WellCare Offers No-Cost Screening for Type 2 Diabetes at St. Louis, Mo., YMCAs
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) November 27, 2013 -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), a provider of managed care services for government-sponsored health care programs, is partnering with the American Diabetes Association, Gateway Region and the YMCA of Greater St. Louis to offer free type 2 diabetes screening from Dec. 2 to Dec. 6.
Clinicians will visit five St. Louis YMCAs to conduct the tests. Lifestyle coaches from the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program will also be present to educate participants about diabetes and to share information about programs and classes that are available to help them get and stay healthy. Appointments are not required.
“Thousands of people across Missouri suffer from diabetes and do not even know that they have the disease,” said Dr. Justin Cramer, WellCare’s senior medical director for Missouri. “WellCare is sponsoring free type 2 screening to raise awareness and to help people make changes that could markedly improve their health and quality of life.”
“Prediabetics are at much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said Gary Schlansker, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. "Knowing that just 11 percent of the roughly 560,000 St. Louisans with prediabetes are aware they have it, makes it vital for people to get their blood glucose levels checked regularly. Thankfully, prediabetes is a potentially reversible condition, which is why we are proud to partner with WellCare to host free type 2 diabetes screening at select area YMCAs.”
Free diabetes screens will be offered Dec. 2 - 6 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the following St. Louis locations:
• Dec. 2: Emerson YMCA located at 3390 Pershall Road.
• Dec. 3: O’Fallon Park Rec Complex located at 4343 West Florissant Avenue.
• Dec. 4: Monsanto YMCA located at 5555 Page Boulevard.
• Dec. 5: Edward Jones YMCA located at 12521 Marine Avenue.
• Dec. 6: South City YMCA located at 3150 Sublette Avenue.
For more information about the screening events, contact Joyce Hoth at 314-436-1177 or jhoth(at)ymcastlouis(dot)org.
As of Sept. 30, 2013, WellCare serves approximately 106,000 Medicaid plan members, 4,000 Medicare Advantage plan members, and 14,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Missouri.
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 Sept. 30, 2013. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at http://www.wellcare.com.
Crystal Walker - Media Relations, WellCare Health Plans, Inc., https://www.wellcare.com/, +1 813-206-2697, [email protected]
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