What types of behavioral health professionals are included in CIGNA's behavioral health network?
Ph.D./M.S. These are therapists – psychologists (i.e.,
LP), family therapists (i.e., LMFT, LMC), social workers (i.e.,
LCSW, LSW), nurse practitioners (i.e., ARNP, APRN), and clinicians
(i.e., LMHC) – who primarily use talk therapy to help you
assess the difficulty you are experiencing and identify solutions.
All therapists contracted by CIGNA Behavioral Health are licensed
and offer treatment through independent practices. In addition,
therapists' specialties are identified by CIGNA Behavioral Health as
part of the credentialing process.
M.D./D.O. These are doctors who have a specialty in
Psychiatry or Addiction Medicine. In addition to diagnosing problems
and treating them through talk therapy, an M.D. or D.O. can
prescribe medication for behavioral health problems if necessary.
Many psychiatrists also have subspecialties such as: Children and
Adolescents; Geriatric; Addiction Medicine, etc. All M.D./D.O.s
contracted by CIGNA Behavioral Health are licensed and offer
treatment through their independent practices.
Clinic. This is a group practice that may have all levels
(see above) of providers in the service location. Please note
that not all providers in a clinic may be contracted with CIGNA
Behavioral Health. When choosing a clinic for a referral, you can
ask to be scheduled with a provider who participates in the CIGNA
Behavioral Health network to make sure that you maximize your
benefits.
Here is a list of abbreviations often found after behavioral health providers' names:
Types of Degrees:
| MSW | Masters Social Work |
| MS | Master of Science |
| MA | Master of Arts |
| RN | Registered Nurse |
| PHD | Doctorate of Philosophy - Psychology |
| PSYD | Doctorate of Psychology |
| EDD | Doctorate of Education |
| ARPN | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner |
| MD | Doctor of Medicine - Psychiatry |
| DO | Doctor of Osteopathy - Psychiatry |
| |
Types of Licensure:
| LISCW |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker |
| LCSW |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker |
| CCDC |
Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor |
| LMFT |
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
| LCP |
Licensed Clinical Psychologist |
| LP |
Licensed Psychologist |
| LPC |
Licensed Professional Counselor |
| MD |
Doctor of Medicine - Psychiatry |
| DO |
Doctor of Osteopathy - Psychiatry |
| |
| Many states have different names for licensures; these are usually master's level counselors. Some of the abbreviations include: CCSW, LPCC, CADC, CCSW, LCPC, CCPC, CICSW, CPC, MFCC, LMHC, CMFT, and CMHC.
|
| |
| To find a list of in-network providers please call the toll-free number on the back of your card or view our Provider Directory here. |
How do you define confidentiality? Who will have access to my personal information?
Information on mental health or substance abuse treatment of adults* served by CIGNA
Behavioral Health is confidential and will not be disclosed to any person(s), with the following
exceptions:
- CIGNA Behavioral Health will communicate with your treating
therapist/psychiatrist regarding your diagnosis, symptoms,
treatment goals, and treatment plan in the process of
administering behavioral health benefits or EAP services.
- When an appropriately written release of information
document is completed with your signature that instructs
CIGNA Behavioral Health to disclose your specific
information to the person named.
- CIGNA Behavioral Health will communicate the name of your
treating therapist/psychiatrist to your primary care
physician - and the name of your primary care physician to
your treating therapist/psychiatrist - with your verbal or
written approval. This is performed as a courtesy to
encourage coordination of care between the two. You can
expect your primary care physician and/or your treating
therapist/psychiatrist to ask you to sign a written consent
to release information. The consent to release information
will allow for the disclosure of specific details regarding
your behavioral health and/or medical care, when this type
of collaboration is expected to improve the outcome of your
overall treatment.
- Mandatory reporting is required when someone is in imminent
danger of hurting themselves or others.
- As otherwise allowed or required by law.
- To your health plan or plan sponsor for purposes of plan
administration.
NOTE: Being a subscriber does not give you access to information about the access or care received by another individual on the
policy who is not your legal responsibility, or also, a biological parent or legal guardian who does not have to be "on the policy" to
have access to information about the benefit utilization and services rendered for his/her child, unless court documentation is
provided to CIGNA Behavioral Health demonstrating the parent has no legal rights to such information about his/her child.
*Adult age of consent is defined by state law.
What does "medical necessity" mean?
CIGNA Behavioral Health will work with your provider to determine
the appropriate level of care and duration of treatment that is
necessary to decrease the symptoms that you are currently
experiencing. You and your provider will develop a plan that will
include specific behaviors/goals indicating that continuation of
treatment is no longer necessary.
What if things aren't working out with the behavioral health professional I'm seeing?
If you need to change behavioral health professionals because the
original professional is no longer available or you are not making
the progress you expected, you can call the toll-free number on your
insurance ID card. Tell us what isn't working with your behavioral
health professional. We will be happy to help you locate another.
Can I call and talk to a 'live' person if I have questions?
CBH staff are available 24 hours a day to help obtain information on anything from urgent clinical
needs to Work/Life issues, and would be happy to help with any needs you have. Also, if you
have CBH's employee assistance (EAP) or integrated programs, continue to call CBH first to gain
full access to your available benefits and the help of our Personal Advocates.
What do I do if I have questions about my claim?
In general, if you have a behavioral health claim question, you can
call CIGNA Behavioral Health Customer Service at
the number on the back of your ID card. CIGNA Behavioral Health does
not pay all claims for Mental Health/Substance Abuse, however.
Some accounts have a dedicated Customer Service/Claim line and you
should dial that number for answers to your questions if your
benefit plan is set up as such.
How soon should I expect an appointment?
CIGNA Behavioral Health believes that needed care should be available to you
in a timely way. The following timeframes for getting an appointment have
been shared with our network providers. If you are unable to arrange for an
appointment that meets these expectations, call CIGNA at
the number on the back of your ID card, and our staff can assist you.
| Type of Care Needed: |
Time from Request for Care: |
| Non-Life Threatening Emergency |
Within 6 Hours |
| Urgent |
Within 48 Hours |
| Routine |
Within 10 working days |
| Office Wait Times |
15 minutes or less |
If you need emergency services, please go immediately to the nearest
emergency room or behavioral health facility. Your plan benefits will apply
to services needed to evaluate or stabilize treatment for a condition that
is reasonably considered to be an emergency behavioral health condition.
This material is provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health, Inc. for
informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended as
medical/clinical advice. Only a healthcare provider can make a
diagnosis or recommend a treatment plan.
|
