Humana announces unique partnership with Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation
Home-based meal delivery service will be available at no cost to Broward County Humana Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO members following hospital stays
MIRAMAR, FL - Jan 9, 2006 - Humana Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO members residing in Broward County are now able to receive 10 meals delivered to their homes following a hospital stay. This meal delivery program is a result of Humana (NYSE:HUM) entering into an exclusive partnership with the Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation (MOWAA Foundation). Humana and the MOWAA Foundation are also launching the community-based program in Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas counties as well as Shreveport, LA and Phoenix, AZ.
Meals include prepared frozen entree plates with vegetables as well as an assortment of other items such as juices, fruit cups, healthy dessert snacks and bread delivered by local MOWAA volunteers to the Humana member’s home or requested location within the Humana service area. Enrollment in the program is voluntary; a Humana nurse case manager will provide eligible members with enrollment information during or immediately following hospitalization.
“We would like to thank the Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation for partnering with us to create this very special program. Community-based home-delivered meal programs were founded through pilot programs such as this. It is a proud tradition that Humana is honored to support through the Foundation,” said Michael Seltzer, CEO Humana Florida Medicare products. “This program illustrates yet another way that Humana Medicare Advantage products offer more value than original Medicare. As part of our commitment to excellence, Humana strives to offer health benefits that focus on health and wellness, and serve the entirety of our members’ health needs,” he added.
Terry Smith, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Humana Florida, cited the importance of optimizing geriatric nutrition immediately following a hospital stay. “According to the American Dietetic Association, more than 85% of older adults in the community have one or more chronic conditions that could be improved by nutrition. It is vitally important that after an acute illness, particularly one requiring hospitalization, older patients are given an adequate and healthy nutritional regimen to promote healing and recovery,” he added.
Enid A. Borden, Chief Executive Officer of the MOWAA Foundation, praised Humana for its vision and commitment to helping improve the health and well-being of its Medicare subscribers. “We honestly believe that this historic partnership between a major national insurance company and the MOWAA Foundation will pave the way to wellness for thousands of seniors. We at the Foundation know how important nutrition is to restoring individuals to wellness. Through this pilot, we believe we will not only improve the quality of life for participants in the days immediately following hospitalization but also will set the standard of care for the future.”
About Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation
It is the mission of the Meals On Wheels Association of America Foundation to eradicate hunger and malnutrition among America’s seniors and others in need. The MOWAA Foundation is the only national foundation to focus its efforts and attention on this specific and growing cohort of the population. The Foundation accomplishes its mission through public-awareness building, research, education, fundraising and community involvement. The Foundation is closely aligned with the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing community-based programs that provide meal services to people in need.
About Humana Florida
Humana Florida, throughout the state under various subsidiaries, offers Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and the private-fee-for-service (PFFS) health plans throughout the state. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, Humana Florida will offer four types of Medicare Advantage coverage to people with Medicare that include the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit (MA-PD). Humana Florida will also offer three stand-alone PDP options. Statewide membership is more than 230,000.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 7 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services - through traditional and consumer-choice plans - to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.
Over its 45-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
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