BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Jan. 31, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA
HealthCare members now have another powerful ally to support them through
cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival. CIGNA HealthCare has joined
forces with the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) to provide members in its
comprehensive oncology program with added personal support to cope with the
effects on physical, emotional, financial and spiritual health that living
with cancer brings.
"A diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming for individuals and their
family and friends, leading to many questions and concerns about prognosis,
treatment and quality of life," said David Cordani, president of CIGNA
HealthCare. "By pairing CIGNA HealthCare's programs with the LAF's
educational and support resources, we can help our members be more
knowledgeable, informed and empowered participants in their care."
"At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we provide the information and
tools to help people affected by cancer live life on their own terms," said
Doug Ulman, president of the LAF. "We are thrilled to work with CIGNA
HealthCare to further help survivors face the challenges and changes that
come with cancer."
Individuals enrolled in CIGNA HealthCare's comprehensive oncology
program are offered assistance from CIGNA case managers as they make
critical decisions regarding their medical care. As a part of this program,
members will also be offered the LIVESTRONG(TM) Survivorship Notebook and
educational materials, which are focused on helping individuals cope with
the physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer. In addition,
CIGNA case managers can also directly connect members who may have
immediate financial, legal or other support needs to receive additional
assistance through LIVESTRONG(TM) SurvivorCare. The LAF will also
coordinate directly with CIGNA HealthCare case managers to ensure that
CIGNA members who contact LIVESTRONG(TM) SurvivorCare independently are
made aware of and supported through the CIGNA HealthCare programs and
resources available through their benefits plan.
"Employers are increasingly looking to their health plan partners to
bring a strong wellness, prevention and consumer engagement orientation to
their care management programs, both to help employees achieve their
optimal health, and to address health care costs," said Den Bishop,
employee benefits practice leader for the benefits and risk advisory firm
Holmes Murphy. "CIGNA HealthCare's comprehensive oncology program and the
collaboration with the Lance Armstrong Foundation is a great example of the
emphasis on personalized support and focus on quality of care that are
hallmarks of the most innovative programs."
In addition to the resources provided to members through the
comprehensive oncology program, CIGNA HealthCare will inform its members
about the information and support resources the LAF provides by including a
link to the Foundation's website in the "Cancer Care Support" section of
the myCIGNA.com and the mycareallies.com personalized member web portals.
The services provided in alliance with the LAF are a key component of
the comprehensive oncology program that CIGNA HealthCare announced in 2006
and launched on January 1, 2007. This program, like each of CIGNA
HealthCare's many health advocacy programs, provides personalized
information and support from health coaches as members make decisions about
their care and treatment.
According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), approximately half of all
men and one-third of all women in the United States will develop cancer in
their lifetimes. Advances in detection and treatment have greatly improved
chances of recovery and survival, but even after overcoming the illness,
cancer survivors must often manage potentially lifelong consequences and
risks associated with their illness.
The CIGNA Comprehensive Oncology Program provides prevention, wellness
and condition management assistance to members including:
-- Online information and tools to help members make positive changes in
health behaviors to help prevent future illness, such as quitting the
use of tobacco;
-- Outreach to support early diagnosis and prevention, including
outreach to members who are overdue for recommended cancer
screenings to encourage them to schedule appropriate tests;
-- Support from case managers to help coordinate cancer patient care and
help eliminate potential gaps in care. Case manager support includes
helping members: better understand treatment options; engage in
effective pain and side-effect management; understand how to best use
their health benefits plan; and learn where to find other valuable
support resources;
-- Access to an extensive network of facilities and physicians
recognized for their expertise and outcomes in diagnosing and
treating cancer, as well as access to an extensive nationwide network
of CIGNA HealthCare-credentialed hospice providers; and,
-- Ongoing support for members as they manage their recovery and
transition to life as cancer survivors, including those who have
ongoing maintenance treatment or medication needs.
About CIGNA HealthCare
CIGNA HealthCare, based 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 advocacy. "CIGNA HealthCare" refers to certain
operations of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, which is an
operating subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation (NYSE: CI). Products and services
are provided by such operating subsidiaries, and not by CIGNA Corporation.
For more information, visit http://www.cigna.com.
About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) inspires and empowers people
affected by cancer. We help people with cancer focus on living; we believe
that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. From
the moment of diagnosis, the LAF provides the practical information and
tools people with cancer need to live life on their own terms. The LAF
serves its mission through advocacy, public health and research.
LIVESTRONG(TM) SurvivorCare is a program of the LAF in collaboration with
CancerCare, Patient Advocate Foundation and EmergingMed. Founded in 1997 by
cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF is located in
Austin, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.livestrong.org.
SOURCE CIGNA HealthCare
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Related links:
http://www.cigna.com
http://www.livestrong.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/165050.html/
CONTACT:
Amy Turkington of CIGNA HealthCare,
+1-860-226-3489, or amy.turkington@cigna.com; or Jennifer Long of
Lance Armstrong Foundation, +1- 512-279-8391, or
jennifer.long@laf.org
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