Cigna Healthcare, the health benefits division of The Cigna Group, announced the first in a series of planned actions to improve the healthcare experience for providers and the patients you serve.

The actions are part of a multi-year commitment by the company to help make the healthcare experience simpler and more transparent for the millions of customers it serves.

For healthcare providers, a key component of the plan involves accelerating and simplifying the process for physicians to submit claims and prior authorization requests.

One of the most common reasons that a prior authorization decision is delayed is because of incomplete information in the initial submission. That’s why Cigna Healthcare is expanding digital communication options for physicians, including through its provider portal or directly through the electronic medical record. This will give physicians an easier way to submit all the necessary information the first time, improving turnaround time and accuracy.

“We are committing to significantly improving the prior authorization process for patients and for those providing care,” said Dr. Amy Flaster, Chief Medical Officer, Cigna Healthcare. “We want to reduce the burden on our physician partners by making it easier to submit a complete authorization request quickly and correctly the first time, expediting the path to getting needed services approved and giving providers their time back so they can invest it in what matters most: patient care.”

Additionally, several components of the plan directly support the overall experience of your patients.

As we travel down this path together, we will look for opportunities to engage with provider feedback. We look forward to sharing additional information and details with you in the coming weeks and months to keep you apprised on our progress towards these goals.  Please continue to use this page as a resource for ongoing information.