Health Plus - Welcoming the Year of the Golden Pig

For Immediate Release

Welcoming the Year of the Golden Pig
Health Plus and Lutheran Medical Center Mark Chinese New Year

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Brooklyn NY - February 20, 2007 — Today, as the spring weather mercifully began to show its face, managed care organization Health Plus and Lutheran Medical Center were out celebrating the rejuvenation of the Lunar Calendar with residents of Brooklyn’s Chinatown, hosting festivities marking the beginning of the Year of the Golden Pig.

The celebrations, which included a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, took place at Lutheran medical Center’s Brooklyn Chinese Family Health Center on 8th Avenue – the heart of what is now known as Brooklyn Chinatown. Health Plus has an office in the neighborhood, but also maintains a strong presence at the health center, part of the Lutheran Family Health Center Network that helps local residents gain access to free and affordable healthcare.

“We really enjoy partnering with the Chinese Community,” said Tom Early, Executive Director for Health Plus. “Whether it’s Manhattan’s Chinatown, Main Street Flushing, in Queens, or here on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn, these neighborhoods have welcomed us warmly over the past several years. Their customs have now become our traditions as well, and celebrating Chinese New Year is something we all look forward to at Health Plus.”

Larry McReynolds, Yoli Bazile, Henry Mui, Angel Laporte Jr, Yvette Rosado, and Tommy Cen pose with a pair of dragons – as managed care organization Health Plus and Lutheran Medical Center hosted a Chinese New Year’s Celebration.

A traditional Chinese Lion Dance was just part of the festivities hosted by managed care organization health Plus and Lutheran Medical Center that took place at the Chinese New Year Celebration on Tuesday at the Brooklyn Chinese Family Health Center.

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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.