-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 COirTCGnmxdfJB+tW44inVkNPwYSbgsPVR3tU27E/BOCPxLS9JkYuMm058+Zq/Gs
 hicstmOtxYUV6w5Z62dZAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-003978.txt : 20030512
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-003978.hdr.sgml : 20030512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030512172001
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-003978
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030509
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030512

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTENE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001071739
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOSPITAL & MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS [6324]
		IRS NUMBER:				041406317

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7711 CARONDELET AVE
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147254477

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7711 CARONDELET AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPANEL BRIAN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211124

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-33395
		FILM NUMBER:		03693496

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTENE CORP
		STREET 2:		7711 CARONDELET AVE #800
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147254477

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTENE CORP
		STREET 2:		7711 CARONDELET AVE #800
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bob4644_bob05bs.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001071739</issuerCik>        <issuerName>CENTENE CORP</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>CNTE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001211124</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>SPANEL BRIAN G</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>S. VP and Chief Info Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></rep
ortingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5111</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>33.80</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19999</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><ownerSignature><signatureName> /s/ Brian G. Spanel</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
