8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 11, 2010

Centene Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	001-31826	42-1406317
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

7711 Carondelet Avenue St. Louis, Missouri	63105
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 725-4477

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02   Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

A copy of the press release issued by the Company on March 15, 2010 is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Press release of Centene Corporation issued March 15, 2010.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CENTENE CORPORATION
Date: March 15, 2010	By:	/s/ William N. Scheffel
		William N. Scheffel
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number                                Description

99.1                                Press release of Centene Corporation issued March 15, 2010.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

N E W S   R E L E A S E                                                                                     

Contact:                 Media                                                                           Investors

Deanne Lane                                                               Edmund E. Kroll, Jr.

(314) 725-4477                                                              (212) 759-0382

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CENTENE CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

BOARD MEMBER NOT STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION

ST. LOUIS (March 15, 2010) – Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that Steve Bartlett has decided not to stand for re-election to the company’s Board of Directors in order to devote more time to his other business and personal interests.  Mr. Bartlett, the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, D.C., has served as a director since May 2004.  Mr. Bartlett will continue to serve as a director until Centene’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is scheduled to be held on April 27, 2010.

“I want to personally thank Steve for his dedicated service and leadership,” said Michael F. Neidorff, Centene’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “We greatly appreciate the contributions he has made to Centene as a director, and we hope to work with him again in the future.”

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation 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, in addition to other state-sponsored programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene’s CeltiCare subsidiary offers states unique, “exchange-based” and other cost-effective coverage solutions for low-income populations. 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, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

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