MHN Launches "Return-to-Work" Programs
Managed Health Network, Inc. (MHN), a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT), announced today that it launched a suite of Return-to-Work Programs for employees on medical and psychiatric disability leave. MHN developed the programs to help employers better manage medical and psychiatric disability claims by identifying and reducing risks to employees and employers.
(PRWEB) November 18, 2004 -- The Return-to-Work Programs leverage MHN's 30
years of expertise in the behavioral healthcare industry. A key offering is the
Workplace Re-entry Program, featuring a “virtual classroom” teleconference that
focuses on the psychosocial factors inhibiting recovery and a return to work. In
this setting, participants can find mutual support, compare symptoms and discuss
effective problem-solving techniques and topics such as lateral thinking, stress
reduction techniques and lifestyle management. The innovative health
intervention program accelerates disabled employees’ ability to re-enter the
workforce by developing their cognitive and self-management skills. “We believe
MHN is the first behavioral healthcare enterprise to implement a re-entry
program that leverages a virtual classroom environment,” says Dr. Stephen
Dannenbaum, director of Clinical Programs for MHN.
Anonymity is a key
component of the Workplace Re-entry Program. “We’ve found that most individuals
prefer the teleconference format to the face-to face approach,” says Dr.
Dannenbaum. “Our program also has a holistic approach for early intervention
treatment that acknowledges the connection between mind and body.”
Dr.
Dannenbaum will discuss these Return-to-Work programs, and the treatment of
psychological aspects of workers’ compensation and disability, at a seminar for
the Sacramento Association of Health Underwriters (SAHU) in Sacramento, Calif.
on November 18, 2004. Media representatives are invited to schedule interviews
with Dr. Dannenbaum to learn more about these programs.
MHN's other
return-to-work product is the Psychiatric Disability Care Management Program.
This group of integrated services assists employers in promoting a timely and
appropriate return to work for employees on psychiatric short-term disability
and for medically disabled employees with co-existing psychiatric conditions. In
addition to promoting the well-being of employees, “this program can reduce the
rising cost of psychiatric disability by up to 40 percent because employees
return to work sooner and it reduces recidivism,” says Dr. Dannenbaum. The
program also coaches managers on how to communicate with disabled employees – a
skill that can result in reduced absenteeism and a more productive
workforce.
"Disability management programs that promote a healthy
workplace approach, can minimize the extent of a disability and even prevent one
from happening if the program focuses on both prevention and management,” says
Dr. Dannenbaum.
About MHN
MHN is one of the largest and oldest
providers of managed behavioral health care and Employee Assistance Programs
(EAP) in the United States, serving nearly 10 million members. Based in Point
Richmond, Calif., MHN provides workplace solutions ranging from EAP and
behavioral health to integrated disease management and psychiatric disability.
MHN's provider network includes more than 37,000 practitioners and 1,150
hospitals and facilities throughout the United States.
To learn more
about the Return-to-Work Programs and how MHN can help your employees and your
company be productive, visit our Web site today at http://www.mhn.com.
MHN is a subsidiary of Health Net,
Inc. Health Net 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 more than 7 million individuals in 27
states and the District of Columbia through group, individual, Medicare,
Medicaid and TRICARE programs. In addition to the behavioral health services
offered by MHN, Health Net’s subsidiaries offer managed health care products
related to prescription drugs, and they offer managed health care product
coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical
groups and self-funded benefits programs.
This press release was
distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf
of the company listed above.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/11/prweb179999.htm