ST. LOUIS, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation (FHKC) intends to award its Florida subsidiary, Sunshine Health, a statewide contract to manage healthcare services for children ages five through 18 through the FHKC program. Sunshine Health is one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in Florida, and currently serves more than 450,000 Medicaid recipients statewide.

Under the proposed two-year contract award expected to commence on October 1, 2015, Sunshine Health will be the only health plan to offer a full pay FHKC insurance product to children in all 11 regions in Florida.

"Sunshine Health looks forward to expanding our Healthy Kids footprint in Florida from one county currently, to a statewide offering under this proposed contract agreement with Florida Healthy Kids Corporation," said Chris Paterson, President and CEO for Sunshine Health. "We appreciate FHKC's confidence in our health plan's capability to coordinate quality healthcare for children who need access to critical healthcare services."

Sunshine Health has operated as a managed care entity in Florida since 2009 and currently employs more than 1,400 people across the state.

"Sunshine Health has proven to be a successful partner for the state of Florida over the past six years," said Robert Hitchcock, Executive Vice President, Health Plans for Centene. "We are pleased to provide high-quality, integrated healthcare services to Florida residents as we work to transform the health of the community, one person at a time."

About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, focusing on 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 management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

About Sunshine Health
Sunshine Health is a Medicaid managed care health plan, serving Florida members since 2009. As one of the largest medical benefit administrators, offering coordinated care and a network of support, we are committed to improving the health of the community, one person at a time. Sunshine Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. For more information about Sunshine Health, please visit us on the Web at www.sunshinehealth.com.

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SOURCE Centene Corporation