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Plea Deal: Fraud Involved Tampa-Based WellCare

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Published: October 7, 2008

TAMPA - Federal authorities released details of what they call a scheme at WellCare Health Plans Inc. to defraud Florida health agencies of more than $20 million.

According to a recently unsealed plea agreement, 50-year old Gregory West of Tampa and others participated in an "elaborate scheme" from 2002 to 2006, producing false documents to inflate bills sent to Medicaid programs for behavioral health care services.

The case is the latest in an ongoing state and federal investigation into Tampa-based WellCare, one of the nation's largest companies that administers health programs on behalf of states.

The company was raided Oct. 24 by an array of federal and state agencies.

West originally pleaded guilty in December to conspiring to defraud the Florida Medicaid program, according to a statement released by federal prosecutors. West faces 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000. According to the plea agreement, West did not act alone. He was involved in meetings with other WellCare employees to further the conspiracy, although the agreement does not name other participants.

West was a salaried analyst at WellCare who was involved in the accounts and bills sent to Medicaid offices, according to his attorney, Dale Sisco. West is released and awaiting sentencing.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

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