Background
Keystone Mercy Health Plan is Pennsylvania’s largest Medicaid managed care health plan. Based in Philadelphia, it serves more than 273,000 Medicaid recipients in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Problem
In the United States, there is an epidemic of asthma among children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 9 million children are afflicted. In 2003, Keystone Mercy noted a sharp increase in the number of pediatric members diagnosed with asthma, primarily in the West Philadelphia section of the city. Corresponding to the increase in asthma diagnoses were increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Asthma was highlighted as a key issue for the Plan to address.
The Healthy Hoops® Solution
In recognizing the magnitude of the growing number of school-aged children with asthma, we also understand that education, appropriate pharmacological and medical management, good nutrition and monitored recreational activities are among the safest, most effective, and most comprehensive methods of controlling the effects. To that end,
Keystone Mercy and the Healthy Hoops® Coalition developed the Healthy Hoops® Program and launched it in West Philadelphia and targeted children ages 7-15.
Due to the positive results and outcomes of the program’s first year, Healthy Hoops® has expanded to include younger asthmatic children, ages 3-6, and to other areas in Pennsylvania.
Healthy Hoops® 2004 Results:
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Preventive medication use increased by 10% |
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Rescue medication use decreased by 13% |
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ER visits decreased to 15% from 41% at baseline |
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Forced expiratory volume improved to 91.7% from 87.3% at baseline |
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Forced vital capacity improved to 97.3% from 89.6% at baseline |
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School absenteeism decreased to 20% from 46% at baseline |
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Nocturnal awakenings and other sleep disturbances decreased by 70% |
Member Snap Shot
Keystone Mercy Member, age 10, diagnosed with asthma. Enrolled in Healthy Hoops® in 2004.
Comparing utilization from 2003 to 2006, ER and inpatient admissions decreased in cost by $31,202.
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