CIGNA Behavioral Health Offers Members Online Provide...( Enabling members to search areas ...),Health

Enabling members to search areas of expertise and other factors when

choosing a therapist

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) members can now view robust, online provider profiles that offer a photograph and biographical information about therapists including license levels, languages spoken, educational background, areas of specialization and years of experience. Available at http://www.cignabehavioral.com , the online Provider Directory and Search Tool offers participants the ability to browse for a provider who best suits their personal needs and preferences. The company is the first managed behavioral health organization to offer the provider profile pages with photographs, and search hits have already reached 700,000 this year.

"I have had many referrals from CBH through the web site since the online profiles were implemented," said licensed psychologist, Lois Schatz, PsyD, of New York. "My patients even tell me that they came to me because they like what I had to say and they felt like they knew me and thought I could be empathetic. I have seen an increase in return visits after the initial visit because patients are finding a therapist who best fits their needs from the onset. This is a real differentiator for CBH."

Nearly 10,000 providers in CBH's network have populated their personal profiles, including a photograph. The provider directory is updated daily and therefore the information is continually refreshed.

"The real focus is on the consumer," said Larry Gleit, senior director, network performance management for CIGNA Behavioral Health. "From our perspective, therapy is a very private and personal experience. Having the provider's profile on the web site offers a 'virtual introduction,' which has helped our members select the provider they think best matches their personal needs."

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