Free Breather District of Columbia

Focus on Pediatric Asthma in the District of Columbia

Capital Community Health PlanCapital Community Health Plan (CCHP) is a managed care organization located in the District of Columbia. The health plan is owned by five of the leading hospitals in the District of Columbia: Children's National Medical Center, Greater Southeast Community Hospital, Howard University Hospital, Providence Hospital, and Washington Hospital Center. Capital Community Heath Plan has over 26,000 AFDC/TANF and related Medicaid members who reside in the District of Columbia. CCHP is committed to providing exceptional quality care and customer service to its members. Health care services are delivered by a well-organized provider network with over 1,200 physicians and community-based medical offices and health centers.

Approximately 5% of the population in the District of Columbia have asthma or related symptoms with nearly one-third of those affected younger than age 18. Since more than 80% of the members enrolled with CCHP are younger than age 18 and are potentially at risk of or have asthma and/or allergies, the health plan attempts to provide management and clinical support services to improve respiratory health as well as decrease associated morbidity. This multi-prong approach includes provider education, enhanced access for members, and post hospitalization care coordination. The plan offers the following components that support the providers and members:

Provider Education:

  • Dissemination of clinical guidelines for Asthma Management to providers.
  • Distribution of Capital Community Health Plan's CARE COORDINATION UPDATE, a quarterly newsletter that addresses quality service to members. Pediatric Asthma Management in the emergency department is identified as one of six areas of quality focus.

Enhanced Member Services and Benefits:

  • Telephone access 24 hours a day via Optum Nurse Line for health information, symptom-based recommendations and referral services.
  • Full coverage upon approval of medical supplies, equipment, and appliances for treatment and prevention of asthma and allergies.
  • Full coverage of prescription drugs for the treatment and prevention of asthma and allergies.
  • Full coverage of allergy testing and treatment by CCHP provider.
  • Access to transportation services.
  • Distribution of educational materials to members regarding causes, symptoms, and treatment of asthma and allergies.
  • CVS Health Connection Program—a partnership between CCHP and CVS designed to couple members with a health educator to learn how to manage asthma. Members are educated about asthma triggers; medical test results, and what they mean; how prescription medicine helps improve the problem; how and when to take medicine, and how to stay well. Individuals are tracked for 1 year and all communications are related to the individual's primary care provider.

Posthospitalization Care Coordination:

Effective March 1, 2001, the Welcome Home Program, a care coordination program of CCHP, will offer defined interventions immediately postdischarge that focus on facilitating and coordinating access to care.

To contact CCHP:
Lavdena_A_orr@uhc.com
Jwoodward@uhc.com

 

National Asthma and Allergy Resources