Cigna's Evernorth launched a behavioral-health-focused medical group in 2024 to meet the demand for behavioral health therapy and support.
In the past 18 months, Evernorth has expanded its Behavioral Care Group from virtual services in six markets and a network of 1,000 providers to more than 5,000 providers across all 50 states.
Evernorth now plans to grow the medical group to more than 15,000 providers next year.
The medical group also now offers in-person appointments to complement its virtual care services. Evernorth executives say this hybrid approach allows patients to choose the care setting that best suits their needs without compromising on quality or convenience.
To address access issues, the medical group consistently offers appointments within 72 hours.
Evernorth Behavioral Care Group offers individual, couples and family therapy. Providers work with a variety of clinical, social and personal concerns including anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance use, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder and can address needs such as relationship issues, grief and parenting support.
“We continuously refine our patient-to-provider matching capabilities to pair people with providers that have the clinical expertise to treat them,” said Arianna Arneson, clinical director of the Evernorth Behavioral Care Group, in a statement. “These efforts are reflected in our best-in-class clinical outcomes and support our commitment to providing quality care."
Eva Borden, president of behavioral health at Evernorth, told Senior Writer Paige Minemyer in March 2024 that the medical group aimed to address multiple key goals, including access.
The medical group also focuses on data-driven care and measurement-informed outcomes, Evernorth executives said. All providers in the medical group use evidence-based tools to track progress, which supports transparency and enables timely interventions and adjustments of treatment plans.
Executives say the evidence-based model is driving results as 84% of patients report a clinically significant reduction in depression or anxiety symptoms.
The Evernorth Behavioral Care Group also partners with physician practices to enable coordinated referrals and data exchange. And, through its relationships with health plans, the medical group identifies individuals who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma or other mental health needs, connecting them to timely, evidence-based care. executives said.
“As we continue to grow and adapt, our unwavering dedication to data-driven care and patient-centered service remains at the very core of our mission,” Arneson said. “It’s this commitment that guides us forward and inspires us to set a standard for the future of behavioral health, always keeping the needs and well-being of those we serve front and center.”