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Press Releases: 2008

Select Health of South Carolina Receives March of Dimes Award

Named one of the top contributing companies in South Carolina

The March of Dimes recently recognized Select Health of South Carolina as one of its top contributing companies in South Carolina. The award, received at the March of Dimes annual Volunteer Leadership Conference banquet held Sunday in Columbia, is given to the top fifteen companies in the state who have made substantial contributions to the March of Dimes campaign to decrease premature births.

"Select Health is honored to be ranked among the top contributing companies to the March of Dimes," said J. Michael Jernigan, president and chief executive officer of Select Health of South Carolina. "Preterm births are continuing to be a major health crisis in South Carolina and we are determined to increase awareness and education to help reduce these incidences."

Kathryn Douglas, state director of the South Carolina chapter of the March of Dimes, says Select Health provides a tremendous impact throughout the state. "We are proud of our partnership with Select Health of South Carolina. Through the generous funds from Select Health, many critical programs will be supported benefiting thousands of South Carolina families."

South Carolina's Premature Birth Rate is currently at 15.6 percent, more than twice the 2010 goal of 7.6 percent. Select Health is continuing to partner with March of Dimes to help reduce this rate, recently announcing a three-year contribution as the Premier Prematurity Campaign Donor to provide education, awareness and research to the campaign. As part of this contribution, Select Health is sponsoring the MUSC Progesterone Outreach Program, implemented to educate obstetrical providers on the prevention and management of preterm labor with the use of the hormone progesterone as treatment for women with a history of previous preterm birth.

About Select Health
Incorporated in 1995, Select Health was licensed as a Health Maintenance Organization by the South Carolina Department of Insurance in 1996. Later that year, the company contracted with the Department of Health and Human Services to offer First Choice, the state’s first Medicaid managed care plan. Select Health is accredited by URAC and is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriHealth Mercy. The AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies touches the lives of more than 6.2 million members nationwide. For more information, visit www.selecthealthofsc.com.

About March of Dimes
Last year, the South Carolina March of Dimes invested more than $4.2 million in program services, including research grants and local community services. Through these grants, the March of Dimes is seeking ways to prevent birth defects and infant death, reduce South Carolina's increasing premature birth rate, increase access to prenatal care and educate men and women about having healthy babies. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, visit www.marchofdimes.com or www.nacersano.org.