Evernorth Health Services, the health services division of Bloomfield-based The Cigna Group, has partnered with Direct Relief to donate more than 41,000 prescription medications to support communities impacted by disasters and emergencies across the United States. The collaboration establishes a new pathway enabling humanitarian organizations to source medications directly from pharmacies, helping address gaps between unused supply and urgent medical need.

"When disaster strikes, people may lose access to critical medications—either because they must evacuate quickly or because their homes and prescriptions are damaged or destroyed," said Susan Peppers, RPh, vice president of pharmacy practice at Evernorth's pharmacies, which include Express Scripts Pharmacy. "As a care delivery leader serving millions of patients each year, we recognize the critical importance of timely access to medications. By working with Direct Relief to distribute medicines to people who need them, we're helping close a crucial care gap for communities in crisis."

The donated medications include treatments commonly required during crises, supporting patients managing conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and organ transplant rejection. Because many of the medications have long shelf lives, Direct Relief can store them in advance, strengthening disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Beyond medication access, the partnership also focuses on regulatory compliance. Evernorth worked closely with Direct Relief to align the donation framework with Drug Supply Chain Security Act requirements, creating a scalable model that may be replicated by other pharmacies and health services providers.

This initiative reflects a broader effort to improve continuity of care when disasters disrupt health systems, prescriptions, and patient access to essential therapies. While the program operates nationally, its impact is particularly relevant for Connecticut residents and healthcare providers, where emergency preparedness and medication continuity remain critical public health priorities.

"Through this collaboration, Evernorth not only strengthened Direct Relief's supply of medications in emergencies – they also unlocked an entirely new avenue for sourcing high quality prescription drugs for us and other humanitarian organizations," said Tom Roane, vice president of corporate engagement, Direct Relief. "The Evernorth team's commitment to giving back and willingness to navigate new operational and regulatory processes alongside us empowers Direct Relief to serve more people, more quickly, when it matters most."