ST. LOUIS, Mar 19, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Centene Corporation (Nasdaq:CNTE) today announced the appointment of Christopher D. Bowers as President and Chief Executive Officer of Superior HealthPlan in Texas, effective April 4, 2002. Bowers will report to Centene Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Michael F. Neidorff.

Mr. Neidorff, said, "We are pleased to welcome Mr. Bowers to Centene Corporation, where his extensive experience of Medicaid managed care operations and government programs will be a great asset as Centene moves to meet our stated 2002 goals, one of which is to increase market share in the state of Texas. Importantly, Mr. Bowers contribution will help to sustain the membership growth that Centene has developed over the past two years in its Texas operations."

Before joining Centene, Bowers served as the Vice President of Operations for Physicians Health Plan of Southwest Michigan, Inc. (PHP) and IBA Health & Life Assurance Company, which are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Bronson Healthcare Group. He was responsible for the leadership, strategic direction, and operational performance of the PHP/IBA enterprise, which included government programs, commercial (HMO and PPO) and self-funded products. Serving as Director of Government Programs, Bowers was responsible for the start up of the company's Medicaid product and successfully managed the competitive bid process with the state of Michigan, which significantly improved profitability. He also worked closely with state legislators on key managed care issues. When working directly for the Bronson HealthCare Group, he served as Assistant Vice President of Strategic Planning and Development and Community Relations and Director of Corporate Planning. He received his Bachelor's degree from Ferris State University with a major in Health Care Administration.

Superior HealthPlan was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between CENTENE Corporation and Community Health Centers Network, L.P. (CHCN). CHCN is a Texas limited partnership created by the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, a group of Federally Qualified Health Centers located throughout the state, who have been providing care to Medicaid recipients for over 25 years.

Centene Corporation provides managed care programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Centene operates health plans in Indiana, Texas and Wisconsin.

This second paragraph of this press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to future events and future financial performance of Centene. Subsequent events and developments may cause the company's estimates to change. The company disclaims any obligation to update this forward-looking financial information in the future. Readers are cautioned that matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause Centene's or its industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from projections or estimates due to a variety of important factors, including Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses, competition, changes in health care practices, changes in federal or state laws or regulations, inflation, provider contract changes, new technologies, reduction in provider payments by governmental payors, major epidemics, disasters and numerous other factors affecting the delivery and cost of health care. The expiration, cancellation or suspension of Centene's Medicaid managed care contracts by state governments would also negatively impact Centene.

A photo of Mr. Bowers is available from Centene Corporation, Gerald Lindhorst, 314/725-4706, ext. 25231

CONTACT:          Centene Corporation
                  Michael F. Neidorff, 314/725-4477
                  or
                  In-Site Communications
                  Lisa Carlton Wilson, 212/759-3929 (Investor Relations)

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