FAQs

What is HITE?

The Health Information Tool for Empowerment (HITE) is the first online directory of health and social services specifically for uninsured and under-insured New Yorkers. With the click of a mouse, HITE allows professionals to link their underserved clients with a broad array of health and support services.

HITE has two components:

Resource Directory. A comprehensive directory containing thousands of national, state, and local organizations and programs available to low-income, under-insured, and uninsured people, as well as links to dozens of Web sites that provide information on everything from how to apply for public health insurance to where you can get free or low-cost medications.
Eligibility Calculator.  Eligibility screening tool for public health insurance, private health insurance, and other public benefits programs. HITE links to two screening tools. The NYC Human Resources Administration pre-screening tool helps determine whether their clients meet the basic eligibility requirements for one of New York's publicly funded health insurance programs: Medicaid, Child Health Plus (CHP), and Family Health Plus (FHP); or for a low-cost private insurance program. ACCESS NYC, sponsored by the City of New York Mayor's Office screens for eligibility for public health insurance and other public benefits/government entitlements.
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Why is HITE needed?

New York State is home to millions of uninsured individuals and many more who have insurance that does not cover all the medical care that they need. Yet, before HITE, there was no comprehensive clearinghouse of information for people with inadequate coverage.

Thousands of programs and services exist to help low-income uninsured people, but caseworkers who serve this population often find it impossible to identify all the national, state, and local programs available to their clients. Paper-based directories are frequently limited in scope and become outdated quickly. Likewise, government programs can be complex and difficult to navigate.

HITE provides a single web-based portal to regularly updated, locally available resources for people without health insurance. This unique tool allows caseworkers to connect clients with the services they need in a fraction of the time it currently takes to find comparable services in paper-based directories or by word-of-mouth.

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Who can use HITE?

Anyone with a computer and internet access can use HITE to find free and low-cost health and social services.

HITE can help anyone who works with low-income, uninsured and under-insured clients. Typical HITE users include individuals who work in organizations such as social service agencies, clinics, faith-based groups, homeless shelters, and public sector health and welfare agencies.

In addition, individuals may use HITE on their own to find free and low-cost health and social services for themselves and their families.

HITE is available in the following areas of New York State:

New York City
South Central New York
  • Broome County
  • Chenango County
  • Cortland County
  • Delaware County
  • Otsego County
  • Tioga County
  • Tompkins County

Long Island

(Note: HITE will soon expand to additional communities in New York State)

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How can HITE be used to help a health or social service professional?

HITE provides professional users with an online, easily searchable, no-cost tool to perform their work in a more efficient manner. It removes the need for professionals to manually search through outdated printed directories and documents in order to help their clients. HITE contains all the information regarding free or low-cost services professionals need to provide a low-income individual. Each Resource Details Web page lists where an organization is located (address, phone number, travel directions), the hours of operation, whom the organization serves, the services it provides, its fees and payment policies, and intake procedures. In this way, professional users can easily advise clients or print out pages of the HITE Web site for clients to take home for follow up.

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Can HITE be accessed and used by individuals directly seeking services?

HITE can be accessed by both professional users and individuals needing services. HITE provides individuals needing services with all the information they need to directly contact an organization and begin receiving services. Each Resource Details Web page tells the individual:

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How is HITE different from other online directories?

HITE is the only online searchable directory designed to connect low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals with accurate, detailed information on free and low-cost resources available in their communities. HITE staff researches all programs and services available in the areas HITE covers and then each listed resource is thoroughly reviewed to verify the accuracy of the information and its appropriateness for HITE. Additionally, resources are updated on a regular basis, ensuring that HITE's information remains effective for users. Other directories are available online, but specialize in listing resources for specific segments of the low-income population (e.g., women and children, individuals with HIV/AIDS, individuals with disabilities). HITE's directory is unique in that it offers a clearinghouse of information on an enormous range of health and social services, and is designed to serve the needs of all low-income individuals.

