ST. LOUIS, Dec. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today that it has opened a new service center in Tucson, Arizona, located at 2705 E. Medina Road. Centene has created over 40 new jobs in this service center and has plans to grow to more than 100 jobs in 2015.

The facility will serve as a member and provider call center for Centene's Arizona-based Bridgeway Health Solutions and other health plans across the country. Centene companies located in Arizona include Bridgeway (Medicaid and Medicare health plan), Cenpatico (behavioral health and special education schools for children with emotional disabilities), US Script (pharmacy benefits manager), Nursewise (telehealth services) and Nurtur (life and health management company). Among these companies, Centene currently has more than 500 employees in Arizona and anticipates growing as large as 1,000 employees in the next twelve months.

"I have long stated that Arizona is 'open for business,' and strived for many years to create a business environment conducive to improved job growth. I have also long-contended that Arizona is the gold standard for cost-effective managed care. Centene's excellent announcement of new jobs in Southern Arizona serves to solidify Arizona's thriving health care industry and grow important jobs that serve our families and improve our economy," said Governor Jan Brewer.

"Centene is a nationally-recognized, Fortune 500 company with a strong presence for many years in Arizona," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "This company, like countless others, has recognized that Arizona is uniquely situated to serve some of the world's top economies, and we couldn't be more pleased by Centene's strong and growing commitment to Arizona."

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