Horizon NJ Health Honors 11 Physicians And A Nurse Practitoner For Improving The Quality Of Health For Members In The Community

(West Trenton, NJ - June 6, 2006) - To recognize the valuable services its southern network of medical professionals offer to enhance the quality of health care for its members and their families, Horizon NJ Health will be acknowledging 11 physicians and one nurse practitioner at a special dinner event. The company will honor and celebrate these individuals at its June 7, 2006, Physician Recognition Dinner to be held at Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill, NJ.

"We are proud to honor these physicians and a nurse practitioner who demonstrate exceptional efforts in the quality of care they deliver, a consistent record of service as well as increased results for preventive screening and disease management of their patients - our members," noted Karen L. Clark, President and Chief Operating Officer for Horizon NJ Health. "Their presence and practices in the communities have demonstrated that communication and education help to improve access to care and the health of their patients. Patients identify with physicians and professionals who understand and respect their values."

"We looked at many factors, including length of service, rates of immunizations, well visits, lead screening and patient access. This was not an easy task, since we collected data on our more than 9,000 doctors," commented Dr. Philip M. Bonaparte, Horizon NJ Health Chief Medical Officer, who is certified in internal medicine. "We plan on acknowledging more physicians and health care professionals in the future as we continue to recognize excellence in service for our members."

Horizon NJ Health, as part of its efforts to acknowledge the contributions, honored and recognized the contributions of 15 of its northern area physicians during a similar Physician Recognition Dinner held in Newark last December.

Physician and Healthcare Professional Honorees:

BURLINGTON County

• Cyrus G. Houser, MD (Pediatrics), Willingboro, NJ

• Patrick Ervilus, RN, MA, MPC, FNP, (Family Nurse Practitioner), River Primary Care Center, Camden, NJ
• Bao D. Nguyen, MD (Internal Medicine) Camden, NJ
• Rhodora D. Mangaser, MD (Pediatrics) Echelon Medical Center, Voorhees, NJ

• Gary W. Raab, DO (Family Practice) Ocean City Family Practice, Ocean City, NJ

• Janice C. Cato-Varlack, MD (Pediatrics) The Medical Center at Princeton Pediatric Clinic, Princeton, NJ
• Nassif E. Dawlabani, MD (Pediatrics) Nassif E. Dawlabani MD, P.A., Trenton, NJ

• Emilia Santa Maria Lucero, MD (Pediatrics) Premier Pediatric Care, LLC, Hazlet, NJ
• Helen A. Atienza, MD (Pediatrics) Neptune Pediatrics, Neptune, NJ

• Isaac L., Braverman, MD Pediatric Affiliates, PA, Lakewood, NJ
• Robert A. Shanik, MD (Pediatrics), Pediatric Affiliates, PA, Manahawkin, NJ
• Melissa J. Rose, MD (Pediatrics), Pediatric Affiliates, PA, Manahawkin, NJ

Horizon NJ Health is New Jersey's largest managed healthcare organization serving the publicly insured, providing health services to more than 302,000 people in all 21 New Jersey counties. Headquartered in West Trenton, NJ, Horizon NJ Health is a subsidiary of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ). Horizon NJ Health's Web site is located at www.horizonNJhealth.com.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) with headquarters in Newark, NJ is New Jersey's largest health insurer, providing coverage to more than 3.3 million people. Horizon BCBSNJ's Web site is located at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Contact: Horizon NJ Health
Carol Chernack, 609-538-0700 x5290
carol_chernack@horizonNJhealth.com