Cigna licenses health-risk technology

BLOOMFIELD, Ill., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. health insurer Cigna said Tuesday it has licensed from the University of Michigan technology that identifies health risks.

The company said it has entered into a long-term agreement with the university's Health Management Research Center, which gives Cigna an exclusive U.S. license to analytics technology designed to help consumers identify and address health risks and to guide employers in developing work-site health and wellness programs.

The deal also gives Cigna access to the center's health-risk assessment questionnaire and additional employer reporting capabilities.

The parties have also entered into a five-year collaboration to do research related to health and wellness promotion, including measuring the impact of health advocacy programs on clinical outcomes and healthcare costs, and modeling the return on investment of these programs.