BLOOMFIELD, Conn., March 22, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA HealthCare today said it has applied to become a national Medicare Prescription Drug Plan provider in order to offer prescription drug benefit plans to both individuals and employers under the new Medicare Part D program that will take effect on January 1, 2006.
“CIGNA Pharmacy Management currently provides prescription drug benefits, clinical health management programs and consumer-focused information and decision support to millions of people across the country who have prescription drug benefits through an employer-sponsored health plan,” said Michael Ferris, president of CIGNA HealthCare’s senior segment. “Our goal is to offer similar programs and services to people who will have access to prescription drug coverage through Medicare.”
Ferris said the company applied to become a national provider to support its employer customers and to make its quality pharmacy programs broadly available to individuals who will have new pharmacy benefits when Medicare Part D takes effect. “Through our participation in Medicare Part D, we will develop new products for this market that combine our expertise in providing health care benefits with our commitment to health care quality improvement and service excellence.”
According to the timeline established by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for implementing the Medicare Part D program, CMS requires qualified plans to submit bids by early June, with contracts expected to be awarded by September.
CIGNA Pharmacy Management offers an extensive suite of pharmacy benefit plans and integrated clinical programs to encourage the appropriate use of prescription medications by CIGNA HealthCare members. CIGNA HealthCare provides members access to prescription drugs through a network of over 52,000 retail pharmacies and through its prescription drug home-delivery service.
CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, provides medical benefits plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits, and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health management. “CIGNA HealthCare” refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation . Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.
CIGNA Healthcare
Contact: Amy Turkington of CIGNA Healthcare +1-860-226-3489
Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
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