Final answer:
Centene is expanding by launching new WellCare and Ascension Complete plans, reflecting changes in the U.S. healthcare system including the Medicaid Expansion under ACA and a shift toward efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Centene is a healthcare enterprise that has been actively expanding its services and products across different areas. By introducing new WellCare and Ascension Complete plans, Centene is growing its geography and demographic reach. This expansion aligns with the broader trends in the American healthcare system, such as the Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which incentivized states to widen the eligibility for Medicaid. This has allowed Centene to cater to the healthcare needs of a broader range of income groups, particularly in states that have embraced the expansion.
Healthcare reform efforts, including those aimed at mass production, efficiency, and standardization, like telemedicine, are essential to Centene's strategy. The company's move reflects an ongoing shift towards consolidating healthcare services to manage the rising demand from an aging population and the impacts of laws such as the ACA and subsequent legal and political challenges to it. In this light, Centene's expansion efforts can be seen as part of the larger transformation within the U.S. healthcare landscape.