Cigna Extends Collaborative Care to 75,000 Floridians Through New Arrangements with Five Medical Groups

• Customers benefit from improved care coordination and greater emphasis on preventive care
• Primary care doctors are rewarded for improving patient health and lowering medical costs
• Program includes registered nurse care coordinators aligned with Cigna case managers
• Cigna now has collaborative care arrangements with 13 medical groups in Florida

Cigna (NYSE: CI) has expanded its collaborative care initiative through five new arrangements with Florida medical groups that will reach 75,000 additional Cigna customers. This brings to 13 the number of Cigna Collaborative Care arrangements in Florida. The five new Florida arrangements became effective January 1.

Cigna Collaborative Care aims to improve patient access to health care, enhance care coordination, and achieve the same population health goals as accountable care organizations (ACOs): improved health, affordability and patient experience.

In places where it’s been introduced, Cigna Collaborative Care is helping to improve the health of Cigna customers while effectively managing medical costs. For example, the programs are helping to:

• Close gaps in care, such as missed health screenings or prescription refills;
• Reinforce the appropriate use of hospital emergency rooms;
• Increase the number of preventive health visits; and
• Improve follow-up care for people transitioning from the hospital to home.

These are the newest Florida participants in Cigna Collaborative Care:

In Fort Lauderdale: Advantage Health Network (AHN), a clinically integrated commercial accountable care organization formed among leading South Florida area physicians and Tenet hospitals.

In Palm Beach County: Palm Beach Accountable Care Organization (PBACO), a high performing, wholly physician-owned and operated accountable care organization.

In Orlando: Florida Hospital Medical Group, a comprehensive multi-specialty medical group practice affiliated with Adventist Health System.

In Winter Park: Florida Accountable Care Services, LLC, a physician-owned and governed, clinically integrated network of independent providers.

In Tampa: Tampa Bay Integrated Healthcare Network (TBIH), a physician-led clinically integrated network, founded and established by University Community Independent Practice Association, Inc. (UCIPA) and Tampa Bay Provider Group, Inc. (TBPG).

“We’re delighted to welcome these five medical groups to Cigna Collaborative Care,” said Dean Mirabella, Cigna's president for Florida markets. “Each one is committed to putting the patient at the center of its practice, with expanded access to care, better coordination of care, a focus on prevention, and patient education about chronic conditions and wellness. We look forward to having them join us on our journey toward a better system for the people who use, pay for or deliver health care.”

Critical to the program’s benefits are registered nurse clinical care coordinators, employed by the medical groups, who will help patients with chronic conditions or other health challenges navigate the health care system.

The care coordinators are aligned with a team of Cigna case managers to ensure a high degree of collaboration between the medical group and Cigna, which will ultimately provide a better experience for the individual. The care coordinators are part of physician-led care teams that will help people get the follow-up care or screenings they need, identify potential complications related to medications and help prevent chronic conditions from worsening.

They can also help individuals schedule appointments, provide health education and refer people to Cigna's clinical support programs that are available through their employer’s health plan.

Cigna will compensate the participating groups for the medical and care coordination services they provide. Additionally, the groups may be rewarded through a “pay for value” structure if they meet targets for improving quality and lowering medical costs.

Cigna has been at the forefront of the accountable care organization movement since 2008 and now has 142 Cigna Collaborative Care arrangements with large physician groups. They span 29 states, reach nearly 1.6 million commercial customers and encompass more than 65,000 doctors, including approximately 32,000 primary care physicians and 33,000 specialists.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 90 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160209005325/en/

Cigna CorporationMark Slitt, [e-mail]