Health Plus - A Healthy Start to the School Year

For Immediate Release

A Healthy Start to the School Year
Health Plus and Lutheran Medical Center Hold “Back to School” Health Fair

Media Inquiries:Kathryn Soman (718) 491-7493
Customer Inquiries: Marketing Department (888) 809-8009

Brooklyn, NY - August 29, 2005 — Last Friday, amid the late summer sunshine, hundreds of Brooklyn children were given the chance to have one last big day of fun in the park before heading back to school. Health Plus, in conjunction with Lutheran Medical Center, hosted the event at the Second Avenue Park in Sunset Park, not only as a fun activity for the kids but as a way to promote healthy living through education, proper health coverage, and health screenings.

Medical Professionals were on hand, checking blood pressure and heart rates, and giving out pamphlets in both in English and Spanish. Health Plus staff was also on hand, educating current and prospective members about the appropriate utilization of health services, and reminding parents to take their children in for a “back to school” check-up with their primary care providers.

There was lots of fun and games, including face painting and a bouncy castle. Clowns, cotton candy and even snow cones were also provided by Health Plus.

“Events like this just make you feel good,” said Ada Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer for Health Plus. “Parents enjoy bringing their children to learn about health, and kids get to have a great time, while learning something important to their development. Health Plus and Lutheran Medical Center are rooted in Sunset Park,” she continued, “and each of us will do anything that we can for this community.”

John Rancel supervises the line of children waiting to get their faces painted by a festive clown. This was just one of the many attractions at HP’s Back to School Health Fair at Lutheran Medical Cntr.

Rosita Duran, M.A., of Lutheran Medical Center, checks the Blood Pressure of a Coworker at health fair sponsored by Health Plus in Sunset Park last Friday.

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Health Plus, a not-for-profit, multi-cultural organization, is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in New York City. It was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families. In its annual review of managed care plans, the New York State Department of Health ranked Health Plus as the top plan for quality in its 2002 and 2003 "Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in New York City." Health Plus is New York City's leading provider of Child Health Plus, a New York State Department of Health program that offers parents FREE or low-cost health insurance for children under the age of 19. "CRAIN'S New York Business" magazine ranked Health Plus fifth among the largest health maintenance organizations in the New York area.