Other directories give some, but not all, the information a person needs to make an assessment if the organization is appropriate and how to access services. Often, directories only show a general phone number with no context regarding whom a user will reach and if that organization will have the types of services that can help them. HITE eliminates confusion by providing accurate and updated information that explicitly states who to contact, how the organization will help the end user, and what intake procedures are necessary. This allows those assisting low-income individuals to quickly identify and help their clients access the range of resources for which they are eligible.

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How do I use HITE?

HITE contains an online directory of thousands of government, non-profit, and privately sponsored programs and services available to the uninsured and under-insured.

You can search for resources by zip code, services offered, medical conditions treated, languages spoken, and keywords. Within seconds, HITE will identify a variety of programs and organizations that meet each client's unique needs. HITE saves you valuable time while providing your clients with more and better-targeted information.

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Searching the Resource Directory

How the Resource Directory Is Organized

HITE's Resource Directory contains information on thousands of programs, services, and organizations called "Resources" that can help low-income, under-insured, and uninsured people. HITE's Resources are sorted into 9 Categories. (See below.)

Six of these Categories are searchable (through HITE's database), and the remaining six provide information and links to other useful Web sites.

Searchable Categories. Users can search HITE's extensive database by category, services provided, location, medical condition treated, language(s) spoken, and keyword. Each Resource is assigned to one or more of the following six Categories:

  • Health Care Services
  • Dental & Optical Care
  • Mental Health & Substance Abuse
  • Social Services
  • Immigrant Support
  • Transportation

A search in any of these six Categories produces a list of search results. A user can view a detailed description of an individual Resource by clicking on its name in this list.

Information Pages/Useful Links. In addition to the thousands of Resources listed in the searchable database, HITE also contains dozens of pages of information and links to other useful Web sites. These pages are organized into the following three Categories:

Selecting any of these Categories will take the user to pages that contain detailed information and helpful links.

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Performing a Search

After you click on one of the six searchable Categories, HITE will ask you "Which services do you want?" Choose one or more of the listed Services. You can choose as many or as few services as you wish.

Optional
You can also enter the ZIP code of the neighborhood you are interested in and a distance you are willing to travel around that ZIP code. Only resources located within this distance will be included in your search results.

You can search now, or you can further narrow your search by scrolling down your screen and specifying one or more Keywords, Medical Specialties/Conditions, or Languages.

How do I select more than one Specialty/Condition or Language?
Hold down the "Ctrl" (Control) key and then use your mouse to click on as many items as you want to include in your search.
How do I de-select a Specialty/Condition or Language?
Hold down the "Ctrl" key and then click on the highlighted item(s) that you do not want to include in your search.
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Modifying Your Search
I conducted a search but I got too many results. What should I do?
Click on "Modify Search" and be more specific about what you are looking for. Try one or more of the following:
  • If you did not specify a ZIP code, enter a ZIP code, choose a distance around that ZIP code, and search again.
  • If you specified a ZIP code and a distance, try entering a smaller distance around that ZIP code; for example, replace "10 miles" with "5 miles."
  • Check off fewer "Services" in the top part of the "Search for..." screen.
  • Enter a keyword in the appropriate space. This will limit your search to Resources that contain this word in the name and/or description of the Resource. Be aware, however, that HITE will find, not just the word you entered, but also this pattern of letters within a larger word. For example, if you enter "men", HITE will capture the words "men," "treatment," "apartment," "mental," and so on.
  • Specify one or more languages.
  • Specify one or more Medical Specialties or Conditions.
I conducted a search but I got no results (or too few results). What should I do?
Click on "Modify search" and then try one or more of the following:
  • Choose additional Services in the top part of the "Search for..." screen.
  • Set the distance around your ZIP code to a larger number; for example, increase it from "1 mile" to "10 miles."
  • If you specified one or more languages, de-select one or all of these languages. Hold down the "Ctrl" (Control) key and click on the languages you want to de-select.
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Sorting Your Search Results

The "Search Results" page displays a table with a summary of Resources your search produced. Results are sorted alphabetically by Resource name (in the first column).

If you specified a ZIP code and distance you are willing to travel, an additional column appears in your Search Results: Distance. You can sort your results by Distance from the ZIP code by clicking on the word "Distance" in the heading of this column. Another useful way to sort is by ZIP code, which can be done by clicking on the "ZIP code" in the column heading.

