NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 21, 2015
Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed 215.434.7194 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHMC’s affiliate, The Bridge and its program The Villa, realigns as an affiliate of Turning Points for Children to offer more integrated services.

PHILADELPHIA – Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, announced that its affiliate, Turning Points for Children (Turning Points), a health and human services agency that provides support services to youth and families, will now include as an affiliate, The Bridge, a youth opportunity program for adolescents and their families seeking to overcome substance abuse, mental health issues, truancy and other challenges, as well as The Villa, The Bridge’s specialized residential program for youth with a history of trauma.

“We are constantly looking at new ways to integrate our services and streamline programming to better meet the public health needs of the community,” said PHMC President & CEO Richard J. Cohen. “This new organizational alignment not only strengthens Turning Points for Children, but also allows The Bridge and The Villa to benefit from Turning Points’ established resources for families and children in the community.”

Turning Points joined PHMC as an affiliate in 2013 and has since been awarded two Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) contracts as part of the Department of Human Services’ Improving Outcomes for Children initiative. Together, PHMC, Turning Points, The Bridge and The Villa will build on their individual missions as strong health and human service agencies to provide a more connected value proposition to the Greater Philadelphia region that further increases impact and reach to more children and families.

“The realignment is an innovative way to strengthen our services while leveraging additional resources to better meet our clients’ needs,” said Turning Points Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Vogel. “At Turning Points, we are excited to be able to continue to grow our services with The Bridge and The Villa even as we face the challenges of decreased funding in the nonprofit sector.”

About Public Health Management Corporation
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.

About Turning Points for Children
Turning Points for Children provides proven, innovative programs that nurture families with children who are struggling against difficult economic and environmental odds. The TPC approach includes after-school family programs, teen parent education, and assistance -to relative caregivers and in-home services for vulnerable children who may be in imminent risk of child abuse or neglect. Turning Points for Children provides the critical resources, life skills and supportive partnerships needed to create stronger families and raise children with the hope for brighter futures. For more information, visit www.turningpointsforchildren.org.

About The Bridge
The Bridge, an affiliate of Turning Points for Children, is a nonprofit behavioral health treatment and youth opportunity program that works to decrease substance abuse, promote recovery and healthy lifestyles and encourage successful community and family involvement in the residential and outpatient treatment of teens. Since 1971, The Bridge has helped more than 25,000 individuals overcome substance abuse disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues in their residential and outpatient programs. The Villa, a program of The Bridge, serves youth who have demonstrated a history of truancy, emotional trauma, family conflict and difficulties in the community.

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NEWS RELEASE

June 11, 2015
Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 215.434.7194

Access to care, increasing obesity rates and social capital among key topics from the region's largest health survey

PHILADELPHIA— The impact of the Affordable Care Act, obesity rates and social capital in Southeastern Pennsylvania are some of the key topics released today from the 2015 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey (HHS), a biennial survey conducted by Public Health Management Corporation's (PHMC) Community Health Data Base. HHS is the most comprehensive health survey in the region and the largest in the country, covering 10,000 randomly selected households in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. The 2015 data release marks the fourteenth survey since the launch in 1983.

"The Household Health Survey is a unique, one-of-a-kind local snapshot based on its sophisticated analysis of data at the regional, county and even smaller geographical levels," said Francine Axler, Executive Director of PHMC's Community Health Data Base. "The biennial survey changes frequently to stay on trend with the evolving health care and community landscape, and can measure health, social status and access to care over time. The 2015 data features 14 new topic areas, including information on the Affordable Care Act, HIV testing, and use of e-cigarettes and vaporizers."

ACCESS TO CARE
Despite the drop in individuals without health insurance – 12.4 percent in 2012 to 8.5 percent in 2015 – cost is a huge barrier to entry for many across the region. Of the more than 520,000 adults under the age of 65 who looked into buying insurance on healthcare.gov, 67.4 percent found it difficult to find a plan with monthly premiums they could afford. Finding a plan with reasonable co-pays and deductibles was difficult for 68.7 percent of the respondents who looked into health insurance on healthcare.gov. Among adults without insurance, the number one reason cited was cost (44.7 percent), followed by lost job or changed employers (11.1 percent), employer does not offer coverage/or not eligible (7.4 percent), difficulties associated with the healthcare.gov website (3.6 percent), and objections to the Affordable Care Act (2.1 percent).

With or without insurance, more than 323,000 (10.2 percent) adults in Southeastern PA were sick at some point this year, but did not seek care due to the cost. More than one in seven adults did not fill a prescription due to cost.

