Cigna (NYSE: CI) and Penobscot Community Health Care, Maine’s largest
and most comprehensive community health center, have launched an
initiative to help improve the oral health of those patients that have
certain chronic medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
Research has demonstrated a link between oral health and overall health,
and there is evidence that good oral health may contribute to reduced
risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetic complications.
Cigna will help Penobscot identify patients who might benefit the most
from proactive educational outreach and enhanced preventive oral health
services. Treating an individual’s condition with an integrated dental
and medical approach can help decrease the likelihood of health
complications which, in turn, can enhance the patient’s quality of life
while reducing costs.
“When we use all the tools and resources at our disposal, like the kind
of information and data that Cigna can provide in this initiative, it
allows us to provide more effective and impactful coordination of
medical and dental services. We are excited to be working with Cigna on
this quality of care initiative because we believe it will make a real
difference in the health and well-being of our patients with chronic
illnesses,” said Dr. Noah Nesin, chief quality officer at Penobscot
Community Health Care.
“Oral health education is a critical component to the success of this
initiative. The work we are doing with Penobscot Community Health Care
to help patients with certain chronic conditions understand how the
right oral health care, along with regular medical treatments, can
improve their overall health is expected to drive better health
outcomes, better service experiences and better savings,” said Miles
Hall, D.D.S., chief clinical dental director for Cigna.
A value-based compensation model is incorporated into this initiative.
Cigna will increase Penobscot Community Health Care’s dental fee
schedule for successfully meeting targeted measurements with regard to
its educational outreach, increase in customer use of preventive
services and increase in customer satisfaction.
In addition to participating in Cigna's extensive Dental PPO network,
Penobscot Community Health Care participates in Cigna’s collaborative
accountable care initiative for physician practices. These programs
focus on expanding patient access to health care, improving care
coordination, and achieving improved health, affordability and patient
experience. Collaborative accountable care is Cigna's approach to
accomplishing the same population health goals as accountable care
organizations, or ACOs, with a strong focus on high-risk individuals,
including people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes or
heart disease.
About Penobscot Community Health Care
Penobscot Community Health Care is a non-profit organization governed by
a board of community volunteers, incorporated in 1997. It provides
access to patient-centered, high-quality, comprehensive, integrated
health care services regardless of ability to pay. Focusing on the
health of every patient, Penobscot Community Health Care offers a
medical home with access to many health services in addition to primary
health care, such as dental, integrated mental health, pharmacy,
physical therapy, case management, health and nutrition education,
chronic disease management, speech and audiology services, and many
medical specialists. For more information, visit pchcbangor.org.
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 80 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014