Cigna Center of Excellence Designation

Author: IAFF Center of Excellence Staff

February 23, 2021

IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery Awarded Cigna Center of Excellence Designation

Distinction based on patient outcomes, cost efficiency

Upper Marlboro, MD – February 23, 2021 – With a wide range of behavioral health and substance use hospital and residential treatment locations across the country, the Cigna Centers of Excellence program helps customers identify the most appropriate care. Recognized for quality care and cost efficiency, the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery has received the Cigna Center of Excellence designation for adult mental health treatment.

“One of the best ways we can help customers access simple, affordable, and predictable health care is by working with providers to ensure the care they are delivering is high quality and the Cigna Center of Excellence designation is an honor that only those top providers can earn,” said Dr. Doug Nemecek, Chief Medical Officer, Cigna Behavioral Health, Inc. “By interacting with behavioral health providers who have earned this distinction, customers can trust that they are in good hands.”

Since 2017, the IAFF Center of Excellence has treated more than 1,500 professional fire fighters, paramedics and dispatchers from 49 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces. The facility is one-of-a-kind as the only program within the U.S. specific to treatment for fire service members and specializes in care for post-traumatic stress, substance use disorder and other related behavioral health issues.

“It is an honor to be recognized by Cigna as one of their Centers of Excellence. As our name states, our team is committed to excellence on campus, all to best serve those who give back to their communities day in and day out. We are very proud that this work has led to being considered one of Cigna’s top providers.”

The Cigna Centers of Excellence program evaluates patient outcomes and cost data for network-participating providers. Facilities can receive a score of up to three stars for patient outcomes and three stars for cost efficiency. If a facility attains at least five stars, it is designated as a Cigna Center of Excellence.

The program is designed to meet the growing demand of customers for quality and cost information that can help them make informed choices about where to seek care. Patient outcomes and cost-efficiency metrics are based on Cigna methodology, which uses nationally recognized standards that include:

  • National accreditation
  • Total number of annual admissions
  • Readmission rates
  • Total cost per episode
  • Seven-day ambulatory follow-up
  • Discharge to a network-participating provider

For more information on the IAFF Center of Excellence, please contact us or call 877-482-0887.

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