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Cigna and Scripps Health Form Alliance to Deliver Innovative Health Plans in San Diego

CI | January 11, 2017

Cigna and Scripps Health Form Alliance to Deliver Innovative Health Plans in San Diego

Scripps Health and Cigna (NYSE: CI) have entered into an alliance to offer employers in and around San Diego integrated health care products designed to improve access, quality and affordability while making the health care experience simpler.

Effective April 1, 2017, Scripps and Cigna will jointly offer HMO health plans branded as Scripps Select HMO to employers with at least 100 employees. Employers can choose a fully-insured plan, or they can opt for other funding arrangements.

The alliance agreement includes pay-for-value incentives that encourage quality care and appropriate use of resources. The ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes and provide sustained affordability and value for employers and their employees.

“With providers, payers, employers and individuals working together, Scripps and Cigna are building an innovative health care model that encourages care coordination to achieve common goals – better health, more affordability and an ideal patient experience,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps.

“Our joint approach to health care is different from a traditional one because it’s based on very close integration between Cigna and Scripps Health,” said Gene Rapisardi, president and general manager for Cigna's Southern California and Nevada markets. “We have a unified purpose – to put the customers we serve at the center of all we do, and help them access affordable and personalized care. We recognize that health care is local, so our goal is to create the premier local plan that exceeds the expectations of San Diego employers and their employees.”

Rapisardi noted that while the Scripps Select HMO plans provide health care coverage within the San Diego area, local employers with workforces in multiple markets have the option to purchase additional coverage through Cigna; for example, a San Diego employer with employees based in Sacramento or Dallas would be able to cover those employees.

Plans sold through the alliance include medical, behavioral health, pharmacy, nurse case management and health coaching services. Employers also have the option to add Cigna dental and vision plans, as well as group life and disability plans.

Care coordination and health improvement programs are key components of the new model. Individuals will benefit from easier navigation when care is needed, new tools for health and wellness and better access to clinicians. The aim is to realize long-term, sustainable savings while helping individuals achieve better health and greater satisfaction with their health care services.

The new Scripps Select HMO plans will provide access to the full range of Scripps facilities and its affiliated physicians, including Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Mercy Hospital campuses in Chula Vista and San Diego and Prebys Cardiovascular Institute; as well as Scripps Clinics and Scripps Coastal Medical Centers, specialty centers, Scripps home health and hospice services and Scripps HealthExpress. In addition, Scripps Physicians Medical Group and Mercy Physicians Medical Group are contracted providers.

Cigna and Scripps already have a solid track record of working together successfully through Cigna Collaborative Care, a value-based reimbursement arrangement to reward doctors for improved quality and cost that launched in early 2015.

“We see this alliance as an extension of our earlier collaboration with Scripps,” Rapisardi said.

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 Cigna HealthCare of California, Inc., Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America, Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, or their affiliates. 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 more than 90 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna^®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

About Scripps Health

Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a nonprofit integrated health care delivery system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats more than 700,000 patients annually through the dedication of 3,000 affiliated physicians and more than 15,000 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, hospice and home health care services, 30 outpatient centers and clinics, and hundreds of affiliated physician offices throughout the region.

Recognized as a leader in disease and injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment, Scripps is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine and wireless health care. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Scripps has been ranked four times as one of the nation’s best health care systems by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation’s best and Scripps is regularly recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information can be found at www.scripps.org.