Cigna Foundation Announces $100,000 Grant to St. Louis Pediatric Asthma Clinic
- St. Louis has highest asthma rates in the state of Missouri
- Healthy Kids Express program run by St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- March 27 proclaimed Healthy Kids Express Day in St. Louis
- 250,000 underserved children helped by program so far
The Cigna Foundation today announced a $100,000 grant to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation for Healthy Kids Express –
Asthma program (HKEA), the St. Louis Children’s Hospital free pediatric mobile asthma program. The announcement was made as part of
Healthy Kids Express Day in St. Louis, held at the Nance Elementary School, 8959 Riverview Blvd., celebrating the
250,000th child served since the program began in 2000. Community and political leaders throughout St. Louis, including
Mayor Francis Slay, helped commemorate the milestone.
Asthma is the leading chronic health condition affecting minority children in St. Louis, who suffer from asthma at double the
rate of the rest of Missouri. “The St. Louis region has been ranked the worst area in the state for asthma, with the majority of
poorly controlled childhood asthma occurring in those living in medically underserved communities. Cigna and the Cigna Foundation
care about disparities in health care quality and access, and we are honored to play a part in keeping the Healthy Kids Express
vans in the schools of St. Louis to provide health service at no cost to those in need,” said Dr. Jack Davidson, medical senior
director for Cigna based in St. Louis.
A Missouri Dept. of Health & Senior Services (MDHSS) report shows that African-American children in St. Louis are nine times
more likely than white children to visit an emergency room (ER) because of asthma, and five times more likely to be hospitalized
(http://health.mo.gov/). Many parents who do not have access to asthma medication for their children use the ER
for primary care when asthma attacks.
The HKEA program identifies and assists asthmatic children in St. Louis who are undiagnosed or untreated for asthma. HKEA is
free for the children in need, and its multipronged approach helps ensure children who are diagnosed with asthma receive disease
self-care education, support, and necessary medical supplies to promote wellness and prevent asthma attacks. The program has been
recognized as a successful intervention for children in highly-distressed, urban areas identified by the Ferguson Commission For
the Sake of All report.
The Cigna Foundation grant will make it possible for HKEA to continue using two asthma educators and coaches for the program.
Interventions by HKEA staff include personalized monthly visits, asthma-related health education and medication technique checks,
asthma education classes for students and families, free asthma equipment and supplies, personalized asthma action plans, visits
with a St. Louis Children’s Hospital pulmonologist as necessary, and connections to primary care physicians.
“HKEA provides direct preventive services while guiding families through complex health care and social support systems, a model
that we know can work wonders in a community,” said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the Cigna Foundation. “The program has
reduced school absenteeism, ER visits and hospitalizations while allowing children to develop fully in social, physical and
academic areas.”
About the Cigna Foundation
The Cigna Foundation, founded in 1962, is a private foundation funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its
subsidiaries. The Cigna Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and
families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna employees live and
work.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and
sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation,
including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North
America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services,
such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group
life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 90
million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or
Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
Cigna Foundation
Gloria Barone, 215-761-4758
Gloria.barone@cigna.com
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