From left are Univera Healthcare President Art Wingerter; Licensed Mental Health Counselor Dr. Tara Huston, PhD; Heather Anderson, UPMC Chautauqua program manager; and UPMC Chautauqua President Brian Durniok.

A health equity award from Univera Healthcare is helping UPMC Chautauqua provide telehealth services to patients receiving outpatient behavioral health care who may have challenges with transportation or access to the internet.

“Increasing our telehealth capabilities for Chautauqua County residents in need of behavioral health services will improve access to care, especially for underserved members of our community and those who live in rural parts of our county,” said Brian Durniok, President, UPMC Chautauqua.

Univera Healthcare invited nonprofit organizations serving Western New York to apply for Health Equity Awards to help fund health and wellness programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities. Health Equity categories included but were not limited to: Reducing health disparities in racial, ethnic, LGBTQ communities, people with disabilities, people living in rural or urban communities, or other groups that may be at higher health risk for medical issues and conditions (chronic or acute), behavioral health or mental health conditions, and negative outcomes from the above, including death or suicide.

“We were impressed with the award application submitted by UPMC Chautauqua,” says Univera Healthcare President Art Wingerter. “This initiative to expand telehealth services to behavioral health patients with barriers to care fits perfectly with our health plan’s mission to help people in our communities live healthier and more secure lives through access to high quality, affordable health care.”

Univera Healthcare is a nonprofit health plan that serves members across the eight counties of Western New York. It’s 500+ employees and leadership team are based at the health insurer’s headquarters in Williamsville, and at the Chautauqua County office on West Third Street in Jamestown.