NEW YORK CITY: The Actors Fund and Mount Sinai Doctors have announced the creation of the Samuel J. Friedman Heath Center for the Performing Arts. This health clinic will serve the performance community in New York City. It will open in March 2017 at the Actors Fund’s headquarters at 729 Seventh Avenue.

“The Friedman Health Center will offer our performing arts and entertainment community access to Mount Sinai, one of the best health care systems anywhere, and provide a continuity of care for those who experience regular changes in health insurance coverage,” said Joe Benincasa, CEO of the Actors Fund, in a statement, “This is a real win for our performing arts and entertainment community.”

The Friedman Health Center will offer primary and specialty care, as well as referrals to physicians within the Mount Sinai Health System. It will also operate with extended hours. It will accept most insurance plans, including commercial insurances, most Marketplace/Exchange plans, Medicare, and Workers’ Compensation, with free health insurance enrollment and counseling available on site. The services are open to any performing arts professionals, including actors, directors, musicians, and backstage crew.

The Actors Fund also operates the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, which will continue operations until the opening of the Friedman Health Center. The Actors Fund serves professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio, and dance. It offers social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.