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"The Big Picture" Newsletter
April 2006
Latest News
AMA Insurance Agency, Inc. chooses CIGNA for Medicare
Part D coverage
Will offer CIGNATURE RxSM drug
plan to physician members
AMA Insurance Agency, Inc.
(AMAIAI) has
chosen to offer CIGNATURE RxSM Medicare
prescription drug plans to AMAIAI's
Medicare-eligible physicians and their
spouses. According to Terri Swanson, vice
president of CIGNA Senior Care, the decision "represents
a strong new relationship based on a high
level of trust in our Part D program." AMAIAI
chose the CIGNATURE Rx product for its
comprehensive coverage and choice of plans,
availability in all regions of the country,
and high quality customer service.
CIGNA employees to march against prematurity
CIGNA sponsors March of Dimes campaign
to promote healthy pregnancies
Premature births carry a high cost – some
15 times greater than caring for healthy,
full-term babies. And when you consider
the emotional stress of prematurity, the
costs are even higher. The good news is,
premature births can be reduced through
research, education and proper care. Which
is why CIGNA has
joined the March of Dimes as
a national corporate sponsor of the 2006
WalkAmerica® campaign,
to help raise money for the fight against
premature birth. Since 1995, CIGNA and
its employees have contributed $17.5 million
to support the infant and maternal health
programs of the March of Dimes.
New Programs
Helping people cope
with – and
in some cases prevent – various
forms of cancer
CIGNA introduces new oncology
management program
Approximately half of all men and one-third
of women will develop cancer in their lifetime – leading
to months or years of treatment, and potentially
lifelong consequences and risks. Recognizing
the need for specialized support in managing
the various forms of cancer, CIGNA has
introduced the CIGNA HealthCare
Oncology Condition Management Program.
The new program will be available for plans
that take effect beginning January 1, 2007,
and aims to support cancer victims and
survivors through prevention, diagnosis,
treatment and recovery.
Program aims to promote wellness
for pregnant women and their babies
CIGNA offers maternity
program, enrollment incentives
Of the four million babies born in the
United States each year, approximately
one in eight will be born prematurely,
and nearly one out of three women will
face some form of complication during pregnancy.
To help prevent these complications during
pregnancy and birth, CIGNA HealthCare recently
announced CIGNA Healthy Pregnancies,
Healthy Babies – a comprehensive
maternity management program to help improve
their chances of having healthy pregnancies
and deliveries. To encourage participation,
CIGNA is offering incentives which provide
members with higher rewards for joining
the program early in their pregnancies.
Product Spotlight
CIGNA Dental eliminates referral and
pre-authorization for pediatric dentists on
DHMO plans
Makes it easier for members
to seek care for dependent children
under seven
In January 2006, CIGNA Dental enhanced
our existing suite of products to better help
individuals achieve their health care goals,
help employers improve the health and well-being
of their employees, and reduce administrative
costs. One of these enhancements is the simplification
of our pediatric policy. As of January 1, 2006,
CIGNA Dental DHMO members can select a participating
pediatric dentist as the primary care dentist
for their eligible, dependent children under
age seven. In addition, we have eliminated
the referral and pre-authorization process
required for dependent children under age seven
to seek care from a participating pediatric
dentist.
Other benefit enhancements include the CIGNA
Dental Oral Health Maternity ProgramSM and
the addition of brush biopsy coverage.
To learn more, visit our Dental
Benefit Enhancements web page.
CIGNA Pharmacy Management surpasses record in
use of generics
Achieves 56% generic utilization
in 2005, aims higher in 2006
Promoting the use of generic drugs is an essential
cost-savings strategy for any prescription
drug plan. That's why CIGNA Pharmacy
Management (CPM) developed its Save
with Generics program – to
encourage awareness and utilization of generic
drug alternatives through outreach to members
and physicians, and through the distribution
of coupons. The program showed
its greatest success ever in 2005, with
a 56% generic utilization rate.
But CPM believes the rate can go higher with
the proper support, and is setting its sights
on 60% generic utilization by the end of 2006.
Technology Update
CIGNA to debut online visits with physicians
Announces agreement with CA-based RelayHealth
In July 2006, CIGNA HealthCare will
enable select California members to conduct
online visits with physicians, made possible
by an agreement with RelayHealth – a
premier provider of secure online health care
communication services. The rollout begins
with two of CIGNA's large self-insured customers,
and expansion is planned for self-insured employers
with members throughout California, Arizona,
Florida and the Tri-State/New York metropolitan
area with January 1, 2007 effective dates. This
service will allow members to consult with
their physicians on approximately 145 non-urgent
medical conditions, in addition to the ability
to manage prescription refills and renewals,
access laboratory results, and schedule appointments – all
in a secure, web-based environment.
Organizational Announcements
CIGNA appointees to drive growth of
consumer-directed health plans
Four executives join company in key leadership positions
CIGNA has
appointed four veteran executives to
key leadership roles within the organization: JoAnn
Hoffman, vice president, consumer
strategy; Tom Schulte, senior
vice president of national accounts sales
and client service for the southeast region; John
Young, vice president, consumer
strategy; and Ana Sabatino,
vice president, consumer strategy. The group
brings extensive experience in sales, product
design and client service, and market insights
to CIGNA's ongoing commitment to the development
of consumer-driven products and services.
CIGNA chief medical officer will help
lead National Quality Forum
Dr. Jeffrey Kang joins NQF Board of Directors
CIGNA chief medical officer Dr. Jeffrey
Kang has
been appointed to the Board of
Directors of the National
Quality Forum (NQF), a private,
not-for-profit, public benefit corporation
focused on standardizing health care quality
measurement and reporting. A recognized leader
in the promotion and measurement of health
care quality, Kang is responsible for medical
strategy and policy at CIGNA HealthCare.
He also co-chairs the NQF Steering Committee
on Standardizing Ambulatory Care Performance
Measures, serves on the Institute of Medicine's
Subcommittee on Quality Improvement Organization
Evaluation, and is a board member of the
eHealth Initiative.
Regional News
What's happening locally
CIGNA HealthCare news for your area
Get the latest CIGNA HealthCare news for your part of the country. Every month, we post new articles of interest and update the states to which they apply. Here's where you'll also find up-to-date local contact information to help you with your questions and concerns. Want to know the news for your area? Find out here.
(NOTE: States with new articles
of special interest are highlighted in blue.)
"CIGNA" or "CIGNA HealthCare" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation. Products and services are provided by these subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. These subsidiaries include Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Inc. and its affiliates, CIGNA Behavioral Health, Inc., Intracorp, and HMO or service company subsidiaries of CIGNA Health Corporation and CIGNA Dental Health, Inc.
In Arizona, HMO Plans are offered by CIGNA HealthCare of Arizona, Inc. In California, HMO plans are offered by CIGNA HealthCare of California, Inc. In Virginia, HMO plans are offered by CIGNA HealthCare of Virginia, Inc. and CIGNA HealthCare Mid-Atlantic, Inc. In North Carolina, HMO plans are offered by CIGNA HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc. All other medical plans in these states are insured or administered by Connecticut General Life Insurance Company.
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