OLD BRIDGE, N.J., November 20, 2008 - The more than 1,300 associates employed by Health Net of the Northeast, Inc. (Health Net) have rallied together with the Company to purchase and deliver more than six tons (12,000 pounds) of non-perishable food and fresh fruit and vegetables to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) as part of an urgent campaign to aid the state's hungry.
Health Net's food donation is the largest in its history of assistance to food banks. "The company's challenge to associates was that Health Net would match every pound they donated of non-perishable food and groceries with a pound of fresh fruit and vegetables purchased from New Jersey farms and retailers that are participating in the food bank program," said Health Net of the Northeast's President Paul Lambdin.
Health Net has joined with long time CFBNJ supporter Bruce Springsteen and others, in responding to shortfalls in food supply with a major public appeal for help.
Recent reports indicate that 30 percent more people are using the food banks this year but that food donations have dropped as much as 20 percent. As a result, CFBNJ, New Jersey is facing food shortages for the needy that for the first time in the program's 25-year history could lead to rationing.
"With the shelves at our warehouse bare, the situation was bleak," said Kathleen DiChiara, CFBNJ's founder. "We believe this generous spirit will inspire others to contribute and lend a hand to the more than 500,000 people that we anticipate will be struggling this winter to afford heating and adequate nourishment," she added.
"We are proud that all of the fresh fruit and vegetables donated will come from local farms and retailers that participate in the New Jersey Health & Senior Services Women, Infants and Children program," said Lambdin. "This means our donation will not only provide a healthy balance of food products to recipients, but will also help support the local economy. It is a win-win situation for New Jersey."
The New Jersey Health & Senior Services WIC (Women, Infants & Children) program provides supplements and nutritious foods to mothers and their children under the age of five.
Dorothy C. Lucas, Health Net of the Northeast's Vice President, Medicaid Programs, said: "Our involvement stems directly from the free or low cost provision of our Healthy Options programs that cover essential family wellness needs. It's a logical step to provide food through the FoodBank as it is the most fundamental element of health care."
Health Net of New Jersey has participated in the New Jersey Medicaid and FamilyCare programs for the past 12 years and currently serves more than 46,000 members.
Health Net's Healthy Options plans are governed by both Federal and State Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) requirements. Eligibility is based on income and family size. Health Net covers primary, specialty and hospital care, wellness exams, childhood immunizations, outpatient services, vision, dental and prescription drug coverage.
About the Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The CFBNJ is a member of Feeding America whose mission is to fight hunger and poverty by the distribution of food and grocery products, by education and training, by creating new programs to meet the needs of low-income people, and by involving all sectors of society in this battle. Since its incorporation in 1982, the CFBNJ has grown in both the size and scope of its operation. CFBNJ annually assists charities serving approximately 500,000 people in need. With the help of so many caring individuals, corporations, foundations, houses of worship, schools and community groups, CFBNJ has distributed, since its incorporation, more than 300 million pounds of food and groceries valued at more than half-a-billion dollars.
For more information, please go to: www.njfoodbank.com
About Health Net
Health Net of the Northeast, Inc., headquartered in Shelton, Conn., employs approximately 1,800 associates in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Health Net of the Northeast, through its subsidiaries, offers full-service health plans that serve nearly one million members in the tri-state area. The Northeast health plans offer a wide array of products including: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Point-of-Service (POS), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), third-party administration, Medicare and Medicaid.
With a physician network comprising more than 90,000 physician and provider office locations, Health Net is one of the largest health plans in the northeast, offering a full array of open-access products and coordination for multi-region employers.
Health Net of the Northeast is a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT). 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., visit: www.healthnet.com.
