Allegheny Health Network and Cigna Healthcare announce 3-year contract agreement
"This contract is fantastic news for the more than 20,000 Cigna members in this region who rely on AHN for their care," said AHN President Mark Sevco. "It ensures continued, in-network access to AHN's expert clinicians, and to the exceptional-quality, high-value care that their members and our patients expect and deserve."
Beneficiaries will continue to have in-network access to AHN's clinical programs, 14 hospitals, and the doctors and specialists employed by AHN.
Patients who have appointments in the next week will still be able to keep them, and the new contract goes through June 30, 2028.
Those covered by Cigna insurance who may have questions about the new contract can call the Cigna customer service line at 1-800-997-1654.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
63 million adults are moonlighting as caregivers, with little support
Two years ago, Anita Robinson took early retirement from her position as a senior partner at a tech firm in Atlanta. She was 57 and had been at the company for more than three decades. 'It wasn't my intent, but special circumstances called me to duty as a daughter,' Robinson told me. Her 83-year-old mom is blind, has dementia, four different types of cancer, and requires full-time care. 'I just couldn't in good conscience leave her,' she said. There are millions of Americans facing similar heart-wrenching and financially difficult decisions as America's caregiving crisis is worsening. An astonishing 63 million Americans — nearly 1 in 4 adults — now provide care to an adult with health or functional needs, or to a child with a serious medical condition or disability — a record high, according to a new report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. That's up from 53 million in 2020 and 43.5 million a decade ago. 'What's even more troubling is what caregiving costs people,' AARP CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan, told Yahoo Finance. Nearly half of caregivers are struggling with significant financial factors. More than 2 in 10 have taken on more debt, about a third have used up short-term savings, 3 in 10 have stopped saving, and roughly 20% are leaving bills unpaid or paying them late, according to the data. At the same time, they are grappling with work and career fall out. More than 60% of caregivers are balancing their caregiving responsibilities while still employed, the report shows. And half report they reduced hours, have taken unpaid leave, or even quit their job entirely as Robinson did. 'There are a number of factors driving the financial strain. It's increasingly challenging for caregivers to access affordable, quality supports and services that are needed to provide adequate care — things such as respite care and access to paid leave from their employers,' Minter-Jordan said. Robinson was initially able to step away from her job temporarily through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to see if she might be able to find a way to do both jobs. The FMLA provides 12 weeks a year of unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage. 'Afterwards, my company wasn't flexible with options and started requiring everybody back into the office,' she said. 'There were not many exceptions granted for working from home. It was just not an environment conducive for me to continue to work.' She's getting by on savings but trying not to tap all of her nest egg. 'I've been living off savings and withdrew a small pension that I had access to, " Robinson said. 'That incremental piece has been a big help with no income coming in.' Unretirement after caregiving Robinson is too young to actually retire for myriad reasons. 'I do know that I will have to return to work at some point to keep up with healthcare costs and increasing cost-of-living,' she said. 'I don't want to deplete my retirement savings. But for now caring for mom is a labor of love. It's just what you do.' To prepare for that future unretirement, she is strategically doing pro bono projects and accepted an unpaid board position on a nonprofit that she can handle remotely — all things that help her skills stay relevant. 'I'm still active so that it won't look to a potential employer that I just went off into vacation mode for a few years and didn't do anything,' she said. The average caregiver is 51 years old and lives with the person they care for, according to the report. Women account for the majority (61%) of caregivers. 'Women face several obstacles that jeopardize their retirement security — they live longer and they need more income,' Cindy Hounsell, founder and president of the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), told Yahoo Finance. 'The impact of caregiving responsibilities causes them to save less, which means recovering financially is unlikely for many of them in this situation.'The workplace dilemma It's not a secret or surprise that caregiving responsibilities hinder career advancement. The work is unpredictable and not responsive to the demands of a 9 to 5 job. As a result, many workers find themselves forced to make career changes. Working caregivers say they are willing to change jobs for better caregiving support — even if it requires a career shift, doing less meaningful work, or relocating, according to a recent SHRM report. Caregivers are often hesitant to even disclose their caregiver status, fearing stigma or negative repercussions in the workplace. 'Caregiving has emerged as one of the most defining challenges facing families, and one of the most disruptive forces shaping the modern workforce,' said Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO and founder of Wellthy, a firm that provides caregiving support through its partnerships with employers, health plans and insurance carriers. I can relate. When I was self-employed a few years ago, I cared for my 91-year-old mother with dementia in my home. I hung by a thread trying to get work done before she awoke for the day. The stress and responsibility were overwhelming. I never told my clients what I was dealing with on a daily basis. I just put my head down and did my work. 'The cost, complexity, and emotional weight of care has only grown, with employees navigating longer lifespans for loved ones, rising care expenses, and increasingly intense responsibilities,' Jusrist-Rosner said. 'Its impact is deeply personal, yet profoundly structural, and it's becoming universal for nearly every employee and every family.' Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work," and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Hands-On Diagnostics Announces Annual Symposium to Help Physical Therapists Improve Patient Outcomes
