ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2006--Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced several key management appointments.

Keith H. Williamson has joined Centene in the newly created corporate position of Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel. Keith will serve as the chief attorney for Centene's legal department and will be based at its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to joining Centene, Keith spent 18 years with Pitney Bowes in Stamford, CT. He received his B.A. from Brown University, his J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University and his LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Patricia A. Liebman has joined Centene's Indiana subsidiary, Managed Health Services (MHS), as Plan President and CEO reporting to Karey L. Witty (Centene Senior Vice President, Health Plan Business Unit). Pat will be based in the MHS corporate office in Indianapolis and will oversee health plan operations including Compliance and Contracting. She has more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of health plan operations including as CEO of the UPMC Health Plan of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Senior VP of Health Services at Blue Cross of Western PA. Pat received her B.A. in Sociology from LaRoche College and her R.N. from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, both in Pennsylvania.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "Centene and its Board of Directors have long advocated financially responsible growth that supports our stated goal of building a multi-line enterprise. To this end, I am pleased with the high caliber and strong skill set of the professionals that we continue to attract to fulfill our business objectives. In particular, Patricia Liebman will play a key role in leading MHS's statewide expansion in 2007."

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 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 benefits management and treatment compliance. Information regarding Centene is available via the Internet at www.centene.com.

CONTACT: Centene Corporation Senior Vice President, Investor Relations: Lisa M. Wilson, 212-759-3929 or Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications: Robert J. Schenk, 314-725-4477

SOURCE: Centene Corporation