Press Releases
CIGNA HealthCare to Launch Physician webVisits®
Bloomfield, CT, April 4, 2006 — CIGNA HealthCare and RelayHealth announced today that they have teamed up to offer eligible CIGNA HealthCare members access to "virtual house calls" for non-urgent health issues. Starting in July 2006, California-based CIGNA HealthCare members employed by select customers including CISCO Systems, Inc., will have the ability to use a broad suite of web-based physician communications services, including: online doctor's visits with their participating physicians, prescription refills and renewals, laboratory results review, and appointment scheduling.
The online doctor's visits, called webVisits®, offer health plan members the convenience of consulting with their physicians on approximately 145 non-urgent medical symptoms in a secure, web-based environment.
CIGNA HealthCare plans to expand the availability of this online communications service to other CIGNA HealthCare self-insured health plans effective in 2007 with members in California, Arizona, Florida and the Tri-State/New York metropolitan area — the broadest geographic reach offered by any health plan to date. webVisits will be available for those CIGNA HealthCare members whose employers elect to cover this benefit.
According to CIGNA HealthCare Chief Medical Officer Jeffrey Kang, M.D., "This initiative is designed to use the power of technology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the day-to-day doctor/patient relationship. Our solution can make consumer access to their doctor easier, help improve the doctor's office workflow and compensate physicians for their services."
"Our affiliation with RelayHealth is another way we can help meet our consumers' needs on their own terms," said CIGNA HealthCare National Segment President, Noel Obourn. "This tool offers members more choice and convenience in health care delivery. The need for internet-based consultations has been expressed by both our customers and the American College of Physicians. It is a solution that benefits consumers, doctors and employers."
As one of the initial companies to deploy the CIGNA HealthCare/RelayHealth online consultation solution, CISCO Systems Corporate Medical Director Dr. Jeff Rideout said: "This initiative is another step in CISCO's ongoing commitment to improving the quality of healthcare for our employees and their dependents. Whether it's in the office or traveling overseas, this service will provide our employees with easy access and quality care no matter where they are or what time zone they are in."
Access to RelayHealth will be available through CIGNA HealthCare members' personalized Web site, www.myCIGNA.com, and includes:
- webVisit Online Consultation — The RelayHealth webVisit can guide the patient through an interactive interview, help the member send a succinct message to the physician, and arm the doctor with an array of tools to efficiently reply to the patient;
- eScript™ Electronic Prescriptions — An electronic prescription service that enables physicians and staff to instantly transmit prescriptions to virtually any pharmacy in the U.S., and automatically screen for drug interactions;
- The Online Office — A communications tool set for administrative communications such as scheduling appointments, refilling prescriptions, and requesting referrals, reviewing lab results, and receiving appointment reminders.
Giovanni Colella, MD, president and chief executive officer of RelayHealth said, "We applaud this investment in innovation by CIGNA HealthCare, and we believe it demonstrates the synergy between RelayHealth and health plans that are empowering consumers with tools aimed at helping lower health care costs and improving productivity and health care quality.
"This agreement with CIGNA HealthCare helps solidify our leadership position in clinically sound, health care e-communication. Most importantly, it can bring secure, affordable online physician access to CIGNA HealthCare members in California, Arizona, Florida and New York."
About CIGNA HealthCare
CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, provides medical benefits plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health advocacy. "CIGNA HealthCare" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI). Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.
About RelayHealth Corporation
RelayHealth is the premier provider of secure, online healthcare communication services. The
RelayHealth platform connects patients, clinicians, payers and pharmacies to improve clinical
productivity, create administrative efficiencies, reduce costs and enhance patient satisfaction.
Medical practices can quickly deploy RelayHealth to realize immediate results such as increased
physician productivity and reduced phone volume. With the RelayHealth Interoperability Toolkit,
practices can also integrate RelayHealth with most major commercial or custom electronic
medical record and practice management systems. RelayHealth's robust suite of solutions for
the medical office includes secure messaging featuring the webVisit®, and end to end e-prescribing
through eScript™. The RelayHealth communications platform also enables care management and
continuity of care through tools such as a Patient Health Record that interoperates with
physician and payer clinical systems. For more information, visit www.relayhealth.com.
