Missouri Care Names Dr. Ronald F. Lopez Senior Medical Director

ST. LOUIS and TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Missouri Care, Inc., a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), announced it has named Ronald F. Lopez, M.D., as senior medical director. Dr. Lopez oversees the plan's medical strategy and the clinical direction of medical services and quality improvements to help ensure the best possible health outcomes for MO HealthNet Managed Care (Medicaid) members enrolled in Missouri Care.

"Dr. Lopez is an accomplished healthcare executive and a physician leader with broad experience in clinical medicine and healthcare delivery systems," said Lou Gianquinto, president of Missouri Care. "He has significant experience building strong relationships between healthcare plans and providers that create a collaborative atmosphere, which helps create better health for our members and their communities."

"I look forward to making a meaningful difference in the health and quality of life of our members in Missouri and helping to continue the strong partnerships Missouri Care has with the state, our providers and community-based organizations," said Dr. Lopez.

Prior to joining Missouri Care, Dr. Lopez served as the chief medical officer for Molina Healthcare of Utah and president/CEO of Hidden Valley Family Medicine, Inc., in Draper, Utah, which he founded. He also was the principal for RFL Consulting, specializing in consultation services on population management, medical disability and group medical practice management.

Dr. Lopez is the inventor of the "Smart Bed," a medical bed that controls the flow of fluid and inflation in compartments of an inflatable mattress to vary the pressure exerted from the mattress surface to selected areas of the human body, thereby preventing the formation of ulcers.

He received his bachelor's degree from Whittier College in Whittier, California and a medical degree from the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Lopez completed a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah. He is board-certified in family medicine.

As of Dec. 31, 2017, Missouri Care and WellCare serve approximately 303,000 members in Missouri, including 286,000 MO HealthNet Managed Care (Medicaid) members and 17,000 Medicare Prescription Drug members.

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. The company served approximately 4.4 million members nationwide as of Dec. 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.

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.