September 2025

In case you missed them, here is a recap of and links to all of the U.S. commercial articles that were published in the Provider Newsroom in September.

Enhancing care for diverse patient populations: Cultural resources for providers

(September 30, 2025) As your patient population becomes increasingly diverse, delivering personalized care requires thoughtful consideration, adaptability, and flexibility. Culturally responsive care goes beyond addressing specific health needs, associated with race and ethnicity ‒ it also involves understanding the unique factors that impact each patient’s experience within the health care system.

Latest news for Cigna Healthcare providers

(September 29, 2025) Wondering what’s been added since your last visit to the Provider Newsroom? Access a summary of the latest news by month.

Boosting flu vaccine confidence: Essential insights for providers

(September 26, 2025) It’s crucial to encourage vaccinations for all patients six months and older. Studies consistently show that recommendations from health care providers strongly influence vaccination decisions, with 58.4 percent of patients stating they would get a flu shot based on their provider’s recommendation alone.

Breast cancer screening: A vital routine for life-saving outcomes

(September 26, 2025) Breast cancer screening is critical in reducing mortality rates, yet the incidence of the disease continues to rise. Currently, breast cancer is projected to account for 32 percent of all new cancer cases among women in the United States.

Access Changes to Availity Essentials

(September 26, 2025) Since Availity Essentials became the provider portal for Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage, some providers have had access to both Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage and Cigna Healthcare and Individual & Family Plans (IFP) content. Beginning October 10, these providers will need to access the Cigna for Health Care Professionals website (CignaforHCP.com) for their patients with IFP coverage, as this content will no longer be available on Availity.

Prostate cancer screening: Closing the gap and saving lives through early detection

(September 26, 2025) Prostate cancer has the widest racial disparity in cancer-related death nationwide. Early detection through screening is vital‒particularly for high-risk populations—and health care providers play a crucial role in facilitating this process.

FDA MedWatch(September 25, 2025) MedWatch, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) program, alerts providers about product recalls, safety labeling changes, and new risks, while allowing providers to report adverse events or quality concerns directly to the FDA. As a first point of contact for many patients, you are uniquely positioned to observe and act on emerging safety concerns.

Provider – Frequently asked questions (Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage name change)

(September 25, 2025) The Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage brand, which includes Medicare Advantage, Supplemental Benefits, and Medicare Part D, is changing to HealthSpring in January 2026. Learn more about what this means for you and your patients with this plan coverage.

HealthSpring Benefit Plans Are Rolling Out for 2026

(September 25, 2025) In preparation for our brand change to HealthSpring, we’re rolling out new benefit plans under the HealthSpring name during this year’s annual enrollment period. That means starting in January 2026, you will begin seeing patients with HealthSpring benefit coverage. Check out our provider home page at HealthSpring.com/Providers.

Outpatient hospital physical and occupational therapy site-of-care review

(September 22, 2025) Effective October 1, American Specialty Health will begin managing the medical necessity review of outpatient hospital sites of care for Cigna Healthcare–contracted providers who render physical therapy and occupational therapy (PT/OT) services for patients with commercial plans and Individual & Family Plans. ASH will also be responsible for medical necessity review of requested PT/OT services.

Changes to your CignaforHCP portal login screens

(September 21, 2025) Beginning September 27, users will experience newly designed login screens on the Cigna for Health Care Professionals portal (CignaforHCP.com). This enhancement is part of an ongoing effort to provide a more streamlined user experience.

Changes to your Provider.Evernorth portal login screens(September 21, 2025) Beginning September 27, users will experience newly designed login screens on the Evernorth provider portal (Provider.Evernorth.com). This enhancement is part of an ongoing effort to provide a more streamlined user experience.

Working together for better health: Enhancing continuity and coordination of care

(September 18, 2025) When medical and behavioral health providers work together, patients benefit. That is why we are committed to supporting continuity and coordination of care across our network. Every year, we check in with our in-network behavioral health providers to understand how coordination is happening—and identify opportunities for improvement. Learn insights from our 2024 survey.

Specialty pharmacy coding update: Soliris IV infusion medication

(September 18, 2025) Beginning with dates of service on or after April 1, 2025, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code J1299 is required for the prior authorization of Soliris, in alignment with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week: Talk with Patients about Reducing Risks

(September 17, 2025) September 22–26 is Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a national initiative aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of falls and promoting strategies to prevent them. It is an opportunity for you to discuss the importance of fall prevention with your patients and educate them on safeguarding themselves against potential falls.

Earn No-Cost Continuing Education Credit for Culture of Caring Webinars

(September 11, 2025) We offer providers a suite of no-cost webinars that provide cultural awareness training and continuing education credit. Credits vary by course. They include continuing medical education credits and continuing education units.

Guidelines for safely tapering patients from benzodiazepines

(September 10, 2025) As you know, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, seizures, social phobia, and panic disorder. Regular use of BZDs, followed by sudden discontinuation or rapid dosage reductions, can result in severe and possibly fatal withdrawal symptoms.

Timely communication of test results

(September 9, 2025) No one wants a missed or delayed reporting of a test result – regardless of the outcome. To ensure test results are communicated appropriately, we encourage providers to implement test result policies and procedures surrounding this process.

Cervical cancer: A provider’s guide to prevention, communication, and quality care

(September 9, 2025) Cervical cancer is highly preventable when detected early through routine screenings and vaccinations. Health care providers are essential in guiding patients through screening decisions, educating them about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and ensuring equal access to preventive care.

New Reimbursement Policy for Professional Evaluation and Management Services Claims effective October 1, 2025

(September 9, 2025) This medical reimbursement policy (R49) will take effect on October 1, aligning with industry standards and American Medical Association coding guidelines. It applies to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) evaluation and management (E/M) codes 99204‒99205, 99214‒99215, and 99244‒99245, focusing on billing and coding accuracy.

Professional claims for evaluation and management services

(September 9, 2025) Cigna Healthcare will implement a new reimbursement policy, Evaluation and Management Coding Accuracy (R49), to review professional claims billed with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) evaluation and management (E/M) codes 99204‒99205, 99214‒99215, and 99244‒99245. Learn more by reading an FAQ.

The power of the provider to drive HPV vaccine acceptance

(September 3, 2025) Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States and a leading cause of several cancers. Evidence shows that a strong recommendation from a health care provider is the most influential factor in vaccination decisions, underscoring the importance of your role in safeguarding patients from HPV-related cancers.

Antidepressant Medication Management — Improving HEDIS measures and patient outcomes

(September 2, 2025) Collectively, the 15 unique Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures for behavioral health help ensure that our customers — and your patients — receive affordable quality care when and where they need it most. As one of the behavioral health HEDIS measures, Antidepressant Medication Management (AMM) uses two different rates to assess adults 18 years of age and older with a diagnosis of major depression.