Health Net Announces 36 RN Finalists for 2007 March of Dimes Arizona Nurses of the Year Awards

Chuck Sowers, honorary chairman of the 2007 March of Dimes Nurses of the Year Awards Gala, and president of Health Net of Arizona, Inc., a presenting sponsor of the event along with University of Phoenix, today announced the names of the 36 event finalists. The March of Dimes and Health Net of Arizona created the Nurses of the Year Awards Gala in response to the severe nursing shortage in Arizona. Arizona has 1.9 nurses per 1,000 patients compared to the already dangerously low national ratio of 3.3 nurses per 1,000 patients, according to a report from Arizona Governor Napolitano’s Nursing Shortage Task Force. The event is designed to raise awareness of and interest in the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available to registered nurses; to recognize the contributions that registered nurses are making in Arizona; to ensure that every baby has the healthiest possible start in life through the efforts of the March of Dimes; and to provide scholarships for nursing students at six accredited Arizona college nursing programs. This year, more than 80 outstanding RNs were nominated for the 12 contest categories. Blinded nominations were scored by a committee of volunteer nurses and one doctor from health care companies across the state. The three highest-scoring RNs in each category have now advanced to the finalist stage. Winners will be announced at the March of Dimes Nurses of the Year Awards Gala on Nov. 17 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale. Finalists and their guests will be celebrated at the event – expected to draw 400 nurses, nurse educators, student nurses and health care professionals – with festivities that include a reception and silent auction, dinner, dancing, announcement of the winners, and presentation of the awards and scholarships. For tickets, corporate sponsorship or other information about the event, contact the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter at 602-266-9933 or visit www.marchofdimes.com/arizona under events. This year’s finalists are, by category: Advocacy for Patients Ann Marie Casey, Post Partum Unit, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler Dorothy Fitzsimons, Case Mgr., Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Emily Jacobson, Clinical Mgr., Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Community Service Peter Brooks, Charge Nurse, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson Patricia Ann Burtch, Perioperative Clinical Educator, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Jeanne Fenn, Clinical Nurse Specialist, University Medical Center, Tucson Education Aida Amado, Clinical Educator, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Rita Jury, Director of Clinical & Patient Education, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix Gayle Kipnis, Medical-Surgical Educator, Flagstaff Medical Center, Flagstaff Innovation/Creativity Adda Alexander, Executive Vice President, Arizona Hospital & Healthcare Association, Phoenix Denise Betcher, Unit Based Educator, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix Ellen Fineout-Overholt, Director, Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice, Arizona State University College of Nursing & Health Care Innovation, Phoenix Leadership Charmaine Leoni Coombs, Director of Nursing, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Kathy Goff, Director of Quality Improvement, University Medical Center, Tucson Tracy Sloat, Nurse Manager, Maricopa County Dept. of Public Health, Phoenix Mentoring Julie Fleury, Associate Dean for Research & PhD Program Director, Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Phoenix Lauri McCanless, Clinical Nurse Educator, University Medical Center, Tucson Kathleen Werner, Director of Professional Practice, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Military Janet Hanson, Lt. Col., Medical Group Commander, Air National Guard and TriWest Healthcare Alliance Deborah R. Lehker, Major, U.S. Air Force Reserves, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix Gail A. Smith, Capt., U.S. Naval Reserves and Coordinator of Professional Practice, Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, Phoenix Patient Care Lynne Hulvey, SWAT RN Team Lead, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix Caroline Martinez, RN, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix Gail Priestley, Clinical Nurse Specialist, University Medical Center, Tucson Prenatal/Pediatric Care Judith Crumpler, RN, Cottonwood Medical Center, Casa Grande Sharon Denny, Oncology Nurse, Phoenix Children’s Hospital Center for Cancer, Phoenix Jennifer Seemann, RN, Pediatric ICU, Flagstaff Medical Center, Flagstaff Research/Advancing the Profession Jillian Combrink, Staff RN, Flagstaff Medical Center, Flagstaff Colleen Keller, Professor & Director, Center for Health Outcomes in Aging, Arizona State University College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, Phoenix Monica Majercin, Staff RN, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Mesa Rising Star Tamara Boyd, Staff RN, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler Carrie Harker, RN, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler Diana Price, RN, Medical-Surgical RN, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix Distinguished Nurse of the Year Vicki Began, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services, University Medical Center, Tucson Catharine Cox, RN, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix Peggy MacMacken, Chief Nursing Officer, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson About Health Net of Arizona, Inc. 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 the nation’s fourth-largest Medicare Advantage contractor, 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 6.6 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs, including 180,000 in Arizona. Health Net, Inc.’s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health services 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., please visit the company’s Web site at www.healthnet.com. Cautionary Statements Health Net, Inc. and its representatives may from time to time make written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in news releases, in Health Net’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in the company’s reports to shareholders and in meetings with investors and analysts, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. 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, 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, issues relating to provider contracts, litigation costs, 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 subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.