HEALTH CARE
<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>
WellPoint Profit Falls: The managed health care company said its first-quarter income slipped 3.5% on lower premium rates and higher hospital costs. WellPoint Health Networks Inc., based in Woodland Hills, said income fell to $59.5 million, or 60 cents a share, from $61.6 million, or 62 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue rose 13%, to $768.1 million from $682.0 million. Enrollment jumped 13%, to 2.76 million from 2.43 million. “We continue to expect our full-year 1995 net income to exceed 1994’s results,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Leonard Schaeffer. About a quarter of WellPoint’s members are in its health maintenance organization, with the rest in a preferred provider organization, a more flexible type of plan.
