Fletcher Allen, CIGNA Reach Accord

Fletcher Allen Health Care and CIGNA HealthCare announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow individuals served by CIGNA HealthCare to continue to receive services at in-network rates from Fletcher Allen. Both organizations described this as a significant step that will extend their contractual relationship without interruption to patient care. The new contract will run from February 1, 2009 through January 31, 2011, replacing the current contract which would have expired the end of this month.
"We are pleased that our organizations have successfully concluded our recent negotiations. We believe that with this contract, Fletcher Allen and CIGNA have been able to balance fair reimbursement to Fletcher Allen while controlling costs for individuals and their employers throughout the State," said Don Curry, president and general manager of CIGNA HealthCare of New England. "We look forward to working with Fletcher Allen to provide effective and affordable health care for Vermont residents."
"We have all worked diligently to reach this agreement," said Roger Deshaies, chief financial officer, Fletcher Allen Health Care. "Vermonters rely on us to provide efficient and effective trauma care as well as care for the most serious cases of heart disease, stroke and cancer. This contract will assure continuity of care for the many Vermont residents whose health care insurance is provided by CIGNA who receive their care at Fletcher Allen. As one of the state's largest employers, we are well aware of the cost of health insurance, and as a health care provider, we are doing everything we can to provide efficient high-quality care." About CIGNA
CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 47 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. With more than 30 patient care sites and 100 outreach clinics, programs and services throughout the region, Fletcher Allen is committed to being a national model for the delivery of high-quality academic health care for a rural region. For more information about Fletcher Allen, visit our Web site at www.fletcherallen.org.