ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 2004--Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today that Stephanie E. DeKemper has been named President of the Centene Foundation for Quality Health Care, its non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare for lower income Americans.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "It is with great pleasure and respect that I appoint Stephanie DeKemper as President of the Centene Foundation. Stephanie's knowledge, expertise and dedication to improving quality healthcare for the indigent make her an exceptional choice to run the Foundation."

Prior to joining Centene, Ms. DeKemper was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition where, since 1993, she was responsible for the coalition's day-to-day activities. Her specific accomplishments include passage of key healthcare-related legislation, increased agency visibility and its acceptance among public health peers at a state and national level, significantly increasing the agency's funding budget, and the development and expansion of a statewide community health infrastructure to implement minority health projects and programs targeting racial ethnic minorities.

Ms. DeKemper is also a member of several professional organizations including the Public Health Policy Advisory Committee, which is appointed by the Speaker of the House, State of Indiana, a Board member of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, and a Board member of the American Heart Association.

The Centene Foundation for Quality Health Care, founded in July 2004, was created to provide and support proactive and innovative strategies that improve the quality of healthcare for lower income families. The four core focus areas of the Foundation include: Indigent Care and Prevention, Cultural Diversity and Competency, Partnership and Collaborative Initiatives, and Public Policy.

The Foundation's Board of Directors includes: Marie Glancy, Vice President, Government Relations, Centene Corporation; William Crawford, Indiana State Representative, House Chairman Ways and Means Committee; Dan Godar, Esq., Armstrong Teasdale; Edward Fisher, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Medicine, and Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis; and Shelly Stewart, Director, Employee Benefits, Cummins, Inc.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation provides multi-line 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). The Company operates health plans in Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. In addition, the Company contracts with other healthcare organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, nurse triage and pharmacy compliance. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

CONTACT: Centene Corporation, St. Louis Lisa M. Wilson, 212-759-3929

SOURCE: Centene Corporation