Centene's IlliniCare Health Awarded Five-Year Agreement To Operate CountyCare Program

ST. LOUIS, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), today announced that a subsidiary, IlliniCare Health (IlliniCare), has been awarded a five-year services agreement with Cook County Health & Hospital Systems (CCHHS). Under the terms of the agreement, which is expected to commence July 1, 2014, IlliniCare will perform third party administrative services. In addition, IlliniCare will also provide care coordination, behavioral health, optometry and pharmacy benefits management services, thus consolidating three contracts with different vendors into a single cohesive partnership between IlliniCare Health and CCHHS.

CountyCare was started in November 2012 under a federal waiver (granted to the State) that allowed CCHHS to start enrolling those newly eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act a year early. The Affordable Care Act allowed states to expand Medicaid eligibility to adults at 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Once someone becomes eligible, members receive covered health services at no cost to them. Covered services include prescription drugs, regular and specialty visits within a broad network of doctors, hospitals, laboratory and x-ray services, mammograms, mental health treatment, public transportation, and other services.

In March 2014, the 11-member board for the health system reached consensus on approving the five-year agreement with IlliniCare Health to run the day-to-day operations and support the coordination of care among CountyCare members. CCHHS will continue to provide oversight and retain authority over the CountyCare program.

IlliniCare Health maintains a strong presence in Illinois with over 300 employees and is dedicated to servicing communities within the Chicagoland area.  IlliniCare is headquartered locally to ensure that our members and providers have easy access to high-quality, lower cost services. Centene provides various administrative support services to IlliniCare – thereby further strengthening IlliniCare's structural and operational capabilities. This arrangement produces cost efficiencies that result from centralized services and procurement, while day-to-day administrative decision-making authority is retained at the local level for the benefit of members and providers.

IlliniCare's solution employs best practices from several widely recognized care transition models, an effective clinical technology platform and highly trained professionals -- supporting interdisciplinary management of the patient across transitions of care. This coordinated, comprehensive and scalable support can help improve care delivery, enhance health outcomes, reduce avoidable hospital readmissions and increase patient and provider satisfaction.

"I'm thrilled about partnering with CCHHS and CountyCare to improve the health outcomes of our communities," said Jeff Joy, President and CEO of IlliniCare Health. "Through this collaborative partnership, our combined organizations provide synergies of infrastructure and an optimal care delivery system. We believe our suite of administrative and cost containment solutions, coupled with a genuine passion for advancing the well-being of all community members, are a winning combination."

About CountyCare

To qualify for CountyCare, applicants must live in Cook County, be 19-64 years of age without dependents at home, have a Social Security number and be a legal immigrant for at least 5 years or a U.S. citizen. Yearly income must be below $15,282 for an individual or $20,628 per couple. Applicants must not be receiving or eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or CHIP. Learn more about CountyCare by calling 312.864.8200 or visit www.CountyCare.com. Once a CountyCare member, members receive covered services at no cost to them. Covered services include prescription drugs, regular and specialty visits within a broad network of doctors, hospitals, laboratory and x-ray services, mammograms, mental health treatment, public transportation, and other services.

About IlliniCare Health Plan

IlliniCare Health Plan (IlliniCare) is a Managed Care Organization (MCO) contracted to provide services under Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Integrated Care Program and the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI). IlliniCare is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise offering both core Medicaid and specialty services. IlliniCare currently serves over 20,000 members as part of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Integrated Care Program (ICP) in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Kankakee and Will Counties. In 2013, IlliniCare expanded the Integrated Care Program to serve Boone, McHenry, Winnebago, Rock Island and Mercer Counties. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services recently selected IlliniCare Health as one of the six Managed Care Organizations to participate in the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) in the greater Chicago area. Information regarding IlliniCare is available at www.illinicare.com.

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.

SOURCE Centene Corporation