ST. LOUIS, July 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today its Kentucky subsidiary, Kentucky Spirit Health Plan (Kentucky Spirit), exited the Commonwealth's Medicaid managed care program as of midnight Friday, July 5, 2013.   The Commonwealth has taken steps to transfer Kentucky Spirit's members to other managed care organizations (MCOs). 

To help ensure that members and providers are supported during the transition, Kentucky Spirit will, for a reasonable period of time, continue to maintain member and provider services staff as well as provider relations staff, and provide continuity of care forms to the new MCO for all medically fragile members. The current staff of 100 Kentucky Spirit employees will be reduced over time as needs decline, and employees have been offered financial assistance and/or positions in other parts of Centene.  

"As we have emphasized, our priority has always been providing accessible, affordable healthcare for the Kentucky Medicaid population, and we will continue to demonstrate that through the transition period," said Deanne Lane, Centene Vice President of Corporate Communications.  "The Commonwealth has indicated that members will be moved to other plans and will be provided uninterrupted services, and we will do our part to ensure that is the case."

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 (LTC), in addition to other state-sponsored/hybrid programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). 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, care management software, correctional systems healthcare, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management and telehealth services.

SOURCE Centene Corporation