For Immediate Release

Cheyenne, Wyoming
March 16, 2009

Five Healthcare Clinics Recognized for their Support of Wyoming
Department of Health Programs

Five Wyoming healthcare provider clinics have been designated as Healthy Together!  2008 Champions by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) and APS Healthcare. Banner Medical Clinic of Torrington, Cheyenne Medical Specialists, Cheyenne Children’s Clinic, and the Allergy & Asthma Clinics of Casper and Cheyenne were chosen for their support of the WDH Health Management Program and its Pay-for-Participation component, which provides health and wellness services to nearly 80,000 Wyoming EqualityCare (Medicaid) clients statewide. APS Healthcare has administered the WDH Health Management Program since 2004.

The Champion clinics are being recognized for the large number of qualified referrals into the program; and for their close collaboration with Healthy Together!  nurse health coaches who monitor and evaluate progress, help eliminate barriers to care, and encourage behavior changes to improve health outcomes. Clients receive disease-specific educational materials to help manage illness, reminders to keep medical appointments, access to a toll-free 24-hour nurse support line, and links to community resources. 

“Providing better care and avoiding cost, while helping our physicians, is a win-win for EqualityCare and our clients. We are pleased to offer our congratulations to these five practices that most exemplify our mission,” says James Bush, MD, State Medicaid Medical Officer. “Healthy Together! and the Pay-for-Participation programs have helped improve participant health, provided reimbursements for additional primary care services, and avoided costs unnecessary for the state.”

There are currently more than 100 participating clinics referring chronically ill patients into
the Healthy Together! program and receiving additional reimbursement through Pay-for-Participation. The Pay-for-Participation initiative encourages providers to offer preventive screenings and services to their EqualityCare clients, particularly those with chronic illness, to improve the coordination and delivery of care.

“Healthcare providers see our health coaches as an extension to their offices, to assist in reinforcing their treatment plans,” says Michael Jensen, Executive Director APS Wyoming. “Close partnership between the patients’ providers and health coaches has improved our engagement rates and patient satisfaction. We are pleased to recognize the participating clinics for their collaboration.”

About APS
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, contact:

Andrea Minoff
(914) 288-4791
aminoff@apshealthcare.com

or                                                                                                                     

Michelle Crist
(307) 433-0970
mcrist@apshealthcare.com