At Evernorth^® Behavioral Health, we know that 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. Here is what providers told us in our 2024 annual survey:

• 56 percent said coordination typically happens via email, fax, or phone.
• 55 percent said they usually or always notify other medical providers when it is clinically appropriate.

We also heard about some of the barriers:

• Many patients do not have a designated primary care provider.
• Some patients are hesitant to sign release forms due to confidentiality concerns.

These insights help us shape our approach. We are actively reviewing our survey questions and internal processes to better reflect the evolving health care landscape and support meaningful coordination.

Helping patients understand whole person health

Whole person health—addressing both physical and mental well-being—is key to better outcomes. But not all patients understand how important it is for their providers to communicate.

That is why we are working to educate our customers about the value of care coordination. We are also enhancing the benefits and services that support this approach. Visit the Cigna Healthcare^® Newsroom to learn more about our commitment to Whole Person Health.

Sometimes, patients may need to be asked more than once for consent to share information. If they decline initially, do not hesitate to revisit the conversation later in treatment—it could make a difference.

Tools and resources to support you

We want to make coordination easier for you. The Evernorth Behavioral Administrative Guidelines (see Quality Management section) include helpful tools and best practices for coordinating medical and behavioral care.

*This article contains content generated by Copilot and has been reviewed by the author.