Cigna Collaborates With Chicago Area Physicians to Improve Health and Lower Costs

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cigna CI has entered into collaborative care programs with two key players in the Chicago health community – Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC and Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare – to improve access to health care, enhance care coordination and lower costs.

The programs are part of Cigna Collaborative Care, a value-based model that uses incentives to engage health care professionals and drive improved health, affordability and customer experience. Cigna Collaborative Care initially focused on large primary care physician groups and has expanded to include hospitals, small primary care practices and specialists, including OB/GYN practices.

Cigna's program with Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare aims to reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries and potentially avoidable complications and increase necessary vaccinations. Under the program, Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare physicians will look at a woman's health holistically across an entire episode of care. This includes the care the woman receives throughout pregnancy, including any pre-care, care during labor and any follow-up care up to 60 days after labor. This approach reduces the likelihood that a woman will have complications after delivery or will need to be readmitted to the hospital – both of which are key targets for measuring quality.

Cigna's program with Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC benefits approximately 3,240 individuals covered by a Cigna health plan, who receive care from more than 260 affiliated health care professionals. Under the program, Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC will monitor and coordinate all aspects of an individual's medical care. Critical to the program's benefits are the registered nurse clinical care coordinators, who are part of the Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC team that helps individuals with chronic conditions or other health challenges navigate the health care system.

Cigna will compensate Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC and Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare for the medical and care coordination services they provide. Additionally, both organizations may be rewarded through a "pay for value" structure if they meet targets for improving quality and lowering medical costs.

"Cigna first began our collaborative care program back in 2008 and have used key learnings from those early efforts to build a successful program that now encompasses more than 134 physician practices in 29 states," said Peter McCauley Sr., M.D., regional medical executive for Cigna's Northeast region, which includes the Midwest. "We are thrilled to expand this program to small physician groups and specialty care practices, including OB/GYN groups like Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare."

"The key to managing health costs is providing the right care in the right place," said Reinhold Llerena, M.D., medical director of Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC. "This program with Cigna gives us valuable data that we can use to improve the care our patients receive."

"Women who are pregnant have unique needs when it comes to their health and well-being," said Kenneth Nelson, MD, FACOG, president of Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare. "Through our joint efforts with Cigna, we are able to provide the right support and tools for women at every stage of their pregnancy and through delivery."

Cigna has been at the forefront of the accountable care organization movement since 2008 and now has 134 Cigna Collaborative Care arrangements with large physician groups. They span 29 states, reach nearly 1.5 million commercial customers and encompass nearly 60,000 doctors, including approximately 30,000 primary care physicians and 30,000 specialists.

Cigna has episodes-of-care arrangements for other medical specialties, including gastroenterology, oncology and orthopedics, and plans to introduce this type of arrangement for cardiology.

About Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC

Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC is a physician-driven organization that includes 120 primary care physicians and over 500 specialists who serve patients. The goal of Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC is to clinically integrate the collective activities of affiliated physicians and providers to arrange, facilitate, and coordinate patient-focused, cost effective, quality health care services for payer partners. Alexian Brothers Clinically Integrated Network, LLC is part of AMITA Health (www.AMITAhealth.org), an integrated health system serving communities in western and northwestern suburban Chicago.

About Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare

Midwest Center for Women's HealthCare (MCWHC) is the largest private practice OB/GYN physicians group in the state of Illinois, with nearly 60 physicians and certified nurse midwives located in 20 conveniently located offices throughout the north/northwest suburbs of Chicago. MCWHC's mission is "Exceptional Care, One Patient at a Time" and it strives to provide the highest quality healthcare to women in a warm and caring environment.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation 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 more than 89 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

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