CIGNA reports quality information again in 2007 to help create national
benchmarks for clinical quality among PPO plans
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Sept. 25, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA
HealthCare HMO and point-of-service (POS) plans have again achieved gains
in key measures of health care quality that resulted in more members
receiving important preventive care and chronic care services, according to
data released today by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
NCQA's annual report includes information on dozens of measures of health
care quality.
For the second consecutive year, CIGNA HealthCare also provided NCQA
with information on quality indicators for PPO and consumer-driven health
care plans, this year encompassing 39 markets and approximately 4.3 million
members. CIGNA HealthCare was the first national health plan to voluntarily
commit to providing this information to NCQA, which is using the data to
help establish national quality benchmarks for PPO plans.
"We have participated in NCQA's measurement and reporting on health
care quality for many years and are pleased by our results this year and
our record of improvement over time," said Dr. Jeffrey Kang, chief medical
officer for CIGNA HealthCare. "We continue to enhance our health advocacy
programs, analytics and information tools to drive these ongoing
improvements, and we are pleased to extend our efforts to reach even more
of our members than ever before."
For the sixth consecutive year, an internal analysis of CIGNA
HealthCare's scores shows their combined national averages to be higher
than both the Quality Compass(R) national average, and the average of its
main competitors, for the majority of preventive and chronic care measures
used by NCQA in accrediting health care plans. The national average of
scores reported by CIGNA HealthCare plans in Quality Compass(R) across the
"effectiveness of care" and "access/availability of care" measures included
in the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS(R))
increased this year by 2.86% over 2006 levels. This year-over-year
improvement contributes to a 19.55% improvement over the last four years.
CIGNA HealthCare had notable improvements in measurements for colorectal
cancer screenings, childhood and adolescent immunizations, and eye exams
for people with diabetes, among other measures.
In addition to providing a wide range of health advocacy programs to
help members manage and improve their health, CIGNA also conducts outreach
to members who have not yet received preventive care according to
established clinical guidelines, to encourage them to do so. For example,
in 2006 reminder mailings were sent to over 518,000 female members to
remind them to have pap tests or mammograms. Nearly 300,000 families
received reminders about important childhood and adolescent immunizations,
and CIGNA's colorectal cancer screening initiative was expanded to include
over 320,000 members in 13 markets.
CIGNA HealthCare has a long history and record of success in seeking
external validation of its quality improvement programs. Twenty-two of
CIGNA HealthCare's 23 NCQA-accredited HMO and POS health plans hold
Excellent Accreditation status and one plan holds Commendable status. All
have earned Distinction for NCQA's Quality Plus Member Connections and
Physician and Hospital Quality standards. The Member Connections standards
assess a plan's Web-based and telephonic consumer decision support tools.
The Physician and Hospital Quality standards assess how well a plan
provides members with information about physicians and hospitals in its
network to help consumers make informed health care decisions. CIGNA
HealthCare will be undergoing NCQA accreditation review for its national
PPO plan later this year.
For more information about CIGNA HealthCare's broad array of health and
wellness programs, visit http://cigna.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=113&item=85
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" is a registered service
mark of CIGNA Intellectual Property, Inc., licensed for use by CIGNA
Corporation (NYSE: CI) and its operating subsidiaries, including
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. Products and services are
provided by such operating subsidiaries, and not by CIGNA Corporation. For
more information, visit http://www.cigna.com/.
SOURCE CIGNA HealthCare
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Related links:
http://www.cigna.com
CONTACT:
Amy Turkington of CIGNA HealthCare,
+1-440-934-5385, amy.turkington@cigna.com
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