'Ohana Health Plan Helps Students at Pu'uhale Elementary Get Moving

KAPOLEI, Hawaii and TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In Hawaii, more than 1 out of every 4 children ages 10 to 17 are considered overweight or obese, and the number of children engaged in four or more hours of screen time, including playing video games or watching television, each day is on the rise. To help promote active living and healthy eating in Hawaii schools, 'Ohana Health Plan, a WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG company, co-sponsored the Hawaii 5210 Let's Go! health promotion assembly on Jan. 31 at Pu'uhale Elementary School in Honolulu with Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit and Kokua Hawaii Foundation.

'Ohana Health Plan mascot 'Ollie the Owl' with Hawaii 5210 Let's Go leaders.

The Hawaii 5210 team led an interactive health education assembly with students and staff, which promoted physical activity such as dance and the importance of drinking more water throughout the day. The Hawaii 5210 Initiative promotes healthy lifestyles through unique community partnerships in order to optimize awareness and action among Hawaii's children and their families. The 'Ohana Health Plan sponsorship also funded the installation of a filtered water station at the school.

"We all can create healthy habits, but it is easier to maintain those habits if they are formed early in our lives," said Dr. Edward Fess, medical director for 'Ohana Health Plan. "There is a significant relationship between education and health, and we are proud to help Hawaii 5210 encourage healthy eating and activity through its outreach in our schools."

"Drinking water throughout the day is an essential health habit that we want children to develop. Using a refillable water bottle and improving access to cool, fresh water throughout the day will make this habit an easier one to develop," said Dr. May Okihiro, director of the Hawaii Initiative for Childhood Obesity Research and Education and a pediatrician at John A. Burns School of Medicine.

As of Dec. 31, 2016, 'Ohana Health Plan has nearly 240 employees in Hawaii and serves approximately 58,000 members through its offices in Kapolei, Honolulu, Hilo and Kahului.

About 'Ohana Health Plan
'Ohana Health Plan is offered by WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WellCare provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The company serves approximately 3.9 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2016. 'Ohana has been able to take WellCare's national experience and develop an 'Ohana care model that addresses local members' health care and health coordination needs. As of Dec. 31, 2016, 'Ohana serves approximately 50,000 Medicaid members, 7,300 Medicare Advantage members, and 400 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Hawaii. For more information about 'Ohana, please visit the company's website at www.ohanahealthplan.com.