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The Valley Health Team Receives $2,325,000 Investment From UnitedHealth Group to Enhance Access to Health Care Services in California

Posted on: Monday, 24 March 2008, 12:00 CDT

The Valley Health Team, based in San Joaquin, Calif., received $2,325,000 in capital by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and its PacifiCare of California subsidiary to further Valley Health's efforts in delivering quality, affordable health care services to rural communities in California.

The $2,325,000 in capital is part of UnitedHealth Group's California Health Care Investment Program, a twenty-year, $200 million commitment to provide access to capital financing for health care entities providing services to underserved, low-income and underinsured communities and/or populations throughout the Golden State.

The Valley Health Team was established in 1973 and delivers a comprehensive range of outpatient services to the rural communities of west Fresno County. With clinics in towns of San Joaquin and Kerman, the Valley Health Team provides accessible, comprehensive, quality primary care, dental, optometric and ancillary services in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, irrespective of a patient's ability to pay.

"More than 70 percent of the people we serve at our clinics are farm workers, many of whom face numerous challenges accessing and affording quality health care. Our goal is to further expand our efforts to provide needed medical treatment regardless of cultural barriers or a patient's ability to pay," said Soyla Griffin, CEO of The Valley Health Team. "We thank UnitedHealth Group for helping us continue meeting the vital health care needs of our communities."

"UnitedHealth Group is committed to investing in a healthier California," said David Hansen, CEO, Pacific Region of UnitedHealthcare. "We do this by offering products and services that address affordability, access and quality needs for all Californians, and by supporting community health organizations that will help improve the health care delivery system for everyone, especially underserved populations."

As part of a separate grant program, UnitedHealth Group and its PacifiCare of California subsidiary recently awarded more than $6 million to 15 community-based nonprofit organizations statewide that are dedicated to improving health care services through enhanced health care technology opportunities, and driving preventive health and coordinated care initiatives. Also, University of California Riverside and University of California Merced received a $10 million grant for the creation of medical and health science education programs at the two campuses, and for hiring of administrative, teaching and support staff needed to establish course work and classes for the programs.

UnitedHealth Group offers health benefits, including commercial and Medicare health plans to more than 3 million Californians, and partners with about 50,000 physicians across the state.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through seven operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, OptumHealth, Ingenix, and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 70 million individuals nationwide.

Source: Business Wire

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