One of the ways to help reduce the amount of opioid overdoses and deaths is through harm reduction, which is an evidence-based approach that encompasses prevention, risk reduction, and health promotion. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is the most effective tool in the harm reduction toolbox.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids — including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications — when given in time. Naloxone is easy to use and small to carry.

The city of Dodge City, Lactancia Latina en el Suroeste de Kansas, and UnitedHealthcare teamed up to create a lactation bench at Chilton Park. The space includes a covered bench area for breastfeeding, a changing table, and signage with information to connect parents with local resources.

According to Mental Health America, nearly 20% of U.S. adults are experiencing a mental illness. That’s equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans. A skills-based training course that teaches people about mental health and substance-use issues is essential for understanding and addressing mental health needs. That's why UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas is offering Mental Health First Aid trainings to communities in Kansas.

Transportation impacts access to health care, employment and educational opportunities. 3.6 million Americans do not obtain medical care each year due to a lack of transportation.1 This disproportionately impacts older Americans and people of color.

Over 4,200 individuals are more active and mobile in Wichita, Kansas, thanks to a $125,000 Empowering Health grant from UnitedHealthcare. We worked with Bike Walk Wichita, a grassroots organization with a mission focused on increasing biking and walking, and improving the availability of health resources. The grant has been extended to help advance health equity by connecting people in the community with access to free bicycles and equipment and hosting events to promote community-based resources.

Pregnant women in the U.S. are increasingly experiencing adverse maternal and birth outcomes. Watch this for expert advice on what expecting moms should consider for a healthy pregnancy. What expecting moms should consider for a healthy pregnancy.

The UnitedHealthcare Community & State Peer Driver Program connects members with behavioral health conditions to non-emergency wraparound transportation services. In partnership with Johnson County Mental Health Center (JCMHC) in Johnson County, Kansas, the program was established to help members get to work, school, social services, and employment, as well as mental health and medical appointments.

The prevalence of adult mental illness in Kansas is at 26 percent, translating into 560,000 people.

Celia Ruiz, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Project Coordinator of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas, shares how everyday people can identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders.

“I would say that mental health has always been important, but today, we have the research to show that mental and emotional well-being is critical to overall health and wellness.

CHWs are trusted community members who serve as links between patients and health or social service agencies, working to improve health outcomes by providing access to resources. Employing CHWs provides cost savings for health providers, increases the quality of care delivery and improves patient trust.

UnitedHealthcare Discusses Kids Preventative Health

UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, Inc. dba UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (KS) is the top-rated Medicaid HMO plan in Kansas, with a rating of 4 out of 5. This was announced as part of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2022 Health Plan Ratings.

Employment provides people with a sense of purpose. For individuals with an intellectual disability or behavioral health diagnosis, transportation can be a barrier to finding and maintaining employment.

Toward the start of developing our Kansas Community Plan (KanCare) value-based program, nearly 50% of our members were served by our top 25 providers, many of which are FQHCs. Since that time, we have looked to strengthen our relationships with all of our providers through collaboration using different methods.

We are actively seeking feedback from key leaders at our high-volume provider organizations. This will help gauge how provider partners are receiving our value-based programs. We are also measuring the success of our value-based programs by monitoring growth at the facility, county, and state levels.

We are committed to building healthier communities across Kansas in partnership with the State of Kansas, providers, community leaders, and our members. Together, we can create equitable, community-centric solutions that drive improved quality and health outcomes.

In support of our mission, we’re focused on:

Delivering high-quality, value-based care

Removing barriers to care

Building community-based partnerships

Advancing health equity for all Kansans

Our team is deeply embedded in the communities we serve. Our experience living and working in Kansas informs how we serve our members. We maintain a culture of quality that lowers cost, maximizes value, and increases member and provider satisfaction. We collaborate to create partnerships that promote access to care, reduce health disparities, and advance population health. Social and economic factors have a profound impact on health. Therefore, we look to engage providers and community partners to uncover and address local community needs that impact social determinants of health.

GOOD DAY KANSAS: UnitedHealthcare – Empowering Health

UnitedHealthcare awarded $300,000 in Empowering Health grants to two communities in our state including Mental-Health Association of South-Central Kansas.