must be provided within 90 days of arrival to ensure timely and comprehensive evaluation and treatment of identified conditions.  

A qualified applicant is defined as a licensed health care provider, such as a physician, hospital, community health center, county health department, or clinic.

These contracts are subject to approval by the Office of the State Comptroller.