WellCare Awards $50,000 Grant to the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians for Its Patient Centered Medical Home University
Tampa, Fla. and Tucker, Ga. (PRWEB) November 12, 2013 -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today announced that the WellCare Community Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) to help fund the organization’s Patient Centered Medical Home University. The grant will be used for workshops that help selected Georgia primary care practices achieve recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs).
A PCMH is a health care setting that facilitates partnerships between patients and their personal physicians, and when appropriate, with the patient’s family. Care is facilitated by registries, information technology, health information exchange and other means to ensure that patients get the care they need, when and where they need and want it, and in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
“WellCare recognizes that primary care providers who transform their practices into functioning PCMHs return higher quality of care and improved preventive care for patients,” said Pamme Taylor, WellCare's vice president, advocacy and community-based programs. “We look forward to working with the GAFP to help primary care partners advance their practices to better serve Georgians.”
At the end of 2011, only five primary care practices in Georgia were recognized by the NCQA as Patient Centered Medical Homes. The GAFP created its Patient Centered Medical Home University to increase the number of qualifying facilities in the state.
“We are pleased that WellCare has joined our efforts to advance primary care practices in Georgia and help patients receive optimal, ongoing care,” said Fay Fulton Brown, executive vice president of GAFP. “With WellCare’s support, GAFP is committed to raising the number of PCMHs across our state.”
Those selected to participate will include family physicians, pediatricians and general internists specializing in primary care. They will be recruited by GAFP and medical association leaders. WellCare will also identify physicians from its provider network and recommend them for participation.
As of September 30, 2013, WellCare serves approximately 552,000 Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® plan members, 27,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 34,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Georgia.
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 2.8 million members nationwide as of September 30, 2013. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at http://www.wellcare.com.
About the WellCare Community Foundation
The WellCare Community Foundation was established in 2010 and is a non-profit, private foundation. Its mission is to foster and promote the health, well-being and quality of life for the poor, distressed and other medically underserved populations - including, those who are elderly, young and indigent - and the communities in which they live. The WellCare Community Foundation carries out this mission by supporting work that helps people live healthy, safe and productive lives, and by assisting groups with serious and neglected health needs. Underscoring this mission is the WellCare Community Foundation's goal to serve as a national resource that fosters an environment where there is a continuum of education, access and quality health care, all of which improve the overall health, well-being and quality of life of targeted beneficiaries.
About the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
Established in 1947, the GAFP is a member chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. GAFP strives to promote the health of the citizens of Georgia by advancing the specialty of Family Medicine through education, advocacy and service to family physicians in the State of Georgia. Boasting a membership of 2,500 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students the organization supports those who aspire to achieve excellence and who are committed to delivering it. For more information, please visit us on the web at http://www.gafp.org or call 404-321-7445.
CONTACTS:
WellCare
Denise Malecki
813-206-2747
denise.malecki(at)wellcare(dot)com
Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
Patricia McCants
404-321-7445
pmccants(at)gafp(dot)org
Denise Malecki - Media Relations, WellCare Health Plans, Inc., https://www.wellcare.com/, +1 (813) 206-2747, [email protected]
Share this article