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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Value-Based Care Leader, Equality Health, Launches Rebrand with Simple, Bold Commitment: "Dedicated to Better"
PHOENIX, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equality Health, a leading innovator in value-based care delivery for diverse and underserved communities, today unveiled a comprehensive brand refresh underscored by a powerful new tagline: Dedicated to Better. This rebrand marks a renewed commitment to transforming healthcare for those who need it most by simplifying the complex and fragmented system that challenges providers and payers, but more importantly, patients. The refreshed brand embodies Equality Health's mission to transform health outcomes, streamline value-based care (VBC) operations and elevate the experiences for stakeholders. Built specifically for Medicaid populations and under-resourced communities that have long been underserved, Equality Health's unique and proven care model is at the heart of this renewed identity. "We all agree that today's healthcare system isn't working for everyone — especially those facing economic, cultural, or systemic barriers to care," said Michael Poku, M.D., MBA, FACP, Chief Medical Officer at Equality Health. "We must do better! Our new branding is more than an outward message to the marketplace, it embodies our core DNA and the daily, intense focus of all Equality Health associates in our unwavering commitment to partner with payers, providers, patients, local resources and communities to make healthcare work better for all." A Medicaid-First Approach to Value-Based CareEquality Health's unique approach is rooted in its Medicaid expertise, having more attributed Medicaid members than any other VBC enabler in the U.S. The company provides wrap-around support, hyper-local resourcing, and augmented operational capabilities to empower providers — especially independent practices — to succeed in value-based payment models. Through culturally sensitive care strategies and a proprietary technology platform, CareEmpower, which leverages electronic health record (EHR) and healthcare information exchange (HIE) data along with predictive modeling and care-tracking tools, Equality Health enables smarter, more personalized patient engagement resulting in better health outcomes. Community-Centered, Outcome-FocusedThe new brand expression, Dedicated to Better, highlights Equality Health's commitment not only to simplifying care for providers and health plans but to improving the lives of people within the communities they serve. This includes a continued focus on the social determinants of health (SDoH), with programs designed to meet patients where they are, both geographically and culturally. Additionally, through the Equality Health Foundation, the organization invests directly into local neighborhoods, supporting initiatives covering education, access to healthy food and ultimately expanding access to care to drive health equity. Adapting to Constant Change in Medicaid AdministrationEquality Health's Dedicated to Better ethos is even more important when addressing the future of the Medicaid program, which is about to change again. Analysts expect the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) to have measurable impacts on Medicaid populations in most states over the next decade. The OBBBA could saddle states with tighter funding and heavier verification rules for Medicaid participation, especially with work-requirement checks. Confronting these challenges head-on is precisely why Equality Health remains Medicaid-first—equipping providers with real-time data, SDoH resources, and streamlined value-based workflows that protect coverage, keep high-risk members connected to care, and sustain practice revenue even as federal funding support shrinks. Dedicated to Better means equipping providers with the data and tools they need to directly address changes and support patients regardless of administrative changes. Continued Medicaid Innovation: AIEquality Health is partnering with UnityAI, a healthcare technology company that uses voice AI agents to make member outreach more personal, scalable, and effective. The partnership is launching with a focus on well-child visits, helping Medicaid families schedule the preventive care their children need to stay healthy. UnityAI engages members on Equality Health's behalf through warm, conversational phone calls in multiple languages that guide families through scheduling, answer common questions, and connect them directly to a care specialist when needed. These voice-powered interactions integrate seamlessly into CareEmpower, giving Equality Health's care teams better tools to reach more families with less friction. This collaboration advances the Dedicated to Better promise by making healthcare more approachable, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of the communities Equality Health serves. Equality Health anticipates announcing new partnerships with nonprofits and other organizations to further advance innovation within its care model. A Successful Model Delivering ResultsKey benefits of Equality Health's focus include: Expert VBC Enablement: Grounded in Medicaid, designed for scale Inclusive Provider Support: Especially for independent primary care practices Meaningful Engagement: Cross-cultural outreach and patient activation Operational Excellence: Improving profitability, resource efficiency, and shared risk Technology-Driven Insights: Predictive analytics that enhance care tracking and coordination "Being Dedicated to Better means showing up every day to improve the patient experience, support providers with the right tools and insights, and collaborate with payers to transform communities," said Justin Contre, marketing leader with Equality Health. "It's not just a tagline — it's our north star." To learn more about Equality Health's rebrand and its impact, click here. About Equality Health Equality Health is a technology-enabled primary care platform that leverages the proven capabilities of