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"The Big Picture" Newsletter
January 2007 : Current Issue
Special Feature
CIGNA rings in 2007 with website redesign
New look, new structure for CIGNA.com makes finding information even easier
CIGNA has begun the new year with a
major redesign of its flagship web site, CIGNA.com.
Visitors familiar with the previous design
will immediately notice the new look and
simplified navigation, which reflects the
company's mission to promote consumer engagement,
health advocacy and the effective delivery
of information. Features specifically for
brokers include information for small groups
by state, a full list of Producer Communications – such
as Alerts and our monthly Producer Newsletter
(with links to previously released issues) – business
information such as licensing and commissions,
and a comprehensive sales contact list
by state.
News You Can Use
More employers and employees are reaping the benefits of wellness
Offering wellness programs is saving money, and in some cases, even
lives
Encouraging employees to participate in programs such as health
screenings and health risk assessements is having a positive effect
on company costs, according to a Wall Street Journal article titled,  The
Road to Wellness is Starting at the Office. For Cadmus Communications,
health care costs were rising at a rate of $2 million per year, but
after integrating a wellness
program into its health benefits offering, saw costs rise only $500,000
last year. In addition, Freddie Mac saved $900,000
in medical and lost productivity costs after installing an inhouse
clinic for employees.
Product Spotlight
Disease Management
Lowering health risks helps lower cost. And
for folks with chronic conditions, disease
management can be an essential way to lower
health risks. The question then becomes
which programs to offer? For years, CIGNA
Well Aware for Better Health® programs
have been setting
the disease management standard. Key reasons
for success of the programs have been continual
improvement, intervention with members and
ongoing evaluation. CIGNA Well Aware
programs are provided
through a long-standing relationship with Healthways,
Inc., an industry leader in call center operations
and program delivery.
Specialized pharmacy programs launched to increase savings and
wellness
New CIGNA offerings target members as well as providers
In a continuing effort to help employers and
employees manage pharmacy costs, CIGNA has
introduced two clinical pharmacy initiatives to
help improve safety and outcomes for members
and offer client savings opportunities of approximately
$.20 to $.35 per month. The Complex
Psychiatric Program,
a joint initiative between CIGNA Pharmacy
Management and CIGNA Behavioral Health, focuses
on psychotropic medications (those that affect
the mind), and is designed to help foster appropriate
levels of care among members and help ensure
adherence to prescriptions. The Narcotics
Therapy Management Program is a provider-based
initiative to help reduce prescription drug
fraud and abuse and facilitate treatment for
substance abuse.
The advantages of integrating medical and dental benefits go beyond simplified administration
CIGNA Dental connects the health and well-being of employees to the health of the employer's bottom line
CIGNA Dental believes that oral health
has effects that reach far beyond the teeth
and gums. Periodontal (gum) disease can have
potentially significant systemic health implications
and mounting research has linked it to complications
for pre-term birth, diabetes, heart disease
and stroke. The good news is that appropriate
treatment for gum disease may help improve
outcomes and lower medical costs for populations
at risk. CIGNA Dental has followed the research
closely, Turning Evidence Into ActionSM with
benefit enhancements for populations at risk.
Learn about the CIGNA Dental Oral Health Integration
Program and our actions
to create and deliver innovative coverage options that
address medical/dental integration.
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.)
Organizational
Announcements
Eric Elliott named president of
CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CPM)
Returns to CIGNA to oversee CPM and CIGNA
Tel-Drug
CIGNA HealthCare has announced that pharmacy
management veteran Eric Elliott has
been named president of CIGNA Pharmacy
Management, returning him to the organization
where he formerly ran product, sales, e-business,
and CIGNA Tel-Drug, CIGNA's home-delivery
and specialty pharmacy service. Most recently,
Eric held senior executive positions at
Aetna, leading their pharmacy and limited
benefit/voluntary businesses.
Health Care News and Trends
Study shows general satisfaction among employees with current
health care coverage
Those opting for consumer-directed health plans still in the minority
A recent survey showed that most employees
feel their current plan choices will meet their
needs in the upcoming year, but a minority
has chosen a consumer-directed plan. According
to the Wall
Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care
Poll, 89% of adults with
employer-sponsored health insurance feel very
or somewhat confident that their coverage will
meet their needs in the upcoming year, and
only 6% plan to switch coverage. However, only
17% of those surveyed said they were enrolled
or will enroll in flexible spending accounts,
and only 6% said they will enroll in medical
saving accounts, health reimbursement accounts
or health savings accounts.
“CIGNA” and “CIGNA HealthCare” refer
to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation. Products
and services are provided by these operating
subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. These
operating 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 Connecticut, HMO plans are offered by CIGNA
HealthCare of Connecticut, Inc. In Virginia,
HMO plans are offered by 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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