Priority Health Launches MyGo Points Facebook App to Motivate Healthy Lifestyles, Encourage Tourism

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Priority Health has developed a Facebook app, called MyGo Points, in an effort to promote health and wellness among Michigan residents, as well as support local tourism. The app, which launched May 1, gives people the opportunity to earn points to win prizes by participating in activity-based events and Facebook challenges.

“Priority Health is always looking for creative ways to motivate people to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle,” said Joan Budden, chief marketing officer of Priority Health. “MyGo Points uses incentives from local businesses to get the community moving. Who doesn’t like to be rewarded for their efforts?”

Events eligible for points range from walks to park parties, while Facebook challenges can be as simple as tagging Priority Health in an activity-related photo. The app is available on the Priority Health Facebook page. Those who download the app will automatically begin to track points. At each event, a unique QR code for smartphone scanning and a promotional code for online use will be given to participants to track points throughout the year. Every point earned enters participants into a monthly prize drawing, with the opportunity to win the grand prize — a Pure Michigan Ultimate Adventure Package to Crystal Mountain.

“MyGo Points is a creative way to showcase Michigan’s superb natural and recreational assets, while encouraging health and wellness among its residents,” said Christina MacInnes, COO of Crystal Enterprises Inc. “Crystal Mountain and Pure Michigan are thrilled to be part of the program, realizing that its incentives are powerful tools in our collective efforts to inspire and sustain positive lifestyle changes in communities across the state.”

MyGo Points launched just in time for the Fifth Third River Bank Run on May 12. Other MyGo Points events include the Arts, Beats & Eats Arts in Motion 5K, Royal Oak; Grand Rapids Triathlon; Bike Benzie Tour, Thompsonville; Priority Health Rockford Criterium; Traverse City Cherry Festival Kids Event; and Maranda Park Parties at locations across the state. Additional events will be added throughout the year. Participants can submit their health-related activities or events to be considered for MyGo Points by sending an email to teamph@priorityhealth.com.

Prizes include tickets to the Detroit Zoo, West Michigan Whitecaps baseball games and Holland Aquatic Center. The Crystal Mountain grand prize is a weekend getaway for four, valued at $2,500. For more details or to sign up for Priority Health’s MyGo Points, visit facebook.com/priorityhealth.

About Priority Health

Priority Health is an award-winning health plan nationally recognized for creating innovative solutions that impact health care costs while maximizing customer experience. It offers a broad portfolio of products for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. As a nonprofit company, Priority Health serves more than 600,000 people and continues to be rated among the best health plans in the nation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

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Priority Health Offers Targeted Wellness Packages

An estimated 40 percent of health care costs in the U.S. are avoidable, according to a Thomson Reuters study. One of the most effective ways to cut these costs is through workplace wellness programs. Priority Health is furthering its commitment to health, wellness and empowerment through a set of customizable packages designed to help employers develop and sustain a culture of health and wellness, leading to lower health care costs.

“Our focus has always been on improving health — for individuals and organizations alike — and through these wellness packages, we can continue to proactively make a difference,” said Joan Budden, chief marketing officer for Priority Health. “By providing wellness packages we know to be effective, and allowing for customization, employers can target their vital needs to not only improve health, but also help control costs and increase employee productivity.”

The three Priority Health wellness packages are built on comprehensive data integration — claims history, biometric screenings, health risk appraisals and survey results combined with Priority Health’s expert analysis and predictive modeling capabilities — and are targeted for each employer to gain meaningful results. The packages help promote employee engagement by helping employees better understand their wellness needs and possible health risks, and through access to tools that spur positive lifestyle changes.

The Core wellness package includes a company-specific Web page; health risk appraisal surveys to analyze employee health status and provide information about workforce wellness; tools and best-practice tips needed to recruit workplace advocates who can help get a program under way; a monthly wellness e-newsletter; and quarterly reports to evaluate the program’s progress. The package also offers an in-depth analysis of health risks, significant investment opportunities, and a report with strategy plans and specific recommendations to further improve health and wellness.

The Advanced package comprises everything in the Core package, and also offers on-site biometric screenings that measure employees’ cholesterol, glucose, body mass index and blood pressure. It targets high-risk health coaching to help employees establish and achieve realistic goals, and offers a group lifestyle-change program to help implement multi-week challenges and group activities, along with goal-focused on-site classes taught by health and fitness professionals. The package also offers year-to-year ROI reporting.

The Ultimate package takes any wellness plan to the next level by administering a reward program. Priority Health will help put a plan in place to give employees positive reinforcement for engaging in wellness activities and accomplishing their wellness goals. It also offers year-to-year ROI analysis to track the effectiveness of the program.

The Priority Health wellness programs are the first in Michigan and one of only 20 organizations nationwide to receive the National Committee for Quality Assurance Wellness & Health Promotion Accreditation. Wellness programs are evaluated in key areas of health promotion, including how wellness programs are implemented in the workplace, how services such as health coaching are provided to help eligible individuals develop skills to make healthy choices, and how sensitive health information of eligible individuals is properly safeguarded.

About Priority Health

Priority Health is an award-winning health plan nationally recognized for creating innovative solutions that impact health care costs while maximizing customer experience. The company offers a broad portfolio of products for employer groups and individuals including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. As a nonprofit company, Priority Health serves more than 620,000 people and continues to be rated among the best health plans in the nation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

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Priority Health is Positioned for Growth

Priority Health’s year-end financials illustrate positive growth in both membership and income. The company has made a significant investment in diversifying its product portfolio to include individual, Medicare and Medicaid, and consumer-driven health plans like its HealthbyChoiceSM product suite. As a result, its combined year-end financials show the company gaining 20,000 new members and earning a $34 million net profit with $2.3 billion in revenues.

“Priority Health improves the health of all people by providing access to affordable and excellent health care,” said Steve Flack, Chief Financial Officer for Priority Health. “All of our products are designed to improve health outcomes and eliminate avoidable costs while providing an exceptional care experience. Our financial results underscore our ability to deliver on that promise.”

“We continue to have one of the fastest growing and highest quality Medicare plans in the state,” said Joan Budden, the Chief Marketing Officer for Priority Health. “We’ve found that when individuals have an opportunity to choose their health plan, they choose Priority Health.”

In the last year, the company has introduced several new products to the market including Medicare Advantage plans, individual plans, self-funded options, PPO programs, consumer-driven health plans and wellness packages and ancillary products.

“Since joining Priority Health, I’ve been impressed with the company’s efficiency, its strong provider network and how advanced its wellness and care management programs perform,” said Flack. “This company is approaching health reform and the coming year well positioned to grow.”

Flack joined Priority Health as the Chief Financial Officer in October 2011. In this role, he is focusing on helping the business deliver economic value to customers, strengthening the company financially and strategically and building a team of finance professionals and highly valued advisors.

Priority Health has successfully expanded across the state and now provides health care to every county in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, serving more than 620,000 members. The company currently employs 1,000 people in its six offices across Michigan.

About Priority Health

Priority Health is an award-winning health plan nationally recognized for creating innovative solutions that affect health care costs while maximizing customer experience. It offers a broad portfolio of products for employer groups and individuals including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. As a nonprofit company, Priority Health serves more than 620,000 people and it continues to be rated among the best health plans in the nation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Priority Health Consolidated Financials:

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