Fidelis Care began its mission in 1993 under the auspices of the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc. and the Diocese of Brooklyn. The initial operating certificate reflected 14 zip codes in the borough of Brooklyn. In 1994, the New York State Department of Health authorized Fidelis Care to serve the poor and medically underserved throughout Brooklyn and Queens.
Led by John Cardinal O’Connor, the eight bishops of the Catholic Dioceses surveyed the changing managed care environment in 1995 and renewed their commitment to the poor by seeking to extend the license of Fidelis Care to serve Medicaid beneficiaries across the State. This expansion was approved initially in New York City, and then statewide, in 1996.
Leadership and management positions were identified, leading to the recruitment of executive staff. The structure of the Board of Directors was modified to reflect the organization’s new statewide mission and purpose.
In 1997, Fidelis Care received approval to provide benefits through Child Health Plus - the State's health insurance program for children under the age of 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid and who have limited or no health insurance. In late 2001, Fidelis Care launched its Family Health Plus program, which provides quality healthcare coverage for New York State residents, ages 19-64, who do not have health insurance, but have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid.
After celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2003, Fidelis Care continued to advance the company’s mission with new programs and outreach to the uninsured. To serve the low-income elderly, Fidelis Care began Fidelis Medicare Advantage in Oneida and Herkimer counties in May 2004, and expanded the program into Montgomery and Schenectady counties in 2005. In the fall of 2006, the program was further expanded into 18 additional counties in central New York, the Capital Region, greater Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island. Fidelis Dual Advantage, a comprehensive program for those who are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare coverage, is available in 17 counties. Fidelis Care at Home, a managed long-term care program for frail adults, is offered to eligible residents in Orange and Rockland counties.
In October 2005, Fidelis Care acquired CenterCare, a New York City-based Medicaid managed care company, which fully merged with Fidelis Care in August 2008. In October 2009, Fidelis Care launched Fidelis Medicaid Advantage Plus, a full-risk, managed long-term care program for individuals 18 years of age or older with Medicare and Medicaid coverage, in the five boroughs of New York City and four upstate counties. Today, Fidelis Care has more than 540,000 members in 46 counties and is the largest government programs-based health plan in the State.
As the membership has expanded, so have Fidelis Care’s programs and services for members. Disease management programs such as AsthmaCare and DiabetesCare join Fidelis with member and provider in an alliance that promotes patient education and treatment adherence – reducing emergency room visits and the long-term complications of chronic illness. Fidelis Care maintains an ongoing commitment to quality and to providing members with access to the best possible care and services.