UniCare Appoints Director of Community Resource Center
TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ — UniCare Health Plan of Kansas, Inc. (UniCare) announced today the appointment of Linda Steinke as Director of its Kansas Community Resource Centers. Steinke will be responsible for the overall management of the Community Resource Centers located in Topeka and Wichita. These Centers will include staff responsible for local regional operations, including provider relations, network development and implementation, community-based marketing and member outreach, as well as health education and management programs. In August, UniCare was awarded a statewide contract to provide services to the Kansas HealthWave Managed Care Services for Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
“Linda’s experience and leadership in the state of Kansas, coupled with her knowledge of the state’s Medicaid program, will be vital as we bring our unique community-based model to the residents of Kansas,” said John Monahan, president of State Sponsored Business for UniCare. “The uniqueness of our community model lies in our ability to understand and meet the needs of the local residents. Linda’s perspective will greatly enhance our efforts to build the Centers with the right people and to launch effective initiatives to serve the needs of those enrolled in the Kansas programs.”
Staffed by local personnel, UniCare’s Community Resource Center (CRC) will offer a local presence for residents throughout Kansas and will provide outreach services, health education and provider liaison support. Through the local CRCs, members will have access to key disease management programs including specific programs to address diabetes, obesity and smoking cessation.
Steinke has an extensive background with over 26 years of experience in health care management and managed care operations. Prior to joining UniCare, she served as Director of Operations for Children’s Mercy Family Health Partners.
Steinke received her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Drake University and holds a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas.
WellPoint, Inc., the parent company of UniCare, has more than a decade of expertise serving more than two million Medicaid managed care members in 14 states and Puerto Rico. Members have access to a wide network of health care professionals as well as health management programs that are accredited and nationally recognized in several states.
UniCare serves 1.6 million medical members and is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc., the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements. UniCare can be found on the web at http://www.unicare.com/ .
UniCare Health Plan of Kansas, Inc.
CONTACT: Leslie Porras of UniCare Health Plan of Kansas, Inc.,+1-805-557-6745, leslie.porras@wellpoint.com
Web site: http://www.unicare.com/