According to data released today by the independent non-profit National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), CIGNA plans continue to post gains in health care quality, with year-over-year improvements in more than 80 percent of measures tracked by NCQA, according to a CIGNA analysis of the NCQA data. For example, gains included more people getting screened for colorectal or breast cancer, and more people having good control of their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

As in past years, the analysis indicates that CIGNA continues to exceed the national average and the averages of its national competitors in a significant number of these measures. Most important, the data also show that accountable health plans like CIGNA that measure and publicly report on the quality of care and service made available to customers are providing value by improving health care quality over time.

“We are proud of the difference that CIGNA's programs continue to make in helping our customers receive quality care and enjoy better outcomes that improve quality of life, promote good health and reduce costs,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kang, chief medical officer for CIGNA. “NCQA’s data underscore just some of the many ways that quality-oriented health service organizations bring additional value to the health care system.”

CIGNA has participated in the NCQA program of measurement and accreditation for HMO and Point of Service plans for many years, and was the first national health plan to voluntarily commit, in 2004, to measuring and reporting on quality for its PPO-type plans. CIGNA has provided this information to NCQA annually since 2006. Its efforts helped the NCQA to establish national benchmarks for quality in these plans, thereby making it possible for many more people to use the NCQA’s “report cards” on health plan quality.

How much does improved quality save? Nearly $400 per person, per year, according to the CIGNA Quality Value Model©. In 2003 CIGNA developed the Quality Value Model to demonstrate the costs savings that can be attributed to quality care. The Quality Value Model is a mathematical model that quantifies the estimated savings that result from compliance with 25 of the measures of medical effectiveness examined by the NCQA.

In calculating savings, the model estimates direct medical costs and indirect costs of lost productivity avoided because an individual received appropriate care, and compares them to the cost to comply with the measure, such as the cost of an office visit and/or certain test or procedures. Based on CIGNA's 2008 data, the total savings attributable to compliance with these evidence-based standards of care is estimated to be approximately $388 per person per year, - $167 in direct medical costs and $221 in indirect productivity savings. The Quality Value Model will be updated this fall with the newly available 2009 data.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 46 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=18.