Join leading PTs October 18–19 at APTA HQ to learn how EMG and MSK ultrasound can improve outcomes and boost clinic revenue—no prior training required. 'This symposium gives every PT the tools to think diagnostically, treat with precision, and lead with confidence.'— Dr. Konstantine Rizopoulos, Co-Founder Hands-On Diagnostics ASTORIA, NY, UNITED STATES, August 3, 2025 / / -- Hands-On Diagnostics (HODS) proudly announces the 12th Annual HODS Symposium, taking place October 18–19, 2025, at the APTA Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. This year's event is specifically designed for physical therapists who are not trained in electromyography (EMG) or musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) but want to harness diagnostic findings to create more effective treatment plans and deliver better patient outcomes. With the theme 'Primary Care Physical Therapy: Mastering Diagnostics, Manual Therapy, and Advanced Interventions,' the 2025 symposium marks a pivotal opportunity for clinicians ready to embrace the next level of practice. Recent research confirms that EMG and MSK ultrasound shift patient management decisions in over 60% of cases—resulting in dramatically improved clinical outcomes. These are not abstract theories. They are evidence-based tools that are reshaping how physical therapists diagnose, treat, and lead in today's evolving healthcare environment. At this two-day, high-impact event, attendees will: • Learn how integrating diagnostics with manual therapy improves outcomes by more than 60% • Discover how real-world clinics are using diagnostics to drive 30%+ revenue growth • Gain a step-by-step implementation roadmap—with no prior experience required • Participate in hands-on workshops and live demonstrations of EMG, MSK ultrasound, and treatment techniques • Analyze actual clinical cases and walk away with skills they can apply immediately • Earn up to 13.75 contact hours, with both live and virtual attendance options available The program features nationally recognized experts in diagnostic testing, manual therapy, and neuro-musculoskeletal care. Whether addressing shoulder pain, back pain, radiculopathy, tendinopathy, or sports injuries, clinicians will leave the symposium with practical, effective strategies that can be applied the very next day. Key sessions include: • Diagnosis and treatment of cervical and lumbar radiculopathy using EMG and spinal mobilization • Segment-specific thrust manipulation guided by electrodiagnostic findings • Neural mobilization based on neuro-MSK ultrasound and EMG • Dry needling under MSKUS guidance • Neuro-MSK imaging workshops • Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) for PT practice • Direction-sensitive spinal mobilization using H-Reflex This year's symposium also features special sessions on launching and growing a diagnostic practice, offering practical business strategies to build a practice that stands out through clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and enhanced profitability. Designed for clinicians, private practice owners, and decision-makers, the 2025 HODS Symposium is a must-attend event for anyone seeking to elevate their practice and outcomes through diagnostic insight. Registration is now open at In-person and virtual ticket options are available. Attendees are encouraged to bring their clinical and administrative team members to take full advantage of the event's educational and strategic sessions. Master the science. Apply the skill. Transform your practice. Dimitrios Kostopoulos Hands-On Diagnostics +1 917-538-2242 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook YouTube X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Fast Company
2 hours ago
- Fast Company
How to stop stress from hijacking your productivity
BY Listen to this Article More info 0:00 / 8:33 Do you ever have those weeks where you feel you've gotten nothing done? You're staring at your screen, the same paragraph you've read three times still making no sense. Your mind drifts to that looming deadline, the difficult conversation with your manager, leaving before 3 to avoid a horrible commute, or the growing pile of unread emails. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Almost half (43%) of Americans report feeling more anxious than they did the previous year, with workplace pressures playing a significant role in this epidemic of stress. The new brand of stress that 80% of workers report centers around productivity anxiety at work according to a recent study. The very stress that pushes us to work harder is now sabotaging our ability to perform well. Understanding this paradox—and more importantly, knowing how to break free from it—could be the key to reclaiming both your productivity and peace of mind. The Science of Stress: Your Brain Under Siege Not surprisingly, the biggest culprit of productivity anxiety is stress. When stress hits, your body doesn't distinguish between a charging lion and a challenging quarterly review. The same ancient alarm system kicks in, flooding your system with cortisol—the primary stress hormone that can transform from helpful motivator to harmful hijacker. Cortisol levels peak in the early morning as part of the cortisol awakening response, then decrease throughout the day. But chronic workplace stress disrupts this natural rhythm, keeping cortisol elevated when it should be declining. The result? A brain struggling to perform its most essential workplace functions, including just seeing things properly. Research reveals the cognitive toll is severe. One study found that acute increases in corticosteroid levels are associated with cognitive decrements in both attention and memory. Three Ways Stress Sabotages Your Focus 1. The Working Memory Meltdown Your working memory—the mental workspace where you juggle information, solve problems, and make decisions—is particularly vulnerable to stress. Tasks that engage and rely on working memory seem to be particularly sensitive to pressure demands, possibly because working memory requires sustained focus and attention that acute pressure might disrupt. This explains why, under stress, you might forget what you just read or struggle to connect ideas that normally flow effortlessly. 