Catholic Health East : Best Practices

RHC: Mercy Health System of SEPA, Conshohocken, PA

Contact: Jamilette Melendez

Title: Program Coordinator

E-mail:
Fax: 215.636.6673
Phone: 215.636.6609

Description of the Best Practice:

Keystone Mercy/AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan Member Scholarship Program

Founded in 1982, Keystone Mercy/AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan is a managed care organization administering and coordinating health care benefits for 225,000 persons on medical assistance in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Central to Keystone Mercy’s success have been its member focus and community involvement. Employees have taken the mission of the company to heart, connecting it to their personal values. One significant expression of this commitment is Keystone Mercy’s Member Scholarship Program, a program that is a collaborative effort between employees, communities, and schools to offer educational opportunity where it is least available.

Implementation & Time Frame

In 1988, KMHP employees decided to establish a scholarship program funded by employee contributions. These scholarships would be available to any KMHP member and distributed based on merit, need, and recommendation, as determined by volunteer employee review committees.

While most members use their scholarship to pursue a college degree, a few have attended various professional and fine arts schools to prepare for a career. Each year, member recipients, their families, and their guests gather with employees at a reception to honor the winners. This event provides a wonderful opportunity for members to meet the people who work for them. It also allows employees to put real faces to the voices and histories they work with each day.

Financial Profile

Since 1988, the program has raised $582,000, granting 245 scholarships to KMHP and AMHP members.

Outcome

As the employee population has increased four fold, and membership has nearly quadrupled, the program has evolved into a recognized social influence in the five-county area. Single mothers have been given a chance to pursue a horizon they thought they had lost. Senior citizens have attained a dream they abandoned years ago to struggle to raise a family. Persons recovering from addictions and the ravages on their lives have been offered a hand into self-esteem. Perhaps the greatest of all benefits, our employees hearts have been connected in mercy, love, and respect to our scholarship recipients and their loved ones.‹

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