Press Releases: 2011

Keystone Mercy's Healthy Hoops Program Takes to the Court Again to Take On Childhood Asthma

Kids to Learn Asthma Management at Eighth Annual Event

Healthy Hoops, the award-winning, innovative program developed by Keystone Mercy Health Plan, will take to court again this year on Saturday using basketball to teach Philadelphia area kids with asthma how to manage the disease through proper nutrition, exercise, and appropriate medication use.

The eighth annual Healthy Hoops event will be held again at the Michael J. Hagan Arena at St. Joseph’s University from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, and will feature Philadelphia area basketball legends Sonny Hill, Speedy Morris and Bill Fox, along with other players and celebrities. The event is co-sponsored by longtime Healthy Hoops partner Astra Zeneca and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Healthy Hoops includes hands on asthma education, basketball clinics and health screenings along with plenty of other fun activities for the children who are ages 3 to 16. The program also aims to decrease childhood obesity and increase cardiovascular activity.

“The Healthy Hoops program has helped to decrease emergency room and inpatient hospital visits related to asthma,” said Michael A. Rashid, President and CEO of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies. “While Healthy Hoops is a fun day for the kids, it has the serious message for them and their families of how to properly managing asthma through proper eating habits, medication use and frequent exercise like basketball.”

Studies have shown that 50 to 80 percent of children who have asthma developed symptoms before their fifth birthday. Children four years old or younger have the highest rates of hospitalization (59 per 10,000) and emergency room use (162 per 10,000) due to asthma — the highest of any age group.

After Healthy Hoops was a proven success following its start in Philadelphia in 2003, AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies expanded the initiative to other parts of the country including South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida and Georgia with more than 8,000 children and their families participating.  All participants undergo full physicals and pre- and post-program health screenings.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback; Charlie Mack, founder of the Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Celebrity Weekend; Tyrese Gibson, actor and singer and Maria Pajil Battle (front row), Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing, Keystone Mercy Health Plan at Keystone Mercy's Healthy Hoops event at St. Joseph's University on July 24.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has his blood pressure checked at Healthy Hoops, a Keystone Mercy Health Plan event held July 24 at St. Joseph's University. Healthy Hoops is a Keystone Mercy program that helps children with asthma and their families understand that exercise and proper nutrition can help control the disease.

About Keystone Mercy Health Plan

Keystone Mercy Health Plan, a member of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of companies, is a Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care health plan serving more than 300,000 Medical Assistance recipients in southeastern Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Keystone Mercy is a mission-driven company dedicated to helping members get care, stay well and build healthy communities. For more information about Keystone Mercy Health Plan, please visit www.keystonemercy.com.

For more information, contact Keystone Mercy at 215-937-8648.