An Intracorp press release launched today introduces a workers’ compensation nurseline to provide information and assistance to employees and managers whenever an injury occurs on the job.

The goal of Intracorp and CIGNA’s workers compensation nurseline is to assist callers in evaluating symptoms and accessing appropriate care. This enable enhanced return to work outcomes and reduces workers compensation costs.

“When an injury happens at work, it’s not always clear what kind of medical attention an individual needs,” said Betsy Robinson, Vice President and Intracorp. “Out of caution, managers might send employees straight to an emergency room for evaluation. But depending on the circumstances, that may not be best option, and it’s among the most costly choices. Having access to the nurseline will allow the nurse to ask the caller a few questions about the individual’s symptoms and situation, then help the caller to decide upon the appropriate type of care or other available informational resources to access. It also helps to facilitate prompt and accurate reporting of workplace injuries (BusinessWire).”

Intracorp, a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation, has specialized in workers’ compensation for more than 39 years. They help provider workers’ compensation and disability programs to enhance the productivity of their workforce. Together with CIGNA, a leader in the health insurance industry, Intracorp hopes to succeed in helping reduce costs while improving the work environment.

U.S. News & World Report has released the rankings of the best health plans of 2008. The highest possible score is 100 points. Scores are based on performance relative to other plans in consumer satisfaction, prevention, and treatment, as well as accreditation by the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA). Listed below are the top 5 health plans for each region of the United States: North, South, Midwest, and West. Also listed is the America’s Best Health Plans Honor Roll which recognizes the very best of the hundreds of commercial plans reviewed. The plans below list the state they have members, the type of plans they have (Health Maintenance Org., Point of Service), their star ranking (1-5) in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment, and their overall score.

Best Commercial Health Plans: North

1.       Harvard Pilgrim Health Care:  Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Maine and Massachusetts. Earned 5 stars for Consumer assessment, prevention, and treatment and an overall score of 91.2

2.       Tufts Associated HMO: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Earned 5 stars in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment and overall score of 91.2

3. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in New Hampshire. Earned 5 stars in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment and an overall score of 90.6

4. Geisinger Health Plan: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Pennsylvania. Earned 5 stars in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment and an overall score of 88.2

5. Health New England: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Earned 5 stars in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment and an overall score of 88.1

Best Commercial Plans: South

1. Capital Health Plan: Offers HMO plans to members in Florida. Earned 4 stars in Consumer Assessment, 5 in Prevention, and 4 in Treatment and an overall score of 86.8

2. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia: Offers HMO plans to members in Georgia. Earned 2 stars in Consumer Assessment, 5 in Prevention and Treatment and an overall score of 86.7

3. CIGNA HealthCare Mid-Atlantic: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Earned 3 stars in Consumer Assessment, 4 stars in Prevention and Treatment and an overall score of 84.9

4. Optima Health Plan: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Virginia. Earned 4 stars in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment and an overall score of 84.9

5. Health First Health Plans: Offers HMO plans to members in Florida. Earned 4 stars in Consumer Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment and an overall score of 84.5

Best Commercial Plans: Midwest

1. Grand Valley Health Plan: Offers HMO plans to members in Michigan. Earned 4 stars in Consumer Assessment and Prevention, 5 in Treatment and an overall score of 89.1

2. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin: Offers HMO plans to members in Wisconsin. Earned 3 stars in Consumer Assessment, 5 in Prevention and Treatment and an overall score of 87.8

3. Priority Health: Offers HMO plans to members in Michigan. Earned 5 stars in Consumer Assessment, 4 in Prevention and Treatment and an overall score of 87.2

4. Security Health Plan of Wisconsin: Offers HMO plans to members in Wisconsin. Earned 4 stars in Consumer Assessment and Prevention, 5 in Treatment and an overall score of 86.9

5. Unity Health Plans Insurance: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Wisconsin. Earned 4 stars in Consumer Assessment and Prevention, 5 in Treatment and an overall score of 86.8

Best Health Plans: West

1. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado: Offers HMO plans to members in Colorado. Earned 2 stars in Consumer Assessment, 4 in Prevention, 5 in Treatment and an overall score of 85.7

2. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Northern California: Offers HMO plans to members in California. Earned 2 stars in Consumer Assessment, 4 in Prevention, 5 in Treatment and an overall score of 85.3

3. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest: Offers HMO plans to members in Oregon and Washington. Earned 2 stars in Consumer Assessment, 3 in Prevention, 5 in Treatment and an overall score of 85.3

4. CIGNA HealthCare of Colorado: Offers HMO and POS plans to members in Colorado. Earned 3 stars in Consumer Assessment, 4 in Prevention and Treatment and an overall score of 83.9

5. Group Health Cooperative: Offers HMO plans to members in Idaho and Washington. Earned 3 stars in Consumer Assessment and Prevention, 4 in Treatment and an overall score of 83.1

America’s Best Commercial Health Plans Honor Roll

1.       Harvard Pilgrim Health Care: 91.2

2.       Tufts Associated HMO: 91.2

3.       Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of NE: 90.6

4.       Grand Valley Health Plan: 89.1

5.       Geisinger Health Plan: 88.2

6.       Health New England: 88.1

7.       Anthem BC/BS of CT: 87.8

8.       Group Health Cooperative of South Central WI: 87.8

9.       BC/BS of MA: 87.8

10.   CIGNA HealthCare of NH: 87.6

For the complete list, refer to the U.S. News & World Report website. The site also ranks best Medicare health plans as well as best Medicaid plans.