Health insurer Cigna's unit Evernorth Health said on Wednesday it will make changes to help lower out-of-pocket cost of prescription drugs for patients at its pharmacy stores. The changes will protect patients from paying a high list price for their medication by giving them access to lower prices negotiated by Cigna's pharmacy benefit manager,

Bloomfield-based Cigna announced this week a new initiative that aims to reduce out-of-pocket prescription-drug costs and make those costs more transparent.

It’s the latest step from pharmacy benefit managers to respond to relentless criticism from politicians and regulators over prescription drug costs.