Cigna invests $100 million in new AI-powered specialty pharmacy program

Cigna said on Wednesday its health services unit Evernorth has launched a new AI-powered specialty pharmacy program to reduce the time it takes to process prescriptions and improve customer service.

The program, called Pharmacy Forward, is ‌supported by ⁠a $100 ⁠million investment through 2028, the health insurer said.

Here are more ​details:


The company is launching the AI program first through its specialty pharmacy, Accredo.

The program uses AI to integrate clinical data and insights, generate summaries ​to free up more time ⁠for clinicians ‌to focus on patient care.

'Pharmacy ​Forward' is ​expected to reduce clinician documentation time ⁠by up to 50%, the company said.

​The program uses AI to improve prior ​authorization requests, halving the time it takes for patients to receive their medication after Accredo receives a prescription, the company said.

Health insurers are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence tools to ‌streamline documentation processes, reduce administrative burdens and lower costs.

Accredo is also expanding ​capacity, staffing, ​and capabilities at ⁠many of its nearly 40 care facilities, Cigna said.

The program is expected to generate about $400 million ​in value by the end of 2028, with Evernorth expecting to extend many of these capabilities to its other pharmacy operations in the coming years, it said.