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Board of Hearing Aid Specialists Public Meeting
July 26, 9 a.m., Miami
Miami Beach Resort and Spa
For details, call (305) 532-3600
Low Income Pool Council Public Meeting
July 28,10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hollywood
Memorial Regional Hospital, Main Auditorium, 3501
For details, contact Edwin Stephens at (850)413-8067 or Suncom 294-8067, stephene@
ahca.myflorida.com
Department of Children and Family Service Public Hearing
July 28, 1:30 p.m., Tallahassee
1317 Winewood Blvd., Bldg. 3, Rm. 455
For details, contact Pat Whitford at (850)410-3479
FL Assn of Community Health Centers & AHEC Meeting
July 28-30, Bonita Springs, FL
Hyatt CocoPoint
For details, contact Heidi Updike Butler at heidi@fachc.org or visit www.fachc.org
Cover Florida: The Unregulated Health Insurance Market
July 30, 9 a.m. - 12 Noon, Miami
RSVP/Details: Roxannep@hscdade.org or 305-576-5001 x12
Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists Public Meeting
July 31, 2 p.m.; Aug.1, 9 a.m., Orlando
Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal
For details contact Joe Baker, Jr. by accessing www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/orth Pros/index.html.
Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Public Meeting
Aug. 8, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m, Orlando
The Grand Bohemian Hotel
For details, contact Suzanna Kelly at (850)245-4045,
or Suzanne_Kelly@doh.state.fl.us
Board of Pharmacy Professional Practice Committee Meeting
August 12, 9 a.m., Orlando
Orlando Airport Marriot
Also available on Conference Call: (888)808-6959; code: 5642037
For information, contact the Board of Pharmacy at (850)245-4292. The agenda will be available at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy, two weeks prior to the meeting.
Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee Meeting
August 12, 2 p.m. Orlando
Orlando Airport Marriot
Also available via conference call: (888) 808-6959; code: 5642037
For details, contact the Board of Pharmacy at (850)245-4292. The agenda will be available at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy, two weeks prior to the meeting.
Empowering Healthcare: A Look at Key Components
August 13, Ft. Lauderdale
Signature Grand
Contact Scott Langdon, 407-425-9500, scott@flhcc.com or visit www.flhcc.com for details
Board of Pharmacy Public Meeting
August 13, 8 a.m., Orlando
Orlando Airport Marriot
For details, contact the Board of Pharmacy at (850)245-4292.The agenda will also be available one week prior to the meeting date at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy.
2008 Florida Minority Health Disparities Summitt
August 13-15, Tampa
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
For details, contact Susan Smith at (850) 245-4111 or visit www.doh.state.fl.us/Minority/
index.htm
Board of Medicine Credentials Committee Public Meeting
August 14, 9:00 a.m., Orlando
Renaissance Hotel
For details, visit www.flhealthsource.com or call (850)245-4131. For an agenda, contact Shamyah Gibson at shamyah_gibson@doh.state.fl.us or call (850)245-4131, ext. 3518.
Board of Medicine Anesthesiologist Assistants Committee Public Meeting
August 14, 9:15 a.m., Orlando
Renaissance Hotel Orlando
For details, visit www.flhealthsource.com or call (850)245-4131. For an agenda, contact Chandra Prine at chandra_prine@doh.state.fl.us or call (850)245-4135.
Board of Medicine Physician Assistant Council Meeting
August 14, 9:30 a.m., Orlando
Renaissance Orlando Hotel
For information, call (850)245-4131or visit www.flhealthsource.com. For an agenda, contact Vera Johnson at Vera_Johnson@doh.state.fl.us or call (850)245-4131, ext. 3528.
Board of Medicine Rules and Legislative Committee Meeting
August 14, 9:45 a.m., Orlando
Renaissance Orlando Hotel
For information, visit www.flealthsource.com or call (850)245-4131. For an agenda, contact Whitney Bowen at whitney_bowen@doh.state.fl.us or (850)245-4131, ext. 3517.
Board of Medicine Surgical Care/Quality Assurance Committee Public Meeting
August 14,10 a.m., Orlando
Renaissance Orlando Hotel
For details, visit www.flhealthsource.com or call (850)245-4131. For an agenda, contact Gwyn Willis at Gwyn_Willis@doh.state.fl.us or (850)245-4131, ext. 3532.
Board of Medicine Public Meeting
August 15-16, 8 a.m., Orlando
Renaissance Orlando Hotel
For details, visit www.flhealthsource.com or call (850)245-4131. For an agenda, contact Whitney Bowen at whitney_bowen@doh.state.fl.us or call (850)245-4131, ext. 3517.
Board of Medicine Probable Cause Panel- South
September 12, 2 p.m.
Conference Call: (888) 808-6959
Code: 2454131
For details, contact Trisha L. Grubbs at (850)245-4640, ext. 8145 or email her at Trisha_Grubbs@doh.state.fl.us
Division of Medical Quality Assurance Public Meeting
Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m. – 12 Noon, Tallahassee
Betty Easley Conf. Center, Rm. 152
For details, contact Cassandra Pasley, (850)245-4224
Board of Medicine Probable Cause Panel- North
September 26, 2 p.m.
Conference Call: (888) 808-6959,
Code: 2454131
For details, contact Joyce Blackwell at (850)245-4640, ext. 8142 or email her at Joyce_Blackwell@doh.state.fl.us |
WellCare adds Hawaii to its Medicaid business
By Carol Gentry
2/6/2008 © Florida Health News
WellCare Health Plans has added a new state Medicaid program to its client list by becoming one of two companies that will share in a $1.24 billion contract with Hawaii, according to a Web site operated by that state. UnitedHealth Group subsidiary EverCare, which specializes in managing health of the elderly and disabled, was the other winner. The contract, awarded through competitive bidding, runs through June 2011.
WellCare, based in Tampa, will form a new subsidiary, Ohana Health Plans Inc., to handle the Hawaii operations, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission early Wednesday. The plan is expected to begin operations Nov. 1, the filing said. Ohana is a native Hawaiian word that refers to the bonds among extended family and close friends, according to Wikipedia.
Sales of WellCare's shares were up 3 percent at 11 a.m. as Wall Street embraced the good news, but were still trading at less than half the value they held before Oct. 24, when about 200 federal and state agents raided the Tampa headquarters and carried off computer disks and boxes of documents. The investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud in WellCare's Florida business continues; no charges have been filed.
Given the back story, said Oppenheimer analyst Carl McDonald, the Hawaii contract is a big win for WellCare. "The fact that a state is willing to select them even after all that's happened will be viewed as a sign that WellCare isn't going to go out of business," he said.
Since the Hawaii bids were submitted in early October before the raid, credit for the expansion lies with the former president, chairman and chief executive officer, Todd Farha. He and two other high-ranking WellCare executives, Chief Financial Officer Paul Behrens and Thaddeus Bereday, the general counsel, resigned 10 days ago following negotiations with a committee of independent board members. The company is now headed by Charles Berg, executive chairman, and CEO Heath Scheisser.
With Hawaii. WellCare currently has contracts with Medicaid in seven states. WellCare is also a nationwide player in the Medicare market.
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