Centene subsidiary Superior Health Plan’s use of private investigators did not violate any laws, an investigation by Texas’s Attorney General’s Office found.
In March, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Superior Health Plan, after former CEO Mark Sanders told state lawmakers the company had used private investigators in the past to conduct “routine” background checks.
Centene fired Mr. Sanders after he testified before the state’s Texas House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency.
In a May 19 news release, the attorney general’s office said it had completed an expedited investigation into the conduct, and found the research Superior Health Plan received was limited to publicly available information.
“There was no evidence of any surveillance or violation of privacy discovered or indicated within the investigation, nor was any privately held or confidential information, such as protected health information, included in the reports,” the attorney general’s office said.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Superior Health Plan engaged a private investigation company between 2017 and 2019. The company obtained reports on at least three Texas lawmakers, Superior Health Plan members and a journalist who had published reports critical of the company.
Members of the Texas House of Representatives expressed concern the investigations were being used to gain leverage over lawmakers involved in decisions about the state’s Medicaid program. Superior Health Plan manages Medicaid benefits for 2 million Texas enrollees.
“We appreciate the swift work of Attorney General Paxton and his team, and we are pleased the numerous false accusations resulting from the March 26 DOGE committee hearing have been rebutted by the Attorney General’s review,” a Centene spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “Superior remains committed to transparency and accountability, and we will continue to ensure that all partners and practices reflect the integrity we expect of ourselves.”
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