2. The Attention Hijack All theories about choking under pressure involve the reallocation of attention away from the task at hand. Some researchers suggest stress pulls your attention toward the uncomfortable feelings it creates, while others argue it makes you hyperaware of your own performance, paradoxically impairing it. Either way, your focus fractures. 3. The Productivity Anxiety Spiral Since modern workplaces have birthed this new phenomenon of 'productivity anxiety, ' there has been a significant uptick in employees reporting a feeling that there is always more they should be doing, even if not humanly possible. This creates a vicious cycle where stress about productivity further impairs your ability to be productive, leading to more stress. Stress has a way of taking up your time by making you continuously worry about something that may or may not happen. Perhaps this scenario is best illustrated by my client Tim. Tim manages a large and critical function at an aerospace firm. With 16 direct reports, hundreds more in his organization, and a cadre of contractors, Tim is still the go-to for any technical questions or emergencies that arise. It wasn't until recently that I reminded Tim that a healthy number of direct reports for most leaders is no more than five, with far less technical work, and under far less work intensification that he perked up, realizing much of the problem he is managing is due to poor organizational design. 3 Evidence-Based Strategies to Reclaim Your Focus 1. Take a Walk Outside The research is compelling: stepping outside for a walk is one of the most accessible and effective tools for combating workplace stress and restoring focus. Studies show that spending at least 20 to 30 minutes immersed in a natural setting is associated with the biggest drop in cortisol levels. Even more impressive, compared to urban walks, nature walks resulted in decreased anxiety, rumination, and negative affect, as well as increased working memory performance. Walks either with or without music have mental health benefits. How to implement: Schedule a 20-minute walk outside during your workday, ideally in a green space. Can't access nature? Even urban walks help. The beauty is you don't need to power walk—or even walk; both walking and sitting outdoors improve cognitive performance, with elevated levels of relaxation during the intervention being the best predictor of improved performance. 2. Practice Strategic Stress Recovery Individuals who have a higher frustration tolerance, the ability to moderate their responses to stress in the moment, have the capacity to think clearly and effectively work through problems longer and engage in productive decision making. Having an awareness of being triggered by observing physical shifts like heart rate changes, or a sudden burning chest sensation when stress hits, is critical data. Once aware, intentional choices can be made that mitigate reactionary stress behaviors: stepping away from a tough problem temporarily or engaging in deep breathing for a few minutes are both research backed ways of mitigating stress in the moment. Those able to do so expand their frustration tolerance, build the capacity to moderate other stress reactions with confidence, and experience less negative long-term effects from their stress. How to implement: Build recovery periods into your workday, which will start to create muscle memory. When a problem becomes particularly intense, take note to feel in your body where the pressure mounts. Common areas of feeling bodily stress are chest, temples on either side of your head, neck, or stomach. Being attuned to this is critical. Once you're aware of stress building in your body, step away from the problem at hand, and take a break such as a five-minute walk, practice deep breathing, or engage in light stretching. After any intensive work or problem-solving sessions, these micro-recoveries help reset your stress response system. 3. Restructure Your Work Environment for Focus People who are stressed have difficulty focusing and find themselves getting caught in modes of thinking that perpetuate stress, such as worry and rumination. Combat this by creating environmental cues that support focus. Also an organized workspace has positive effects on distractions and ability to focus. How to implement: Establish clear boundaries between high-focus work and administrative tasks. Use time-blocking to protect your most cognitively demanding work for times when your cortisol is naturally lower (typically midmorning after cortisol has subsided). Create a 'focus ritual'—a consistent set of actions that signal to your brain it's time for deep work. Once or twice a week, block time on your calendar to clear your space of clutter, take out the trash, process any snail mail that comes in, and regularly delete files and screenshots no longer needed that sit on your screen. Such peripheral clutter cleaning makes clearer thinking possible, and it makes those things you need to find easier to find. Small steps with big impacts Job stress costs U.S. employers more than $300 billion annually due to absenteeism, turnover, decreased productivity—but the human cost is even greater. The good news? You don't have to accept chronic stress as an inevitable part of modern work life. Start small. Choose one strategy and commit to it for two weeks. Notice not just how you feel, but how you think—how ideas flow, how problems untangle, how focus sharpens. Because when you master the art of managing stress, you don't just survive the workday; you unlock your brain's full potential to create, innovate, and excel. Your focused, calm, and productive self is waiting. It's time to clear away the stress and let that person shine through. The early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Samantha Wasserman, PCC, MA is the president and principal consultant of Growth Curve Consulting, an executive development and human capital consultancy offering a deeply committed, thorough set of services to help leaders and their teams through growth and change. Sam specializes in succession and the effective transition of leaders into more advanced, highly complex roles that create a greater impact on both business and society More
