WellCare Announces $180,000 in Scholarships Aimed at Improving Rural Health

LOUISVILLE, Ky. and TAMPA, Fla., May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the need for quality primary care in rural areas of the commonwealth, WellCare of Kentucky, a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), is funding two new scholarship programs aimed at increasing the number of doctors and nurses working in primary medicine and psychiatry in Eastern Kentucky.

WellCare, in conjunction with the University of Kentucky Medical School and College of Nursing, will fund up to 30 scholarships valued at $180,000 for medical and nursing students at various stages of their studies.

"We know that access to doctors, nurses and other health care providers directly affects health outcomes," said Bill Jones, president, WellCare of Kentucky. "When health care is in short supply or located far away, people are less likely to get routine screenings, tests and vaccinations – the type of care that can catch problems early or even prevent illness altogether. Anything we can do to encourage more providers to locate in underserved areas will be a direct benefit to the health of our state."

Despite the importance of primary and psychiatric care, communities in rural Kentucky, particularly in the eastern part of the state, have struggled to attract and retain an adequate number of primary care providers – both doctors and advanced practice nurses.

Dr. Kevin Pearce, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine associate dean for Rural and Community Health thanked the WellCare Foundation for the scholarships, and said that the scholarships will be awarded to students who exhibit interest in caring for medically underserved Kentuckians. 

"Kentucky has significant physician shortages, especially in our rural communities, and these scholarships will be helpful in mitigating our physician shortages," said Pearce. "We thank WellCare for this gift that will boost Kentucky's healthcare workforce and thereby improve the health of individuals in our communities."

"We are pleased to see a financial incentive like this that will encourage medical and nursing students to think about the impact they can make on a community that needs their skills," said Dr. Frances Feltner, director of the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health. "We will be following the results of this program carefully to gauge its success in encouraging more medical professionals to build their careers in Eastern Kentucky."

Medical residents currently training in Eastern Kentucky say immersion in the local communities is a crucial component of preparing for a career in rural communities.

"Students interested in becoming health care providers in rural areas must receive medical training in rural communities," said Jordan Adams, a University of Kentucky College of Medicine graduate and medical resident in Hazard, Kentucky. "Many socioeconomic issues are distinct to these areas and directly affect health. These include critical access to facilities and support systems including transportation, lack of education and employment opportunities, and economic disadvantages of practicing in areas of high poverty and unemployment."

Dr. Sharon Hunsucker, the first Ph.D. graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing's Occupational and Environmental Health Nurse (OEHN) Ph.D. Training Program, said that programs that give doctors and nurses more rural experience will improve lives and even the regional economy.

"It is my hope to give a voice to and increase awareness of worker health in rural areas to improve health and quality of life, decreasing disability in rural areas and improving the social and economic wellbeing of communities by identifying ways to ensure a healthier rural workforce," Dr. Hunsucker said.

"Physicians for the Commonwealth" Scholarship to Support 20 Beginning Medical Students

"The "WellCare Physicians for the Commonwealth Program" will award 20 $5,000 one-year scholarships to incoming medical students who have a strong interest in the University of Kentucky's Rural Physician Leadership program and are interested in serving an underserved population within Kentucky. The College of Medicine scholarships will support medical students in the University of Kentucky Rural Physician Leadership Program in Morehead and students who will attend the new University of Kentucky College of Medicine Branch Campus in Bowling Green opening in 2018. 

The Rural Physician Leadership program offers students opportunities to gain two years of clinical experience with a rural, underserved Kentucky populations. Data shows that physicians who train in more rural areas are more likely to stay in those areas to practice.

For more information or to apply for these scholarships contact Julie McDaniel, financial aid director, at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine at [email protected].

College Of Nursing Scholarships will help Nurses Complete Studies

WellCare is also partnering with the University of Kentucky's College of Nursing to provide $80,000 in scholarship funds for the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. The nurses receiving the scholarships will be in the school's Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program, which focuses on preparing graduates to lead at the highest clinical and executive ranks.  

These scholarships will cover up to ten $8,000 per-semester scholarships for the five-semester study program, and will be awarded to nurses who plan on practicing in primary medicine or behavioral health in rural Kentucky.

Students interested in pursuing the WellCare Scholarship in Nursing should contact Dr. Sheila Melander, assistant dean of Graduate Faculty Affairs, at [email protected].

As of March 31, 2017, WellCare serves approximately 446,000 Medicaid members, 9,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 22,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how WellCare cares for Kentuckians, watch Brandi Logan's member story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.

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 4.1 million members nationwide as of March 31, 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.

SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

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