Dr. Talya Schwartz was appointed
President & CEO of MetroPlusHealth
in 2019. During
her tenure, MetroPlusHealth
has achieved a 20% growth in
membership, earned a fi ve-star
rating from New York State’s
Consumer Guide, and been
ranked the No. 1 health plan
in New York State for quality.
MetroPlusHealth is part of
NYC Health + Hospitals public
health system.
Q: What drives you to
lead MetroPlusHealth’s efforts
to battle breast cancer?
A: First, as President and
CEO of MetroPlusHealth and
as a physician, I am committed
to addressing the social
determinants of health
among New York’s most vulnerable
communities. Our
aim is to actively ensure that
MetroPlusHealth remains at
the forefront of supporting
its members through holistic,
hands-on supportive care.
This means preventive care
for all New Yorkers. There’s
no such thing as not being able
to afford a mammogram when
you live in New York City.
We will work with members
and make certain that they
can and will receive critical
screenings.
What drives me every day
is quite simply the health and
well-being of our members.
There’s nothing more important
to us. Our staff goes the
extra mile every day. We routinely
send educational materials
and reminders, by mail
and text messaging, to women
who are due for a mammogram.
Information on the importance
of early detection
is also posted on our member
portal. We work hard to
educate our members about
the importance of screening
and early detection. Similarly,
clinical gaps-in-care reports
are sent to our providers
so that they can follow up
with members who are due for
mammograms during routine
visits.
We even offer incentives
to members who complete
their breast cancer screening
through the MetroPlus Member
Rewards Program (metroplusrewards.
org).
Q: How has the pandemic
affected what you do for
your members?
A: No question that we saw
unprecedented challenges
within the entire health care
community, yet, according to
the New York State Department
of Health’s 2020 Quality
Incentive results, MetroPlusHealth
was ranked
number one among all 15 New
York State Medicaid plans in
overall quality. While we have
always scored high in quality,
achieving the #1 spot during
a global pandemic speaks volumes
about the dedicated people
at our company who rose
to the occasion.
Some key factors that
contributed to the top ranking,
where MetroPlusHealth
scored above 90% of State
benchmarks, were care related
to diabetes, hypertension,
substance abuse disorders,
and mental illness. Our
streamlined process of working
with NYC Health + Hospitals
and its community providers
also helped. Sharing
data, education, and member
support, were important factors,
as was working to bring
members in for care, especially
those with the highest
and most immediate needs.
We could not be prouder
of our team and our provider
partners or more thankful to
our members for entrusting
their health coverage with us.
Q: Which groups should
be the most concerned
about breast cancer?
A: Starting at age 50,
women need a mammogram
every one to two years to
screen for breast cancer and
some women may choose to
start routine mammograms
even prior to age 50. But breast
cancer can occur in younger
women, and women should
perform self breast exams and
not delay evaluation if they
have any concerns regardless
of age. When you see your
doctor, you should discuss
your risk factors and make
sure you’re doing everything
you can to keep your breasts
healthy. If you have close relatives
with breast cancer,
you may be at higher risk. If
you are at a higher risk, your
doctor may suggest earlier
screening or more regular or
intensive screening
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 4 CT. 15-21, 2021 BTR
Q: What are the most
common (and not so common)
risk factors for breast
cancer?
A: According to the CDC,
there are risk factors you can
change and those you cannot:
These are risks you cannot
change:
Getting older. The risk for
breast cancer increases with
age; most breast cancers are
diagnosed after age 50.
Genetic mutations. Inherited
changes (mutations) to
certain genes, such as BRCA1
and BRCA2. Women who
have inherited these genetic
changes are at higher risk for
breast and ovarian cancer.
Reproductive history.
Early menstrual periods before
age 12 and starting menopause
after age 55 expose
women to hormones longer,
raising their risk of getting
breast cancer.
Having dense breasts.
Dense breasts have more connective
tissue than fatty tissue,
which can sometimes
make it hard to see tumors on
a mammogram.
Personal history of
breast cancer or certain
non-cancerous breast diseases.
Women who have had
breast cancer are more likely
to get breast cancer a second
time. Some non-cancerous
breast diseases, such as atypical
hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma
in situ are associated
with a higher risk of getting
breast cancer.
Family history of breast
or ovarian cancer. A woman’s
risk for breast cancer is
higher if she has a mother, sister,
or daughter (fi rst-degree
relative) or multiple family
members who have had breast
or ovarian cancer. Having a
close male relative with breast
cancer also raises a woman’s
risk.
Previous treatment using
radiation therapy.
Women who had radiation
therapy to the chest or breasts
(for instance, treatment for
Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before
age 30 have a higher risk of
getting breast cancer later in
life.
Women who took the
drug diethylstilbestrol
(DES), which was given to
some pregnant women in the
United States between 1940
and 1971 to prevent miscarriage,
have a higher risk.
Women whose mothers took
DES while pregnant with
them are also at risk.
However, luckily, there are
risk factors you can change.
These include getting more
exercise, losing weight, quitting
smoking, and drinking
less alcohol.
Q: How far has the medical
community come in
treating breast cancer?
A: Researchers are fi nding
new and better ways to diagnose
and treat breast cancer
every day. Whether it’s nanotechnology
or improved tests,
there are amazing breakthroughs
every year. Improved
imaging, targeted therapy,
liquid biopsies, and even
artifi cial intelligence to help
better read mammograms are
areas where advancements
are underway. There are new
drugs and therapies in test
stages all the time. Objectives
here are to develop less-toxic
treatments with fewer side effects
that are also more effective.
Patients can ask their
doctors about clinical trials
that may be available for several
of these new drugs.
Q: What are some ways
that people can actively
prevent breast cancer or,
God forbid, catch it early?
A: The best ways to protect
yourself is to stop smoking,
limit your alcohol consumption,
try to be physically active,
and watch your weight.
Of course, the most critical
action you can take is to do
regular self breast exams and
also to make an appointment
with your local provider for
a mammogram when you get
older. I would urge women
not to delay important screenings
like this because of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Our partners at NYC Health
+ Hospitals have adjusted
their waiting areas, registration
desks, and exam rooms to
keep you safe when you come
to see a doctor. You should
also be aware of early warning
signs. A new lump in the
breast or underarm, thickening
or swelling of part of the
breast can be warning signs.
Dimpling of breast skin, redness
or fl aky skin in the nipple
area or the breast, a nipple
that turns in or becomes
sunken can be other signs. If
you experience any of these,
you should see you doctor as
soon as possible.
About MetroPlusHealth
Since 1985, MetroPlus
Health Plan has built a reputation
for providing access
to affordable, quality health
care to residents across New
York City. MetroPlusHealth
is the plan of choice for over
600,000 New Yorkers and has
a fi ve-star rating based on
the State’s 2020 Consumer’s
Guide to Medicaid and Child
Health Plus Managed Care
Plans in New York City. It was
recently ranked the #1 health
plan among all 15 New York
State Medicaid plans in overall
quality. The health plan’s
robust network of primary
care doctors and specialists
includes many independent
community providers. Culturally
sensitive, and fl uent
in more than 40 languages,
MetroPlusHealth’s staff is
as diverse as the great city
it serves. For more information
about MetroPlusHealth
plans, benefi ts, and services,
visit metroplus.org and join
the conversation at facebook.
com/metroplushealth and
twitter @metroplushealth.
MetroPlusHealth is part of
NYC Health + Hospitals, the
nation’s largest public health
system.
Dr. Tanya Schwartz Photo courtesy MetroPlusHealth
An interview with
Dr. Talya Schwartz,
president and CEO
MetroPlusHealth
/metroplus.org