BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global health service company Cigna is collaborating with Annum Health to offer an innovative, digital health support solution to help people reduce alcohol consumption. Cigna is the first health service company to pilot Annum Health’s private coaching and clinician-led support program with employer clients.

“Our collaboration with Cigna marks the first time we will pilot Annum’s remotely-delivered approach to reducing alcohol consumption with a national health services company”

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Alcohol consumption in the U.S. continues to rise across the spectrum of moderate, heavy and binge drinking.^1,2 Research shows drinking alcohol in any amount can impact both physical and mental well-being, including increasing the risk of stroke, cancer, issues with alcohol consumption and shortening life expectancy.^3,4,5 Heavy drinking costs the U.S. economy $250 billion, including $82 billion in lost workplace productivity.⁶

“Through our collaboration with Annum Health, we will be the first health service company to offer Annum’s digital solution that can help people become more aware of how much alcohol they consume and the impact on their health,” said Douglas Nemecek, M.D., chief medical officer, behavioral health at Cigna. “The more and longer a person drinks alcohol, the greater impact it will have on their health, well-being and productivity.”

Annum program participants will use a digital app and have a personal support team comprised of health coaches, physicians and licensed therapists to help each individual meet their goals. Through the year-long program, participants are able to address risky alcohol consumption and become empowered to make sustainable changes to drinking habits. In addition, Annum will work with Cigna and its employer clients to design culturally-appropriate awareness campaigns to encourage anonymous self-identification and engagement.

“Our collaboration with Cigna marks the first time we will pilot Annum’s remotely-delivered approach to reducing alcohol consumption with a national health services company,” said Michael Laskoff, co-founder and CEO of Annum Health. “Cigna is our ideal partner because of our shared passion for improving customers’ access to quality care.”

The Annum program could add to Cigna’s suite of services available to help people reduce alcohol consumption after evaluation of the pilot results. As part of this program, participants are encouraged to use their information to have an open and honest conversation with their health care provider about how their drinking may be impacting their health. People who have concerns about their drinking or with alcohol dependence should consult their doctor or health care provider to determine the best course of treatment and support tools.

“The effects of drinking alcohol on physical and mental well-being, and workplace productivity are too often minimized or overlooked,” Julie McCarter, vice president, product solutions at Cigna. “We hope offering this program will make it easier and more convenient for the people we serve to live healthier lives by better managing their alcohol consumption.”

All personal health information is protected under HIPAA and participants’ individual information from the program is never shared with their employer. To learn more about Annum’s digital health support solution, visit www.annum.com.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America, Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 95 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna^®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com. For more information about Cigna's proposed acquisition of Express Scripts, please visit www.advancinghealthcare.com.

About Annum

Annum Health provides evidence-based support to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption while addressing the profound barriers to care that prevent 90% of people struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder from ever seeking help.⁷ According to the Centers for Disease Control, 70 million adults engage in excessive drinking behavior – almost three quarters of whom are employed – resulting in $82 billion of lost productivity each year. ⁸ Annum’s confidential, teletherapy program provides individuals seeking to quit drinking or moderate their consumption with up to a year of clinician-led care, coaching, and social support. The program is offered nationally through select health plans and large employers. To learn more about Annum, please visit, www.annum.com.

¹ Prevalence of 12-Month Alcohol Use, High-Risk Drinking, and DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder in the United States, 2001-2002 to 2012-2013. JAMA Psychiatry. September 2017. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2647079
² Drinking Patterns in US Counties from 2002 to 2012. American Journal of Public Health. May 15, 2015 Available at:
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302313
³ Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. The Lancet. April 14, 2018. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30134-X/fulltext
⁴ Alcohol and Cancer Risk. National Cancer Institute. September 13, 2018. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet
⁵ What is Risk Substance Abuse? Center on Addiction. April 14, 2017 Available at: https://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction/risky-substance-abuse
⁶ 2010 National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption. American Journal of Preventative Medicine. November 2015. Available at: https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(15)00354-2/fulltext
⁷ Surgeon General Issues Landmark Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health. National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. November 2016. Access here: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/news-events/news-noteworthy/surgeon-general-issues-landmark-report-alcohol-drugs-and-health
⁸ “Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among U.S. Adult Drinkers, 2009-2011.” Centers for Disease Control. November 2014. Accessed here: https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/pdf/14_0329.pdf