Absolute Total Care Selected To Serve Dual-Eligible Members In South Carolina

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) has been notified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) that Absolute Total Care, its South Carolina subsidiary, has been selected to serve dual-eligible members as part of the state's pilot program to provide integrated and coordinated care for individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.  

SCDHHS, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), had received prior federal funding to design the innovative service delivery model, titled Healthy Connections Prime. Enrollment and participation in Healthy Connections Prime is voluntary and participants may opt out at any time. The program is expected to serve approximately 53,600 of the dual-eligible beneficiaries in the state. Beneficiaries can begin selecting a plan July 1, 2014, and those who do not choose a plan will be automatically assigned to a plan on January 1, 2015. Members in the pilot program will be able to receive both Medicare and Medicaid services, plus additional behavioral health and community support services under a new option for dual-eligible individuals.

"We are pleased that South Carolina has selected Absolute Total Care to serve Medicaid members in a dual-eligible demonstration project," said Robert Hitchcock, Executive Vice President, Health Plans, for Centene Corporation. "This is our third major contract win in the dual-eligible category and signifies the way in which Centene can position itself for future opportunities in this area."

Absolute Total Care currently serves 90,000 Medicaid health plan members throughout the state. In September, Absolute Total Care received a Commendable rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in recognition of its innovative coordinated care approach.

"Absolute Total Care is pleased to be able to bring our model of integrated care to dual-eligible individuals in South Carolina," said Paul Accardi, Plan President, Absolute Total Care. "We have worked in partnership with the state of South Carolina to coordinate care for Medicaid members with complex conditions and look forward to using that experience to improve outcomes for the dual-eligible population."

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. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

SOURCE Centene Corporation