Producer Communications: "The Big Picture" Newsletter
The Big Picture - October 2006
Special Feature: Highlight on Customer Service
CIGNA EVP Scott Storrer looks at what's ahead in October 2006 article
In 2006, CIGNA's customer service call centers earned J.D. Power and Associates Certification for delivering “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience.” (PDF 45k) describes CIGNA's award-winning service strategy in the October issue of Insurance and Financial Advisor Monthly.
Latest News
New broker tools for making Medicare Part D sales
CIGNA rolls out online resources for Medicare market
Recognizing that the CIGNATURE RxSM Medicare Part D plan offers a significant business opportunity for brokers, CIGNA HealthCare has recently developed resources to help brokers succeed in the Medicare-eligible market. These include a Comprehensive Cost Compare Tool that allows brokers to demonstrate a Medicare beneficiary's potential savings based on the beneficiary's actual prescriptions, the option to complete and submit enrollments online, and marketing materials as well as a self-paced training program on the CIGNATURE Rx website.
Offering more cost and quality info to consumers
CIGNA expands online capabilities
CIGNA has announced several decision support enhancements available to plan members through its personalized web portal, myCIGNA.com. Site users can compare facility costs for certain ambulatory surgical procedures and high-tech radiology tests like CT scans and MRIs, and can compare the performance of physician specialists based on select quality and cost efficiency measures. The new tools complement extensive capabilities already in place, such as the ability to compare hospital quality and efficiency, review prescription drug information and compare prescription drug costs.
Health coaching now available for mid-sized companies
CIGNA and CareAllies extend Health Advisor program to broader audience
The CIGNA Health AdvisorSM health coaching program offers members personalized health and wellness support through teams of nurses, health educators, plus behavioral and nutritional coaches. Having proven effective in companies with 5,000 or more employees, CIGNA will extend the program to companies with 200 or more employees in 2007.
Product Spotlight
Specialty pharmacy – a significant cost challenge
Academy by CIGNA® meeting addresses solutions to rising costs
Specialty pharmacy costs have increased at nearly twice the rate of general pharmacy costs, an alarming trend that became the focus of a recent Academy by CIGNA® seminar. Addressing brokers at the event held in September, 2006, CIGNA's Eric Estes, Vice President of Sales for CIGNA Pharmacy, and Tom Stambaugh, Chief Pharmacy Officer, discussed the opportunities to control costs through an integrated specialty pharmacy structure, which consists of established relationships with physicians and other experienced, specialty trained professionals, drug manufacturers, retail and specialty pharmacies as well as home health care providers.
Helping employers successfully plan for military members returning
to the workforce
CIGNA Behavioral Health offers a variety of tools and resources to support the transition
As military reservists return home and resume their civilian jobs, they often encounter numerous changes since leaving for duty, which can make the transition difficult. CIGNA Behavioral Health works to help returning military and their employers work through this adjustment period by offering a variety of specially designed tools and resources. Some of these include an Employee Outreach Letter and accompanying Returning Military Members Resource Guide, plus a Manager’s Resource Guide – Integrating Returning Servicemen and Women back into the Workforce – that can help managers understand potential behavioral issues of returning military personnel and provide guidance in helping to overcome those issues.
Technology Update
CIGNA double-winner of Information Week awards
Tops insurance companies with highest rank ever
CIGNA has recently received Industry and Information Security Awards from Information Week 500 in their annual evaluation of companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue. Listed as number 17 in the overall list, CIGNA was the highest-ranking insurance company, and achieved its highest position since the ranking began 18 years ago. The award recognized CIGNA's achievement of a delicate balance between access to health information and protection of sensitive data. CIGNA was also named “Innovative Leader in the Insurance Industry,“ making it the only company to receive two awards at the Information Week ceremonies.
Federal Affairs
Congress casts final pre-election votes on health care issues
HSAs, Medicare Part D, transparency bills passed
The final pre-election of meeting of Congress took place on September 28. Highlights from this month's Federal Affairs summary include: the House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 6134, the Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006, which included several technical corrections and enhancements to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs); the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced information on stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) options for 2007; and on August 22, President Bush signed an Executive Order relative to health care transparency.
Organizational Announcements
New leader appointed for CIGNA transplant network
Crawford named Medical Director
Dr. Steven Crawford has been named Medical Director for the CIGNA LIFESOURCE Transplant Network. Dr. Crawford, who has been in transplant medicine for most of his career, served as Critical Care Director at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle, Washington, the world's largest bone marrow/stem cell transplant center. CIGNA LIFESOURCE is one of the nation's largest organ and tissue transplantation program, offering members who have life-threatening illnesses access to 96 LIFESOURCE Centers of Excellence, quality independent transplant facilities that have demonstrated quality in transplant medicine.
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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Executive Vice President of Service Operations and Technology Scott Storrer