BLOOMFIELD, Conn. -- CIGNA HealthCare today announced it has teamed with Thomson Healthcare (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) to help manage the high-volume, high-frequency analytic data CIGNA HealthCare uses to deliver its industry-leading health advocacy programs. This arrangement will give CIGNA HealthCare greater data management capabilities and flexibility for anticipated growth in the use of health care data and informatics.

Thomson Healthcare's Medstat data services will manage the intake of the data, which CIGNA will use to support and expand its ability to analyze programs, including predictive modeling for early identification of member health care needs, coordination of care and results reporting.

"CIGNA HealthCare's ability to process, integrate and analyze many sources of data and convert it into usable information is critical for helping our members anticipate health issues, stay healthy or improve their health," said CIGNA HealthCare's Chief Informatics Officer, William Fandrich. "Thomson Healthcare's extensive expertise in the management and use of large volumes of data will increase the depth and breadth of information available to support our comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to health advocacy."

"Improving the quality, speed and volume of our informatics capability also will make it easier for our employer customers to access the data they need to administer their benefit programs," Fandrich said.

Thomson Healthcare and CIGNA HealthCare currently collaborate on a number of CIGNA HealthCare programs, including development of the health services company's innovative Health ePass(SM) provider payment solution. In addition, Thomson Healthcare provides data management and decision support services to many of CIGNA HealthCare's Fortune 500 employer customers.

"Thomson Healthcare has extensive experience with complex, large-scale data management initiatives. We're excited to be working with CIGNA HealthCare to enhance the comprehensive databases that support its health advocacy programs and the information needs of its employer customers," said Jon Newpol, Thomson Healthcare executive vice president.

The project team launched the data integration implementation in late October. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About CIGNA HealthCare

CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, Conn., provides medical benefits plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health advocacy. "CIGNA HealthCare" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI), including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. Products and services are provided by such these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.

About Thomson Healthcare

Thomson Healthcare is the leading provider of decision support solutions that help organizations across the healthcare industry improve clinical and business performance. Thomson Healthcare products and services help clinicians, hospitals, employers, health plans, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies understand healthcare markets, access medical and drug information, manage costs, and improve the quality of healthcare. Thomson Healthcare is a part of The Thomson Corporation, a provider of value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of healthcare, law, tax, accounting, scientific research, and financial services. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). For more information, visit www.thomsonhealthcare.com.