ST. LOUIS, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) has been notified by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) that IlliniCare Health Plan (IlliniCare), its Illinois subsidiary, has been selected to serve dual-eligible members in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Kankakee and Will counties (Greater Chicago region) as part of the Illinois Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative.

A joint venture between the state of Illinois and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the initiative, pending federal approval, will provide a voluntary managed care program to an estimated 118,000 enrollees in the Greater Chicago region.

"IlliniCare is pleased to be able to bring our model of integrated care to dually-eligible individuals in Illinois," said Dan Parietti, Senior Vice President, Health Plan Operations, Centene Corporation. "We have worked in partnership with the state of Illinois to coordinate care for Medicaid members with complex conditions and look forward to using that experience to improve outcomes for the dual eligible population."

IlliniCare currently serves approximately 17,900 members as part of the Integrated Care Program for seniors and individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses in suburban Cook and the surrounding counties.  IlliniCare's innovative coordinated care approach engages members, caregivers and providers as active participants in the development of personalized care plans and medical homes. 

"We are pleased that Illinois has selected IlliniCare to serve Medicaid members in a dual-eligible demonstration project," said Robert T. Hitchcock, Executive Vice President, Health Plan Business Unit, Centene Corporation. "This is a major contract win in the dual-eligible category and signifies the way in which Centene can position itself for future opportunities in this area."

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and long-term care, in addition to other state-sponsored programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene's CeltiCare subsidiary offers states unique, "exchange based" and other cost-effective coverage solutions for low-income populations. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

SOURCE Centene Corporation