WellCare Of Georgia Integrates Behavioral Health Services

2013-01-16 14:33:14 -

TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2013) - WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today

announced that as of Jan. 1, 2013, it has integrated all behavioral health

services for WellCare Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® members in Georgia.



In-sourcing of WellCare's behavioral health services, including those addressing

mental health and substance abuse, and physical health care services will

promote improved patient care, better clinical outcomes and enhanced cost

management by integrating medical and behavioral care at the plan level and in

the community.



"Bringing behavioral health in-house supports the goal of coordinated, patient-

centered care by allowing us to more effectively treat the whole person," said

David McNichols, WellCare of Georgia president. "We can better coordinate

behavioral health needs with physical health care and social needs including

housing, employment and family support systems. With a one-plan structure, our

behavioral and medical staff will share development of care plans using

standardized protocols and evidence-based guidelines that can be tailored to our

member's needs."



In addition to working with traditional mental health providers to offer on-

going training and educational tools, WellCare is partnering with its provider

network to expand the use of community-based mental health centers in managing

members' chronic, complex and psycho-social mental health needs. Community

mental health centers can provide a continuum of services and innovative

treatment options that serve to stabilize patients over the long term and reduce

avoidable emergency and inpatient utilization.



Other key components of behavioral health integration include the use of best

practices that are proven to promote member recovery and resiliency; data

integration from all components of care to measure performance and drive

clinical decisions, and; pay for performance metrics that support quality-driven

utilization management models.



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.



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CONTACT:

Media Relations

Julie Pulliam

770-913-2200

julie.pulliam@wellcare.com





WellCare Of Georgia Integrates Behavioral Health Services: 

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

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