CHICAGO and TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmony Health Plan, Inc., a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), announced today that it named Patrick Burke as its chief operating officer in Illinois. Burke will provide strategic direction and leadership across the state on all existing programs and lead the development of new programs to help ensure the best possible health outcomes for Harmony members. He will report to David Reynolds, senior vice president of WellCare's North Division and interim state president for Illinois.

"Pat has a proven track record of leading teams to help ensure our members have access to quality care," said Reynolds. "His experience and expertise will help guide Harmony through its upcoming state expansion and beyond."

Burke joined WellCare in April 2015, and until this appointment, he was vice president of network management for its Medicaid plan in Missouri. He has 30 years of healthcare experience with both payers and providers. Before joining WellCare, Burke served as a managed care consultant to hospitals and physician groups, and held leadership roles at Coventry Health Plan in St. Louis and various hospitals in the greater Chicago area.

"I am proud to be able to work with the dedicated and talented leadership team at Harmony to help ensure that our Medicaid and Medicare members in Illinois receive the most appropriate care in the most appropriate settings," said Burke.

Burke holds a Masters of Health Administration from St. Louis University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

As of Sept. 30, 2017, WellCare and Harmony Health Plan serve approximately 192,000 members in Illinois, including 139,000 Medicaid members, 18,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 36,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 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 serves approximately 4.3 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 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.