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Press Releases: 2009

Select Health to Hold Back-to-School Celebration at New Community Service Center

Select Health will soon open the doors of its new community service center to dozens of Columbia-area families.  On September 19, from Noon to 5 p.m., the statewide health insurer will hold a back-to-school celebration at the new First Choice Community Center located at 3315 Broad River Road. Select Health has partnered with a host of community groups to offer local families free back-to-school supplies while they last, health screenings, entertainment and food.  

The back-to-school celebration is the first public event to be held at the First Choice Community Center. The center, which will officially open later this year, will serve as a one-stop shop for residents to learn about local community resources and about the programs and services offered through Select Health’s two health plans, First Choice and First Choice Kids.

“We’re proud to be a part of the Columbia community,” said Select Health CEO J. Michael Jernigan. “The First Choice Community Center will allow us to take a hands-on approach to helping people understand how important quality health coverage is to their health and well-being. This back-to-school celebration is the first of many events that we’ll host at our new community center.”
 
In addition to providing space for community events and housing on-site health benefit educators, the center will also offer a number of other resources including seminars about Select Health’s plans and benefits, educational information on preventive healthcare, bilingual representatives for those needing language assistance and information about local community programs.  The center will also serve as a resource for other community organizations in the area to use in their outreach efforts.

The back-to-school celebration is open to all local students and parents.  Anyone interested in more information should call the center at 803.731.1207.

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 6.5 million members nationwide.

Community Support
The Richland County Sherriff’s Department, Columbia City Parks and Recreation, Palmetto Healthy Start, Small Smiles Dental, USC Department of Specialists, Chosen to Conquer Ministry, First Citizens Bank and  Kids 1st Dental will participate in the back-to-school celebration.