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Amerigroup Tackles Some of Tennessee's Most Complex Health Needs in 2016 to Create a Healthier Generation of Tennesseans
[February 22, 2017]

Amerigroup Tackles Some of Tennessee's Most Complex Health Needs in 2016 to Create a Healthier Generation of Tennesseans


The Amerigroup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup Tennessee, has activated more than $500,000 in health and wellness grants across Tennessee in 2016. Additionally, Amerigroup Tennessee, a statewide provider of Medicaid managed care services, has contributed another $108,000 in funding to sponsor community health programs. Funded programs have been designed to address complex health needs and raise awareness about statewide health issues, particularly obesity, chronic disease, prenatal care and developmental/intellectual disabilities. Sponsored programs and partnerships promoted the importance of health education, staying physically active, access to appropriate nutrition and making healthy lifestyle choices. These partnerships and programs included the following:

  • The Foundation provided three Triple Play (News - Alert) Program grants to local Boys & Girls Clubs that made it possible for more than 640 Tennessee youth to participate in Triple Play's active lifestyle programs. These grants also helped enhanced programing to connect with more than 51,000 youth across the entire state of Tennessee.
  • A Foundation grant to the Governor's Foundation for a Healthier Tennessee made it possible to reach approximately one million Tennesseans to encourage better lifestyle choices. Funding specifically enabled the Governor's Foundation to provide Small Start Health and Wellness Tools to approximately 1,700 workplaces and 230 faith-based organizations across 62 statewide communities. These tools are customized to help Tennesseans easily incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines to achieve improved health outcomes.
  • The ARC of Tennessee received a grant from the Foundation to develop a program focused on helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to increase their knowledge about the importance of healthy lifestyles. Funding was used to create the Health and Fitness for All Program, which is a 12-week course that focuses on healthy eating and staying active. Since the launch of the course in 2016, 75 individuals have already successfully completed workshops and demonstrated the lifestyle changes they have made to achieve healthier futures.

The AmerigroupFoundation also distributed support through its Cares Fund, a program created to assist Tennessee associates experiencing personal hardship. Amerigroup associates also raised approximately $57,500 for local charities and non-profits through personal donations and a Foundation match. In addition, associates volunteered more than 250 hours in 2016, earning an additional grant that was distributed to their chosen support organizations.



"Amerigroup is committed to helping our communities thrive, grow and prosper, and we understand that success starts by addressing the health of our residents," said Al B. King, president of Amerigroup Tennessee. "We are proud of the ongoing contributions being made by our Foundation, associates and partnering community advocates, and we are confident that together, our continued efforts will achieve a healthier future for all of Tennessee."

For more information, see Amerigroup's annual online Corporate Responsibility Report, which outlines the company's commitment to making a difference in people's lives through the work of its associates, the philanthropic efforts of the Amerigroup Foundation, its diversity and inclusion initiatives, and its environmentally responsible business practices.


ABOUT THE AMERIGROUP FOUNDATION

The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, the Amerigroup Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Amerigroup and its affiliated health plans serve. Amerigroup Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with five areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, and Healthy Active Lifestyle. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Amerigroup Foundation, please visit www.anthem.foundation.

ABOUT AMERIGROUP TENNESSEE

Amerigroup Tennessee helps improve health care access and quality for approximately 436,000 Tennessee residents who participate in the state's various Medicaid programs. Amerigroup serves Tennesseans by developing and delivering innovative care management programs and services. Amerigroup Tennessee members are assured care that is not only accessible, but also accountable, comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered. It provides ongoing community relations and outreach to encourage members to become active participants in their health care. For more information about Amerigroup, please visit our website at www.myamerigroup.com/tn.


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