WellCare Expands Florida Provider Network With Addition Of Flagler Hospital

2013-01-15 14:52:18 -

Partnership Increases Care Options for WellCare Members in Northeast Florida



TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2013) - WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today

announced that Flagler Hospital, the only hospital located in St. John's County,

Fla., has joined the WellCare provider network. This new agreement expands

options for thousands of WellCare's Staywell Medicaid and Staywell Kids members,

and helps to ensure that they have access to comprehensive, quality health care.



"WellCare has made a commitment to ensuring our members get the highest quality

care in their local communities," said Chrissie Cooper, President of WellCare's

Florida and Hawaii Division. "We are pleased that Flagler Hospital shares this

vision and look forward to working together to serve our members in Northeast

Florida."



WellCare began serving St. John's County Medicaid beneficiaries and residents

participating in the Florida Healthy Kids program, in October 2012. To ensure

continuity of care and a variety of options for members, WellCare has partnered

with hospitals and health care providers throughout St. John's, Flagler, Duval,

Clay and Volusia counties.



"Flagler Hospital is dedicated to providing world-class care to the residents of

our community and surrounding areas. As part of this commitment, we are always

looking at ways to enhance access to care and resources for our patients - and

this agreement with WellCare supports that," said Flagler Hospital President and

CEO, Joe Gordy.



For more information about services and access to Flagler Hospital providers,

WellCare's Staywell Medicaid members can call 1-866-334-7927 and Staywell Kids

members can call 1-866-698-5437 (TTY/TTD for all plans: 1-877-247-6272). For

information about joining WellCare's network, providers can call 1-877-378-2488.



About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to

government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for

families, children, and the aged, blind and disabled, as well as prescription

drug plans. The company serves approximately 2.6 million members nationwide as

of Sept. 30, 2012. For more information about WellCare, please visit the

company's website at www.wellcare.com.



About Flagler Hospital

Flagler Hospital is a 335 bed, acute care hospital that has been ranked among

the top 5 percent of all hospitals in the nation for both clinical excellence

and patient safety for the past seven consecutive years. The hospital has

operated as a not-for-profit healthcare institution in St. Augustine, Fla. since

its founding in 1889. The hospital has earned accreditation from the American

College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, the Gold Seal of Approval(TM) from The

Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Care Centers, national accreditation for its

total hip and total knee replacement programs, and Center of Excellence

Designation for its Bariatric Surgery Center. For more information, log on to

www.flaglerhospital.org.



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MEDIA CONTACTS:

WellCare

Denise Malecki

813-206-2747

denise.malecki@wellcare.com



Flagler Hospital

Gina McLean

904-819-4431

Gina.McLean@flaglerhospital.org





WellCare Expands Florida Provider Network with Flagler Hospital: 

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Source: WellCare Health Plans, Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE

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