Cigna Launches New Digital Platforms for Maternal and Mental Health to Accelerate Market Leadership in Digital Health

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that Cigna, a health services company with global operations, has made significant investments in digital therapeutics across two major healthcare sectors and expanded its partnerships to strengthen the group’s market position in maternal and mental health care.

Through a partnership with app developer Wildflower Health, Cigna has launched a new Healthy Pregnancy app. The program connects expectant mothers with maternal health benefits, providing users with personalized guidance and health assessments to help determine whether they are at high risk for pregnancy complications and how to better utilize healthcare resources.

“The new app makes it easier for users to engage in Cigna’s Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby program, which has demonstrated a direct impact on improving maternal and infant health outcomes,” said Patricia Stephenson, Senior Medical Director at Cigna, in a statement. According to early pilot data from the app, only 10% of members who enrolled during the first trimester experienced preterm birth. Among those identified as being at risk for preterm delivery, 79% were able to carry their pregnancies to term with the help of tools provided by Cigna.

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These improvements in health outcomes can also help users mitigate potential risks, thereby reducing healthcare costs associated with issues such as unnecessary cesarean sections or maternal hemorrhage. According to Cigna, the company’s Healthy Baby Program saved an average of over $2,000 per participant, and nearly $43,000 on average for participants identified as being at risk of preterm birth.

In addition to its efforts in maternal health, Cigna has expanded its capabilities in behavioral health by integrating technologies from healthcare company Happify and mental health company Prevail Health into Cigna’s comprehensive behavioral health program. Happify’s platform leverages small, “bite-sized” activities—such as guided meditations and games—to improve patients’ emotional well-being, enhance focus, and reduce stress and anxiety. Prevail Health’s technology primarily provides peer counseling and health coaching for individuals with depression and substance use disorders.

“We are continuing to expand and evolve our behavioral health solutions to support the broad and diverse mental health needs of the members we serve,” said Julie McCarter, Vice President of Product Solutions at Cigna. “We hope these new digital tools will encourage people to actively engage in their mental well-being and provide support when they need help.”

Research has repeatedly shown that mental health is directly linked to physical health. Individuals with high levels of psychological distress are more susceptible to diseases such as cancer and heart disease. More importantly, mental health disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults in the United States experiences some form of mental illness in any given year.

The growing shortage of mental health and psychological well-being experts has opened a window for digital therapeutics, enabling them to play a significant role in addressing unmet needs in this field. Cigna has been vigorously promoting the development of digital health, as evidenced by the launch of its venture capital arm earlier this year and its acquisition of the digital health company Brighter in 2017.

Starting in January 2019, Cigna is expected to broadly roll out its new maternity and mental health features and services to members.