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Understanding the "Resource Details" Page

The "Resource Details" Page provides information on each organization, program, or service in HITE's database. (Note that you should always contact the organization or program to verify information and ask additional questions.)

Here are some explanations that might help you understand the information presented on this page:

Missing Information. You may notice that information (such as a Web site address) appears for one Resource but does not appear for another. This is because HITE only presents information in the "Resource Details" page if we have that piece of information. [If you know of information that should be included in HITE, please contact us by clicking on the button in the top right corner of the Resource Details page, labeled: "Contact HITE about this Resource.".]

Medical Services and Conditions. The medical services and conditions listed here are those for which the Resource is most widely known. Additional services may be offered, and additional conditions may be treated at this location. You should always call the organization or program for additional information. (Note: Medical conditions are listed on the Resource Details page only when an organization provides medical care to treat the condition.)

Languages Spoken. It is assumed that English is spoken at all Resources in the HITE database. If other languages are listed here, it means that one or more staff members at this institution speak the language(s).

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Starting a New Search

You can start a new search at any time, from any screen in HITE, by clicking on "Search for Programs & Services" in the Navigation Bar. If you are viewing your "Search Results" table, you can also click on the button labeled, "New Search," at the top of the page.

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Using the Eligibility Calculator

The NYC HRA (New York City Human Resources Administration) Eligibility Calculator helps you determine whether your client is likely to be eligible for one of New York State's three public health insurance programs: Medicaid, Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus; or a low-cost private insurance program. The New York City Human Resources Administration sponsors the tool, but it is appropriate for individuals residing anywhere in New York State. The process is anonymous and confidential; you do not need to enter a name, an address, or any other information that could identify your client.

ACCESS NYC a free service that identifies and screens for over 30 City, State, and Federal human service benefit programs. You may use this service anonymously or you have the option to create an account.

Just answer a few simple questions about your or your client's income, family size, etc., and you will learn whether he/she is likely to be eligible for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or Family Health Plus; a low-cost private insurance program; or other human service benefit programs.

NOTE: HITE does not enroll individuals into New York's publicly or privately funded health insurance programs. Rather, it calculates whether an individual is likely to be eligible for public or low-cost private health insurance. The only way to be sure about eligibility for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or Family Health Plus is to go through a formal application process. For instructions on applying to these programs, go to the Health Insurance category.

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Case Study

How can HITE help a typical uninsured client?

Ms. P* is a 43-year-old, Spanish-speaking domestic worker with no health insurance. She walks into her local community center in East Harlem to talk with a social worker about the problems she has managing her diabetes.

Ms. P has not seen a doctor since losing her Medicaid insurance two years ago, when her annual income of $17,000 was deemed too high to qualify for coverage. She prefers a Spanish-speaking health care provider so that she can fully understand the diagnosis and follow-up care instructions. She also needs help paying for her medication (Glucotrol, manufactured by Pfizer), and an eye exam because she suspects that the diabetes is affecting her eyesight.

HITE saves time in finding a clinic

The caseworker logs on to www.hitesite.org and searches for a clinic in Ms. P's zip code with a sliding fee scale, Spanish-speaking staff, and physicians who can treat diabetes. In less than 30 seconds, the caseworker finds two clinics that fit Ms. P's criteria: the Helen B. Atkinson Center and Settlement Health. She prints out directions to the clinics, street maps, and fact sheets about each clinic.

Free drugs, eye care and more

The caseworker also uses HITE to identify resources to help Ms. P pay for her medication. A search of the prescriptions drug section at www.hitesite.org shows that Pfizer sponsors a program offering free Glucotrol to low-income patients. The program guidelines and application are available online, so the caseworker helps Ms. P begin filling out the application.

Finally, the caseworker finds a foundation called EyeCare America that provides free eye care exams and follow-up care to low-income diabetics. A toll-free phone number gives Ms. P the names of ophthalmologists in her community who offer free eye screenings, and vendors who sell low-cost lenses and frames.

