CoventryCares Helps Launch Text4baby Campaign
CoventryCares Promotes Text4baby, a National Program that Aims to use SMS Text Message Technology to Improve Health of Moms and Babies
PHILADELPHIA & HARRISBURG, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– CoventryCares, a Medicaid managed care organization currently serving southeastern Pennsylvania, has partnered with The Maternity Care Coalition and the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) Coalition, to launch the Philadelphia text4baby campaign. CoventryCares will use the new program to help educate and encourage the use of the service to its Bright Expectations prenatal program members. Text4baby is a free, mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health by providing pregnant women and new moms with detailed health tips, via SMS text message, to assist them in caring for themselves and their children. The program, which was launched nationwide in February 2010, has nearly 35,000 enrollees, including 1,042 participants in Pennsylvania.
Women sign up for the free service by texting “BABY” (or “BEBE,” in Spanish) to 511411. each woman receives three SMS text messages every week, timed to their due date or baby’s age, up to the child’s first birthday. Messages include subject matter geared toward nutrition, immunizations, labor and delivery, car seat safety, breastfeeding and mental health.
through its support and collaboration with text4baby, CoventryCares plans to promote the initiative among its Bright Expectations prenatal program participants. Bright Expectations is a program devoted to educating pregnant women and new moms on health information and available services.
“We are committed to helping our pregnant members have the healthiest pregnancies possible,” said Denise Croce, vice president of Medicaid. “The text4baby program complements our Bright Expectations program by communicating health tips and information about the child’s development between prenatal visits. it also helps new mothers and mothers-to-be feel connected to each other, strengthening the feeling of community and support.”
Similar programs use SMS text messaging technology to provide information to diabetics, smokers and to people with weight-management issues. under each category, SMS technology has improved the health of its participants. for example, 28 percent of smokers receiving SMS messages quit smoking, as compared to 13 percent of the control group (A. Rogers et. al., “Do u smoke after txt?,” Tobacco Control 2005).
About Text4Baby
Text4baby is made possible through a broad, public-private partnership that includes government, corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, tribal agencies and non-profit organizations. Founding partners include HMHB, Voxiva, CTIA – The Wireless Foundation and Grey Healthcare Group(a WPP company). Johnson & Johnson is the founding sponsor, and premier sponsors include WellPoint, Pfizer and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. U.S. government partners include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense Military Health System. The mobile health platform is provided by Voxiva and free messaging services are generously provided by participating wireless service providers. Implementation partners include BabyCenter, Danya International, Syniverse Technologies, Keynote Systems and The George Washington University. MTV Networks is a media sponsor. 
About HealthAmerica
Listed among the country’s top 20 health plans in the U.S.News/NCQA America’s Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10 list, HealthAmerica has been offering health benefits in Pennsylvania for over 34 years. The company provides a range of health insurance products, including consumer-directed, self-funded, Medicare, Medicaid, indemnity, nongroup, and pharmacy plans. it currently has “Excellent” accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its commercial HMO, POS, and Medicare plans. HealthAmerica’s corporate offices are in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. for more information, visit HealthAmerica’s website at healthamerica.cvty.com.
HealthAmericaKendall MarcocciDirector of Communications(717)
Source: HealthAmerica