Cigna’s health services division, Evernorth, announced a $100 million investment through 2028 to develop an AI-powered specialty pharmacy program called Pharmacy Forward. The initiative is projected to create approximately $400 million in value by the end of 2028.
AI improves efficiency and patient support
The program will launch at Accredo Specialty Pharmacy, which currently serves over 1 million patients annually with chronic and complex specialty conditions through Therapeutic Resource Centers.
Pharmacy Forward intends to reduce prescription processing times by half, ensuring faster delivery of medications to patients. It also aims to raise medication adherence above the industry standard of 80%. Clinicians may see documentation time decrease by up to 50%, Evernorth stated.
The system will combine clinical data, predictive analytics, and AI-generated summaries to identify patients at risk of missing therapy or experiencing adverse events. It will improve the completeness of prior-authorization submissions and identify copay assistance eligibility.
Same-day shipping for 90% of patients
Accredo will expand capacity at nearly 40 care facilities to ensure 90% of patients receive one-day or same-day ground shipping. AI will analyze patient location, delivery timing, and medication handling needs to select the optimal dispensing site and reduce delays from adverse events such as weather.
AI-enabled scheduling is projected to increase the use of personalized patient digital pathways by 25%. Matt Perlberg, president of Evernorth’s pharmacy and care delivery operations, said the objective is to provide faster, more seamless support tailored to patient needs.
The company plans to extend these AI capabilities to its other pharmacies in the coming years.
The U.S. population continues to age, with the median age increasing from 39.2 in 2024 to 39.4 in 2025, according to census data. Chronic disease management represents a $6.2 billion market, expected to grow to $18.8 billion by 2034 due to rising rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
For now, the program targets Accredo’s current patient base. Success could establish a model for how large insurers use AI to manage high-cost, high-touch care, helping balance care and costs more effectively.