New Partnership Expands WellCare Members' Access to UNC Health Alliance

ASHEVILLE, N.C. and TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), a leading provider of Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, announced today that UNC Health Alliance and its physician-led network of more than 2,400 UNC Health Care providers and 350 of its Durham and Orange County-based independent providers have entered into an agreement to join the health plan's provider network.

Beginning in 2018, WellCare's Medicare Advantage members will have access to the UNC Health Alliance network of primary care providers and specialists; UNC hospitals; and nine affiliate hospitals and hospital systems across the state. Members will benefit from access to UNC's convenient and secure online portal, My UNC Chart, where they can access their medical records, test results and manage their health care.

"Our partnership with UNC Health Alliance further supports our efforts to align with strong providers and hospital systems," said Andrew Clifton, WellCare's North Carolina executive director. "Our partnership is driven by a shared vision and mission dedicated to delivering the best possible health care to North Carolinians."

UNC Health Care is one of 27 health systems in the United States recognized as "Most Wired Advanced" by the American Hospital Association for the use of information technology to improve patient care and clinical integration. In addition, UNC School of Medicine is currently ranked 2nd in primary care by U.S. News and World Report.

"Our members' health is our first priority, and our focus is ensuring they get the right care at the right time in the most appropriate setting," said Gregg MacDonald, senior vice president, division president at WellCare.

"WellCare is offering new health plan options in the state, and UNC Health Alliance is proud to be their provider choice for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care," said Dr. Mark Gwynne, senior medical director, UNC Health Alliance. "This partnership helps us continue our mission to improve the health and well-being of North Carolina's residents."

WellCare Medicare Advantage plans are available in these eight counties: Durham, Orange, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Transylvania, Buncombe. To learn more about the company, please visit www.wellcare.com or call toll-free 1-877-841-6072.

As of June 30, 2017, WellCare serves approximately 33,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in North Carolina.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. WellCare serves approximately 4.4 million members nationwide as of June 30, 2017. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.

About UNC Health Alliance
UNC Health Alliance is a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) comprised of more than 4,200 UNC-affiliated and independent community providers collaborating across the health care continuum to improve quality of care, control health care costs, and work in partnership to provide coordinated care to better the patient and provider experience. Providers are located in over 600 practices across 42 North Carolina counties.

About UNC Health Care
UNC Health Care is an integrated health care system comprised of UNC Hospitals and its provider network, UNC Faculty Physicians, UNC Physicians Network, the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine and nine other hospitals and hospital systems across the state. Additional hospital entities include UNC REX Healthcare, Chatham Hospital, Johnston Health, Pardee Hospital, High Point Regional Health, Caldwell Memorial, Nash Health Care, Wayne Memorial and UNC Lenoir Health Care.

SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.