Other key findings include:
• 36.9 percent of those who looked into buying insurance through healthcare.gov, or more than 190,000 adults in Southeastern PA, enrolled in a plan.
• The number of uninsured children in SEPA slightly decreased from 3.3 percent in 2012 to 2.3 percent in 2015; this percentage represents 21,313 children with no private or public health insurance.
• In Philadelphia, the rates of uninsured adults decreased even more dramatically, from 18.5 percent in 2012 to 12.3 percent in 2015 and 3.9 percent, or 13,122, children in Philadelphia are uninsured, down from 4.6 percent in 2012.
• Younger adults aged 18-34 are twice as likely to lack health insurance as their older counterparts aged 35-64. Males are more likely than females to be uninsured.
• Latino adults are more likely to be uninsured than any other race or ethnicity.

OBESITY
Nearly 30 percent of adults (age 20+) in the region are obese, an increase from 27.7 percent in 2012 and 21 percent in 2000. Among children aged 6-17, 21.4 percent are considered obese in 2015 vs. 18.5 percent in 2012.

On a county level, Philadelphia has the highest rate of childhood obesity at 32 percent and the largest increase in obesity rates since 2012 (+7.5 percent). Philadelphia is followed by Montgomery County (18.8 percent), Delaware (17.8 percent) Bucks County (14.2 percent) and Chester County (10.3 percent). Chester County reported the lowest levels of childhood obesity in the region and is the only county in Southeastern PA that saw a decrease in obesity levels since 2012 (-3 percent).

SOCIAL CAPITAL
Included in this year's survey was a series of questions designed to assess social capital, or the expected collective or economic benefits derived from cooperation between individuals and groups. Topics such as how much trust you have in your neighbors, would you help/have you helped your neighbors, number of organizations you are involved in, access to safe outdoor space and more were included to measure social capital rankings for the region. Social capital results are based on a 10-point score derived from five questions.

In Southeastern PA, Chester County reported the highest levels of social capital at 20.8 percent, followed by Montgomery County (16.1 percent), Bucks County (15.7 percent), Delaware County (12.9 percent) and Philadelphia County (8.6 percent).

In Philadelphia, Center City reported the highest levels of social capital at 16.1 percent, followed by South Philadelphia (11.5 percent), Upper North Philadelphia (9.5 percent), Southwest Philadelphia (8.3 percent) West Philadelphia (7.6 percent) and Lower North Philadelphia (6.3 percent).

Social capital questions can provide useful insights into the health of a community, especially when measured against other indicators such as obesity. For example, among adults who have access to a nearby park or outdoor space they are comfortable visiting, slightly more than one-quarter, or 28.3 percent, are obese compared to more than three in ten, or 35.5 percent, of those who do not have access to parks or outdoor space.

Other key social capital findings in Southeastern Pennsylvania include:
• 54.2 percent said most people would always/often be willing to help their neighbors.
• 85.5 percent agree or strongly agree that they feel they belong in their neighborhood.
• 78.2 percent have a park or outdoor space they are comfortable visiting, vs. 21.8 percent who do not.
• 48.5 percent of people in Southeastern PA participate in one or more community organization and 25.2 percent participate in two or more.

"Leading health care organizations, policy makers and non-profits trust CHDB and the HHS to help identify the unmet needs of our community, and assist in organizational planning, program implementation and service prioritization," added Axler.

The 2015 HHS survey is the largest and most in-depth local survey in the country, conducted by telephone and covering areas such as mental health, barriers to care, sources of care, health behaviors, health status, screenings, disease prevention and more.

About Public Health Management Corporation's Community Health Data Base
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. The Community Health Data Base (CHDB) includes the Household Health Survey, the largest regional health surveys in the country. The Pew Charitable Trusts, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, United Way of North Penn, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, North Penn Community Health Foundation, Thomas Scattergood Foundation, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, and more than 350 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors help to support the CHDB and the survey. For more information, visit www.chdbdata.org.

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2015

Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed (215.434.7194 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

PHMC expands commitment to integrating patient care services

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute, and Coordinated Care Network (CCN) have partnered to open a pharmacy at the PHMC Care Clinic, a nurse-managed, federally qualified health center (FQHC) located at 1200 Callowhill Street.

Over the last several years, PHMC has been working to coordinate care for the most vulnerable in the community by integrating services to improve patient outcomes. By providing a pharmacy at the health center, PHMC providers can now provide another option for more directly connecting patients with their prescriptions, offering patient convenience while also increasing the chance of proper medication adherence and more positive patient outcomes that drive down costs.

"We are excited to expand our relationship with Coordinated Care Network by offering pharmacy services," said Melissa Fox, Senior Managing Director of Health at PHMC. "At PHMC, we believe in the patient-centered medical home and creating an environment where the patients' needs are holistically assessed and a customized care plan is created. Including a pharmacy adjacent to our health center will allow us to do just that."

