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Health Net Federal Services Extends Partnership with text4baby to United States Military Communities

^{Published on 2010-07-09 02:41:07 - Market Wire}
 

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Health Net Federal Services ], LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of [ Health Net, Inc. ] (NYSE:HNT), today announced it has extended Health Net, Inc.a™s partnership with [ text4baby ]a" a new, free mobile information service providing timely health information to pregnant women and new moms from pregnancy through a babya™s first year a" to United States service members, active duty and retired, and their family members in 23 states in the TRICARE North Region.

"Using the popularity of mobile devices to educate individuals makes health care information readily accessible and allows them to actively participate and make informed decisions about their health care, resulting in healthier individuals, families and communities."

aWe are very proud to offer yet another innovative health care service to the military communities we serve using the latest technology,a said Steve Tough, president of Health Neta™s Government & Specialty Services division, which includes Health Net Federal Services. aUsing the popularity of mobile devices to educate individuals makes health care information readily accessible and allows them to actively participate and make informed decisions about their health care, resulting in healthier individuals, families and communities.a

Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE for Spanish) receive three free SMS text messages each week timed to their due date or babya™s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including birth defects prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.

According to the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, each year in the U.S., more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday. The infant mortality rate in the U.S. is one of the highest in the industrialized world, and for the first time since the 1950s, that rate is on the rise. Research shows that while 90 percent of Americans have a mobile phone, fewer have access to the Internet and texting is more prevalent among women of childbearing age.

The text4baby program is supported by numerous businesses throughout the country. U.S. government partners include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Health and Human Services. The mobile health platform is provided by Voxiva and free messaging services are generously provided by participating wireless service providers.

TRICARE is the Department of Defensea™s military health care system for U.S. service members and their families. The TRICARE North Region includes: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In addition, the contract covers a small portion of Tennessee, Missouri and Iowa.

About the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition

The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) is the only coalition of its kind, which acts as a catalyst for change by creating partnerships among community groups, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, businesses and government agencies. The Coalition promotes optimal health for mothers and babies, and works to strengthen families and build healthy communities.

About Health Net Federal Services

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc., has a long history of providing cost-effective, quality managed health care programs for government agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. As the managed care support contractor for the TRICARE North Region, Health Net provides health care services to nearly 3.0 million uniformed services beneficiaries, active and retired, and their families.

Health Net, Inc. is among the nationa™s largest publicly traded managed health care companies. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. The companya™s health plans and government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to approximately 6.0 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs. The companya™s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health benefits to approximately 5.9 million individuals in all 50 states. The companya™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 companya™s website at [ http://www.healthnet.com ]. For more information on Health Net Federal Services, please visit[ http://www.healthnetfederalservices.com/ ]or on[ Facebook ].