ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 2006--Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that its Ohio subsidiary, Buckeye Community Health Plan (Buckeye), has received preliminary notification of an award of Medicaid Aged, Blind & Disabled (ABD) contracts in the four regions in which it submitted a bid from the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. The award is subject to regulatory approval, as well as a readiness review process by the state. Implementation is expected to take place on a region-by-region basis beginning December 1, 2006.
Buckeye is one of seven health plans that received this preliminary notification to manage healthcare for Medicaid ABD recipients in one or more of the state's eight regions. As of June 30, Buckeye served 73,100 recipients under Ohio's Medicaid Covered Families and Children Program. If awarded, Buckeye also will manage a portion of approximately 67,000 ABD lives in the four regions.
Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Centene, stated, "We are pleased to have been selected as an applicant to serve the needs of the ABD population in the state of Ohio. As an established health provider in the state, Buckeye is committed to continuing to improve the health of its members through outcome-driven, quality healthcare. Additionally, our broad spectrum of specialty services, including US Script, our PBM and ScriptAssist, our treatment compliance program, are good examples of the ways in which we can better serve the needs of this population, which often have secondary diagnoses, such as behavioral conditions. Furthermore, expanding our coverage to reach ABD members is consistent with Centene's strategy to be able to offer a continuum of services to meet the needs of all of our members."
"Transitioning the ABD population into a managed care setting represents a real opportunity to help Ohio, and other states, better manage the care and reduce the significant healthcare costs of this particular population," said Kathleen R. Crampton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buckeye. "Our strong relationships with providers, dedicated local staff and community partners, enable us to provide the kind of care coordination and disease management service that our current members already receive."
About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The Company operates health plans in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. In addition, the Company contracts with other healthcare organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, disease management, managed vision, nurse triage, pharmacy benefit management and treatment compliance. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.
About Buckeye Community Health Plan
About Buckeye Community Health Plan is a health maintenance organization that has been providing services in Ohio since 2004. Buckeye is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services. Information regarding Buckeye is available via the Internet at www.bchpohio.com.
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SOURCE: Centene Corporation