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MHN Adds Web-Video Consultation Option for Clinical Visits

^{Published on 2010-08-19 12:30:39 - Market Wire}
 

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ MHN ] (Managed Health Network, Inc.), the behavioral health subsidiary of [ Health Net, Inc. ] (NYSE:HNT) today announced that its Employee Assistance Program members are now able to use video voice over Internet protocol, or video VoIP, to consult with MHN clinicians about stress, grief, relationship problems, occupational issues and other emotional health issues.

"Wea™ve been providing consultations over the phone for many years"

aAccording to the Pew Research Center, almost 80 percent of Americans use the Internet, and eight in 10 of them look online for health information,a said Gidget Peddie, chief sales officer at MHN. aConsumers want convenience and immediacy, and that extends to a desire for easy access to health and wellness information and support.a

aWea™ve been providing consultations over the phone for many years,a said Nancy Mann, Ph.D., MHN director of Clinical Operations. aBut adding a web-video option, such as Skype, is a huge step forward. We want to keep pace with how people are choosing to communicate and interact. By connecting with members via web-video, wea™re able to provide a comfortable environment that is convenient to access. Improving accessibility is key to getting members the help they need.a

Mann added, aOur MHN cliniciansa™ offices are private and professional, yet inviting, and thata™s what members see on their screens. Members who use this option will feel very much like theya™re sitting in the same room and meeting the clinician in person.a

With video VoIP, Mann said, clinicians can observe membersa™ facial expressions and other important non-verbal cues, and they can send messages and links via instant messaging. Members can connect from the privacy and comfort of their homes, which is particularly important for members who live in rural or underserved areas and those who have problems with mobility.

About MHN

MHN is Health Net, Inc.a™s behavioral health subsidiary, delivering clinically based workplace solutions to improve productivity for clients and enhance the lives of members. MHNa™s solutions a" which include managed behavioral health, Employee Assistance Programs, wellness programs and organizational consulting a" promote good mental health, work/life balance, wellness, employee productivity and organizational efficiency.

With more than 35 years of behavioral healthcare experience, MHN serves over 800 organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, health plans, insurers and Taft-Hartley Trust funds, and covers nearly 10 million members. MHN partners with a nationwide provider network of over 51,000 licensed practitioners and 1,400 hospitals and care facilities.

Headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., with offices and call centers throughout the United States, MHN employs about 1,000 associates. For more information, visit [ www.mhn.com ].

About Health Net

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 6.0million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Neta™s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health benefits to approximately 5.5 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 [ www.healthnet.com ].