Centene was the lead investor in an $18 million Series B round for Diameter Health, an enterprise data interoperability developer. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/centene-optum-ventures-back-18m-investment-diameter-health-to-spur-health-data
Centene recently finalized their acquisition of Apixio (AI-assisted clinical data mining) and is acquiring Pantherx, a specialty pharmacy focused on orphan medications and rare diseases, to blend into Envolve Pharmacy Solutions.
Meanwhile they've outsourced marketing for (primarily) the plans and had layoffs across the board in other departments.
I don't think you need a weatherman to tell everyone where the wind is blowing here. My guess here, is that Centene is reconstructing along the lines of Optum and UnitedHealthcare. At the very minimum, there will be a split in the company with one part in advanced services–some wholly owned, others captured through investment–and pharmacy, with the milk cow being the plans. Think of how boring and basic UHG's marketing is, much of it with AARP. Look at Aetna. Most of the advertising for MA and dual this year was via brokers. It doesn't have to be different or even branded–and in a Biden administration, health plans may quickly turn into a money pit, Federalized entity as the plan there is 'Medicare for all'.
Let's not forget that Centene has never been a brand–it's a holding company. Devaluing brand was baked into the company and into marketing.
MFN is, in my view, as his final move at age 75, year 25 as CEO, reorganizing the company. This is a cold business calculation of savings and people. People are an expense. Marketing is an expense. Branding is an expense. These type of services may require some branding and communications services, but that can be outsourced and don't require the compliance lift of MA Medicaid, or CMS models. There may be even a sale of plans if this redirection goes further.