Tampa HMO ordered liquidated

TAMPA -- Quality Health Plans Inc., a health maintenance organization (HMO) serving Medicare beneficiaries, will be liquidated on Dec. 1, per a judgment issued by Circuit Judge Terry Lewis this week.

Headquartered in Tampa, Quality Health Plans has been working with Medicare beneficiaries since 2003. A report filed by Health News Florida estimates that the company serves 10,000 Florida members across 32 counties.

On Oct. 17, Quality Health Plans said it expected to receive a capital infusion of $35 million by Nov. 15. That date came and went without any private investment, forcing the court to act.

On Dec. 1, current Quality Health Plans members will be moved to another Florida HMO. As of Friday morning, the eventual landing spot for Quality's 10,000 Florida members had not yet been identified.