Late News: Corizon loses Minn. prison contract to Centurion

Corizon, the country's largest private prison healthcare provider, lost a bid to renew its contract with the Minnesota Department of Corrections that it had held for the past 15 years. Starting in January, Centurion Managed Care, part of St. Louis-based Centene Corp., will take over the two-year, $67.5 million contract. The Minnesota contract had come under scrutiny in recent years after allegations of care mismanagement. DOC Commissioner Tom Roy, though, praised Corizon's “excellent service to the state,” particularly in implementing managed-care reforms. He added, however, that Centurion will take the state “to the next level” with “new and innovative approaches,” particularly for behavioral healthcare. “We lost this contract in the competitive bid process, and we wish Minnesota the best going forward,” Corizon said in a statement.