Sunflower, Samsung Donate Smartphone Devices to Healthcare Providers in Kansas

Date: 10/19/20

Donations Make Virtual Care More Accessible in Rural and Underserved Communities

Centene and Samsung Electronics America are working together to expand access to telehealth for individuals and families living in rural and underserved communities.

Sunflower Health Plan, as part of the Centene family, will be deploying this initiative in Kansas by supplying local healthcare providers with Samsung Galaxy A10e smartphones to distribute to patients who would not otherwise have access to healthcare services virtually.

Sunflower will deploy 150 Samsung Galaxy A10e smartphones, with 90 days of free wireless service, to select community mental health centers (CMHC). Many of the selected providers will be in rural and underserved communities, where there can be barriers to receiving in-person healthcare. The CMHCs will then determine which of their patients need the devices and distribute them accordingly.

As of mid-July, a CDC survey found that 44.4 percent of respondents reported delaying or not receiving care for various reasons, including concerns and challenges around COVID-19. Meanwhile, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, rural residents already exhibited higher mortality rates and higher incidences of preventable inpatient and emergency room admissions than their counterparts in urban areas.

“As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining a person’s health. If a person does not have access to a compatible device though, that can create gaps in care, especially within rural and underserved communities,” said Scott Latimer, MD, Sunflower Health Plan chief medical director. “Through this program with Samsung, we’re bridging that gap and making healthcare accessible for more people by empowering them with the devices they need.”

“The global pandemic has prompted the rapid acceleration of digital transformation, especially in healthcare,” said Taher Behbehani, general manager and head of mobile B2B business at Samsung Electronics America. “With one billion telehealth visits expected to take place by the end of 2020, Samsung is committed to supporting healthcare institutions with solutions that transform the patient experience remotely and help doctors and nurses work more efficiently. We’re thrilled to partner with Centene and Sunflower Health Plan on this effort to create critical healthcare access for vulnerable patients during this uncertain time.”

Sunflower has been supporting Kansas residents since 2013 across its Medicaid, Medicare and Ambetter plans. Their efforts to address the social determinants of health reinforce their long-standing commitment to supporting the whole health of their communities, one person at a time.