Cigna and Hartford HealthCare (HHC) have reached agreement on a new three-year contract, ensuring that Cigna customers will continue to have uninterrupted access to HHC hospitals, facilities and health care providers.
The agreement comes more than a month before the current multi-year contract would have expired, and will be effective November 1, 2018. It includes all Cigna commercial health plans in Connecticut.
Hospitals included in the agreement are: Hartford Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain and Southington, MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Backus Hospital in Norwich, Windham Hospital and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington — plus numerous other Hartford HealthCare programs and services, as well as about 2,000 physicians and medical professionals.
“Being able to agree on this contract a full month before the existing agreement’s expiration date eliminates any possibility of confusion and unnecessary disruption for our patients, providers and the communities we serve,” said Dr. James Cardon, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Integration Officer for Hartford HealthCare.
The agreement builds on a successful existing four-year collaboration between Cigna, Hartford HealthCare and its clinical integration organization, Integrated Care Partners (ICP). The organizations have been exchanging data to help identify, engage and help people with chronic conditions like diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and to improve care coordination.
“This agreement provides an opportunity to enhance our collaboration to address the health issues of the people we care for,” Cardon said. “On behalf of our patients, we welcome the opportunity to continue providing convenient access to exceptional care for the thousands of Cigna customers who rely on Hartford HealthCare’s services.”
“We’re pleased to reach this new agreement for the benefit of the customers and clients we serve,” said Wendy Sherry, president of Cigna Connecticut. “The agreement provides a framework to work collaboratively with Hartford HealthCare to implement innovative, personalized programs that will help advance quality and help make health care easier and more affordable.”