<0> WellPointGene Rodriguez, 317-488-6168 </0>
WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) announces Alanna Lavelle’s recent election as the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) chair of the board of directors. The NHCAA is a leading national organization focused exclusively on the fight against health care fraud with members from the private insurance industry and public-sector programs – including HHS and the FBI. Lavelle has served on its board for three years and this recent election showcases her value to the organization.
Lavelle is currently the director of Investigations for the southeast and central regions of WellPoint, Inc., managing the special investigation unit for approximately 14 million members in WellPoint’s affiliated health plans in Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and Virginia. Lavelle joined WellPoint, Inc. in 2004, after serving 25 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation where she managed a large health care fraud task force and served as the supervisory special agent FBI liaison for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), working closely with the CDC on Bioterrorism matters in the post 9/11 era.
“Alanna Lavelle has been a decisive leader of WellPoint’s special investigation unit, implementing predictive analytics and strengthening the team with additional members who have clinical expertise,” said Lee Arian, staff vice president of program integrity and investigations at WellPoint. “Her dedication to the fight against health care fraud and abuse coupled with her strong partnerships with others in the industry are an asset to WellPoint and the NHCAA.”
“Alanna has made enormous contributions to NHCAA and our membership,” said Louis Saccoccio, Chief Executive Officer of NHCAA. “Her wealth of experience and excellent leadership skills will be a significant asset to our Board and Membership as we continue working together with public-sector law enforcement and regulatory agencies to develop the strategies and best practices to detect and prevent health care fraud.”
As NHCAA board chair, Lavelle will lead monthly NHCAA calls and will host quarterly face-to-face meetings with members. She succeeds Jack Price, former chief security officer of BlueCrossBlueShield of Tennessee.
At WellPoint, we believe there is an important connection between our members’ health and well-being—and the value we bring our customers and shareholders. So each day we work to improve the health of our members and their communities. And, we can make a real difference since we have more than 33 million people in our branded health plans, and approximately 64 million people served through our subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint’s plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). WellPoint also serves customers throughout the country as UniCare and in certain California, Arizona and Nevada markets through our CareMore subsidiary. Our 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc. subsidiary offers customers online sales of contact lenses, eyeglasses and other ocular products. Additional information about WellPoint is available at .
Founded in 1985, the is the leading national organization focused exclusively on the fight against health care fraud. Our members comprise more than 100 private health insurers and those public-sector law enforcement and regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over health care fraud committed against both private payers and public programs.