Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and LHS Health Network Create New Patient-Centered ACO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) and the LHS Health Network announced today the launch of a collaborative Patient-Centered Accountable Care Organization (ACO) to improve care and patient outcomes for over 17,000 Horizon BCBSNJ members. Approximately 90 primary care doctors practicing at approximately 40 practice locations in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties are participating in this Patient-Centered ACO that began on January 1, 2014. “Our new collaboration with Lourdes is another vital step toward transforming how patient care is delivered in New Jersey with an eye toward stronger care coordination, a better patient experience, and lower cost of care for Horizon members,” said Jim Albano, Vice President of Network Management and Horizon Healthcare Innovations at Horizon BCBSNJ. “We are extremely pleased to be developing this innovative model of service with Horizon, who share our vision for providing high quality, high-value care to the Southern New Jersey community,” commented Alexander J. Hatala, President and CEO of Lourdes Health System and the LHS Health Network. ACOs are built on a strong primary care foundation. Participating physician groups help create a healthier patient population through a coordinated, accountable approach to care among providers within the ACO. ACOs are designed to achieve measured patient quality outcomes and decrease unnecessary and duplicative medical tests and treatments. Under this Patient-Centered ACO agreement, Horizon BCBSNJ will provide care coordination payments to the ACO to take on additional accountability for improving the health and patient experience as well as controlling the cost of care for its Horizon BCBSNJ patients. The ACO and its affiliated practices, provided the ACO meets certain health improvement, patient satisfaction and cost goals, have an opportunity to share in the resulting financial savings with Horizon BCBSNJ. Horizon BCBSNJ has a number of Patient-Centered Programs, including Accountable Care Organizations, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, and programs focused on different Episodes of Care (i.e. joint replacement, pregnancy). More than 500,000 Horizon BCBSNJ members are now benefiting from Horizon BCBSNJ’s Patient-Centered Programs that are working to improve patient care while controlling costs. About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer, is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health services corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving 3.7 million members with headquarters in Newark and offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. About the LHS Health Network Formed in 2013, the LHS Health Network seeks to provide the highest value medical care for beneficiaries through coordinated, comprehensive care across physician practices, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.