April 12, 2026 · EZaccessMD Team

How the YMCA of Greater Rochester Reduced Healthcare Costs and Boosted Employee Wellness

Over three years, the YMCA of Greater Rochester saw a 69% decline in urgent care claims, a +95 NPS, and documented decline in total health plan costs after implementing EZaccessMD.

The Results Speak for Themselves

Three years of partnership delivering measurable healthcare outcomes:

69% fewer urgent care claims (decline over three years)
+95 Net Promoter Score (exceptional employee satisfaction)
Documented decline in total plan costs over the same period

The Challenge: Rising Healthcare Costs in a Mission-Driven Organization

The YMCA of Greater Rochester is known for strengthening community health through youth programs, wellness services, and neighborhood-based outreach. In recent years, YMCA leadership applied that same lens to its own workforce and asked a practical benefits question: How easy is it for employees and their families to access appropriate care when they need it?

Like many employers, the YMCA faced cost pressure while also managing the realities of a diverse workforce with variable schedules. Traditional access points, including primary care offices and walk-in urgent care centers, often come with friction. Employees may wait days for appointments, spend hours in waiting rooms, or defer care entirely.

"Our responsibility is to ensure employees can access care without unnecessary friction. Improving accessibility strengthened both employee experience and plan effectiveness."

— Deanna Rose, Chief Human Resources Officer, YMCA of Greater Rochester

The Solution: EZaccessMD's Mobile Urgent Care Model

To reduce friction, the YMCA implemented EZaccessMD's mobile urgent care model. Employees could initiate care by phone and, when clinically appropriate, diagnostic services would be delivered directly to the employee's home.

The aim was not simply to add another vendor, but to offer a reliable access point that employees would actually use.

YMCA Employee Benefits, the nonprofit Trust that purchases healthcare coverage for Ys nationwide, regularly reviews utilization patterns. In reviewing the Rochester YMCA population over a three-year period, the Trust observed a meaningful decline in traditional urgent care claims. Total health plan costs went down over that same period.

"As urgent care claims declined, our total health plan costs went down over the same period. The financial data confirmed that improving access directly reduced claim expense."

— Paul LeFrois, Jr., Chief Administrative Officer & CFO, YMCA of Greater Rochester

"It saves employees time and sick days, which directly impacts productivity."

— Jennie Lea Alessi, Director of Human Resources, YMCA of Greater Rochester

A Model That Carries Relevance Everywhere

The outcome was significant because it aligned mission, operations, and financial stewardship. For community-based employers, benefits strategies must support recruiting and retention, reduce avoidable disruptions, and demonstrate value through measurable outcomes.

The Rochester YMCA experience carries relevance for association health plans. When a Trust or association can compare outcomes across member organizations, it becomes easier to identify models that are both scalable and measurable.

Access is not only a member experience issue, it can also be a utilization lever. When care is easy to reach and responsive, employees may choose that pathway earlier, rather than defaulting to higher-friction or higher-cost settings.

"Improved access aligned with our mission and produced measurable operational and financial results."

— Ernest Lamour, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Rochester

What YMCA Employees Are Saying

"Great customer service. From the moment I made my first phone call to the last phone call with the verdict of my visit it only took 2 and a half hours. The woman who came to my home was kind and knowledgeable." — NPS: 10/10
"I love that I can just call and I get a call back within 10 minutes. Not to mention they come to the house when needed. It's an excellent service." — NPS: 10/10
"I loved how quick and easy it was. I didn't have to call my PCP office, make an appointment, and then spend hours in a waiting room. I had an answer and a prescription in 20 minutes." — NPS: 10/10
"Love the service... timely and convenient. No trips to the doctor or urgent care." — NPS: 10/10

EZaccessMD is NOT health insurance. We provide easy and convenient ACCESS to quality healthcare.