NEWARK, N.J. and TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc., (NYSE: WCG) and the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center (JRMC) announced today that John Kirchner, WellCare's state president in New Jersey, was awarded JRMC's Partnership Award in recognition of his "ongoing commitment to bridging the healthcare gap in underserved communities." JRMC is the first faith-based medical center in the nation to receive Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

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"Under John's leadership, WellCare of New Jersey has become a community-centered health plan focused on helping the state's most vulnerable populations get access to the quality care they need and helping to remove barriers that can prevent people from being able to prioritize their health," said Dr. Alan Goldsmith, the president and founder of the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center. "We appreciate the positive impact WellCare has on our patients and in the community as a whole."

"It is an honor to be recognized by such an outstanding community health center," said Kirchner. "The health care system can be difficult to navigate, especially for the low-income children and families, elderly and complex medically ill members that we serve. It is also very hard to focus on health when more urgent needs for basics like food, shelter, clothing and transportation get in the way. I want to thank the WellCare of New Jersey team for their consistent dedication to helping our members get the care and services they need to live better, healthier lives."

Kirchner joined WellCare in 2012 as market director of New Jersey, with the responsibility of building WellCare's Medicaid presence in the state. Kirchner is now state president with a team of more than 150 associates. As of Sept. 30, 2015, WellCare serves approximately 58,000 Medicaid members, 1,700 Long-Term Care members, 1,000 Medicare Advantage members and 24,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in New Jersey.

About the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center
The Jewish Renaissance Medical Center in Perth Amboy is one of 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey. Its mission is to deliver quality health services, support and education to those who need them, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. For more information, visit http://jrmc.us.

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.

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.