Women's health group Axia Women's Health announced it has secured new multi-year agreements with Cigna Healthcare and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Axia connects women to a network of providers, including OB/GYN physicians, breast health centers, high-risk pregnancy centers, laboratories and fertility centers.

The aim of the partnerships is to bolster Axia's commitment to improving access to an extensive set of women's health services.

The renewed contracts guarantee patients will continue to get care from their Axia providers while reaping the benefits from the network's offerings, such as obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal-medicine, fertility, behavioral health, in-house lab, mammography and in-office surgical procedures.

Additionally, Horizon and Axia jointly provided input into Horizon's next-generation alternative payment model for specialty care launched in 2025. 

The specialty payment program links physician reimbursement to quality metrics in maternal health, including C-section and postpartum visit rates, and preventive screenings such as breast and cervical cancer screenings. 

"We are pleased to have reached fair and equitable agreements with Cigna Healthcare and Horizon and greatly appreciate their commitment to supporting continued growth and investment in integrated care for women," Thomas Dardarian, chief medical officer of Axia Women's Health, said in a statement.

"These deals reflect the quality, outcomes and value we bring to their networks, and most importantly, ensure that our patients will continue to receive uninterrupted care."

THE LARGER TREND

In 2024, Axia Women's Health announced its expansion into Northeast Pennsylvania with the addition of NEPA GYN, which provides gynecologic and surgical care. The addition allowed Axia to establish its presence in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Also last year, Axia Women's Health fertility partner Midwest Fertility Specialists expanded its services to Indianapolis on the Community Hospital's North campus serving patients of the Community Health Network. 

The new location allowed Midwest Fertility Specialists, which offers a full range of fertility services, to increase its presence in the market. 

In 2023, Cayaba Care, a holistic maternity support services program, partnered with Axia Women's Health to address health inequities and improve maternal health outcomes with a focus on Black and Brown communities. Through the partnership, select Axia patients gained access to the Cayable Care program, which provides pregnant people with in-home and virtual services.