March of Dimes to Announce Pa. State Report Card on Babies During Press Conference 10 a.m. Nov. 12 at CIGNA Headquarters

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The March of Dimes will announce the first-ever Pennsylvania State Report Card on Preterm Birth Rates at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 in the first floor lobby of CIGNA Corporation’s headquarters at 1601 Chestnut St., Two Liberty Place.

In the first of what will be a state-by-state annual report card on babies born prematurely, the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card analyzes contributing factors and prevention, including rates of late preterm birth, smoking, and uninsured women of child-bearing age.

All media are invited to hear results of the report card and to listen to experts discuss solutions to the growing problem of preterm births. Speakers will include Dr. Lorna Friedman, CIGNA medical director; Joe Valerio, chairman of the board of the Pennsylvania March of Dimes; Mary Kay Stom, chief medical officer for Health Partners, which serves the Medicaid population; Melitta Jordan, director, Bureau of Family Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health; and Joanne Grossi, director, Office of Women’s Services, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

November 12 marks the nation’s 6^th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day, a time when the March of Dimes mobilizes across the country to draw attention to premature births, which affect more than 530,000 babies each year in the United States. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disability.

The purpose of the report card is to raise public awareness of the growing crisis of preterm birth so policymakers, businesses and other leaders will support development of strategies that benefit mothers and babies.

CIGNA is a longstanding supporter of March of Dimes. The report card is also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the National Business Group on Health, the American Benefits Council and dozens of other businesses and maternal and infant health organizations.

CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 47 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com