CoxHealth reaches Medicaid deal with Centene

CoxHealth announced a Medicaid agreement with St. Louis-based managed care organization Centene Corp. (NYSE: CNC).

The deal, reached Feb. 15, keeps CoxHealth in network for the Show Me Healthy Kids program and other Medicaid plans under Centene subsidiary Home State Health, according to a statement provided by a CoxHealth spokesperson. Last month, CoxHealth called attention to previous unsuccessful negotiation talks with Centene as it reached agreements with two of the three insurance companies – UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Healthy Blue/Anthem – that administer managed Medicaid programs statewide.

"We understand the unfortunate impact this situation has had on local families and children who may have sought access elsewhere," CoxHealth officials said in the statement. "We’re grateful that an agreement was reached, and that we will continue to provide care to Home State Health members."

With the Centene deal in place, CoxHealth patients again have in-network access to the Show Me Healthy Kids program, which provides care for children in need and is the sole insurance provider for children in state custody, including youth in foster care.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed in the statement.