About Us
The Centene Center is an innovative research collaboration where pressing issues in healthcare inspire creative solutions that are tested by world-leading experts.
We leverage the managed care insights of Centene Corporation, a Fortune 50 company, as well as the academic research and evaluation expertise of Washington University and Duke University to design, implement and evaluate behavior-based innovations that facilitate healthier living, especially for the nation’s Medicaid population.
Advancing Science Through Practice
We use findings from our health research to improve the effectiveness of healthcare delivery, influence positive health outcomes, and decrease healthcare costs. Center researchers deploy two main approaches:
- Problem Discovery: Explore and characterize a known problem and use surveys, interviews, and data analysis to illuminate and diagnose.
- Solution Design: Design a solution using evidenced-based information or create a new, innovative solution based on expertise and evidence. Then, field test the solution with the goal of applying and scaling across states, health plans, and member populations.
Centene Center Studies Across the US
Click a state to view the studies conducted in partnership with Centene health plans across the United States.
Arkansas
Arkansas
Trauma Recidivism and Musculoskeletal Injury
Identify the frequency of and risk factors for trauma recidivism and debilitating musculoskeletal injury among Centene health plan members, with the goal to prevent future injuries and serious life-long disability.
California
California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas
Diabetes Retrospective Coaching Call Analysis
Inform the Healthy Solutions for Life diabetes coaching program by (1) determining the factors that contribute to successful changes in HbA1c over a six-month period, and (2) identifying the barriers that interfere with Medicaid members’ achievement of health goals.
California, Missouri, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
Life Values Assessment
Explore the range of life values held by Medicaid members and the association of these values with health attitudes and behaviors.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Louisiana, California
Improving Flu Vaccine Rates Using Evidence from Behavioral Science
Pregnant mothers may respond differently to flu messages that highlight the benefits and consequences to the mother vs. the baby. We compare the impact of mother- vs. baby-focused messaging and the impact of prevention (avoiding a loss) vs. promotion (gaining a benefit) framing.
Florida
Florida, Louisiana
Automatic Enrollment Analysis
Assess whether automatic enrollment (“opt-out”) as a recruitment strategy improves participation in the Healthy Solutions for Life pediatric asthma program.
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Louisiana
Financial Incentives Study
Evaluate how well incentives (lottery or fixed) impact participation in a Healthy Solutions for Life health coaching pediatric asthma program established in Louisiana.
Florida, Ohio, Texas
Personal Care Aide Survey and Analytics
Work with Centene’s Long Term Services and Support program, to understand the drivers of and barriers to health outcomes effected by Personal Aides, identifying important factors predictive of member outcomes.
Florida, Louisiana, Missouri
Peer Coaching in a Pediatric Obesity Program
Assess (1) whether the addition of peer coaching to the Raising Well pediatric obesity program enhances program impact, and (2) the feasibility of integrating the coaching adaptation within Envolve.
Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire
Raising Well Survey
Determine the most efficient and effective methods for engaging and keeping members in the Raising Well Pediatric Obesity program to help the family members change and reach health goals.
Georgia
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
California, Missouri, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
Life Values Assessment
Explore the range of life values held by Medicaid members and the association of these values with health attitudes and behaviors.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Illinois
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Indiana
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Kansas
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Louisiana
Louisiana
Addressing Basic Needs to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in Medicaid Beneficiaries [Funding Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)]
Conduct a randomized controlled trial to study the impact of a basic needs navigation intervention on health behaviors and outcomes in a diabetic population in Louisiana.
Florida, Louisiana
Automatic Enrollment Analysis
Assess whether automatic enrollment (“opt-out”) as a recruitment strategy improves participation in the Healthy Solutions for Life pediatric asthma program.
Louisiana, Missouri
Coaching Terms Study
Inform the design and content of a new online goal-setting platform, identify participants’ familiarity, perceptions, and preferences for “coaching” and related terms.
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas
Diabetes Retrospective Coaching Call Analysis
Inform the Healthy Solutions for Life diabetes coaching program by (1) determining the factors that contribute to successful changes in HbA1c over a six-month period, and (2) identifying the barriers that interfere with Medicaid members’ achievement of health goals.
Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire
Raising Well Survey
Determine the most efficient and effective methods for engaging and keeping members in the Raising Well Pediatric Obesity program to help the family members change and reach health goals.
Louisiana, Missouri
Usability Testing of a Goal-Setting Platform
Collect insights from Medicaid members to inform the design and content of a new online goal-setting platform.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Louisiana, California
Improving Flu Vaccine Rates Using Evidence from Behavioral Science
Pregnant mothers may respond differently to flu messages that highlight the benefits and consequences to the mother vs. the baby. We compare the impact of mother- vs. baby-focused messaging and the impact of prevention (avoiding a loss) vs. promotion (gaining a benefit) framing.
Mississippi
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
California, Missouri, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
Life Values Assessment
Explore the range of life values held by Medicaid members and the association of these values with health attitudes and behaviors.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Missouri
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Louisiana, Missouri
Coaching Terms Study
Inform the design and content of a new online goal-setting platform, identify participants’ familiarity, perceptions, and preferences for “coaching” and related terms.
Louisiana, Missouri
Usability Testing of a Goal-Setting Platform
Collect insights from Medicaid members to inform the design and content of a new online goal-setting platform.
California, Missouri, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
Life Values Assessment
Explore the range of life values held by Medicaid members and the association of these values with health attitudes and behaviors.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire
Raising Well Survey
Determine the most efficient and effective methods for engaging and keeping members in the Raising Well Pediatric Obesity program to help the family members change and reach health goals.
New Hamphsire
Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire
Raising Well Survey
Determine the most efficient and effective methods for engaging and keeping members in the Raising Well Pediatric Obesity program to help the family members change and reach health goals.
California, Missouri, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
Life Values Assessment
Explore the range of life values held by Medicaid members and the association of these values with health attitudes and behaviors.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Ohio
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio
Comprehensive Diabetes Lifestyle Survey
Assess current nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle behaviors; daily diabetes management; and barriers that hinder or prevent maintenance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Florida, Ohio, Texas
Personal Care Aide Survey and Analytics
Work with Centene’s Long Term Services and Support program, to understand the drivers of and barriers to health outcomes effected by Personal Aides, identifying important factors predictive of member outcomes.
California, Missouri, New Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
Life Values Assessment
Explore the range of life values held by Medicaid members and the association of these values with health attitudes and behaviors.
New Hampshire, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Louisiana
Profiles and Predictors of Success: Defining Profiles of Attainment in Recovery from Substance Abuse
Identify and characterize substance use disorder services that were successful, and develop health behavior profiles and predictors of success for members suffering from substance use disorders including opioid and alcohol abuse.
Texas
California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas
Diabetes Retrospective Coaching Call Analysis
Inform the Healthy Solutions for Life diabetes coaching program by (1) determining the factors that contribute to successful changes in HbA1c over a six-month period, and (2) identifying the barriers that interfere with Medicaid members’ achievement of health goals.
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