DES MOINES, Iowa and TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), a leading provider of managed care services for government-sponsored health care programs, is helping connect Iowans in need with local, community-based public assistance organizations.
WellCare has created a referral tracker database with more than 5,000 Iowa-based community organizations and 800 local activities that are available to seniors and low-income families and children that need financial, food, education and utility assistance; transportation, disability and homeless services; and support groups and child care services.
Iowans can connect with these social service agencies through WellCare's toll-free Community Assistance Line (CAL) that is open to the public. The CAL is staffed by 32 WellCare community liaisons, hired through Workforce Development Programs like Ticket to Work and Welfare to Work, as well as military/veteran programs, who act as peer support specialists. Two members of the team are deaf or hard of hearing and use video relay and video chat to assist callers who are also deaf or hard of hearing.
All liaisons are trained to evaluate a person's needs, to match those needs with relevant community-based programs and services, and to provide the requestor with contact information for the programs and services. The community liaisons are also responsible for populating the database to continuously increase the number of programs and services that are available.
If the database does not contain the programs and services needed, the community liaison will conduct research and/or work with local, community-based WellCare staff to try to fill the gap. Once the appropriate programs and services are identified, the community liaison will contact the person in need to connect them.
"We know that people cannot prioritize their health when their basic need for food, shelter, clothing and safety is not being properly met," said Lauralie Rubel, president of WellCare of Iowa. "By simply helping people to address these needs, WellCare expects three positive outcomes: people will lead better, healthier lives; there will be greater support for the social safety net, and the overall costs of health care will be reduced."
WellCare's CAL operates Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. To contact the line for assistance, please call 866-775-2192 (main line) or 855-628-7552 (video relay).
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 3.8 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2015. 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.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151124/290807
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150701/227667LOGO
SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Share this article