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Health Net Supports Home-Like Hospice Suites for Military Patients at Walter Reed

Posted on: Monday, 22 January 2007, 09:00 CST

A new Oncology Palliative Care suite and family/patient lounge opened today at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), through the efforts of The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation and Health Net Federal Services, Inc. (HNFS), a major donor.

The hospice rooms reflect current best practices for patients to receive quality care, while being treated in a soothing environment equipped with state-of-the-art technology, conveniences and comforts of home. Prior to the development of the hospice rooms, there were no accommodations at WRAMC for family members to comfortably stay with their terminally ill loved ones. Patients often had to make the difficult choice between receiving pain medication and spending time with family at home during their last few days of life.

Ladonna Somers and her late husband, Sgt. Michael Somers, had to make that difficult choice. During the construction of the hospice rooms, Somers has been a source of insight into the physical and emotional needs of patients and their families.

"Health Net Federal Services understands the immediate need to construct a hospice suite at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and is honored to partner in this endeavor to bring comfort and dignity to our service members and their families," said Steve Tough, president, HNFS. HNFS donated $50,000 to the construction of the hospice rooms.

Despite the WRAMC scheduled closure and merger with Bethesda Naval Hospital in the next five years, the PFCUF and Walter Reed officials put dignified comfort and care of military service members and their families first. "The room is needed now," said Roderick Mitchell, president, The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation. "We wouldn't want to sit around and do nothing just because the hospital is going to move."

The grand opening ceremony will take place in WRAMC's Oncology department on January 22, 2007, at 3 p.m. Speakers include George W. Weightman, WRAMC Commander; WRAMC Chaplain Roderick Swanson; and Roderick Mitchell. Health Net Federal Services representatives will attend the event along with family members of patients who have succumbed to cancer, including Ladonna Somers and her young daughters, Regan and Faith.

About Health Net

Health Net Federal Services, a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), has a long history of providing cost-effective, quality managed health care programs for government agencies including the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. As the managed care support contractor for the TRICARE North Region, Health Net provides health care services to over 3 million uniformed services beneficiaries, active and retired, and their families.

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 HMO, POS, insured PPO and government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to approximately 6.6 million individuals in 27 states and the District of Columbia through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net's behavioral health services subsidiary, MHN, provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs (EAPs) to approximately 7.3 million individuals in various states, including the company's own health plan members. 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. For more information on Health Net Federal Services, please visit www.healthnetfederalservices.com.

Source: Business Wire

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