Cigna-HealthSpring Awarded Additional Contracts for Texas' Medicaid STAR+PLUS Program in the Northea
Cigna-HealthSpring Awarded Additional Contracts for Texas' Medicaid STAR+PLUS Program in the Northeast Medicaid Rural Service Area
Cigna-HealthSpring Benefits for Northeast STAR+PLUS Beneficiaries Begin September 1, 2014
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cigna-HealthSpring, a Cigna company (NYS: CI) and leading health service company serving Medicare and Medicaid customers, today announced that they will expand their Texas STAR+PLUS service area to include the Northeast Medicaid Rural Service Area (MRSA) for service beginning September 1, 2014.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) selected Cigna-HealthSpring to serve the STAR+PLUS population in Northeast Texas based on Cigna-HealthSpring's strong track record of providing Texans access to high quality care at an affordable cost. The Northeast MRSA includes 34 counties in Northeast Texas: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Cooke, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Marion, Montague, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood.
Cigna-HealthSpring has a history of providing access to high quality, coordinated health care in Texas. The company has offered Medicare Advantage plans in the state since 2002 and currently serves more than 100,000 Medicare Advantage customers in Texas. Cigna-HealthSpring has participated in Texas' Medicaid STAR+PLUS program since the program expanded in 2011 and currently serves more than 24,000 STAR+PLUS customers in the Dallas/Fort Worth market and Rio Grande Valley.
"We have a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing both patients and providers in the region and within the Medicaid and Medicare program," said Benjy Green, executive director of Cigna-HealthSpring Medicaid in Texas. "That experience combined with our focus on care coordination greatly strengthens our ability to successfully serve senior and disabled populations and I believe residents in Northeast Texas will see what an excellent choice Cigna-HealthSpring STAR+PLUS is as they learn more about the value of the benefits we offer."
The STAR+PLUS program combines health and long-term services to elderly and people with disabilities, enabling them to achieve improved health and wellness access, quality outcomes at home or in assisted living facilities. Under the STAR+PLUS program, Cigna-HealthSpring arranges for a continuum of care with a variety of options and flexibility to meet individual needs.
Through STAR+PLUS, Cigna-HealthSpring provides eligible enrollees with a wide range of quality health care services including:
Primary and specialty provider care
Medical supplies
Mental health care and substance use disorder treatment
Hospital care
The STAR+PLUS managed care program has yielded proven, positive results for beneficiaries. HHSC reports that STAR+PLUS beneficiaries enrolled in managed care have lower rates of inpatient stays and ER visits. Additionally, HHSC reports improved clinical outcomes and improved access to care when compared to Medicaid beneficiaries not enrolled in managed care.
HHSC selected Cigna-HealthSpring as one of two health plans to serve the approximately 42,000 STAR+PLUS customers in Northeast Texas beginning September 1, 2014. STAR+PLUS beneficiaries may choose to select one of the two health plans or be automatically enrolled by the proposed program start date of September 1, 2014.
To enroll in STAR+PLUS, call the STAR+PLUS Helpline at 1-800-964-2777 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time, or visit www.yourtexasbenefits.com. To learn more about the Cigna-HealthSpring STAR+PLUS plan, call Cigna-HealthSpring toll-free at 1-877-966-9272 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, or visit http://starplus.mycignahealthspring.com.
About Cigna-HealthSpring
Cigna-HealthSpring, a Cigna company (NYS: CI) , is one of the country's leading health plans focused on delivering care to the senior population, predominately through Medicare Advantage and other Medicare and Medicaid products. Cigna-HealthSpring serves over one million customers in locations across the country. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Cigna-HealthSpring operates health plans in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. Cigna-HealthSpring also offers a national stand-alone prescription drug plan. For more information, visit www.cignahealthspring.com.
Cigna-HealthSpring
Graham Harrison, 615.234.6710
graham.harrison@cigna.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America Tennessee Texas
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