The Cigna Group's network of behavioral health providers grew by more than 30 percent in 2022, according to the company's 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report.
The July report said the behavioral health network has grown to include more than 300,000 mental health and substance use providers, doubling its size over the past four years. The company also nearly doubled its virtual care network, which has grown to include more than 163,000 virtual behavioral health providers. In-network providers who support cultural and race-related counseling were increased.
For behavioral health providers that specifically work with children, Cigna added 27,000 providers to its network in 2022, or an increase of 19 percent. It also increased the numbers of facilities treating children by 8 percent to 2,700 total.
The company had originally set a goal in 2018 to reduce opioid overdoses by 25 percent among members in five regions by 2021. Cigna reached its goal at the end of 2022 and reduced opioid overdoses by 30 percent.
Where four other major insurers' behavioral health networks currently stand:
- UnitedHealth Group's behavioral health network has grown 25 percent since 2020, with 375,000 providers now in network.
- Aetna's behavioral health network includes 257,219 providers nationwide.
- BCBS Massachusetts' mental health provider network has grown 46 percent in the last five years and currently includes 18,000 clinicians. Mental healthcare visits have doubled since 2019.
- BCBS Illinois told Becker's that its current behavioral health network consists of 20,000 providers.