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
                                                                                  
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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(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

DITMORE ROBERT K 		2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

CENTENE CORP [ CNC ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

__ X __ Director                      _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

7700 FORSYTH BOULEVARD 		3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

3/5/2012
(Street)

ST. LOUIS, MO 63105
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Trans. Date 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 3. Trans. 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   3/5/2012     M    22500   A $7.57   272501.076   (1) D    
Common Stock   3/5/2012     S    22500   (2) D $46.65   250001.076   (1) D    
Common Stock                  15250   I   By spouse   (3)
Common Stock                  5600   I   See footnote   (4)
Common Stock                  59200   I   See footnote   (5)

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Trans. Date 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 4. Trans. 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 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(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
Common Stock Option (right to buy)   $7.57   3/5/2012     M         22500    5/3/2004   7/24/2012   Common Stock   22500   $7.57   0   D    
Common Stock Option (right to buy)   $16.65                    4/26/2005   5/4/2014   Common Stock   10000     10000   D    

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)  Ownership includes 3,555 shares of restricted stock subject to vesting requirements.
( 2)  This sale is pursuant to a 10b5-1 Trading Plan established on February 20, 2012. The weighted average price for this transaction is reported within the form. Full information regarding the number of shares at each price is available upon request.
( 3)  Shares owned by spouse who shares Mr. Ditmore's household. Mr. Ditmore disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by his spouse, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.
( 4)  Owned by the Ditmore 2002 Charitable Remainder Trust, of which Mr. Ditmore is a co-trustee.
( 5)  Owned by the Ditmore Family Management Company LLC, of which Mr. Ditmore is a chief manager. Mr. Ditmore disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
DITMORE ROBERT K
7700 FORSYTH BOULEVARD
ST. LOUIS, MO 63105 		X



Signatures
/s/ William N. Scheffel (executed by attorney-in-fact) 3/7/2012
** Signature of Reporting Person Date


Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* 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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.
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