<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-003271
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030505
<FILING-DATE>20030507
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CENTENE CORP
<CIK>0001071739
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6324
<IRS-NUMBER>041406317
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7711 CARONDELET AVE
<CITY>ST LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63105
<PHONE>3147254477
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7711 CARONDELET AVE
<STREET2>SUITE 800
<CITY>ST LOUIS
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>63105
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WIEDERHOLD RICHARD P
<CIK>0001205250
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-33395
<FILM-NUMBER>03685671
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O MANAGED HEALTH SERVICES INC
<STREET2>890 ELM GROVE RD
<CITY>ELM GROVE
<STATE>WI
<ZIP>53122
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bob46644_bob1rpw.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001071739</issuerCik>        <issuerName>CENTENE CORP</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>CNTE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001205250</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>WIEDERHOLD RICHARD P</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>32.3128</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>78916</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 3305 shares owned of record by the Elizabeth A. Brinn Foundation of which Mr. Wiederhold is a director and executive officer.  Mr. Wiederhold disclaims beneficial ownership of such 3305 shares.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName> /s/ Richard P. Wiederhold</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
