BLOOMFIELD, Conn. & PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CIGNA (NYSE:CI) and EMD Serono, Inc. have entered into the nation’s first outcomes-based contract for a specialty medication, aimed at improving the health of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The CIGNA and EMD Serono contract is designed to help people with multiple sclerosis prevent significant relapses. Results will be measured in part by the percentage of hospitalization and emergency room visits that are avoided through the use of EMD Serono’s multiple sclerosis drug, Rebif® (interferon beta-1a). Because each relapse may lead to additional irreversible neurologic damage in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis, another goal is to help delay the progression of the disease and potential disability through CIGNA's integrated services.
“This new outcomes-based contract with EMD Serono is just one way CIGNA is working with biopharmaceutical companies to innovate and focus on prevention and wellness to improve quality of life, reduce medical costs and improve productivity,” said C. Daniel Haron, president, CIGNA Pharmacy Management. “CIGNA’s integrated medical, pharmacy and disability approach means that we have the ability to address the many issues people with MS face in a coordinated way, to help them achieve a better health outcome.”
Together, CIGNA and EMD Serono are focused on supporting people living with MS by providing them with access to programs and services that improve medication adherence. As a fully integrated pharmacy and medical plan, CIGNA is uniquely positioned to be able to measure both the pharmacy and medical aspects of the contract.
Multiple sclerosis is most often a progressive disease that can lead to disability. There is no known cure, although the progression of the disease can be slowed with appropriate medications and working effectively with an individual’s primary care physician and neurologist. Treatment should begin as early as possible after diagnosis and continue uninterrupted.
Estimates by The National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke place the annual cost of multiple sclerosis in the United States in the billions of dollars. According to CIGNA data, the average length of a hospital stay for multiple sclerosis is over 7 days and costs $9,708 to $11,469.
“This outcomes based contract is an example of the alignment between EMD Serono and CIGNA to better meet the needs of patients and customers,” says James Hoyes, EMD Serono’s chief commercial officer. “Together, we are focused on ensuring people living with relapsing MS adhere to treatment regimens, to not only reduce the financial cost of the disease but to also improve their overall well-being and health.”
This outcomes-based contract is part of the continuum to support customers in their journey to better health. Other programs CIGNA offers that assist people with multiple sclerosis include:
- TheraCare
- Well Informed
- Absence Prediction and Prevention Pilot Program
- Stay at Work Program
- CoachRx
About CIGNA
CIGNA (NYSE: CI) is a global health service and financial company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries in the United States provide an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance. CIGNA offers products and services in over 27 countries and jurisdictions and has approximately 65 million customer relationships throughout the world. All products and services are provided exclusively by such operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/rss. Also, follow us on Twitter at @cigna, visit CIGNA’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/cigna and listen to CIGNA's podcast series with healthy tips and information at http://www.cigna.com/podcasts or by searching "CIGNA" in iTunes.