[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF AMERICHOICE OF NEW YORK: A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY 
             FOR BEING A 2003 AAHP/WYETH HERA AWARD WINNER

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize AmeriChoice of New York, 
which is a UnitedHealth Group Company, for winning this year's Bronze 
AAHP/Wyeth HERA award in the health plan category.
  Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, together with the American Association of 
Health Plans (AAHP), offers this prestigious award to honor those who 
have made a significant difference in the area of women and children's 
health outcomes. AmeriChoice received this recognition for significant 
progress in working to ensure that New York City's youngest, most 
vulnerable children receive appropriate well care in the first 15 
months of life.
  AmeriChoice of New York serves more than 90,000 members in New York 
City, the majority residing in Brooklyn. In 2000, the health plan 
launched a targeted Well Child Outreach Initiative, designed to 
increase the number of children receiving five or more comprehensive 
well child visits with a primary care physician in the first 15 months 
of life. The goal of this initiative was to meet or exceed New York 
State's goal for Medicaid plans in this area.
  The plan's multi-tiered approach entails four essential elements. The 
first part is member education and support, which includes telephone 
calls from multilingual Member Services staff, postcard reminders and 
transportation assistance to support this initiative. Next, is provider 
education and incentives, which includes regular patient profile 
mailings, listing members due for care and quality award payments for 
physicians whose patients met the well child visit requirements. The 
approach also provides for significant community outreach that includes 
partnerships with community-based organizations and other opinion 
makers to educate members as to the importance of well child visits. 
Finally, AmeriChoice employs database development systems that monitor 
physicians and members regarding well child visits and provides real-
time information on member compliance.
  In two years, the plan has more than doubled the number of children 
completing the series of well child visits and exceeded New York 
State's goal of 55 percent in 2000 and 65 percent in 2001. In fact, the 
plan scored highest of all Medicaid plans in New York City in 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, the leaders of AmeriChoice of New York have taken 
extraordinary steps to improve the delivery of health care services for 
children. As such, the company and its leaders are worthy of receiving 
our recognition today.

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