CIGNA Government Services Earns Tennessee Performance Award

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CIGNA Government Services, LLC (CGS), of Nashville has earned an Excellence Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee recognition program. The program is administered by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE). The Excellence Award is TNCPE’s highest honor.

“TNCPE's Excellence Award is further witness to the value that CIGNA Government Services brings to our Medicare customers. I am proud of our organization, and the people who have worked hard to position us as an industry leader with a focus on excellence in all that we do”

TNCPE will officially present CGS with its award at the 18^th annual Excellence in Tennessee Awards Banquet on February 23, 2011, at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, Tenn. CIGNA Government Services contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide administrative services including claims processing and customer service functions to Medicare providers and beneficiaries.

Through an annual evaluation and assessment process, TNCPE recognizes organizations that have achieved the highest standards of excellence in their operations and results. The program uses the Criteria for Performance Excellence, established by the national Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, as the evaluation tool.

“Today’s health care system is as competitive and dynamic as ever, but even in that environment, CGS’ integrated approach for improvement has helped the company grow,” said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. “As I’ve said before, continuing economic growth requires both recruitment of new companies and expansion of existing businesses. CGS is an example of our success in this area, and I offer my congratulations on this recognition.”

“TNCPE's Excellence Award is further witness to the value that CIGNA Government Services brings to our Medicare customers. I am proud of our organization, and the people who have worked hard to position us as an industry leader with a focus on excellence in all that we do,” said Jean Rush, President of CIGNA Government Services.

“While I’m delighted to honor CGS with the Excellence Award, I want to emphasize the true nature of this achievement,” said TNCPE President and CEO Kathryn Rawls. “This is so much more than a plaque on a boardroom wall. Pursuing a TNCPE award demonstrates that CGS has adopted proven performance practices, principles, and strategies that nurture excellence in all aspects of business – from client relations, to workforce development, to results. Establishing these processes will help CGS build upon today’s successes for years to come.”

Since TNCPE’s creation in 1993, more than 1,100 organizations have progressed through one or more levels of achievement. A Board of Examiners made up of experts in business, education, health care and government assessed this year’s applicants in seven categories: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management; and results.

The TNCPE program, which is itself a national and international role model, is available to all businesses, educational institutions, health care organizations, government agencies and other non-profit entities. Dennis Vonderfecht, president and CEO of Mountain States Health Alliance serves as chair of the 2010 Board of Directors.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE: CI) is a global health service and financial company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's operating subsidiaries in the United States provide an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance. CIGNA offers products and services in over 27 countries and jurisdictions and has approximately 60 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/rss. Also, follow us on Twitter at @cigna, visit CIGNA’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/cignatv and listen to CIGNA's podcast series with healthy tips and information at http://www.cigna.com/podcasts or by searching "CIGNA" in iTunes.

CIGNA Government Services (CGS) is a Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor and Medicare Part B contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, CGS provides a variety of services for the federal Medicare program including claims processing, customer service, and claims payment for over 16 million Medicare beneficiaries, providers, and suppliers in 17 U.S. states and territories. For more information, please visit our web site at www.cignagovernmentservices.com. CIGNA Government Services, LLC is a subsidiary of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company.