ST. LOUIS, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today that Nurse Response®, a medical triage and health education outreach company, received full Core and Health Call Center Accreditation from URAC through its parent company NurseWise®, a wholly-owned Centene subsidiary.

The URAC accreditation process demonstrates a commitment to quality services and serves as a framework to improve business processes through benchmarking organizations against nationally recognized standards. The Health Call Center Accreditation assures that registered nurses, physicians or other licensed individuals perform the clinical aspects of triage and other health information services in a manner that is timely, confidential, and includes medically appropriate care and treatment advice.

"We are proud that Nurse Response has received full URAC Accreditation, which reflects the company's dedication to provide quality healthcare services and programs," said Jason M. Harrold, Executive Vice President, Specialty Companies, for Centene Corporation. "We strive to implement business processes that reflect national standards and result in programs that improve healthcare access and empower those we serve to make the best decisions for their health needs."

"By applying for and receiving URAC Accreditation, Nurse Response has demonstrated a commitment to quality healthcare," said William Vandervennet, URAC president and CEO. "Quality healthcare is crucial to our nation's welfare, and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards."

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is a leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation and certification programs. URAC's standards keep pace with the rapid changes in the healthcare system, and provide a mark of distinction for healthcare organizations to demonstrate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in setting  meaningful standards for the healthcare industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

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, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

SOURCE Centene Corporation