The Cigna Group is partnering with OpenAI to integrate AI into clinical workflows, with a first focus on cancer care.
Under the collaboration announced Sept. 23, OpenAI’s tools will be built into workflows across Accredo Specialty Pharmacy and the insurance business, Cigna Healthcare. The first new capability will give oncology nurses and case managers an AI-enabled view that pulls together clinical, pharmacy, behavioral and benefits information for each member.
The companies said the goal is to identify member needs earlier and personalize support between physician visits, when patients are often dealing with side effects, new symptoms and unanswered questions. The system is designed to feed insights from member responses back into future guidance and workflows over time.
“Whether a patient is struggling with treatment side effects or coping with the emotional impact of a diagnosis, bringing the power of OpenAI to The Cigna Group will help connect patients to our specialized clinicians, resources and support,” Amy Flaster, MD, Cigna’s chief medical officer, said in a news release.
The partnership follows other AI work already underway at Cigna. In July, the company announced Pharmacy Forward, a $100 million AI-driven specialty pharmacy program under Accredo, along with expanded personalized care management programs within its health plans, which the company said has reduced avoidable hospital stays by 42% among engaged members.
The deal also adds to a growing list of partnerships between AI companies and major insurers. Optum partnered with Anthropic in July, and Elevance Health announced a partnership with OpenAI last year to provide enterprise ChatGPT access and training to its employees.
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