value-based payment models to transform healthcare for diverse and often marginalized populations. From predictive modeling to advanced care-tracking tools, utilizing Equality Health's proprietary software, participating PCPs can streamline value-based administration and stay one step ahead of a patient's journey. Equality Health's care model is Medicaid-first in design and includes more than 25 health plans, over 4,100 PCPs and 825,000 lives across Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana and Virginia. Equality Health partners with practices to close care gaps, optimize performance, increase compliance, and improve profitability. Members engage with holistic and personalized programs delivered through the lens of social and cultural needs. Equality Health is revolutionizing how care is delivered through hyper-local resources at scale and establishing critical linkages with payers, providers, members, and community resources. For more information about Equality Health, visit or follow EqualityHealth on Facebook, @EqualityHealth on Twitter, and EqualityHealth on LinkedIn. Media Contact:Mardi Larson, Amendola for Equality Health, mlarson@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Equality Health Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Say This Is the Best Seat on a Plane to Avoid Getting Sick
There's a reason everyone freaked out about riding on airplanes during the pandemic: it's an easy way to get sick if you don't take precautions. 'Airline carriers are impressive carriers of the common cold,' says Anthony Ognjan, D.O., FACP., a board-certified osteopathic physician specializing in infectious diseases. The good news is you can greatly reduce your risk of getting sick during a flight — and no, you don't need to travel in a bubble. Just follow the tips below from board-certified physicians. What makes it so easy to get sick during a flight? For starters, when you're on a plane, you're stuck in an enclosed space with quite a few people. 'On most commercial airplanes, there are a lot of people in close proximity for an extended period of time,' says Kathleen N. Mueller, M.D., FAAFP, the director of the American Academy of Family Physicians. 'We know that respiratory droplets that come from a cough or sneeze are one of the most common ways to contract an illness like influenza or COVID-19 and with that many people in an enclosed space, you may find yourself exposed more frequently than you would in other situations.' On top of that, airplane environments are like paradise for illness-causing bacteria and viruses. 'The air inside airplane cabins is notoriously dry with humidity levels often dropping below 20%, significantly lower than what your body is used to,' says Ognjan. 'For comparison, most homes maintain humidity levels between 30 and 60%. Low levels of humidity can affect the body's natural defense system, including mucus in the nose and your throat drying up, creating a much more tolerant environment for germs.' Simply put, flights create a perfect storm for spreading germs: lots of people contained in an area with low humidity. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to offset those risks and avoid getting sick when you're flying. What can you do to prevent contracting an illness on an airplane? Use these doctor-approved tips to stay healthy during air travel. 'Generally speaking, a middle or aisle seat will have more contact with other passengers than a window seat will,' says Dr. Mueller. Of course, picking this seat isn't a guaranteed way to avoid germs, as research shows, it all depends on how close you are to an infected person, but Dr. Ognjan agrees that a window seat — especially one in the back of the plane — is often the safest. 'The last couple rows of the cabin prevent you from being breathed or coughed on from behind,' he says. This is to lower the chances that you'll need to relieve yourself in an airplane bathroom. 'You have no control over what germs existed before you entered, and they are not cleaned mid-flight,' says Dr. Ognjan. 'Infections during flights can be transmitted not only by aerosols that remain airborne and can be inhaled, but also by large droplets that settle on surfaces or by direct contact with secretions, body fluids or contaminated surfaces,' says Dr. Ognjan. What's more, 'germs can survive for hours or days after the passenger who brought them on board has departed.' He suggests using disinfectant wipes (not baby wipes) on tray tables, armrests and seat belt buckles before use. Before you eat on a plane, it's always smart to sanitize your hands first, says Dr. Mueller. Also, if you touch any communal surfaces (like the handle on the overhead bins), apply hand sanitizer and do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose afterward. 'It is one of the most likely culprits for increased risk of getting sick while flying,' says Dr. Ognjan. 'Even though it can be tempting, I recommend passing on the caffeine or alcohol, which can dehydrate you in already-dry air,' says Dr. Mueller. Yes, most airplanes have air filtration systems, but research shows masks are still effective at slowing the spread of airborne illnesses, especially on longer flights. They're particularly helpful if you're immunocompromised, notes Dr. Mueller. 'A mask can help protect you from airborne germs, especially if someone nearby is coughing or sneezing,' adds Dr. Ognjan. 'If you notice someone coughing or sneezing, try to move away or ask for a different seat if available.' The bottom line 'I want people to know that it is possible to travel without getting sick, especially if you take the right precautions!' says Dr. Mueller. 'If you have specific questions or concerns about upcoming travel, reach out to your family physician. We're here to help you navigate potentially stressful situations with confidence.' And if you happen to be the one who's sick while traveling, consider masking up and coughing and/or sneezing into your elbow when you're on the plane to lower the odds that you'll infect someone else. You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
