Health Net of California Expands SmartCare Network to Orange County

With strong Southern California sales since March 1, SmartCare is helping deliver on accountable care goals of greater care coordination and enhanced preventive care

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Health Net of California, Inc. is expanding its SmartCare tailored network to cover those who live or work in Orange County.

SmartCare, which can provide employers with up to 25 percent in premium savings compared to Health Net’s full network, made its initial debut March 1, 2012, and more than 200 small- and mid-sized employers in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino counties already are offering the coverage to their employees.

“Since SmartCare became available, it has proven to be popular with employers seeking an easy-to-use plan that delivers more affordable value,” said Steve Sell, president of Health Net’s Western Region Health Plan. “We are excited to add Orange County to the areas served by SmartCare.”

The SmartCare network is built on strategic alliances with more than 40 medical groups throughout Southern California dedicated to helping deliver accountable care through greater care coordination and a focus on preventive care. In addition to its more affordable premiums, SmartCare provides coverage for acupuncture and chiropractic care and provides a financial incentive for members’ healthy behaviors.

“We are delighted to be part of the SmartCare network,” said Dan Frank, CEO of Prospect Medical Group. “We believe that SmartCare’s strategic alliances and focus on promoting healthy habits will help improve the patient experience and help keep costs affordable for members.”

“SmartCare is a game changer,” said Lambert Hsu, RHU, president of Benefit Pro Insurance Services in San Diego. “Employers are drawn to SmartCare for the combination of its affordable premiums and emphasis on easy-to-use benefits that focus on preventive and complementary care.”

Orange County Medical Groups Participating in SmartCare

The following medical groups in Orange County currently participate in the SmartCare network:

• Affiliated Doctors of Orange County
• Arta Health Network
• Gateway Medical Group Anaheim Memorial Medical Center Network
• Genesis Health Care
• HealthCare Partners IPA - Talbert
• Prospect Medical Group
• Prospect Professional Care Medical Group, Inc.
• Regal Medical Group
• Talbert Medical Group

Over the coming months, additional health care providers and counties are expected to be added to the SmartCare network.

For more information about the SmartCare network, employers may contact their broker or their Health Net representative. Employers also may call 800-448-4411 (option 4).

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 6.0 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 5.0 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, 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; 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 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.

Health Net of California, Inc.Brad Kieffer818.676.6833
[email protected]
twitter.com/hn_bradkieffer

Source: Health Net of California, Inc.