Centene Partners With Schnucks And People's Health Centers To Open Ferguson Clinic

News provided by

Jul 19, 2017, 09:09 ET

ST. LOUIS, July 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that the Company and its Missouri subsidiary, Home State Health, have partnered with Schnuck Markets, Inc. and the Betty Jean Kerr People's Health Centers to launch a full-service health center located within the Schnucks supermarket in Ferguson, Missouri. The People's Healthcare Services Clinic by Home State Health represents Centene's continued investment in the city of Ferguson. Centene's initial investment of more than $1.3 million will establish the health center scheduled to open in November 2017.

Schnuck Markets is donating the space in its Ferguson store for the primary care and urgent care center for adults and children over the age of three. Centene will support the health center's operations, while clinical staff from People's Health will provide medical services. Once the facility is fully operational, it will be able to provide services to over 8,000 people annually.

"We are proud of the relationship we have with Schnucks and People's Health on this project. I want to compliment Schnucks for their willingness to work on this important project in such an expeditious manner. Equally important is the partnership and longstanding relationship we have with People's Health," said Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene. "All three of us are committed to serving the population of Ferguson and continuing with the incredible revitalization of the area."

"We welcome the People's Health Clinic to the new Schnucks Ferguson and thank them and Centene for their commitment to the residents of the North St. Louis County area," said Todd Schnuck, chairman and CEO of Schnuck Markets. "Partnering in this clinic is an example of our commitment to nourish people's lives by focusing on health and wellness programs in the communities we serve."

The clinic will be open Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The services offered at the clinic include:

Low acuity primary care and urgent care for adults and children (ages 3+)
Immunization services
Laboratories
Dental services through mobile unit
Referral to other needed services, including but not limited to:

Primary care
X-Ray and screening mammography
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services
Women's Health (OB-GYN)
Social Services

"Clearly, potent partnerships will be critical in our efforts to help heal our vulnerable communities," said Dwayne Butler, CEO of People's Health Centers. "To this end, we at People's are very excited to work with Centene, Home State Health and Schnucks to bring valuable primary health care resources to the Ferguson community, together providing and increasing access to quality healthcare in that community."

Centene has been actively engaged in rebuilding the Ferguson community for several years. In 2016, Centene opened a service center in Ferguson. The Company's $30 million investment into this facility is committed to 250 new jobs to the Ferguson area. The 45,000-square-foot facility, located at 2900 Pershall Road, includes a state-of-the-art bistro, fitness center, and on-site early childhood development center, as well as a community center available to the Ferguson community.

Centene was also a partner to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis to launch Ferguson's first club. Additionally, Centene contributed to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to build a job training center on West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson.

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 programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), as well as programs with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Centene 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.

Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about Centene, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors.

About People's Health Centers
Betty Jean Kerr People's Health Centers (PHC), founded in 1972, has been at the forefront of providing quality health care to the St. Louis metropolitan area for over 40 years. The mission of PHC is to provide comprehensive primary health care, such as pediatrics, internal medicine, OB/GYN, dental, mammography, behavioral health, pharmacy, radiology, podiatry and laboratory services, to meet the health needs of the entire community. PHC is committed to serving the impoverished, uninsured populations in St. Louis and St. Louis County communities. With three conveniently located health centers, and a friendly welcoming staff, PHC aspires to serve all the health care and wellness needs of the entire family. Along with traditional primary care services, PHC also offers client-centered cluster visits, community health education, nursing, mobile van outreach, school-linked services and prevention health services, which allows a seamless approach to health and wellness while improving health outcomes and decreasing disparities.

About Schnucks
Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned grocery/pharmacy retailer committed to nourishing people's lives. The company takes pride in its community partnerships and gives more than $13 million annually in food to food pantries and more than $1.7 million to not-for-profit organizations through the company's My Schnucks Card program. Schnucks operates 100 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. Privately held, Schnucks employs 14,000 teammates and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Follow Schnucks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/schnucks.