CHICAGO, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- At ceremonies being held today at the AHIP Foundation’s Excellence in Health Care Awards Dinner, individuals, member organizations, and providers are being recognized for their industry-leading practices and programs. AHIP and its sponsoring partners also announced grants for member health insurance plans in the development of innovative programs for immunization and asthma care.
AHIP presented awards in the following categories: The National Exemplary Practice Awards Program
These awards recognize member companies for their successful efforts to improve chronic care management through innovative models of care. AHIP is pleased to sponsor this program in partnership with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) for asthma; the American Heart Association (AHA) for cardiovascular disease; and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for diabetes.
The 2004 awards will recognize three member health insurance plans for their successful efforts to improve chronic care management through innovative models of care.
The winners of the 2004 awards are: National Exemplary Practice Award -- Asthma
Award Winner: QualChoice, Cleveland, Ohio, for its Knowledge and New Opportunities for Wellness (KNOW) Asthma Program that helps its members with asthma gain the knowledge, skills and support necessary to live fully functional lives everyday.
National Exemplary Practice Award -- Cardiovascular Disease
Award Winner: Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, for its Cardiovascular Risk Factor Management (CVRFM) Program that promotes the highest quality of care and quality of life for members with cardiovascular risk factors.
Honorable Mention: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Midwest), Mason, Ohio, for its Cardiac Disease Management Program that provides actionable information to its participants on primary prevention, secondary risk reduction, and evidence-based treatment of cardiovascular disease to facilitate sound decision-making.
National Exemplary Practice Award -- Diabetes
Award Winner: PacifiCare of Oregon, Lake Oswego, Oregon and PacifiCare of Washington, Mercer Island, Washington, for its Taking Charge of Diabetes(R) program that addresses the complexities of managing diabetes with co- morbidities such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.
Honorable Mention: Blue Care Network, Southfield, Michigan, for its Diabetes Management Program that offers multiple interventions for members and physicians to facilitate effective communication and prevent unnecessary medical complications.
AHIP/Wyeth HERA Award
The AHIP/Wyeth HERA Awards honor programs that have made a measurable difference in the lives of women and children. The awards are supported by a grant from Wyeth. Now in its ninth year, the AHIP/Wyeth Hera Award has brought important recognition to organizations and individuals who have implemented programs and projects in key areas such as midlife wellness for women, chronic disease management, pediatric asthma, immunization, AIDS, and breast cancer.
The 2004 Winners in the Health Plan Category are: Gold: Health Partners of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for its Baby Partners Prenatal Outreach Program that offers comprehensive prenatal support with intensive case management and one-on-one counseling for their Medicaid population. Silver: Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut, for its Adolescent Immunization Initiative that is designed to improve immunization rates and prevent diseases prevalent among adolescents. Bronze: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, Durham, North Carolina, for its Diabetes Awareness, Training and Action Program that provides school representatives with the tools to educate physicians and parents about diabetes. The 2004 Winners in the Provider Category are: Gold: Gundersen Lutheran Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin, for its Well Women’s Service that identifies and assesses the risk of cardiovascular disease in women and provides interventional counseling to encourage appropriate lifestyle modifications. Silver: Trilateral Partnership (Children’s Hospital and Health Center, Scripps and Sharp HealthCare) San Diego, California, for its Partnership for Smoke-Free Families program that seeks to prevent and reduce tobacco exposure and use among pregnant women and mothers with small children through community collaboration. AHIP announced grants in the following categories: Grant for Innovation in Immunization Practices
AHIP is pleased to sponsor the 2004 Grant for Innovation in Immunization Practices. Aventis Pasteur has provided an educational grant in support of this program to improve immunization rates among adolescent and/or adult members. The winning health insurance plan receives a $50,000 grant to implement a one-year project.
Grant Winner: IHC Health Plans -- Salt Lake City, Utah, for its Adolescent Immunization Project that will include collaboration with the Utah Department of Health to develop a multi-faceted plan to improve the immunization rates for adolescents within the state.
Grant for Innovation in Asthma Care
AHIP is pleased to sponsor the 2004 Grant for Innovation in Asthma Care, supported through a cooperative agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This grant supports one member health insurance plan in its commitment to integrate the management of environmental risk factors into asthma care management programs. The recipient health plan or insurer receives a $30,000 grant.
Grant Winner: Health Plan of Nevada -- Las Vegas, Nevada, for its Second- to-None Program that will develop an educational module for parents on the environmental impact of secondhand smoke and promote successful smoking cessation by parents of children with asthma.
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