For Immediate Release
Cheyenne, Wyoming
March 16, 2006

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

APS Healthcare And EqualityCare Committed To Early Detection & Education

Once every hour of every day someone is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and more than 400,000 Americans live with the disease.  APS Healthcare and the Wyoming Department of Health’s EqualityCare (Medicaid) program are committed to educating and ensuring citizens of Wyoming with MS have the information and quality care they need to live healthy, productive and independent lives.

The marvels of modern medicine offer optimism to those who live with Multiple Sclerosis.  Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease symptoms and improve quality of life for many people with MS. 

At this time MS cannot be cured, but it can be managed. In addition to prescription drugs, there are a number of treatments for MS symptoms.  New FDA-approved medications have been shown to “modify” or slow down the underlying course of MS. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year, and progress in research to find a cure is encouraging.  The Healthy Together program continues to stay abreast of new clinical guidelines and technologies to constantly improve quality of life for EqualityCare clients.

Part of the Healthy Together health management program is to provide EqualityCare clients who have MS a nurse with whom to talk on a regular basis about their conditions. Nurses (known as Health Coaches) assess clients’ severity of symptoms and needs for resources, providing referrals to support groups and private counseling. In addition, they assess clients’ compliance with the treatment prescribed by their health care provider (medication and exercise regimen) and any signs of additional health problems accompanying their MS diagnosis. Nurses work closely with providers during the course of the program and contact them immediately if they notice signs that may indicate the client is in need of a visit with their physician.

The Healthy Together health management program continues to educate and update providers with the most current clinical guidelines.  On March 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m. APS Healthcare and EqualityCare are sponsoring a video conference for health care providers at sites across the state on Disease Modification in Multiple Sclerosis presented by Dr. Kurt Hopfensperger of Wyoming Neurology, P.C.  Topics to be discussed will include:

• Importance of treating MS with disease modifying drugs
• Basic strategies for choosing disease modifying drugs
• Recent developments in antibody testing
• New drug protocols

APS is accredited by the Wyoming Medical Center Continuing Medical Education Committee to provide continuing medical education for physicians. APS designates their educational activity for a maximum of one (1) hour in category 1 credit toward the AMA Physicians’ Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.  Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and ancillary staff are welcome to attend as CEU’s have been applied for through Wyoming Hospital Association.  For more information or to RSVP please contact APS Healthcare at 307.433.0970.

For more information on the Healthy Together program, or to refer a EqualityCare client who would benefit from the service, please contact APS Healthcare at 1.888.545.1710

About APS
APS Healthcare, headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., is a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions that cover more than 20 million members in the United States and Puerto Rico. APS offers customized, integrated healthcare solutions across three major healthcare product lines – health management services, behavioral health services and quality improvement programs. APS operates under the belief that managing healthcare for the mind and body improves overall health and reduces total healthcare spending.

APS is committed to “Helping People Lead Healthier Lives” through the implementation of customized programs that meet each customer’s unique needs.