Arizona Nurses to be Honored at Annual March of Dimes Nurses of the Year Awards

TEMPE, Ariz. – Five years ago, in the midst of a severe nursing shortage in Arizona, Health Net of Arizona felt a real need to raise the public’s awareness of the rewarding careers available to registered nurses. They also wanted to recognize the contribution that registered nurses were making in Arizona. Health Net of Arizona partnered with the March of Dimes and created the Nurses of the Year Awards.

The annual event is a chance to say “Thank you” to hundreds of Arizona nurses for all that they do. This year’s awards gala will be held August 23 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale.

Arizona nurses will be honored for their service in 13 categories, ranging from “Rising Star” to “Distinguished Nurse,” and including “Patient Care,” “Leadership,” “Advocacy,” “Prenatal/Pediatric Care,” “Military,” and others.

Major Deborah R. Lehker was the 2007 Military Nurse of the Year and served two tours of duty in the Middle East with the U.S. Air Force Reserves. She demonstrated courage and bravery while stationed outside of Baghdad. While under daily mortar and gunfire attack from insurgents outside the base, she and her unit treated more than 2,500 casualties. She also prepared seriously injured soldiers for transport, established wound protocols that reduced the wound infection rate, and stepped outside the base perimeter to deliver injured and mortally wounded Iraqi citizens to their families. Major Lehker currently works at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix.

Highlights of the night include a presentation of scholarships for nursing students, funded in part by Health Net of Arizona. Last year, Health Net of Arizona funded $24,000 in scholarships, awarding $4,000 checks to nursing schools at Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Maricopa County Community Colleges, Northern Arizona University, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. “We realize the magnitude of the problem facing Arizona,” said Chuck Sowers, president of Health Net of Arizona. “The health and well being of Arizona residents depends on the high quality care that nurses can provide.”

What: 2008 Nurses of the Year Awards Gala
When: August 23, 2008
6:00pm – cocktails and reception
7:00pm – dinner and silent auction
Where: Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

About Arizona’s nursing shortage: Arizona has 628 RNs per 100,000 people according to the most recent report from the Governor’s Nursing Shortage Task Force.

About Health Net of Arizona, Inc.
Health Net of Arizona has offices in Tempe and Tucson, employing nearly 350 associates statewide. Health Net of Arizona offers and administers a full spectrum of health care plans and specialty services, including coverage for vision, dental, life insurance^(a), chiropractic and alternative medicine. Products include: Employer-sponsored Plans (HMO, PPO^(a), POS Plus^(a) and Indemnity^(a)); Medicare Advantage Plans; Individual and Family Plans (HMO and PPO^(a)); and National Provider network for PPO and POS Plus product. Health Net of Arizona serves approximately 175,000 members. (^(a)Offered by Health Net Life Insurance Company and administered by Health Net of Arizona.)

Health Net of Arizona has been serving Arizonans for 27 years and is proud to be selected as Arizona’s No. 1 HMO for four years in a row — 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and the No. 2 PPO, based on the state’s largest business opinion poll, “Ranking Arizona,” which is conducted annually by Arizona Business Magazine.

Health Net of Arizona, Inc. is a subsidiary of Health Net Inc. (NYSE:HNT). Health Net, Inc. is among the nation’s largest publicly traded managed health care companies and also is one of the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage contractors, based on membership. Health Net’s 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, including 200,000 in Arizona. Health Net, Inc.’s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health services to approximately 6.9 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., please visit the company’s Web site at www.healthnet.com.

Cautionary Statements
All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements and as such are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management’s analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Without limiting the foregoing, statements including the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to, among other things, rising health care costs, negative prior period claims reserve developments, trends in medical care ratios, unexpected utilization patterns or unexpectedly severe or widespread illnesses, membership declines, rate cuts affecting our Medicare or Medicaid business, issues relating to provider contracts, litigation costs, regulatory issues, operational issues, health care reform and general business conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the “Risk Factors” section included within the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any of its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.