Cigna Announces Service to Improve Outcomes for Complex Cancer Patients | Healthcare Innovation
On May 5, Cigna Corporation announced via a press release a new service to improve health outcomes for patients with complex cancers.
The release states that “The service, powered by Cigna’s health services business Evernorth, connects patients and their community oncologists with cancer subspecialty experts at National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated centers. By connecting community oncologists with national subspecialty experts, patients benefit from the latest developments in the rapidly-advancing fields of diagnostic innovations and evidence-based research, all while keeping the patient’s care close to home and family.”
That said, “In a pilot with select Cigna health plan customers, 85 percent of eligible community oncologists and their patients participated in the program by having their treatment plans reviewed by expert oncologists in the PinnacleCare network of medical centers of excellence across the country. Among the reviewed cases, 40 percent of patients benefited from recommendations for alternative tests and therapy choices based on the newest advancements in research and treatment innovations.”
The release explains that Cigna uses proprietary technology that detects patients that were recently diagnosed with a complex cancer that are most likely to benefit from a consultative review. The diagnoses are reviewed by cancer subspeciality experts from one of approximately 20 NCI-designated cancer centers to suggest tests, therapies, or clinical trial opportunities.
Additionally, the provider consult services supplements Cigna’s suite of oncology solutions that provide personalized case management, mental health services, financial support services, and partnerships with oncology providers, and evidence-based strategies to manage costs associated with medication for patients and their plan sponsors.
The provider consult service is now available for select Cigna clients and is expanding for both Cigna clients and clients of eviCore—an Evernorth company that manages medical benefits.
Scott Josephs, M.D., chief medical officer of Cigna was quoted in the release saying that “Cancer is one of the most complex, fragmented, and evolving medical conditions in healthcare. Through the power of Cigna’s family of companies, we have best-in-class capabilities across the continuum of care to predict, identify, and connect patients with the care they need, in partnership with their treating oncologists. This consultative service is an important expansion of Cigna’s integrated approach to supporting patients throughout their cancer journey to drive better health outcomes and lower costs.”