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TAMPA — WellCare Health Plans Inc. said it will pay $35.2-million as part of an agreement with U.S. prosecutors in a Medicaid fraud investigation, the company said in a regulatory filing Monday.
The payment doesn't settle the case or limit the U.S. government and state of Florida from making further claims in their continuing investigation, WellCare said.
WellCare, whose top executives quit in January, said the agreement includes an estimated $24.5-million owed the government for Medicaid "behavioral health" claims from 2002 to 2006 by two of its Florida HMO subsidiaries: WellCare of Florida Inc. and HealthEase of Florida Inc. The additional $10.7-million will be held in escrow during the government probe.
"We do not know whether other areas of the investigations might lead to fines, penalties, operating restrictions or disqualifications or other material adverse impaction on the company or the company's previously issued financial statements,'' WellCare said in the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
WellCare manages benefits for more than 1.23-million members of state Medicaid programs for the poor and an additional 200,000 elderly and disabled customers who are part of the government's Medicare program.
In October, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal and state agencies raided the Tampa headquarters of WellCare.
[Last modified: Aug 21, 2008 02:05 PM]
Comments on this article
by peggy
Aug 21, 2008 2:05 PM
So tell me how Wellcare is made to pay for $35 Million in fraud, but a 15 year Medicare billion dollar lawsuit Crist initiated in 2005 settled in 2006 for $7 MILLION? And then Jeb Bush gets $260,000 the next year sitting on the Tenet health board?
by Mary
Aug 21, 2008 11:36 AM
There should be some major whistleblowing here and the DOJ should get involved. The top execs and creators of this charade are still there sitting pretty - don't fool yourself...more fleecing of the taxpayer.
by Jay
Aug 21, 2008 11:28 AM
I think this company should be put out of business. How many chances are they going to get to prove that they don't know how to manage Florida's medicaid dollars?
by jules
Aug 20, 2008 11:05 AM
Why do they commit it(fraud)>because they can,and with the right legal advice they get away with it. "AS THE AGE OLD SAYING GOES,CRIME PAYS".(& it OBVIOUSLY still holds true today!)Oh and guess who takes the brunt for the scum crooks? UhHuh...TBC...
by David
Aug 20, 2008 11:05 AM
WellCare gouged me and then went belly up some years ago. How they were able to continue to operate to this extent, in ripping off taxpayers, is reprehensible and swift, harsh action needs to be taken against them. 35M isnt going to cut it.
by alan
Aug 20, 2008 11:05 AM
it just goes to show ya how much the ins comp,are screwin us,and im sure its not just wellcare,,its all of them and the biggest we know is citizen's they are killin the u.s.a. and our gov, is thankin them for it,,, now a pres with no american blood.
by Steve
Aug 20, 2008 11:04 AM
I used to work there and it was no secret that the top executives at Wellcare and top Republicans were completely entwined. None of them will see a day in jail where they belong.
by Samantha
Aug 20, 2008 10:00 AM
Isn't WellCare just the "deliverer" of benefits?
Since when does a delivery company make diagnosis?
How much does WellCare employees make? for deliveries? How much does the executives of WellCare make?
How many Floridians are left in the dark?
by Sharon
Aug 19, 2008 8:18 PM
How can a private company exist which makes billions simply signing people up for medicare? Our government is crazy!!
by Steve
Aug 19, 2008 8:12 PM
Sure Jim, that would work. How does citizens insurance work for homes? Not good!
by Dan
Aug 19, 2008 4:25 PM
Just the tip of the iceberg. The company execs won't go to jail because of their political friends. This is just 1 company, imagine the scale of fraud going on elsewhere.
by Ken
Aug 19, 2008 3:04 PM
Another health care crime condoned. No one goes to jail. Maybe the approximately HALF OF A BILLION DOLLARS paid by the health care industry for lobbying our members of Congress may have something to do with it. Who runs this country?
by Dr_Dug
Aug 19, 2008 11:48 AM
The top managers should be charged with a crime and thrown in jail. If we start to punish the crooks in charge, it'll stop future crooks in waiting!!
by Jim
Aug 19, 2008 8:21 AM
Just like fire and police The state needs to take over The insurance business for the Citizens of Fl.The insurance company's have lost all credibility.
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