October 2025

In case you missed them, here is a recap of and links to all of the behavioral health articles that were published in the Provider Newsroom in October.

Expedited appeal submission tips

(October 22, 2025) There may be times when you have an urgent need to appeal a coverage denial or partial coverage denial for your patient and receive a decision very quickly to speed the start of treatment.

Avoiding delays in expedited appeals: reduced administrative burden, better patient outcomes

(October 22, 2025) When time is of the essence, delayed or denied claims can have negative effects for both providers and patients. Your firsthand knowledge of your patient’s medical history, current health condition, and urgency of their treatment needs is an advantage in advocating for rapid review and prior authorization of care.

Preventive care saves lives and providers play a vital role in making that happen

(October 17, 2025) Early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. Preventive care screenings can identify cancer at earlier, more treatable stages, often before symptoms appear. Yet, despite their proven benefits, many eligible patients still miss out on these potentially life-saving tests.

Lung cancer screening: Start a life-saving conversation

(October 17, 2025) Lung cancer kills more Americans than any other cancer, yet a staggering 90 percent of eligible individuals aren’t getting screened. Your guidance can make all the difference. Learn about a few conversation starters.

Introducing new precertification check and dashboard features on CignaforHCP.com

(October 16, 2025) Delivering on our commitment to simplify the care experience, we are introducing new capabilities on the Cigna for Health Care Professionals portal (CignaforHCP.com) that include a real-time precertification check feature for medical services, a new precertification dashboard view for submitted requests, and the ability to appeal denied requests directly within the portal.

Tips for enhancing women’s health care experiences

(October 15, 2025) Women have unique health care needs that require specialized attention throughout all stages of life. To improve health care experiences for women, it is essential to acknowledge their distinct health needs and ensure that health care is responsive, respectful, and supportive

2024 behavioral quality and utilization management key findings

(October 15, 2025) Quality care is at the heart of what you do – and it’s our mission, too. Learn what you helped us achieve in 2024 – and what’s next.

Start Hearing to replace Amplifon as the national hearing aid supplier on January 1, 2026

(October 15, 2025) Effective January 1, 2026, Start Hearing will replace Amplifon Hearing Health Care (Amplifon) as the national provider of digital and digitally programmable analog hearing aids and supplies for your patients who have a hearing aid benefit with their Cigna Healthcare medical plan.

Specialty Medical Injectables with Reimbursement Restriction

(October 15, 2025) Our Specialty Medical Injectables with Reimbursement Restriction guidelines state that certain injectables must be dispensed and their claims must be submitted by a Cigna Healthcare–contracted specialty pharmacy, unless otherwise authorized by Cigna Healthcare. View updates to the Specialty Medical Injectables with Reimbursement Restriction list.

How our national virtual care provider network can support your care and treatment plans

(October 15, 2025) Accessing care can sometimes be a challenge for patients, leading them to postpone or skip important preventive care and chronic condition management appointments. To improve patient access, close health gaps, and support a positive care experience for both our contracted primary care providers and their patients, we have expanded our national virtual care network.

Help combat antibiotic resistance during cold and flu season: Best practice for your patients’ health and HEDIS compliance

(October 15, 2025) With the arrival of cold and flu season, your office will likely see a rise in patients with respiratory infections. Patients often anticipate receiving an antibiotic; however, these typically viral illnesses cannot be effectively treated with antibiotics.

Celebrating Health Literacy Month: Highlighting the flu vaccine

(October 13, 2025) October is Health Literacy Month and it’s a great time to highlight the importance of the flu vaccine, a vital tool in protecting our communities during flu season. Read about strategies to help patients make informed decisions about the flu vaccine.

New Mexico language assistance services requirements(October 13, 2025) New Mexico law requires health plans to provide language assistance program (LAP) services to eligible customers who have limited English proficiency (LEP) and/or differing hearing abilities that qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for sign language. Learn how Cigna Healthcare supports this requirement.

California language assistance services requirements

(October 13, 2025) California law requires health plans to provide language assistance program (LAP) services to eligible customers with limited English proficiency (LEP). Learn how Cigna Healthcare supports this requirement.

Partnering for inclusivity: Supporting providers in meeting language assistance services requirements

(October 9, 2025) Language barriers can pose significant obstacles to effective communication between patients and health care providers, hindering the delivery of care and ultimately affecting patient outcomes. Cigna Healthcare-contracted providers have access to discounted rates of up to 50 percent on professional language assistance services for eligible patients.

Documenting the correct phase of illness

(October 7, 2025) Coding accuracy depends on specificity in both documentation and code selection. This article covers important reminders on coding guidelines for reporting the correct phase of an illness and differentiating between current and historical conditions.

A new age in women’s health care puts the reproductive journey in the spotlight

(October 6, 2025) Women’s health care is at a crossroads: industry research acknowledges that women have unique health care needs, different risk factors and symptoms from men, and a variety of barriers to care— including economic, social, and environmental.

Administrative reminders to support your practice and collaboration

(October 1, 2025) Read about key administrative reminders that will help us to support your practice and ensure smooth collaboration.