Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust Honors Centene Corporation with 2013 Leadership Award

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, in collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF), has selected Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a national leader in the healthcare services field, as the recipient of the CBC Health Braintrust Fall 2013 Corporate Leadership Award. The award recognizes Centene Corporation for its significant contributions to reducing racial and ethnic, geographic and other health disparities and for assuming a leadership role in efforts to achieve health equity.  Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, presented the Corporate Leadership Award to Centene during the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference which was recently held in Washington, D.C.

In announcing the selection of Centene Corporation as the 2013 Corporate Leadership awardee, Congresswoman Christensen noted, "This award is truly about honoring companies that have made a very significant contribution not only to the efforts of the CBC Health Braintrust, but – perhaps more importantly – to efforts to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity."  The Congresswoman continued, "The Centene Corporation is one such company and I am pleased to honor and applaud Mr. Neidorff and his team."

Centene Corporation operates health plans in 18 states, coordinating the delivery of health care and specialty services for more than 2.7 million individuals. Many of these individuals receive benefits provided under state Medicaid programs, in addition to other state-sponsored/hybrid programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services.

Centene has received numerous awards for its clinical programs such as Start Smart for Your Baby®, which focuses on the health of pregnant women and babies.  The company has also developed initiatives that target specific health conditions such as asthma and diabetes, and has been recognized for its health literacy and education programs.

Upon receiving the award, Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene Corporation stated, "We are humbled that the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust has honored Centene with this prestigious Corporate Leadership Award.  We will continue to do all that we can to reduce health disparities and develop initiatives to help transform the health of our communities, one person at a time. We value our partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as we work to bring this promise to life."

About the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Health Braintrust is a congressional organization which advocates for minority health issues and was formed through the efforts of former Congressman Louis Stokes (D-OH).  Since its creation, the CBC Health Braintrust has worked diligently to keep the issue of health equity at the forefront of the national and political agendas.  These efforts included advancing legislation to tackle our nation's most pressing health and health care challenges, such as reducing racial and ethnic, gender and geographic health disparities, expanding access to reliable and affordable health care and addressing the social determinants of health that disproportionately affect underserved communities across the nation and in the U.S. Territories.  Today, under the leadership of Congresswoman Donna Christensen – who has served as Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust since 1999 – the CBC Health Braintrust has expanded its reach and bolstered its impact by working in collaboration and partnership not only with Members of Congress in both chambers, leaders in the Administration, and elected officials at the state and local level, but also with a range of community-based organizations, leading health policy and public health researchers and educators, providers from across the health care continuum to leverage collective resources and expertise to maximize the impact of the CBC Health Braintrust's efforts.   

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, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

SOURCE Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.