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"The Big Picture" Newsletter
May 2007
Latest News
CIGNA ranked # 1 in national provider service review
Results rate claims payment promptness, accuracy and efficiency
CIGNA HealthCare received the top national ranking for provider claims payment promptness, accuracy and efficiency, according to the second annual PayerViewSM Rankings of athenahealth, Inc. As these benchmarking ratings illustrate, CIGNA HealthCare has made being a partner of choice for providers a strategic priority by improving quality, improving the provider experience and improving cost. Improved claims payment accuracy and promptness, and reduced claims denials has saved millions of dollars in administrative costs and reduced the complexity of doing business with CIGNA.
CIGNA announces first quarter 2007 results
Earnings reflect strong results in each of the health and related benefits businesses
On May 2, 2007, CIGNA announced financial
results for the first quarter of 2007, reporting adjusted income
from operations of $264 million, or $2.67 per share, compared to
$258 million, or $2.11 per share, for the first quarter of 2006. On
a per-share basis, that’s an increase of 27 percent over the same
period last year. These results reflect another strong performance by
all of our businesses.
CIGNA joins Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform
New organization of business leaders and employers acting together for change
CIGNA announced that it has become a lead sponsor of the Coalition
to Advance Healthcare Reform, joining forces with business leaders and employers from across the country to develop solutions to build a stronger, healthier America. Coalition efforts will focus on immediate actionable steps at the state and federal level to reverse rising health care costs, solve the problem of the uninsured and improve the quality of health care for every American.
Are Americans as healthy as they think?
CIGNA-sponsored survey reveals gap between consumers’ perception
of health and what they do about it
Most Americans think they are in excellent or very good
health, but when it comes to healthy habits – exercising, maintaining
a healthy weight and managing stress – their actions don’t
always match their words, according to Health and
Well-being in America,
a survey sponsored by CIGNA HealthCare. More
is explained in this press
release.
CIGNA HealthCare Call Centers achieve J.D. Power and Associates
Certification
CIGNA HealthCare Member Services call centers have been recertified
as J.D.
Power and Associates certified call centers. In addition, our Phoenix,
Arizona service center for Seniors / Medicare Advantage and our Innovation
Lab have received the certification. CIGNA HealthCare is one of a
select few companies in the nation to receive this certification
for providing “An
Outstanding Customer Service Experience.”
The J.D. Power and Associates
brand is well-known for denoting high quality and performance. This
certification represents an important achievement in the health care
marketplace, and is a step forward in our commitment to creating
the service environment of the future.
Product Spotlight
Well Informed: Information for Bridging Gaps in Care
Statistics show that U.S. residents receive appropriate
medical care only about 55
percent of the time. This means a significant number of individuals may not be receiving care that is consistent with evidence-based medical guidelines. Such gaps
in care not only compromise care, but can also result in missed opportunities for managing a chronic condition or treating symptoms before they become acute – and require more costly treatment. The result is more severe illnesses and increased costs for both individuals and their employers
The CIGNA Well Informed
program addresses this cost and quality issue by identifying gaps or omissions in care, proactively alerting members and their physicians, and suggesting steps to close the gaps.
Applying disability management expertise where it’s needed most
Complex Claim Management service can help lower employers’ overall costs
CIGNA recognizes that employers who self-insure their short-term disability programs can sometimes use a helping hand for sensitive or difficult claim conditions. With our new Complex
Claim Management program, CIGNA applies its comprehensive disability management resources — including our full complement of claim adjudication and clinical resources — to those STD claims employers select to submit on a fee-for-service basis. CIGNA’s Complex Claim Management enhances employers’ internal programs, and can help lower their overall costs.
For more information on this service, contact your CIGNA sales representative.
Technology
Update
CIGNA HealthCare and Intuit Inc. are teaming up to offer Quicken Health™
An online tool to simplify health care financial management for members
Over the course of various research studies and service reviews, our members have repeatedly asked for help in managing their health-related expenses: what does a service cost, and how much do I owe? CIGNA has responded to this need with a unique offering.
CIGNA recently announced the 2008 availability of Quicken
Health™, an online health tool to help CIGNA HealthCare plan members manage and direct their care, have a better understanding of their health care finances, make better health care decisions, and save time and money. CIGNA HealthCare members across our product lines will be able to access the tool through a CIGNA web portal at no additional charge. Click
here to read more.
Enhanced Dental eService tool
Delivers requested information into members’ hands via email
CIGNA Dental has expanded its eService Tool, which allows our service representatives to fulfill requests for information via email. Since introducing this service in August ‘06, we have delivered over 35,000 collateral requests via email. Members, prospective members, and providers appreciate this capability because it eliminates the typical six day wait for regular mail. In addition to DHMO Patient Charge Schedules, including custom schedules, we can now generate customized network directory listings. Directory options include zip code radius searches, specialty and network types, office or individual provider level searches and more.
We continue to work on more ways to provide quick and easy access to the information our members need – when they need it.
New CIGNA consumer education kit highlights value of disability
insurance
In support of Disability Insurance Awareness Month and its
ongoing efforts to provide consumers with the information and tools
they need to make smarter benefits decisions, CIGNA has created an
online consumer education kit that includes multi-media information
about the importance of disability coverage, as well as a disability
worksheet, a downloadable form that allows people to estimate how
much coverage they would need to replace their income during a period
of disability. Find the kit and other resources at www.cigna.com/diam.
“At the most basic level, disability insurance provides valuable
income protection in case a person is no longer able to work,” said
Karen Rohan, president of CIGNA Group Insurance, Dental and Vision when
the kit was announced. “But
it is important to understand the various aspects of disability benefits,
like how much coverage is necessary, how it can be integrated with health
benefits and the importance of return-to-work programs.”
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” 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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