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CMS lifts sanctions; WellCare selling Medicare policies again

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 16, 2009

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After seven months of suspended marketing and sales of Medicare plans, Tampa, Fla., health plan WellCare in November announced that the government had lifted sanctions against the company. WellCare said it began selling plans to take effect in January 2010.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services barred WellCare from selling its Medicare products effective March 7 until the health plan remedied various contract violations.

Though the sanctions were lifted Nov. 4, the company's news release said its sales will be "subject to heightened regulatory monitoring" by CMS during this year's Medicare open enrollment period.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/16/bibf1116.htm.

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