Funding is Intended to Help 12 School-Based Health Centers and Community Medical Clinics Improve the Dental Health Experience, Access and Education in California

Company Website: http://www.healthnet.com
LOS ANGELES -- (Business Wire)

The Health Net Foundation, a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc., is providing $175,000 in grants to 12 California school-based health centers and community medical clinics to further their efforts in helping prevent childhood and adult dental problems.

“Dental care has medical consequences,” said Patricia Clarey, president of the Health Net Foundation. “These grants are intended to enhance the dental care experience, improve access to dental services and provide dental health education for special needs populations like adults with diabetes, pregnant women and children up to age 3.”

“The importance of the programs these grants will support is clear,” said Sean O’Brien, director of Dental Operations for Health Net of California, Inc. “Poor oral health has been linked to heart and lung disease, diabetes, stroke, extremely high birth weight and premature births, and we are hoping the efforts of these health centers and clinics will help prevent those outcomes.”

The Recipients

The Health Net Foundation grants are being provided to the following clinics and centers across California:

Los Angeles County:

Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center

Kids’ Community Dental Clinic

St. John’s Well Child and Family Center

QueensCare Family Clinics

Universal Care Dental Group

Northeast Valley Health Corporation

San Diego County:

La Maestra Family Clinic

San Ysidro Health Center

Sacramento County:

The Effort

Merced County:

Golden Valley Health Centers

Inland Empire:

Community Health Systems

San Joaquin Valley:

United Health Centers of San Joaquin Valley

Dental Health Tips

To combat oral health problems, Health Net offers these tips:

• Brush your teeth at least two times daily: after breakfast and before bedtime. Another good time is after eating snacks.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush the top and side surfaces of your teeth. Make sure to also brush at the gumline to get rid of plaque.
• Get a new toothbrush every three months. An old toothbrush will not clean your teeth thoroughly.
• Floss at least once per day to help remove plaque from between the teeth and gumline.
• See your dentist at least twice a year to get your teeth checked and cleaned.
• Go to your dentist right away if you have any pain or notice a bad flavor in your mouth when you’re not eating.
• Cut down on foods and drinks high in acid, such as soda. High acid can erode the outer surface of your teeth.
• Don’t smoke. It stains your teeth, causes bad breath and increases your risk of getting tooth disease and oral cancer.

Medical Advice Disclaimer

The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health provider for any questions you may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health care provider’s instructions.

About Health Net

Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that delivers managed health care services through health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net, through its subsidiaries, provides and administers health benefits to approximately 5.6 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”), Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net’s behavioral health services subsidiary, Managed Health Network, Inc., provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs to approximately 4.9 million individuals, including Health Net’s own health plan members. Health Net’s subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.

Cautionary Statements

Health Net, Inc. and its representatives may from time to time make written and oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (“PSLRA”) of 1995, including statements in this and other press releases, in presentations, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), reports to stockholders and in meetings with investors and analysts. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements and as such are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by PSLRA. These statements are based on management’s analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are subject to changes in circumstances and a number of risks and uncertainties. Without limiting the foregoing, the guidance as to expected future period results and statements including the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “feels,” “will,” “projects” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by the forward-looking information and statements due to, among other things, health care reform and other increased government participation in and regulation of health benefits and managed care operations, including the ultimate impact of the Affordable Care Act, which could materially adversely affect Health Net’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows through, among other things, reduced revenues, new taxes, expanded liability, and increased costs (including medical, administrative, technology or other costs), or require changes to the ways in which Health Net does business; rising health care costs; continued slow economic growth or a further decline in the economy; negative prior period claims reserve developments; trends in medical care ratios; membership declines; unexpected utilization patterns or unexpectedly severe or widespread illnesses; rate cuts and other risks and uncertainties affecting Health Net’s Medicare or Medicaid businesses; Health Net’s ability to successfully participate in the dual-eligibles pilot programs; litigation costs; regulatory issues with federal and state agencies including, but not limited to, the California Department of Managed Health Care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and state departments of insurance; operational issues; failure to effectively oversee our third-party vendors; noncompliance by Health Net or Health Net’s business associates with any privacy laws or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information; any liabilities of the Northeast business that were incurred prior to the closing of its sale as well as those liabilities incurred through the winding-up and running-out period of the Northeast business; investment portfolio impairment charges; volatility in the financial markets; and general business and market conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the “Risk Factors” section included within Health Net’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, and the risks discussed in Health Net’s other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by law, Health Net undertakes no obligation to address or publicly update any of its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

Contacts:

Health Net Foundation
Brad Kieffer
(818) 676-6833
brad.kieffer@healthnet.com
twitter.com/hn_bradkieffer

Source: The Health Net Foundation