TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Strong compliance programs have been linked to quality improvements, greater efficiencies, trust and brand loyalty, risk management and competitive differentiation. This month, WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) kicked off its third annual compliance certificate program, a company-driven, continuing education program designed to enable compliance and non-compliance professionals to identify and address compliance-related risks within their organizations. Nearly 500 WellCare associates from around the country and business professionals from the Tampa Bay area will receive a certificate in WellCare compliance when they complete the 2016 training this August.
The six-month continuing education program covers topics including personal and business ethics; compliance training and education; Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and privacy; and communication and reporting.
WellCare originally developed the supplemental training program to extend the opportunity to obtain national compliance certification to more associates. The comprehensive, intensive course then began to get requests for participation from the broader community.
"The health care regulatory environment is fluid and dynamic. As a result, meeting these ever-evolving requirements is increasingly complicated," said Maggie Perritt, WellCare's senior director of policies and training. "Three years ago, we realized WellCare associates, both inside and outside of our compliance department, were dedicated to enhancing our culture of compliance and were eager to get the tools, training and certifications needed to champion excellence in this area."
"WellCare owes it to our members, providers and government partners to hold ourselves highly accountable," said Michael Yount, WellCare's senior vice president and chief compliance officer. "We are incredibly proud of the journey we have taken to transform into a culture of compliance excellence. The certificate program's innovative delivery system is just one way we continue to strengthen our organization."
All participants must have at least six months of work experience in compliance, regulatory, auditing or related allied professional or health care fields. The program offers 26 hours of continuing education units (CEUs). Upon completion of the program, participants receive a certificate in WellCare compliance and have the appropriate requirements and requisite work experience to sit for qualified national compliance certification programs.
To learn more about the program, contact WellCare's compliance training department at [email protected].
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 Dec. 31, 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.
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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
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