AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies Holds Seventh Annual
Philadelphia Healthy Hoops® Program
Keystone Mercy Health Plan, in Collaboration with the Healthy Hoops® Coalition, Hosts Annual Program to Address Asthma Management
Philadelphia, PA – The AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies' Philadelphia-area Medicaid managed care plan, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, recently hosted Healthy Hoops, a basketball-themed asthma education and management program. More than 500 children and their families participated in the annual event held at the Saint Joseph's University Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
Healthy Hoops was created in 2003 and more than 2,700 children participated in the program in 2009. The program uses basketball as a vehicle to teach children and their families how to effectively manage asthma through appropriate medication usage, proper nutrition, monitored exercise and recreational activities.
Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the nation and was ranked in 2010 by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America as the country's eighth-worst city to live in for asthma sufferers. In 2009, the city was ranked 12th.
"The Healthy Hoops program is revolutionizing the way we think about and treat asthma among our youngest health plan members," said Michael A. Rashid, President and CEO, AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies. "We're relying more on information, education and preventive services to proactively manage and control the disease and its triggers while giving the kids a better quality of life," continued Rashid.
A 2008 study of Philadelphia Healthy Hoops participants found a marked improvement in asthma management and quality of life each year members were enrolled in the program. Emergency room visits related to asthma attacks decreased by 41 percent from 2007 to 2008, while hospital visits due to asthma-related problems decreased by 78 percent. The study also revealed that Healthy Hoops participants are using their medications more effectively. From 2006 to 2007, participants, on average, showed a 12 percent increase in the use of controller medications, which help reduce severe asthma attacks. More than 60 percent of participants experienced a greater lung capacity and strength.
Based on the remarkable results of the Healthy Hoops program in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies expanded the initiative to other parts of the country including South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida and Georgia.
The Healthy Hoops program provides participants with health assessments, including blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), height, weight and lung function testing. Participants also receive nutrition information and demonstrations on the use of asthma control devices such as peak flow meters and spacers. Asthma experts work with asthmatic participants and their caregivers to review and give recommendations for treatment and care plan options with a goal of teaching them how to manage and control their asthma at home.
In addition to the health care screenings, the children at the recent Philadelphia event met with celebrities participating in the Charlie Mack Celebrity Basketball Game and they attended the game immediately following the Healthy Hoops program. More than 50 professional athletes and celebrities have attended the Philadelphia Healthy Hoops program over the last two years, including rapper/actor T.I., Boston Celtic's guard Ray Allen, actress LisaRaye, Orlando Magic’s point guard Jameer Nelson and actor/singer Terrence Howard. |
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