In Brief: Centene Acquires In Interest In Care Coordination Firm; Minnesota Blues Issues $1M In Grants

Centene Acquires Majority Stake In U.S. Medical Management

St. Louis-based Centene Health has acquired a majority interest in U.S. Medical Management.

Based in Troy, Mich., U.S. Medical Management provides home-based care coordination for frail patient populations requiring complex care. It performs more than 400,000 physician house calls per year.

Centene is paying $200 million in stock for the acquisition. It expects to add about $240 million in annual revenue.

"The partnership with USMM is the next step in Centene's strategy to provide a continuum of high quality services that allow us to effectively manage the complex needs of our growing high acuity populations. The integrated, home-based primary care model is a capability expansion for Centene. This will allow us to offer quality healthcare services and programs for an aging population in the comfort of their own homes," said Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's chief executive officer. "We believe that there is significant opportunity to enhance access to health services and quality of life for complex populations by removing barriers to receiving care in the home.”

Centene officials estimate the company has about 150,000 lives that could be serviced by U.S. Medical Management.

Along with the acquisition, Centene has formed a holding company to help expedite the acquisition of other firms in the care coordination realm.

Minnesota Blues Makes $1 Million In Grants

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota's Center for Prevention has committed $1 million in grants to nine non-profit organizations that will be used to improve the health and livability of various communities.

"Where we live or work is one of the most important factors in determining whether we are healthy or not," said Janelle Waldock, director of the Center for Prevention. "This funding supports community organizations in the vital role they play to improve public spaces and allow all Minnesotans to maintain their health and quality of life.

The nine recipients, which included the cities of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park, Minn., were selected through a competitive bidding process.