CIGNA Joins CAQH Board; Expands Major Collaborative Effort to Simplify Healthcare Administration

WASHINGTON and PHILADELPHIA, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing efforts to simplify healthcare administration, CIGNA has joined CAQH® as a member company and will also participate on the CAQH Board of Directors, the organizations said today. CIGNA is among a growing list of industry organizations that contribute their expertise to the development and adoption of new ways to make healthcare administration more efficient. CAQH members now provide healthcare coverage for an estimated 156 million insured lives.

"CIGNA has been a long-time supporter of CAQH initiatives to streamline administrative processes that burden the healthcare system," said Matt Manders, president, U.S. service, clinical and specialty for CIGNA and the company's representative on the CAQH board. "Our goal is to improve the experience that healthcare professionals and customers have with us by making healthcare simpler and easier for everyone. CAQH's efforts support that goal and we are pleased to be a member organization."

CAQH, the only nonprofit organization dedicated to simplifying healthcare administration, is a leader in the development and implementation of innovative solutions designed to promote quality interactions between plans, providers and other stakeholders. "It is through collaborative efforts with organizations like CIGNA that CAQH can realize the full potential of its initiatives and impact the national dialogue," said Robin Thomashauer, executive director, CAQH.

CIGNA continues to expand its use of CAQH offerings, including the Universal Provider Datasource® (UPD®), an online data collection service that today supports almost 900,000 affiliated physicians and allied healthcare professionals, and the Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange® (CORE®), which enables providers to access streamlined eligibility and benefits data at the point of service. The CORE rules help improve the flow and data content of administrative exchanges between providers and health plans for more than 11 million CIGNA customers.

About CAQH

CAQH serves as a catalyst for industry collaboration on initiatives that simplify healthcare administration for health plans and providers, resulting in a better care experience for patients and caregivers. CAQH solutions help promote quality interactions between plans, providers and other stakeholders; reduce costs and frustrations associated with healthcare administration; facilitate administrative healthcare information exchange; and encourage administrative and clinical data integration. Visit www.caqh.org for more information.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE: CI) is a global health service and financial company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries in the United States provide an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance. CIGNA offers products and services in over 27 countries and jurisdictions and has approximately 65 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com.

SOURCE CAQH