*Ms. P is a composite of a typical uninsured person.
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What is my HITE?

My HITE is a component of www.hitesite.org that allows users to keep track of their favorite programs and organizations. With My HITE, you can:

Although anyone can use My HITE, this feature was developed to help health and social service professionals organize resources while searching the Web site for health and social services. Like all of HITE's features, My HITE is completely cost-free. You do not have to be logged onto My HITE to access the resource directory.

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How do I log on to My HITE?

To use My HITE, you must first sign up for a free HITE user account by filling out this brief form with basic information (please note that all information you provide is confidential and will not be shared). After you create a HITE user profile, you will instantly be able to log onto My HITE with your username and password.

I used to have a HITE account before the log-in was removed in 2008. Can I use my old account?
Yes. If you have created a HITE user account in the past, your username and password will work.

What if I forgot my username and password?
Contact the HITE staff by e-mailing hite@gnyha.org, and indicate your request.

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How do I use My HITE?

In every resource listing or page of search results, there is a list of options on the top right-hand side:

Save to My HITE. Allows you to select a category from a dropdown menu OR type in a new category under the box labeled “Add new Category.” You can also enter notes below; notes can be as long or as short as you wish.

E-mail this page to a friend. Allows you to send others a link to your search results or individual listings, whether or not they have been saved. Fill out a brief form, providing your name and e-mail address, along with the recipient’s.

Contact HITE about this Resource. Appears only in HITE resource listings. If you know of information that should be included in a HITE listing, please contact us by clicking on this button.

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How do I keep track of saved resources?

Sorting Resources. Saved resources can be sorted by the “Search Name”/“Resource Name” and “Category” by clicking the links at the top of each column.

Edit. Click the “Edit” link to add, change, or erase notes.

Remove. Click the “Remove” link to erase any searches.

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Is HITE's information current?

Yes. HITE staff verifies and frequently updates all the information listed on www.hitesite.org.

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Who are HITE's sponsors and community partners?

HITE's Sponsors

Support for HITE has been provided by the following organizations:

HITE's Community Partners

HITE has been developed and implemented in collaboration with three prominent coalitions of community-based health and social service organizations in Brooklyn, Harlem/Washington Heights, and a seven-county region in the Binghamton area. Our three partners are:

  • The Greater Brooklyn Health Coalition (GSBHC).A consortium of more than 60 organizations committed to improving health care access and services in Brooklyn. Members of the GBHC represent nearly all of the borough's ethnic, racial, and religious communities, as well as the area's major health care systems. CAMBA serves as the lead agency for HITE on behalf of GBHC. CAMBA is one of the largest community-based social service agencies in Brooklyn, where approximately 29% of the population has no health coverage. For a list of members of this coalition, click here.
  • The Northern Manhattan Community Voices Collaborative (NMCVC). A partnership of community- and faith-based organizations, health care and social/human services providers and a variety of neighboring institutions that was formed to reduce gaps in the health care system and improve the quality of life for residents in Northern Manhattan. NMCVC was one of several national sites funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Health Care for the Underserved initiative. It is now a part of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center's Center for Family and Community Medicine.
  • Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network of South Central New York. A coalition of health and human service providers, health care plans, community-based organizations, and public agencies throughout a seven-county region (Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, and Tompkins counties) in South Central New York. M&BPN's goal is to improve birth outcomes and optimize the health of families in this primarily rural area where approximately 86,000 people—16% of the population—lack health insurance. For a list of members of this coalition, click here.

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When will HITE be available in my community?

HITE is available in the following areas of New York State:

New York City
South Central New York
  • Broome County
  • Chenango County
  • Cortland County
  • Delaware County
  • Otsego County
  • Tioga County
  • Tompkins County

Long Island

(Note: HITE will soon expand to additional communities in New York State)

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How can I suggest a resource?

We encourage people to inform us of new programs, services, or organizations that can be included on the HITE website. Simply click here and send us the information. Please provide as much information as possible about the resource.

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How can I report a problem with the website?

To report a problem with click here to send an email to HITE project staff. Please clearly describe the nature of the problem.

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