Cigna Donates $75,000 to the City of Memphis to Find COVID-19 Testing for Underserved Communities

Originally posted on Cigna.com

Cigna is donating $75,000 to the City of Memphis to support COVID-19 testing for the most vulnerable and underserved communities in Memphis, including the underinsured, uninsured and homeless. The Cigna donation will also fund protective masks, gloves and other equipment.

“As we move forward, it’s critical to have appropriate PPE to quickly test and box in the virus,” said Mayor Jim Strickland, City of Memphis. “We’re so grateful to have partners like Cigna to step in and help keep our citizens safe.”

The Cigna donation will be managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis COVID-19 Regional Response Fund and utilized by health care organizations responsible for ensuring access and equity in COVID-19 testing and response.

“The Health care partners that have come together to coordinate services and provide accessible, free COVID-19 testing rely on financial support like this,” says Jenny Bartlett-Prescott, COO, Church Health, who also leads community COVID-19 testing in Shelby County. “This investment from Cigna enables us to immediately respond and sustain services during an ever-changing situation that impacts every part of Shelby County.”

In Shelby County, nearly 70,000 COVID-19 tests have been performed as of May 29, 2020, with 4,793 testing positive and 3,378 having successfully recovered from the virus.

“Cigna is proud to work with Mayor Strickland and our partners to provide essential testing for the underserved,” said Greg Allen, MidSouth market president for Cigna. “We are committed to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of our customers and the Memphis community during the COVID-19 crisis.”

This announcement follows Cigna’s $20,000 donation to the YMCA of Memphis & Mid-South in May 2020 to support emergency food services for Shelby County Schools students.

Cigna has taken steps to help protect customers, communities, health care providers and employees from the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • Cigna announced its Customer Protection Programwhich safeguards customers from surprise bills by out-of-network providers for care related to COVID-19 treatment.
  • Launching Express Scripts Parachute RxSMto ensure that any American who loses health care coverage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can secure many of their medications at affordable and predictable prices.
  • The Cigna Foundation and New York Life Foundation launched the Brave of Heart Fundto provide grants to survivors of front-line U.S. health care work who give their lives in the fight against COVID-19. Each Foundation has made initial contributions of $25 million to seed the Fund, and together hope to raise more than $100 million to protect these families from financial hardship and provide additional support.
  • Waiving cost-sharingfor COVID-19 diagnostic testing, telehealth screenings and treatment.*
  • Making it easier for customers to be treated virtuallyby their own physicians.
  • Making it easier for hospitals to transfer patientsto long-term acute care hospitals and subacute facilities.

For more information visit Cigna’s Coronavirus Resource Center, Cigna.com/COVID19

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