FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * HARROLD JASON M   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CENTENE CORP [CNC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP, Specialty Business Unit (Last) (First) (Middle) 7711 CARONDELET AVE. 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/08/2010 (Street) ST. LOUIS, MO 63105 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock               29,567 (1) D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Phantom Stock

$ 0 (2)

01/08/2010

A

7.061 (3)

01/08/2010

01/08/2010(4)

Phantom Stock

7.061

$ 21.79

165.245

D

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 25.21

12/12/2011

12/12/2016

Common Stock

7,500

7,500

D

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 24.79

12/12/2012

12/12/2017

Common Stock

5,000

5,000

D

Common Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 18.44

07/27/2014

07/27/2019

Common Stock

5,000

5,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HARROLD JASON M 7711 CARONDELET AVE. ST. LOUIS, MO 63105			SVP, Specialty Business Unit

Signatures

/s/ William N. Scheffel (executed by attorney-in-fact)		01/12/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Ownership includes previous awards of 28,200 restricted stock units subject to vesting requirements.
(2)	Each share of phantom stock represents the right to receive the fair market value of one share of Centene common stock.
(3)	The phantom stock was acquired by Mr. Harrold through regular scheduled payroll contributions to the Company's deferred compensation plan.
(4)	The phantom stock has no formal expiration date. The phantom stock will be settled in cash or other non-Company securities upon Mr. Harrold's termination with the Company or on such other date Mr. Harrold may elect.

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