Here is an internal email that came out Friday from the Chairman and CEO of the company from which I have resigned. What this tells me is that there really is some fear in the industry about the potential fall-out from Michael Moore's movie or they wouldn't be addressing it at all.

June 29, 2007

Healthcare is our primary focus day in and day out throughout the Centene family of companies. And, according to recent surveys -- it's also the top domestic issue on the minds of voters. It has the attention of the political, entertainment and media worlds.

The 2008 presidential election is nearly 18 months away but the candidates are already floating a variety of healthcare reform plans. Hollywood director Michael Moore has a new movie coming out -- SiCKO -- that is critical of the U.S. healthcare system, including managed care. And several news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and ABC’s Good Morning America have carried stories about Medicaid managed care companies -- including Centene.

With so much happening, I want to make sure you know what Centene is doing to improve the healthcare system. It's about our People, our Commitment and our Results.

Centene was formed with the intention of being a part of the solution and our simple nine-word mission speaks to that commitment: Centene will provide better health outcomes at lower costs. We believe that there is enough money in the system to get the job done. We think $1.7 trillion -- the amount this country spends on healthcare -- not only sounds like a lot of money, it is a lot of money. The challenge is to spend it intelligently. If we did, we could better serve those who are already insured, and insure those who aren't. We think every American is entitled to receive quality healthcare with dignity.

No matter what your specific job or where you work – your daily efforts are key to making sure that our members receive the care they deserve. In conjunction with our physician partners – it's about the right care, at the right time, at the right place. My bet is that the majority of Americans would agree that this type of healthcare represents a win for everyone involved.

We need to make a lot of profound change in healthcare in this country if we are to get the care we deserve for the money we spend. That’s why governments, at both the state and federal levels, have turned to companies like Centene to help them manage their programs more effectively.

I hope you share my pride in the Centene family of companies – and your colleagues. Our continued ability to establish and maintain a leadership position in the industry and the markets we serve results primarily from our demonstrated success in providing quality care while reducing and managing costs and from our customer-focused approach to working with state governments.

Keep up the good work! And remember, People, Commitment and Results.

Best,
Michael F. Neidorff
Chairman and CEO