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Ohio Selects APS Healthcare to Manage Unified Population Health Management Program for State Employees

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 May 2009, 16:07 CDT

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- APS Healthcare, a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions, has been selected by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to deliver a unified total population health management program to all state employees. With this award, the State consolidated its service providers from three to one, adding almost 20,000 state employees to the member population that APS has been serving for the past two years.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081105/NY44126LOGO )

APS now will manage the provision of disease management and health and wellness services for more than 50,000 state employees spread across 159 agencies, boards and commissions working in 230 locations. Through education, communication and outreach, the program promotes healthy lifestyles that improve the productivity and health of the workforce, and maximize the value of the State's benefit dollars.

The state's population health management program, branded Take Charge! Live Well!, is an important part of the state's strategy for managing the rate of increase in future employee benefits costs," according to Mary Ellis, Population Health manager, State off Ohio. "This program provides valuable services that help our employees ad their families improve their health ad reduce their health risks."

The program offers frequent onsite educational activities, including health fairs, brown bag lunches and biometric screenings which check cholesterol, blood pressure and other vital signs. Following face-to-face interaction at these events, locally based Outreach Coordinators and Health Coaches work with employees to engage them in smoking cessation, weight management and other lifestyle behavior change programs. Those employees who suffer from diabetes, asthma, cancer and other chronic medical conditions receive personal coaching and support in managing their illness. A telephonic nurse advice line provides employees with information and help in making decisions about treatment and care 24 hours-a-day.

"We are very pleased to be expanding our relationship with the State of Ohio. Our model, which goes beyond traditional disease management, is an effective means of enhancing employee health and productivity," said Jerry Vaccaro, MD, president and chief operating officer of APS Healthcare. "Employees are supported in taking better care of themselves and making more informed decisions about their conditions; ultimately changing individual behaviors, improving health status and helping the state make the best use of its healthcare investment."

The expanded program will begin in July 2009.

About APS Healthcare

APS Healthcare is a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions to more than 20 million members in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company partners with agencies in more than 20 states, representing more than 40 percent of the nation's Medicaid population. APS delivers customized, integrated healthcare solutions that help people engage in behaviors that optimize their health status. By uniting all participants in the healthcare landscape -- individuals, practitioners and payers - APS improves overall health and reduces total healthcare expenditures. For more information, visit www.apshealthcare.com.

SOURCE APS Healthcare, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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