L-R) Rick Schiessler, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Paralyzed
Veterans of America (PVA)
Vocational Rehabilitation Center; Sue
Schwartz, Vice President, Beneficiary Coalition and Congressional
Services, Health Net Federal Services; Donna Hoffmeier,
|
RICHMOND, Va. — Paralyzed Veterans of America's (PVA) first Vocational Employment
Counseling Center for veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCI), which
opened in July 2007 in partnership with Health Net Federal Services,
LLC, the government operations division of Health Net, Inc.
(NYSE:HNT), reports groundbreaking success.
The center was opened to reduce the unemployment rates of veterans
with SCI by bridging the gap between this unique veteran population
and the resources that can help them to unleash their potential and
pursue opportunities for substantive, gainful employment. The center
currently provides rehabilitative and vocational rehabilitation
services to 74 veterans with SCI, seven of whom are now gainfully
employed as a result of the center's employment placement assistance.
"Health Net Federal Services is extremely pleased with the
remarkable success of PVA's specialized rehabilitative counseling
services for veterans with these injuries," said Steve Tough,
president, Health Net Federal Services. "We look forward to our
continued partnership with PVA to extend this unique program and
continue to promote an equitable quality of life for many more
veterans with SCI."
"It is important for the SCI veteran to be able to return to a
normal life, and a very important part of that is employment and the
self-worth and personal satisfaction that come with it. The ongoing
successes that we are seeing with this program and the fact that we
have almost 10 percent employed in less than six months is cause for
celebration," said Randy L. Pleva, Sr., president, Paralyzed Veterans
of America. "PVA looks for continued growth of this critical program
and is grateful to Health Net for paving the way."
The success of the center is due to the design of the program,
which allows vocational rehabilitation counselor, Rick Schiessler, the
opportunity to meet with veterans early and often during their medical
rehabilitation. Schiessler is onsite at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran
Affairs Medical Center's Spinal Cord Injury Center, allowing him to
develop a rapport with veterans and their family members. This
face-to-face contact is important in successfully providing mental,
emotional and psychological support during the rehabilitative process.
Developing interactive partnerships with local and worldwide
employers interested in hiring veterans with SCI is critical to the
center's success. To date, Schiessler has successfully reached out and
marketed to hundreds of employers who are interested in hiring
veterans with SCI.
As a result of program growth and success, PVA will look at
expanding this specialized program to other locations. For more
information, call the PVA Veterans Benefits Department at
1-800-424-8200.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. is among the nation's largest publicly traded
managed health care companies. Its mission is to help people be
healthy, secure and comfortable. The company's health plans and
government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to
approximately 6.7 million individuals across the country through
group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans Affairs
programs. Health Net's behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides
mental health benefits to approximately 7.0 million individuals in all
50 states. The company'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 the
company's Web site at www.healthnet.com.
Cautionary Statements
Health Net, Inc. and its representatives may from time to time
make written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements
contained in news releases, in Health Net's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, in the company's reports to
shareholders and in meetings with investors and analysts, within the
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements,
other than statements of historical information provided herein, may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements. 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, 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, rising health care costs,
negative prior period claims reserve developments, trends in medical
care ratios, issues relating to provider contracts, litigation costs,
regulatory issues, operational issues, health care reform and general
business 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 SEC. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company
undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the
date of this release.
Health Net, Inc.
Margita Thompson, 818-676-7912
margita.thompson@healthnet.com
or
Health Net Federal Services
Molly Tuttle, 916-351-5355