Health
Net of California, Inc. is helping ensure that Health Net members
who are victims and evacuees of the two wildfires currently taking place
in Kern County have access to essential prescription medications,
critical Health Net information and services to help them cope with
grief, loss, stress or trauma.
“During what is obviously an emotional and trying time for many of our
members, we are reaching out to be sure they have uninterrupted access
to the medical services and products they need to stay well,” said
Steven Sell, president of Health Net of California.
Prescription Information
Health Net will approve up to a one-month supply of essential
prescription medications for any Health Net member whose medicine was
lost in the destruction or remained behind during evacuation. To obtain
an emergency supply, just return to the pharmacy where the original
prescription was filled. For questions or assistance, affected Health
Net members may call 800-400-8987.
Coping Assistance
Any Health Net member affected by the current California wildfires may
contact MHN,
Health Net’s behavioral health subsidiary, for referrals to mental
health counselors, local resources or telephonic consultations to help
them cope with stress grief, loss or other trauma resulting from the
fires.
For the duration of the fires and their immediate aftermath, Health Net
members may contact MHN 24 hours a day, seven days a week at
800-227-1060.
Information for Health Care Providers
Health Net is taking steps to help ensure that health care providers in
the areas of the wildfires are able to continue providing for Health Net
members’ medical needs.
Health care providers who contract with Health Net may call 800-641-7761
for guidance on prescription refill guidelines, length of time to obtain
authorizations for treatment, or approval for out-of-network services in
the event a contracting provider or facility becomes unavailable.
Other Important Information
Depending on how the fire situation plays out, Health Net may make
additional changes to its policies as needed to help ensure members have
access to health care services.
About Health Net
Health Net of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc.
(NYSE:HNT), is one of the largest health plans in the state. Together
with Health Net Life Insurance Company, it serves more than 2.2 million
members statewide and contracts with more than 56,000 physicians, 5,600
pharmacies and 300-plus hospitals, giving its members greater choice and
more convenient access to care. Its commercial HMO/POS and Medicare
lines of business have received the “excellent” accreditation status
from the National
Committee for Quality Assurance. Its PPO line of business (offered
by Health Net Life Insurance Company) and its Medicaid line of business
have received the “commendable” accreditation status. For more
information about Health Net, visit its Web site at www.healthnet.com.
Cautionary Statements
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 subject to a number of risks
and uncertainties. These statements are based on management’s analysis,
judgment, belief and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are
subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Without limiting
the foregoing, statements including the words “believes,” “anticipates,”
“plans,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend” and
other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Actual results could differ materially due to, among other
things, health care reform; costs, fees and expenses related to the
post-closing administrative services to be provided under the
administrative services agreements entered into in connection with the
sale of our Northeast business; potential termination of the
administrative services agreements by the service recipients should we
breach such agreements or fail to perform all or a material part of the
services required thereunder; 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; rising health care costs; continued recessionary
economic conditions or a further decline in the economy; negative prior
period claims reserve developments; trends in medical care ratios;
unexpected utilization patterns or unexpectedly severe or widespread
illnesses; membership declines; rate cuts affecting our Medicare or
Medicaid businesses; litigation costs; regulatory issues; operational
issues; 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 the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and the risks discussed in the company’s
other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no
obligation to publicly revise 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 Kieffer
818-676-6833 –
office
818-337-9541 – mobile
brad.kieffer@healthnet.com
www.twitter.com/hn_bradkieffer
