This article is based on a presentation at IBA’s Fall 2022 Forum on Accounting and Finance Analytics: Perspectives on ESG Reporting by Jana Utter, who serves as the Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management for Centene Corporation.
Jana Utter, the Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) at Centene, is among the practitioners who approach ESG with practical knowledge. Centene is a healthcare insurance provider for over 25 million Americans, primarily through Medicaid, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and Medicare. Seven years ago, Utter created an emerging risk report when she joined Centene, which included the potential risks that could arise due to climate change.
While property insurers are likely to be impacted by climate-induced events, health care insurers and providers can also be affected. As a company that serves vulnerable populations, Centene is concerned about the environmental impacts on health. Utter discussed events like wildfires and droughts causing water shortages, which often affect those who lack disposable income and are unable to invest in temporary housing or purchase bottled water. Unfortunately, these populations are often the most impacted by weather-related disasters.