Economic Impact
Centene is committed to representation for all when purchasing goods and services. By working with local and diverse suppliers, we tap into new ideas that add value to our businesses and help us provide innovative solutions to our members.
Creating Economic Impact Through Robust Supplier Pools
Economic impact and robust supplier pools reflect a business strategy that emphasizes sourcing goods and services from a wide range of strong performing suppliers, including those owned by individuals from historically underrepresented demographics such as minorities, women, veterans, disabled and LGBTQIA+. The goal is to create equal opportunities for all vendors within the supply chain, fostering economic growth and job creation in the communities we serve.
Centene's Procurement Program
Our Procurement Program is based on Centene’s belief in supporting the growth and representation of strong performing vendors and suppliers from all backgrounds, by creating the opportunity to do business with Centene. We are committed to promoting economic equity, knowing that, as a result, we’ll advance health outcomes for our members and the communities we serve.
The program incorporates our dedication to promoting business opportunities within Centene for strong performing state, federal and nationally recognized certified minority- and women-owned businesses (MWOBE), as well as certified veteran-, LGBTQIA+-, small- and disability-owned businesses. This includes identifying opportunities for inclusive pools of suppliers to participate in the competitive bid process and promoting business development while building strong relationships.
Business Partnerships
Working with customers, suppliers and local organizations on issues that drive value for our communities
Corporate
Focusing on strategies that impact spend and savings
Health Plans
Implementing localized economic impact strategies
We also believe that a supplier base representative of our communities drives down cost, increases competition and fuels innovation, especially when there is direct familiarity of the urban and rural communities we serve. To that end, we have implemented strategies to ensure small and local companies are investigated for inclusion in our RFPs. These strategies are embedded in all category sourcing plans.
Because our health plans are focused on local implementation of services, our corporate buying strategies include local needs and state requirements. It is this unique distinction that enables Centene to partner with community-based vendors to provide localized member care and drive job creation and economic impact within the communities we serve.
"At Centene, we believe that a workforce embedded in the communities we serve is a vital part of how we deliver value for our members. Local partnership and investment are central to our model. We seek to build a network of providers and suppliers who are embedded within the community and include local and small business owners."
- Sarah London, CEO, Centene
For MBE’s, WBE’s, DBE’s & SBE’s
When organizations actively seek out and conduct business with a representative pool of strong performing suppliers, they help to expand economic opportunity to every corner of the community. This practice helps provide opportunities and support to entrepreneurs and business owners from various backgrounds, ultimately fostering innovation, economic growth and social progress.
Black/African American-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by an African American individual(s) with U.S. citizenship. African Americans have origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
Asian-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by an Asian American individual(s) with U.S. citizenship. Asian is the ethnicity of an individual from the Asian geographical area that is not included in the Asian-Indian or Asian-Pacific classifications.
Asian-Indian-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by an Asian-Indian American individual(s) with U.S. citizenship. Asian-Indian is the ethnicity of an individual whose origins are from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Asian-Pacific-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by an Asian-Pacific American individual(s) with U.S. citizenship. Asian-Pacific is the ethnicity of an individual whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Samoa and Guam, U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Mariana.
Hispanic-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a Hispanic American individual(s) with U.S. citizenship. Hispanic is the ethnicity of an individual whose origins are from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin.
Native American-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a Native American individual(s) with U.S. citizenship. Native American is the ethnicity of an individual whose origins are from American Indians, Aleuts, Eskimos and Native Hawaiians.
Women-Owned Business: Women-Owned Business: A business that is least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a female individual(s) with U.S. citizenship.
Disabled-Owned Business: Any for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, located in the U.S. or its trust territories, which is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by an individual(s) with a permanent mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities and which has a significant negative impact upon the company's ability to successfully compete. The ownership and control shall be real and continuing and not created solely to take advantage of special or set-aside programs aimed at minority business development. The certifying agency for this category of business owners is DisabilityIN.
LGBTQ+-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned, operated, managed and controlled by a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person(s) who is either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident; exercises independence from any non-LGBTQ+ business enterprise; has its principal place of business (headquarters) in the U.S.; and has been formed as a legal entity in the U.S.
Veteran-Owned Business: A business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more veterans (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2)) or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more veterans; or the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more veterans.
Disabled Veteran-Owned Business: A sole proprietorship that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more disabled veterans or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more disabled veterans; a subsidiary that is wholly owned by a parent corporation, but only if at least 51 percent of the voting stock of the parent corporation is owned by one or more disabled veterans; or a joint venture in which at least 51 percent of the joint venture’s management, control and earnings is held by one or more disabled veterans.
A business that meets "small" ownership criteria and the Small Business Size Standard for its industry, as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
What is a Small Business Size Standard?
A size standard, which is usually stated in number of employees or average annual receipts, represents the largest size that a business (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) may be to remain classified as a small business for SBA and federal contracting programs. The definition of “small” varies by industry.
SBA Certifications
SBA certifications, including 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBZone), have other criteria that must be met. Please refer to www.sba.gov for a full description of the certification programs and the eligibility requirements.
In 2024, U.S. Veterans Magazine included Centene on its lists of Top Veteran-Friendly Companies and Top Supplier Diversity Programs for Veterans.
Are You Interested in Working with Centene?
We invite you to learn more about our commitment to fostering a strong performing supplier base representative of the communities we serve and welcome all potential suppliers who can fulfill our requirements on a competitive basis.
If you are interested in exploring opportunities at Centene, please register your company on our online portal or contact us by email. Please include a copy of your certification, key core competencies of your business and primary sales contact.