Health Care's 10 Dumbest Things, Part Two

Editor's Note: This year was a particularly absurd one for the health care industry. In light of that, we've expanded on our popular "Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street" to offer our "10 Dumbest Things in Health Care This Year." Part one examined the blunders of five big-cap names. Now, we look at the missteps of smaller companies.

1. WellCare's Silent Treatment

Silence isn't necessarily golden at tight-lipped WellCare (WCG Quote).

When 200 government agents swarmed the health insurer's Florida headquarters this fall, investors had a few questions. The company didn't answer them, though.

Instead, WellCare issued a press release mostly touting its "uninterrupted business operations" and, when pressed, followed up with a brief message from the CEO that offered much of the same -- except in audio form. Investors responded by sending WellCare's stock down 80% to a three-year low. ...