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: 
 hugin.info/145241/R/1670682/542981.pdf



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