Business
WellCare pays $120,000 penalty for exceeding limits for campaign donations in Florida
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 14, 2009
Florida-based WellCare Health Plans has agreed to pay the state $120,000 to resolve allegations of illegal campaign contributions by the company between 2003 and 2007.
In a consent order with the Florida Elections Commission, finalized Aug. 19, the company admitted that some of its contributions to state political campaigns exceeded the legal limit. The $64,500 in contributions at the center of the investigation came from four WellCare subsidiaries.
WellCare manages care for about 400,000 Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in Florida. The company's CEO, chief financial officer and general counsel were all replaced in January 2008 following state and federal investigations of Medicaid and securities fraud. The company suspended campaign contributions in Florida a few months later. It admitted no guilt in the matter.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/14/bibf0914.htm.