The new pharmacy will be owned and operated by CCN and will support more than 3,000 patients who currently receive services at PHMC Care Clinic.
"According to PHMC's Community Health Data Base 2015 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, one in seven adults didn't fill a prescription due to cost in the past year," added Fox.
As a 340B eligible provider, PHMC is able to offer discounted prices on prescriptions to its underserved and vulnerable population, thus working to address this issue in in the community.

This new addition is the latest expansion of PHMC's work with CCN, which began more than five-years ago for mail-order prescriptions at the Care Clinic.

"The pharmacy takes our initial mail-order prescription efforts with PHMC to the next level, allowing us to better serve the Care Clinics' patients," said David J. Giannangeli, Vice President Business Development & Corporate Relations at CCN. "Together, CCN and PHMC will deliver stronger, better health outcomes for those patients using our services."

Care Clinic is one of five health centers in the PHMC health network, which offers affordable, high-quality, patient centered health services to communities throughout the Philadelphia area, including public housing populations and individuals experiencing homelessness.

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About PHMC Health Network
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. The PHMC health network consists of five nurse-managed, federally qualified health centers offering affordable, high-quality, patient centered health services to communities throughout the Philadelphia area, including public housing populations and individuals experiencing homelessness. They share a simple mission: to provide comprehensive primary health care, family planning, disease management, social services and more to men, women and children. The PHMC health network is committed to their Beyond Care concept, a holistic, patient-centered approach to quality care provided by experts who organize care around the community's needs. The network has Joint Commission Ambulatory Care accreditation and Primary Care Medical Home certification, and three locations have certification by the National Centers for Quality Assurance as a Patient Centered Medical Home. PHMC is also home to the National Nursing Centers Consortium, a network of more than 250 nurse-managed health centers nationally. For more information visit www.phmc.org and www.phmchealthnetwork.org.

About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.

About Coordinated Care Network
Coordinated Care Network (CCN), is a 340B contracted pharmacy that provides specialty pharmacy services to 340B Covered Entities and their patients. CCN works every day with nonprofit hospitals, managed care organizations and clinics to offer a true safety-net pharmacy and patient medication management solution. CCN was formed in 1996 by a network of safety-net providers and was originally funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to build its 340B program and specialty pharmacy. CCN also provides 340B consulting services for Covered Entities, state governments and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2015
Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
215.434.7194

PHILADELPHIA—Thirty percent of people below the poverty line in Southeastern Pennsylvania are exercising less than once a week, according to survey data released today from the 2014-2015 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, a biennial survey conducted by Public Health Management Corporation's (PHMC's) Community Health Data Base.

In recognition of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, CHDB is shining a light on how physical fitness contributes to better health and showcasing the barriers that impact individuals' abilities to take part in outdoor physical activities.

Below are data and information that illustrate two key barriers that hinder physical activity in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region:

Socio-Economic Status
Socio-economic status appears to be correlated in no small way with the amount of physical activity individuals were engaged in on a regular basis. A clear disparity exists between the poor and non-poor, defined by those below and above the federal poverty threshold.

The survey results indicate that 30.2 percent of those below the poverty line are exercising less than once a week. This is in stark contrast to the exercise regimens of those above the poverty line, where only 20.6 percent of individuals are exercising, on average, less than once a week.

While every individual is different, and each has his or her own reason(s) for not exercising, there are always externalities that have, on a macro level, a clear impact on such patterns.

Nearby Parks and Outdoor Space/ Environmental Barriers
Engaging in activities is largely contingent upon actually having a place to comfortably do so. One could assume that an individual would be far less likely to go for a walk or spend time in a community garden if there were no accessible outdoor spaces in his/her neighborhood, or, for that matter none which he/she felt comfortable visiting.
The survey results demonstrate that among those who have a park or outdoor space in their neighborhood that they are comfortable visiting, 54.5 percent exercise three or more times per week, and only 18.8 percent exercise less than once a week. This is significant when compared to those who do not have a park or outdoor space in their neighborhood that they are comfortable visiting; only 41.2 percent of these individuals reported exercising three or more times a week, while an alarming 31.6 percent reported exercising less than once a week.

The Household Health Survey is conducted by telephone and includes 10,000 households in the SEPA region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties). For more information about these findings, contact Kyle B. Loder at 215.985.2525 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Public Health Management Corporation's Community Health Data Base
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. The Community Health Data Base (CHDB) includes the Household Health Survey, one of the largest regional health surveys in the country. The Pew Charitable Trusts, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, United Way of North Penn, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, North Penn Community Health Foundation, Thomas Scattergood Foundation, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, and more than 350 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors help to support the CHDB and the survey. For more information, visit www.phmc.org.

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