Community Health Plan Ranks Highest for Washington Child Immunizations

 Health Recovery and Services Administration Recognizes State Medicaid Plan



    SEATTLE, Aug. 21 /EMWNews/ -- The Health Recovery and Services

Administration (HRSA) announced Community Health Plan has been recognized

for having the highest pediatric immunization rate of any health plan in

the state. The annual report assessed six major health insurers that

provide medical coverage for Washington families. For children aged birth

to two years of age, Community Health Plan had an immunization rate of 76.4

percent for Combination 2(a) immunizations, compared to other health plans

that averaged 70.31 percent. In terms of the health plan's total

membership, this number represents approximately 4,560 children, birth to

two years of age, who have been immunized. When analyzing rates for

individual immunization categories such as MMR, HiB and Hepatitis B, the

health plan's rate exceeded 90 percent in most categories.(b)



    Created in 1992, Community Health Plan is the fifth-largest health

program in Washington. It was developed by a group of community health

centers to serve low-income individuals, families, diverse ethnic groups,

recent immigrants and people with disabilities. The health plan provides

comprehensive managed care for patients on the state's Basic Health Plan,

Healthy Options (Washington's managed Medicaid program), the State

Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP), General Assistance and

Unemployable (GA-U).



    "This achievement is the result of several years of combined efforts

between Community Health Plan and our community health center providers to

ensure the best possible care to children throughout the state," said Dr.

Christopher Mathews, Community Health Plan's Chief Medical Officer. "What

was novel about our approach to treating children, was the partnership we

have with our community health center delivery system, and our ability to

put the needs of the patient first."



    To achieve these milestone immunization rates, Community Health Plan

worked closely with its provider groups to create customized strategies to

address the unique needs of the communities that they serve. The

not-for-profit health plan advocates the importance of providing medical

and dental coverage to Washington's children, regardless of their insurance

status.



    Since 2000, fewer employers have offered health coverage, resulting in

a 31 percent increase in uninsured individuals and families. Community

Health Plan is critical to Washington's current insurance system because it

is a safety net for economically-challenged people seeking affordable, yet

quality healthcare.



    "As a health insurer and advocate for Washington's individuals and

families who deserve the best possible health care, Community Health Plan

has a business model that leverages compassionate, performance-based care,

with a laser focus on financial efficiency. The plan enables public dollars

to be directed to those it is intended to benefit -- Washington's

families," said Paul Gallese, Community Health Plan's Chief Executive

Officer. "Our ranking of number one in kids' immunizations exemplifies the

elevated quality of care provided by a community health center focused

delivery system."



    Community Health Plan provides affordable health insurance coverage,

and high quality, patient-focused care to more than 228,000 individuals and

families throughout Washington. It is the state's largest provider of the

Basic Health Plan and the second largest health plan serving members of the

state's Medicaid program, including Healthy Options, the State Children's

Health Insurance Program, General Assistance and Unemployable (GA-U), as

well as a series of Medicare Advantage products called Community

HealthFirst. The health plan's delivery system includes over 300 primary

care clinics, 1600 providers, 8000 specialists, and 90 hospitals. Community

Health Plan features an incentive program that rewards its members for

getting the preventive care they, and their family, need.



    For more on Community Health Plan, or to learn about obtaining access

to medical coverage through the plan visit http://www.chpw.org; call

1-800-440-1561; or email [email protected].






    a. Combination 2 includes DTaP, MMR, IPV, HiB, Hepatitis B and VZV

       immunizations.

    b. MMR (vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella), Haemophilus

       influenzae type b, IPV for polio b