Cigna (NYSE:CI) and physicians with Orlando Health Physician Partners have launched a collaborative accountable care initiative to expand patient access to health care, improve care coordination, and achieve the "triple aim" of improved health outcomes (quality), lower total medical costs and increased patient satisfaction.

Collaborative accountable care is Cigna's approach to accomplishing the same population health goals as accountable care organizations, or ACOs. The program will benefit approximately 24,000 individuals covered by a Cigna health plan who receive care from among approximately 532 doctors affiliated with Orlando Health in 94 practice locations around Orlando.

"Providing patients with quality care and supporting them with a team from their doctor's office focused on coordinating that care will lead to better outcomes, a more positive patient experience, and improved management of medical costs," said Wayne Jenkins, M.D., President, Orlando Health Physician Partners. "We believe this model of practice is the future of the health care delivery system."

Under the program, Orlando Health doctors monitor and coordinate all aspects of an individual's medical care. Patients continue to go to their current physician and automatically receive 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 or heart disease.

"With this collaboration, we are helping to bring a new model of health care delivery to our customers in Orlando - one that emphasizes the value of health care services instead of the volume of care provided," said Scott Evelyn, president and general manager for Cigna in Florida. "Orlando Health is also a leading force for this change, and so is an ideal organization for us to collaborate with."

Critical to the program's benefits are registered nurses, employed by the physician practice, who are part of the physician-led care team and serve as clinical care coordinators. They help patients with chronic conditions or other health challenges navigate the health care system. For example, they identify patients discharged from the hospital who might be at risk for readmission, help patients get the follow-up care or screenings they need, identify any issues related to medications and help prevent chronic conditions from worsening.

The care coordinators use patient-specific data from Cigna to help them identify patients in need of these services and are aligned to a team of Cigna case managers to ensure a high degree of collaboration between Orlando Health physicians and Cigna that ultimately results in a better experience for the individual. Care coordinators can also help patients schedule appointments, provide health education and refer patients to the Cigna health management and wellness programs that may be available to them through their employer's benefit plan.

Cigna will compensate Orlando Health physicians for the medical and care coordination services they provide. Physicians will also be rewarded through a "pay for performance" structure if they meet targets for improving quality and lowering medical costs.

Cigna is now engaged in 52 collaborative accountable care initiatives in 22 states, encompassing nearly 510,000 Cigna customers and more than 14,000 doctors, including more than 6,500 primary care physicians and more than 7,500 specialists. Cigna launched its first collaborative accountable care program in 2008 and its goal is to have 100 of them in place with one million customers by the end of 2014.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.9 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of hospitals and care centers throughout Central Florida. The organization, which includes the area's only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; Health Central Hospital, South Lake Hospital (50 percent affiliation); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent affiliation) and MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando - the first affiliate of one of the nation's premier cancer centers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health's areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

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

Cigna Corporation
Amy Turkington, 440-934-5385
amy.turkington@cigna.com
or
Orlando Health Physician Partners
Kena Lewis, 321-841-8184
Kena.Lewis@OrlandoHealth.com