Value-Based Benefits Improving the Health of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Employees
Posted on: Monday, 6 October 2008, 12:00 CDT
Horizon BlueCross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) announced today that its membership with The Center for Health Value Innovation, (The Center) has led to the adoption of value-based benefit plan designs, which reflects Horizon's initiatives to invest in the health of its employees by focusing on adherence and prevention. The Center (www.vbhealth.org) is the nation's premier organization dedicated to establishing value and producing evidence for sustainable health and financial improvement.
"Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey embraces value-based design and has worked to incorporate its concept into our multi-year, internal employee health and wellness program entitled Journey to Health," said Cynthia M. Tobia, director of Compensation, Benefits and Human Resource Information System (HRIS). "This program focuses on prevention, education, and incentives that encourage employees to adhere to treatments prescribed by their doctors. After one year, we've seen evidence that many of our employees are more aware of their own personal health risks and steps they need to take to stay healthy."
By joining The Center, Horizon BCBSNJ has been able to connect with other innovators and health strategy experts in value-based health design, partake in national conferences, participate in educational sessions focused on introducing value-based design changes at the worksite, and access learning tools. Its company-wide voluntary health program is designed to encourage employees to improve their health by taking a more active role in managing their own health.
"This initiative is a key component of our long-term business and human resource strategy," adds Tobia. "By addressing healthcare beyond disease and case management -- and engaging employees before they have a need for either - our organization is working toward creating a culture of health. We recognize that without increased levels of employee engagement, fundamental change will not occur."
Horizon BCBSNJ's program focuses on awareness, education, and behavior change, with continued efforts to design programs that address their largest disease categories and eliminate as many barriers to care as possible.
"We are implementing a pilot program that will be available for employees and dependents with diabetes," explains Tobia. "Our program will lower the co-pays for applicable drugs and in return, individuals taking part in the pilot program must attend a wellness clinic, undergo a biometric screening, and complete a Health Risk Assessment. We believe that there has to be a willingness and individual commitment to take action in not only understanding diabetes but also in what can be done to control the disease and minimize the health complications that lead to significant costs to individuals and the entire healthcare system."
Horizon BCBSNJ will examine its one-year pilot and compare results against established metrics, with an eye toward expanding the program beyond diabetes while incorporating a more holistic approach.
"We have been delighted to lend our expertise in value-based plan designs to Horizon BlueCross BlueShield of New Jersey," says Cyndy Nayer, President of The Center for Health Value Innovation. "They have joined a growing number of companies that understand that a long-term system of therapeutics and a value-based approach to healthcare is needed to improve health outcomes and financial sustainability."
About Horizon BlueCross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the oldest and largest health insurer in the state serving over 3.6 million members. Horizon BCBSNJ is New Jersey's only not-for-profit, health services corporation and is headquartered in Newark with offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton.
Horizon BCBSNJ provides a broad array of health and dental insurance products and services for individuals and small and large companies, including national companies headquartered in New Jersey. Horizon BCBSNJ is committed to improving the health care experience for all the communities we serve as well as helping our members become and stay healthy.
Horizon BCBSNJ's Web site is located at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
About The Center for Health Value Innovation
Launched in 2007, The Center for Health Value Innovation is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization representing industry stakeholders committed to sharing the evidence that value-based health designs improve health status and reduce health cost inflation. Visit www.vbhealth.org.
Source: Business Wire
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