WellCare of Kentucky Supports Relief Efforts for Communities Hit by Tornadoes
Environmental Impacts on Health
We recognize that the environment in which people live has a major impact on their health, and that climate change is bringing new challenges to the communities we serve. We are committed to supporting initiatives that help improve health outcomes of members affected by environmental factors.
Local Environmental Impacts on Health
Empowering Health and Working with the Environment
Centene partnerships help remove barriers to health and address health-related social needs like heating and air conditioning, shelter, and food security that could be impacted by environmental factors.
Centene’s work in confronting environmental impacts on health extends to how we address non-medical barriers to health. For example, Centene has partnered with PROSPERA, a nonprofit housing community service that offers safe, high-quality, affordable housing that meets environmental review standards for pollution reduction and sustainability to Texas families.
Team members from Meridian Health Plan in Michigan volunteered their time to support Greening of Detroit’s efforts to plant trees in the city and Belle Isle Conservancy’s cleanup project. In 2024, team members planted 43 trees, which will provide cleaner air, stormwater management and temperature stabilization to Detroit and its residents for years to come. Additionally, the team helped remove almost 50 pounds of litter from Belle Isle, a 985-acre island park located in the Detroit River.
Centene’s Washington health plan, Coordinated Care, has been working to increase access to healthy food through various channels, programs and partnerships for years, including partnering with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and its Eastside Family Resource Center to renovate the East Tacoma Community Garden.
The east side of Tacoma, Washington, is known as a food desert, which means there is limited access to affordable and nutritious food, and finding a grocery store within a reasonable distance is a challenge. The community garden is designed to make food more accessible to support healthy living, which is an area of focus for Coordinated Care. The garden is a place for the community to learn about food and gardening and to cultivate social connections.
Stepping Up When Disaster Strikes
In 2024, Centene’s corporate and local teams worked to help our members prepare for and respond to storms and other environmental disasters in several ways, including:
Hurricane preparedness and response in Louisiana
Louisiana Healthcare Connections has always been quick to assist in times of need, and a new system extended this culture of care during times of crisis. Working with AlertMedia, Provider Relations team members can identify which clinics or pharmacies are damaged after a hurricane more quickly.
Tornado response in Nebraska
When the strongest tornadoes to hit eastern Nebraska in the last decade swept through the region in April 2024, Nebraska Total Care employees quickly responded to support the communities most affected, helping clean up neighborhoods, providing donations and volunteering their time with local organizations.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Centene’s first priority was to conduct outreach to assess the safety of our employees and members. Centene, the Centene Foundation and our health plans then worked to provide on-the-ground support in affected areas. Our teams provided medical supplies and over the counter medications to community health centers and provider practices, as well as hard-to-find essential supplies and monetary donations to approximately two dozen nonprofits across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Learn more about our commitment to Environmental Sustainability.
See an example through Centene subsidiary Meridian’s launch of a pilot program with Main Stay Farm. The program helps children and teens develop social and emotional skills by connecting with farm animals, gardens, and walking trails.
