"The Big Picture" Newsletter

May 2008 Issue

GEORGIA EDITION

Athens Regional Medical Center is the Latest Network Addition for CIGNA HealthCare of Georgia

CIGNA HealthCare of Georgia continues to add prominent Georgia health care facilities to its network in an effort to create broader access to high-quality health care services for its current and future members. CIGNA’s most recent agreement is with the Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Ga.

Read more information here.

Legislative Update

On Friday, April 4, the Georgia General Assembly adjourned their regular session.  Among the legislation passed and sent to Governor Perdue (R) for consideration included:

H.B. 977 (HDHPs) requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt policies to encourage health savings account eligible high deductible plans in Georgia. The bill also establishes the Georgia Health Marketplace, an internet portal to facilitate the offering of specified products to Georgians. Lastly, H.B. 977 provides for an income tax deduction for high deductible health plans established and used with a health savings account and creates an income tax credit for certain employers who provide high deductible health plans established and used with a health savings account.

The defeated legislation included:

S.B. 109	Prompt pay: Self-Insured Plans
H.B. 923/S.B. 380	Individual and small group reform
H.B. 367	Drug substitution
H.B. 798	PBM Regulation
H.B. 127	Epilepsy drug substitution
H.B. 1042	Immunosuppressive drug substitution

                       

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Where We Are

CIGNA HealthCare
Two Securities Centre
3500 Piedmont Road, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA  30305
Telephone:  404.443.8800
Fax:  404.443.8932

Who to Contact

Tim Vessel
Vice President of Sales
404.443.8913
Tim.Vessel@cigna.com

Jo Ann Wetzel
Vice President of Sales
404.443.8917
Joann.Wetzel@cigna.com

Experienced Local Leadership

Andrew Crooks, Regional General Manger
Andrew Crooks has over 20 years of experience in the health care industry. His early career was spent in various underwriting and financial management roles throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Following a series of promotions, he was appointed Vice President and Executive Director of Prudential HealthCare’s North Florida and Central Florida operations. His responsibilities included development and growth of exclusive, affiliated medical groups, network development, management of claim and customer service operations, regulatory compliance, sales and marketing. He held this position for over 10 years earning the first Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) accreditation given by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in 1988, and recognition by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 20 HMO’s in the nation in 1996.

Subsequent to the Aetna U.S. Healthcare acquisition of Prudential HealthCare, Andrew was retained to lead all integration management activities for the Southeast operations. For the past five years, Andrew has served as President and General Manager of CIGNA's Florida and Caribbean operations providing services to over one million covered lives.

Scott Evelyn, President and General Manager – CIGNA HealthCare of Georgia and Alabama
Scott Evelyn brings more than 20 years of extensive leadership experience to his role at CIGNA. In 1997 he co-founded the Benefit Management Group (BMG) in South Florida and served as CEO until its acquisition by Arthur J. Gallagher in 2006. Upon the acquisition, he remained engaged and served as the organization's area executive vice president.

Prior to the start of BMG, Scott spent six years with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia in roles of increasing responsibility as local market manager, regional vice president and president and CEO of Healthcare Partners of Southeast Georgia. In the early phase of his career, he held sales and sales management positions with Lincoln National Life, United Healthcare and Employee Benefit Plans, Inc.

Scott holds Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and is actively involved in his community, as well as numerous charities and non-profit organizations including Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, amongst others.

Tim Vessel, Senior Vice President of Sales – Atlanta, Georgia
Tim Vessel joined CIGNA HealthCare in August 1993. He is responsible for seven direct reports. Tim has eleven years with CIGNA HealthCare, beginning in Underwriting and transitioning into sales in 1996 as a Senior Client Manager in the Atlanta Sales Office.

Tim has worked as regional sales manager consultant for the Southeast region and his last position was the Director of Sales Operation for the Atlanta office. Tim has extensive experience in underwriting, training and reporting analysis. Tim received his BA in Economics.

Jo Ann Wetzel, Sales Manager – Atlanta, Georgia
Jo Ann Wetzel joined CIGNA in February of 2005 as vice president of sales. She brings 17 years of experience in the health care industry, including sales and service, management, provider relations and staff development. Jo Ann graduated with an S.S. in Business and Organizational Development from Mt. Olive College in North Carolina and spent eight years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Previously, she worked with Provident Health in Atlanta, and is pleased to be back in the southeast. Jo Ann comes to CIGNA most recently from PacifiCare of Texas where she was the director of sales in small, middle and large group markets. She will be focusing on sales and retention in both Georgia and Alabama.