BLOOMFIELD, Conn., June 10, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Through CIGNA HealthCare’s new Health Advisor(SM) program, CIGNA customers can now offer their employees access to a nurse who will serve as their personal health coach and benefits expert. By tailoring and integrating health and benefits information, these knowledgeable clinical and health plan experts guide members through the health care system to help them make better use of their company’s overall health benefits.
Designed and staffed by experienced nurses who recognize the complexity and frustrations involved in making systems of care and benefits work together seamlessly, Health Advisor(SM) is being offered to large employers now for plans taking effect Jan. 1, 2005. It is part of the CIGNATURE - Your plan. Your choice.(SM) suite of benefit plans the company recently introduced, which allows employers to “mix and match” features to build a custom plan by selecting options within five key areas - clinical programs, benefit plan design, network size, use of primary care physician and funding type.
“There is a significant opportunity to personalize our services and to provide employers with a program that effectively engages employees and links benefits provided by CIGNA and other sources,” said Rosemary Hummel, R.N., CIGNA assistant vice president for medical management program development and Health Advisor(SM) chief architect.
In fact, studies have shown employers need to effectively link their benefits to help lower costs and improve productivity and absenteeism(1). For example, an increase in outpatient pharmacy costs for asthma management can decrease hospitalizations and lower medical expenses.
“CIGNA also recognized the market demand for clinical programs that reach beyond employees with current health care needs and proactively engage those who are at risk for developing future health problems. This means an even greater level of outreach by nurse clinicians to people who are not likely to be taking part in valuable prevention programs,” said Hummel.
Under the CIGNATURE - Your plan. Your choice.(SM) clinical program options, employers choose between two newly-designed medical management programs that offer varying levels of outreach, case management and health promotion activities. Employers can also offer disease management programs to help employees manage chronic conditions. In addition to the medical management option selected, larger employers may choose to add the new Health Advisor program.
“When you envision building a benefit plan, the medical management model can be viewed as the engine that drives improved health status and ultimately contains costs for employers and members,” said Jeffrey Kang, M.D., CIGNA’s national medical director for medical management. “Health Advisor(SM) adds more horsepower to the underlying model, and answers a real consumer need to be better equipped to make health care decisions, take advantage of available benefits and become more confident about interactions with the health care system.”
A CIGNA survey, released in Fall 2003, revealed that many Americans do not have a thorough understanding of their health benefits and the programs available to help them make informed decisions and reduce their costs. In fact, 43 percent of respondents gave themselves a grade of “C” or lower in understanding their health benefits and many were unsure of the programs available to them.
Before broadly introducing it to the marketplace, CIGNA piloted the Health Advisor(SM) program with two national clients. Based on these experiences, CIGNA built a program that features a higher ratio of nurses to employees than traditional case management programs. Health Advisor(SM) nurses are able to interact with employees and their families at a significantly higher rate, through targeted outreach opportunities. Early results illustrate a high degree of satisfaction.
Employers that select the Health Advisor(SM) option will have a designated group of nurses to serve their plan participants. In turn, a specific nurse will be designated to every participant. Available via direct phone or secure e-mail, the nurses provide a single point of contact and continuity.
Using a customized web-based portal for each employer, the nurses will have confidential and protected access to a visual “dashboard.” This portal essentially provides them with in-depth knowledge and an integrated view of the individual participant’s medical, pharmacy and behavioral benefit plans, and other programs offered by the employer that may not be administered by CIGNA.
By making a wealth of informational tools quickly and easily accessible, Health Advisors can promote the use of clinical programs that can improve participants’ health and enhance their experience and confidence. CIGNA’s Health Advisors offer key services that close the gaps between systems of care such as:
-- Health Promotion - Link employees to disease prevention and condition management tools, health information and other resources based on their personal needs. -- Care Coordination - Help to coordinate arrangements for needed care from multiple providers and integrate the information coming from multiple sources. -- Benefits Coordination - Help members understand their plan benefits and take full advantage of the coverage and services options available to them. -- General Education - Educate members on their health plans claim process, precertification requirements, and numerous other benefit and administrative matters.
CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, provides medical benefits through managed care and indemnity health care plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, and pharmacy benefits. “CIGNA” or “CIGNA HealthCare” refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation . Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.
(1) Washington Business Group on Health 2002 report, Linking Pharmacy and Mental Health Benefits and Integrated Benefits Institute 2001 Survey on Integrated Best Practices.
CIGNA HealthCare
Contact: Amy Turkington, CIGNA HealthCare, +1-860-226-3489 oramy.turkington@cigna.com
Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/165050.html
