Press Releases: Colorado
October 21, 2009
The American Cancer Society and the Colorado Business Group on Health Recognize Kaiser Permanente with Cancer Prevention Excellence Award
DENVER — The American Cancer Society Great West Division, in collaboration with the Colorado Business Group on Health, has named Kaiser Permanente the recipient of the 2009 Cancer Prevention Excellence Award. The award was presented at the Colorado Culture of Health Conference today, Wednesday Oct. 21.
The Cancer Prevention Excellence Award honors health plans committed to prevention and early detection. Through a competitive selection process, organizations are evaluated on the basis of how many members are screened for various cancers. In addition, the ACS and CBGH review program offerings, from tobacco cessation and weight management to workplace wellness and screening reminder systems.
“Right now there is a small minority of health plans taking a proactive approach to cancer prevention and most have modest offerings for members,” said Jill Asrael, ACS health promotion director. “We want to award those health plans that are stepping up, innovating, improving outcomes for their members, and at the same time making life-saving and cost-saving information available to employers and the public. We applaud Kaiser Permanente for making a significant investment in the health of their members and the community.”
Kaiser Permanente was selected for this year’s award on the basis of the following key achievements:
- Exceeded the 90th percentile compared to plans across the country for colorectal screening and tobacco cessation referrals
- Robust reminder system that monitors screening rates, sends screening reminders to patients, and prompts providers when overdue patients come into the office.
“Recognition programs like the Cancer Prevention Excellence Award are needed to help raise the bar on early detection and health promotion,” said Donna Marshall, CEO of Colorado Business Group on Health. ”This public recognition celebrates health plans that make prevention a priority. We hope the increased awareness, coupled with market forces, will raise the overall quality of all health plan offerings.”
“We are honored to be recognized by two leading community partners dedicated to improving the health of all Coloradans,” said Bill Wright, MD, executive medical director, Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “Kaiser Permanente is proud to be able to maximize the power of our health care teams and our sophisticated electronic health record to coordinate care, partner with employers, increase access to screening, and deliver the best outcomes for our patients.”
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
The Colorado Business Group on Health
The Colorado Business Group on Health is a not for profit coalition of purchasers seeking affordable health solutions. The CBGH develops and implements projects on a community and state-wide basis to decrease individual employer trends in healthcare spending. For more information visit coloradohealthonline.com.
About Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Kaiser Permanente Colorado is the state's largest nonprofit health plan, proudly working to improve the lives and health of Denver, Boulder, and Southern Colorado area residents for 40 years. Kaiser Permanente of Colorado provides comprehensive health care services to more than 480,000 members through 17 medical offices and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. The health plan was recently named “Highest in Member Satisfaction” among Commercial Health Plans by J.D. Power and Associates. It is also the top-ranked commercial and Medicare health plan in Colorado, according to U.S. News & World Report/National Committee for Quality Assurance. In 2008, Kaiser Permanente directed more than $50 million to community benefit programs to improve the health of all Coloradans. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit kp.org/newscenter.