UnitedHealth Group Donates $4.5 Million to Advance Health Equity Among Underserved Communities Across Oklahoma
September 09 2021 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
New partnerships aimed at addressing state’s
largest health challenges
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), including the United Health
Foundation and UnitedHealthcare, is donating a total of $4.5
million to increase access to health care, improve health outcomes
and support communities across Oklahoma.
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The United Health Foundation is providing a three-year, $1.8
million grant to the Health Alliance for the Uninsured to provide
integrated services for people with diabetes and a three-year, $1.8
million grant to the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa to
provide comprehensive geriatric care for Native Americans. An
additional $750,000 from UnitedHealthcare will support five
nonprofit organizations that are focused on meeting the needs of
older adults and people experiencing trauma, food insecurity and/or
social isolation.
“It has been and remains my goal to improve health outcomes in
the state, especially among our most vulnerable populations,” said
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “I’m grateful for UnitedHealth
Group’s generous contributions to the Oklahoma-based organizations
focused on these efforts. The projects and programs supported today
will make a big difference in the lives of thousands of Oklahomans
and help the state’s residents achieve better health and
wellness.”
The collective investments will meet urgent health needs across
the state by focusing on the biggest areas of opportunity to
address health disparities. Oklahoma ranks 42nd in the United
States in access to primary care providers, 43rd in multiple
chronic conditions and 49th in fruit and vegetable consumption,
according to the most recent America’s Health Rankings Annual
Report. In addition, high rates of health disparities exist for
Native Americans across the country, including in Oklahoma, where
15.4% of Native American adults experience multiple chronic
conditions, compared with 12.8% of all Oklahoma adults.
"UnitedHealth Group is grateful for the opportunity to support
organizations dedicated to helping Oklahomans live healthier
lives,” said Timothy Spilker, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community &
State. “These partnerships have been created to advance health
equity, and to make a real and immediate impact.”
The seven community organizations that have been awarded grants
are:
Indian Health Care Resource Center — based in Tulsa; $1.8
million from the United Health Foundation for the development of a
comprehensive, culturally competent program that provides medical
and behavioral health care, physical activity, medical social work,
and health education for older Native American adults and their
caregivers.
Health Alliance for the Uninsured — based in Oklahoma City; $1.8
million from the United Health Foundation to integrate new
behavioral health assessments, monitoring, interventions, and staff
training that are designed to improve health outcomes for uninsured
and underinsured individuals with diabetes at 20 free/charitable
clinics across the state.
Life Senior Services — based in Tulsa; $200,000 from
UnitedHealthcare to help fund the organization’s “Active Senior
Center” programming that will include virtual and in-person fitness
and nutrition classes and a variety of social activities such as
walking groups.
The University of Oklahoma Foundation/Hope Research Center —
based in Tulsa; $120,000 from UnitedHealthcare to expand the
center’s evidence-based training program to several health
organizations across the state that educate trainees on how to
respond to the needs of trauma survivors.
Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma — based in Tulsa;
$140,000 from UnitedHealthcare to expand the food bank’s campus and
school-based pantry program to 10 additional schools and colleges
in rural, underserved communities so food insecure students and
their families will have regular access to healthy food.
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma — based in Oklahoma City;
$180,000 from UnitedHealthcare to support the expansion of the
“Healthy Living Pantry Box” program at 10 hospitals and clinics.
The program aims to reduce hospitalizations by providing a box of
healthy food to patients being discharged who are screened as food
insecure. Funds will also support staffing for a coordinator to
handle increased demand for the organization’s “Food for Seniors”
programs and services.
Meals on Wheels OKC — based in Oklahoma City; $110,000 from
UnitedHealthcare to provide daily meals to homebound older adults
who are experiencing food insecurity and social isolation and to
support the purchase of food-storage refrigeration.
“Oklahoma now has the fourth-highest death rate from diabetes in
the United States,” said Jeanean Yanish, executive director, Health
Alliance for the Uninsured. “We’re proud to partner with
UnitedHealth Group to improve access to primary and behavioral
health care for diabetic patients at rural and urban clinics
throughout the state.”
Committed to a long-standing belief that all individuals should
have access to high-quality, affordable health care that meets
their unique health needs, UnitedHealth Group is dedicated to
advancing health equity by addressing health disparities and social
determinants of health. The commitment in Oklahoma is one of many
ways UnitedHealth Group is working to build healthier communities
by leveraging expertise, experience and resources to improve
outcomes and help create a modern, high-performing health system.
To learn more, please visit the company’s sustainability website at
sustainability.uhg.com.
“Our generous grant from UnitedHealth Group will be instrumental
in helping us provide much-needed culturally competent care to
Native Americans ages 65 and above who live in and around Tulsa,”
said Carmelita Skeeter, CEO, Indian Health Care Resource Center of
Tulsa.
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care
company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and
helping to make the health system work better for everyone.
UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services
through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides
health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which
provides information and technology-enabled health services. For
more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on
Twitter.
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Angela Richmond 952-202-2777 Angela_Richmond@uhc.com
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