Cigna wants to slash the number of opioid overdoses by 25 percent among its commercial members living in communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic.
Cigna will first direct its efforts on communities in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia, as well as Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The insurer intends to expand to other communities over time.
"The goal is to reduce prescription and illicit opioid overdoses in these areas, and Cigna will advance initiatives that impact both Cigna customers and the communities at large," the company said in a statement.
The goal, which the insurer wants to achieve by December 2021, comes after Cigna said in March it cut members' opioid use by 25 percent through a collaboration with 1.1 million-plus physicians.
More articles on opioids:
IV Tylenol no longer seen as the solution to ending the opioid epidemic
Opioid use qualifies patients for medical marijuana in New York
Facebook redirects users looking to buy opioids to crisis help line