April is National Minority Health Month
Company Website:
http://www.healthnet.com
LOS ANGELES -- (Business Wire)
Health
Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) sees National
Minority Health Month as an opportunity to highlight the importance of
identifying and reducing health disparities impacting racial and ethnic
minorities.
Americans are living longer and healthier lives. However, it’s
unfortunate that health disparities between racial and ethnic groups
continue to exist, with many chronic health conditions
disproportionately affecting certain groups.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and the Department of Health and Human Services:
-
Non-Hispanic black adults are at least 50 percent more likely than
non-Hispanic white adults to die of heart disease or stroke before age
75.
-
African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives are twice as
likely to receive a diabetes diagnosis – and Pacific Islanders are
more than three times as likely – compared to whites.
-
African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival
rate of any racial and ethnic group in the United States for most
cancers.
Closing the Disparity Gap
Tao Le, M.D., Health Net regional medical director, explained how Health
Net is committed to removing barriers that prevent people from achieving
their full health potential. For example, the company offers:
- Language services – Health Net interpreters are trained in
health care terminology and offer member-preferred language support in
more than 250 languages, including sign language. In 2014, Health Net
fulfilled more than 200,000 requests for telephonic interpreter
services and more than 2,200 requests for face-to-face interpreters.
- Cultural competency and health disparities training – Health
Net provides training and tools to its workforce and contracting
health care providers to break down communication barriers across
cultures. In 2014, it held approximately 40 language services,
cultural competency and health literacy training sessions for more
than 6,400 participants.
- Health literacy – Health Net members receive culturally and
linguistically appropriate materials in easy-to-understand language.
Health Net also provides alternate formats for members, including
large font, Braille, audio as well as accessible portable document
format (PDF).
- Condition-specific health disparities – Health Net
designs member-distinct programs and services, such as the ones
created for diabetic Latinos featuring classes, a cookbook with
healthy versions of traditional Latino dishes, and a pocket guide for
health care providers outlining cultural considerations.
Multicultural Health Care Distinction
In 2014, Health Net was the first health plan nationwide to be awarded
the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Multicultural Health Care
Distinction simultaneously for its commercial, Medicare and Medicaid
lines of business.
“This prestigious award sets us apart from other health plans in that
it’s only given to organizations that engage in efforts to improve
culturally and linguistically appropriate services and reduce
health-care disparities,” said Le. “Health Net has long been committed
to achieving health equity across our diverse population of members. We
firmly believe that race, ethnicity and gender should not impact
anyone’s ability to live a long, heathy life.”
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 provides and administers
health benefits to approximately 6.0 million individuals across the
country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare
prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”), Medicaid,
dual eligible, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net also offers
behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs,
managed health care products related to prescription drugs, 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., visit Health Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.
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This release contains references and links to other websites that may
contain content that is not owned or controlled by Health Net. Please be
aware that references and links to other websites are provided for the
user’s convenience and that Health Net is not responsible for any such
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not express an opinion on any such content and disclaims any liability
in connection therewith.
Contacts:
Health Net, Inc.
Lori Rieger, (602) 794-1415
lori.rieger@healthnet.com
www.twitter.com/hnlori
Source: Health Net, Inc.
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