Keystone Mercy Receives AHIP Community Leadership Award

June 16, 2009
Philadelphia, PA – Keystone Mercy Health Plan, the largest Medicaid managed care plan in Southeastern Pennsylvania, has been awarded the prestigious "Community Leadership Award" by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). The award recognizes the 40-Day Journey, a component of the company's Health Ministry Program, for its leadership and innovation in community outreach and services. The 40-Day Journey has been successful in reducing health disparities and helping African American women and their families receive appropriate health care services.

"It is an honor to have our work recognized by an organization of our peers," said Daniel J. Hilferty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, the parent organization of Keystone Mercy Health Plan. "We take great pride in overcoming barriers to care, and the Health Ministry Program’s 40-Day Journey keeps true to our mission of helping people get care, stay well and build healthy communities."

In 2000, Keystone Mercy Health Plan created a faith-based, wellness program for African American women called the Health Ministry Program for Women. The program is sponsored by the Health Ministry Coalition, which includes the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, Eli Lilly and other community-based organizations.

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 and diastolic blood pressure

In addition, 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.

Keystone Mercy received the award at a ceremony in San Diego, California, on June 3. The Community Leadership Award is an annual program recognizing AHIP member organizations for their leading practices and programs. The awards focus on leadership and innovation in the areas of community outreach and service.

The Health Ministry 40-Day Journey also earned the "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in 2008.

Maria Pajil Battle, Senior Vice President, Keystone Mercy Health Plan (center), accepts the Community Leadership Award from Charles Stellar, Executive Vice President (left), and Barbara D. Lardy, Senior Vice President, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). AHIP honored Keystone Mercy for its 40-Day Journey, a component of the company's Health Ministry Program. The 40-Day Journey has been successful in reducing health disparities and helping African American women and their families receive appropriate health care services.