Press Releases: 2008

Keystone Mercy Receives NCQA Award for Innovative Efforts
to Reduce Health Care Disparities

Health Ministry Program's 40-Day Journey Helps African American Women and Their Families Live Healthier Lives

September 16, 2008
Philadelphia, PA - Keystone Mercy Health Plan, the largest Medicaid managed care plan in Southeastern Pennsylvania, has been awarded the prestigious "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The award recognizes the 40-Day Journey, a component of the company’s Health Ministry Program, for its success in reducing health disparities and helping African American women and their families receive appropriate services.

"Keystone Mercy Health Plan's innovative efforts to improve the lives of African American women and their families is a model for health plans across the country," said Margaret E. O'Kane, president of NCQA. "As a nation of diverse cultures, languages and lifestyles, it's essential for health plans to recognize the health risks and vulnerabilities of special populations and design programs that reach out and improve the quality of those members' lives."

In 2000, Keystone Mercy Health Plan created a faith-based, wellness program for African American women called the Health Ministry Program for Women. A component of the program, the 40-Day Journey, focuses on the family through a six-week educational series emphasizing nutrition, exercise, medication compliance and water intake.

Participants with diabetes who followed the program showed the following health improvements:

• A drop in triglycerides
• A decrease in LDL ("bad") cholesterol
• Weight loss
• A drop in systolic blood pressure
• A decline in diastolic blood pressure

In a post-program survey, participants reported an improvement in pain as well as in mobility and flexibility. They also reported an improvement in their attitude and hope for the future.

"It is an honor to have our work recognized by the NCQA," said Daniel J. Hilferty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies. "The Health Ministry Program’s 40-Day Journey keeps true to our mission to help people get care, stay well and build healthy communities."

Keystone Mercy will be recognized at a ceremony in San Francisco, California, on September 18. The award, sponsored by The California Endowment with support from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Office of Minority Health, is part of NCQA's efforts to improve the quality of health care in the U.S. through development of a truly multicultural health care system.

About the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes physicians in key clinical areas. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information through the Web, media and data licensing agreements in order to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices. For more information, visit www.ncqa.org.