Vme TV Launches Campaign to Improve Health Education and Promote a Healthier Lifestyle Among Hispanics in the United States

MIAMI, April 8, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vme TV, the only national Spanish-language television network in the United States affiliated with public television stations, has launched a public education campaign to promote healthier lifestyles and improve health literacy among Hispanic Americans.

The campaign, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, consists of a series of video capsules offering health care tips focusing on the importance of health care literacy to help Hispanics learn more about key topics that are critical to achieving better health. These include preventive care, managing diseases prevalent among Hispanics, and what to consider when purchasing health insurance. The video capsules are currently airing within Vme TV's regular programming through May 2015.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define health literacy as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions." Low rates of health care literacy are linked to poor outcomes, including higher rates of rehospitalization and lower adherence to medical regimens.

Low health-literacy rates are prominent among Hispanics. According to a National Center for Education Statistics study, more than 40 percent of Latino adults have a "below basic" level of health literacy, and only one in 25 – or 4 percent – is considered proficient.

The Hispanic community continues to face large disparities when it comes to critical health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, according to United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings 2014 report. Due to a lack of access to reliable Spanish-language information about their health and health care coverage, media outlets have become a primary resource for health information in the Hispanic population.

"As a media company, Vme TV feels that it is our responsibility to ensure that the Latino community understands the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making sound decisions about their health care, from following a healthy diet and exercise regimen to evaluating health care options," said Ralph Parkman, Vme TV's vice president of marketing. "We are grateful to UnitedHealthcare for its support of this initiative to offer Hispanic Americans much needed health education resources to enhance their health literacy."

The UnitedHealthcare-sponsored campaign is one of many that Vme TV has launched with support from leading brands in the United States to provide trustworthy content that promotes success and well-being throughout the Hispanic-American community.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to support Vme TV's efforts to close the health disparities gap among Hispanics in the United States," said Russ Bennett, vice president, UnitedHealthcare Latino Health Solutions. "We share Vme's goal of giving people access to information they need to ensure the best health care for themselves and their families. It is a great satisfaction to contribute our voice and Hispanic-specific health and wellness information resources that help Latinos live healthier lives."

In addition to health information, Vme TV offers viewers actionable content through a broad variety of financial and real estate news items. By offering a platform that bridges the language gap, Vme TV provides educational resources and helps develop a greater understanding of relevant issues to help Hispanics nationwide make informed decisions.

Available in 43 markets and reaching more than 70 million households in the United States, Vme TV is available through Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network and AT&T U-verse among other local cable companies. To find your local channel or to learn more about Vme TV, visit www.vmetv.com or follow us on social media via www.facebook.com/vmetv or www.twitter.com/vmetv.

About Vme Television

Vme TV (pronounced veh-meh), is the first national Spanish-language television network in association with public television stations. Reaching more than 70 million households in the United States, Vme TV is broadcast in 43 markets by PBS stations and is available on DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse, as well as major cable companies including Comcast. The 24-hour digital broadcast service is dedicated to entertain, educate and inspire families in Spanish with a contemporary mix of original productions, exclusive premieres, acquisitions, and popular public television programs specially adapted for Hispanics. To find your local channel or to learn more about Vme TV, visit www.vmetv.com or follow us on social media via www.facebook.com/vmetv or www.twitter.com/vmetv.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.

CONTACT: Media Contact:
         Roshana Gossoff
         [email protected]
         305-441-1272

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