CIGNA Behavioral Health Launches Lifestyle Management Programs

CIGNA Behavioral Health Launches Lifestyle Management Programs
Personal Coaches Will Help Members Manage Stress, Control Weight and End
Tobacco Addiction 


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Oct. 7, 2004  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Every day,
millions of Americans begin a diet.  Thousands try to stop smoking.  Most try
to go it alone, hitting hurdles or struggling to stay on track as they seek to
improve their health.  For those trying to control their weight, manage stress
or end tobacco use, CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) has introduced three new
personalized coaching programs that combine the latest behavioral modification
techniques and customized treatment to help individuals improve their wellness
and change their habits.

"We are finding that more companies are embracing wellness for their employees,
encouraging them to quit smoking or better manage their stress or weight so
that they are healthier and as a result, more productive at work," states Keith
Dixon, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of CBH. "The road to
wellness can be a long one that involves significant behavioral changes.  Our
goal is to work directly with the participant and give them the tools and
emotional support they need to succeed while at the same time, helping
businesses strengthen the wellness of their workforce."

The Lifestyle Management Programs from CBH offer a unique approach to behavior
modification.  These options are an enhancement to an organization's Employee
Assistance Program (EAP) and are sold to employers or other organizations. The
programs are then made available free of charge to participants.

In addition to a personal coach, the program features customized programming,
support and education and discounts for supportive programs such as Weight
Watchers and Habitrol Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

CBH has teamed up with Leade Health, an industry leader specializing in health
behavior change programs, to offer three Lifestyle Management Programs: stress
management, weight management and tobacco cessation.  Participants start by
completing a comprehensive assessment that evaluates lifestyle triggers for
unhealthy habits.  The assessment evaluates eating or smoking triggers, stress
management capabilities, lifestyle issues, daily health habits and other
factors that can impact a person's success in dealing with stress, ceasing to
smoke or reducing their weight.

After completing the assessment, a customized program is then developed that
could include help from a coach.  Other options include discounts on
acupuncture, fitness club memberships, guided imagery & mind/body techniques,
health & wellness products, massage therapy, educational workbooks and natural
supplements.  The coaches may be reached by phone or a secure Internet site.
Coaches provide personal support for the member as needed in order to help them
achieve their wellness goals.  A coach, for example, might work with those
struggling to lose weight to find ways to replace food cravings with other
activities that help them maintain their new healthy food choices.

"Integrating the benefits of medical management, such as a nicotine patch, with
mental health care such as on-the-spot coaching, is a more effective way to
help our members learn new behaviors that can lead to change.  By addressing
both physical and behavioral obstacles to improving wellness, we can garner
better outcomes as employees learn to better handle the emotional triggers that
can cause them to slip up when trying to stop tobacco use or take control of
stress or their weight," adds Dr. Dixon.

The CBH Lifestyle Management Programs can be purchased separately or with other
CBH products based on the needs of the customer.

CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) provides behavioral care benefit management,
EAPs, and work/life programs to consumers through health plans offered by large
U.S. employers, national and regional HMOs, Taft-Hartley trusts and disability
insurers.  CBH, with headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn., operates five care
management centers around the U.S. in support of a national network of more
than 47,000 independent psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social
workers and more than 4,000 facilities and clinics.  For more information,
visit http://www.cignabehavioral.com/.

Leade Health, formerly Health Design Consultants, is a disease prevention
company specializing in health behavior programs for employers, health plans
and pharmaceutical organizations. With a main focus on weight management,
smoking cessation and stress management, it has a 12-year track record of
helping organizations improve the health of their populations and reduce costs.
 Leade Health offers disease prevention services both as off-the-shelf programs
or as component services and customized solutions. 

DATASOURCE: CIGNA Behavioral Health



Contact:  Gwyn Dilday, CIGNA Behavioral Health, [phone],





Web site:  http://www.cignabehavioral.com/

http://www.cigna.com/ 



Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/165050.html

Copyright