HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cigna (NYSE: CI) and Integrated Care Partners, Hartford HealthCare’s physician-led clinical integration organization that will play a critical role in improving how patient care is delivered, have launched a collaborative care initiative to improve patient access to health care; enhance care coordination; and better achieve the goal of improved health, affordability and patient experience. The program became effective April 1, and is Cigna's seventh collaborative care initiative in Connecticut.
Cigna Collaborative Care is Cigna's approach to accomplishing the same population health goals as accountable care organizations, or ACOs. The program will benefit nearly 16,000 individuals covered by a Cigna health plan who receive care from more than 1,200 Integrated Care Partners primary care doctors and specialists.
“A clinically integrated organization is designed to remove barriers to the coordination of patient care,” said Jim Cardon, Hartford HealthCare’s executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer. ”Across Connecticut, Hartford HealthCare and our providers are well known for the quality care we deliver to our communities. By working collaboratively with payers such as Cigna and focusing on improved care coordination and preventive care, we will lead the movement toward higher-quality care, better health and an enhanced patient experience.”
“This collaboration presents an excellent opportunity to help create a better health care delivery system,” said Dr. Robert Hockmuth, Cigna’s senior medical director for Connecticut. “When we reward doctors for results and focus on prevention, wellness, health improvement and care coordination, we can create a system that works for everyone who uses, pays for or delivers health care.”
Under the program, Integrated Care Partners will monitor and coordinate all aspects of an individual’s medical care. Patients will continue to go to their current physician and automatically receive the benefits of the program. Individuals who are enrolled in a Cigna health plan and later choose to seek care from an Integrated Care Partners doctor will also have access to the benefits of the program. There are no changes in any plan requirements regarding referrals to specialists. Patients most likely to see the immediate benefits of the program are those who need help managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Critical to the program’s benefits are the registered nurse clinical care coordinators, employed by Hartford HealthCare, 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 will enhance care by using patient-specific data from Cigna to help identify patients being discharged from the hospital who might be at risk for readmission, as well as patients who may be overdue for important health screenings or who may have skipped a prescription refill. The care coordinators are part of the physician-led care team that will help patients get the follow-up care or screenings they need, identify potential complications related to medications and help prevent chronic conditions from worsening.
Care coordinators can also help patients schedule appointments, provide health education and refer patients to Cigna's clinical support programs, such as disease management programs for diabetes, heart disease and other conditions; and lifestyle management programs, such as programs for tobacco cessation, weight management and stress management.
Cigna will compensate Integrated Care Partners for the medical and care coordination services it provides. Additionally, Integrated Care Partners may be rewarded through a “pay for value” structure if it meets 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 89 Cigna Collaborative Care arrangements with large physician groups in 27 states, reaching nearly 910,000 commercial customers and encompassing more than 36,000 doctors, including more than 18,000 primary care physicians and more than 18,000 specialists. Cigna expects to achieve its goal to have one million customers getting care through 100 of these arrangements in 2014.
Cigna Collaborative Care is one component of the company's approach to physician engagement for health improvement, which also includes the innovative Cigna-HealthSpringSM care model for Medicare customers. Today, well over one million Cigna and Cigna-HealthSpring customers benefit from more than 250 engaged physician relationships across 31 states, with more than 63,000 doctors participating, including more than 24,000 primary care physicians and more than 39,000 specialists.
About Integrated Care Partners
Integrated Care Partners (ICP) is a physician-led organization dedicated to delivering personalized, comprehensive and coordinated care to patients. As a community of physicians, ICP defines performance objectives, quality standards and evidence-based medicine protocols; forges partnerships with health plans, employers and providers; and establishes requirements for participation. ICP’s mission is to be a high-performing network of integrated providers, successfully delivering value-based population health.
About Hartford HealthCare
Hartford HealthCare is the premiere health care network in Connecticut with more than 16,000 employees and more than $2 billion in net revenue. The health system is dedicated to providing patients with an exceptional, coordinated care experience and a single, high standard of service. Hartford HealthCare includes Hartford Hospital; Backus Hospital; The Hospital of Central Connecticut; MidState Medical Center; Windham Hospital and the Institute of Living psychiatric center which is part of a greater Behavioral Health Network including Rushford and Natchaug Hospital; VNA HealthCare, VNA East; Clinical Laboratory Partners with locations statewide; Hartford HealthCare Medical Group; Connecticut Senior Health Services, which includes five assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities; and the Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network. A hallmark of the system's vision is to strengthen access to care close to home for patients by enhancing local health care delivery, bringing the latest technology and discoveries, clinical excellence and innovation to the patient and to the community.
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 approximately 80 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
