ST. LOUIS, Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that its wholly-owned Louisiana subsidiary, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, has been recommended for a contract award by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to serve its Bayou Health (Medicaid) beneficiaries. A contract is contingent upon successful negotiations with DHH and approval by the Division of Administration and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Office. The new Bayou Health contract is expected to commence in early Q1 2015.

"We look forward to continuing to work with the state and our provider network to improve health outcomes and reduce the cost of healthcare delivery in Louisiana," said K. Rone Baldwin, Executive Vice President, Insurance Group Business Unit at Centene. "With new value-added benefits for our members and providers, we will continue to improve Louisiana's health by focusing on wellness, prevention, early detection and ongoing healthcare management."

Under the new contract, Louisiana Healthcare Connections expects to serve 320,000 to 350,000 Medicaid beneficiaries on an at-risk basis via a network of 10,500 primary care providers and specialists. This expansion will more than double annual revenues for Louisiana Healthcare Connections.

Louisiana Healthcare Connections has operated as a Bayou Health plan since the program's inception in February 2012 and currently employs more than 220 people across the state.

About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and 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, care management software, correctional systems healthcare, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

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SOURCE Centene Corporation