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Cigna expands high-risk accountable care program
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 15, 2013
Cigna announced in April that its collaborative accountable care program is expanding to include new initiatives with physician groups in California, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. With the additions, Cigna has nearly 60 collaborative accountable care programs in 24 states covering more than 650,000 customers. Cigna’s goal is to reach about 100 initiatives with 1 million customers by 2014. The health plan launched its first collaborative accountable care program in 2008.
Collaborative accountable care focuses on high-risk individuals, including those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
The programs are designed to close gaps in care, such as missed health screenings and prescription refills, and reduce unnecessary use of hospital emergency departments, increase preventive health visits and improve follow-up care for people transitioning from hospital to home.