Cigna’s Behavioral Health Care Centers Re-Earn Full Accreditation from The National Committee for Quality Assurance

When it comes to your health, quality matters. All of Cigna's (NYSE: CI) behavioral health care centers nationwide earned Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in December 2011 (see also Cigna Corporation).

NCQA Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) Accreditation evaluates how well a health plan manages its entire delivery system, including physicians, hospitals and other facilities, and administrative services. NCQA reviews include rigorous on-site and off-site evaluations conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. A national oversight committee of physicians and behavioral health providers analyzes the team's findings and assigns an accreditation level based on the MBHO's performance compared to NCQA standards.

"This 'seal of approval' from NCQA demonstrates our dedication to helping our customers improve their health, well-being and sense of security wherever they are across the country," said Neal Cohen, vice president of operations for Cigna's behavioral health business. "Everyday the professionals who staff our behavioral health centers strive to provide quality service to improve health care quality and patient satisfaction. This acknowledgment from NCQA is a powerful validation of our ongoing commitment to quality and we are very pleased with the results."

The NCQA accreditations are granted for three years through Dec. 31, 2014, to Cigna's national operating unit in Eden Prairie, Minn., and three regional centers in Glendale, Calif.; Lutherville, Md.; and Dallas, Texas. This is the second NCQA accreditation cycle in which the national and regional centers were evaluated together. All of Cigna's behavioral health centers also earned Full Accreditation in 2009.

The centers provide services such as behavioral health care benefits management, credentialing and recredentialing of the behavioral health care professionals in Cigna's network, monitoring of feedback from people enrolled in Cigna's behavioral health plans, management of preventive health programs and oversight of the company's quality improvement initiatives.

"We are delighted, but not at all surprised, to learn that Cigna has received NCQA Full Accreditation," said Pat Haines, Senior Vice President of Benefits for The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). "This accreditation speaks to the high quality of the behavioral health programs, services and professionals that comprise the Cigna network, used by our plan members to improve their health and productivity in the workplace." 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 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 and vision care benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has approximately 70 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 the National Committee for Quality Assurance NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers. www.ncqa.org.