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Health Care Industry Strong, But Collaboration Needed to Stem Rising Medical Costs, Says South Jersey Executive

Posted on: Wednesday, 18 October 2006, 15:01 CDT

MT. LAUREL, N.J., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- While the state of the region's health care sector is strong, it remains vulnerable to medical care cost inflation, rising health benefits premiums, and the high number of uninsured, Judith L. Roman, president and CEO of AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey, told a Rutgers-Camden Quarterly Business Outlook yesterday at the Clarion Hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ.

"Health care is an important economic driver in this region -- many southern New Jersey residents work in the health care sector in one form or another," said Roman, who represented the health care industry at the panel. "But as we act to lower health benefits premiums, we do so understanding that, according to our analysts, nearly 87 cents of every premium dollar goes to pay medical claims. Clearly, the largest opportunity for lower premiums lies in lower medical care costs. The challenge we face is how to reduce medical costs and, therefore premiums, without adversely affecting the health care sector.

"I'm encouraged to see more focus on access and affordability and hopeful that there will be reforms to help businesses, government and individuals pay for their medical care," she added, noting that New Jersey's 15.2 percent uninsured rate is one of the highest in the tri-state area. "All of us are stakeholders in the health care system, and we must all work together through cooperation, collaboration and innovation, to find a solution."

The Rutgers-Camden Quarterly Business Outlook, moderated by Mitchell Koza, dean of the Rutgers University, School of Business-Camden, offers candid reports on the economic health of southern New Jersey in five key industries. About 250 business leaders were in the audience during the October 17 panel.

In addition to health care issues discussed by Roman, other distinguished panelists and the sectors they represent included Joel Naroff, chief economist at Commerce Bank (economy); Gerald Shreiber, president and CEO of J&J Snack Foods Corp (consumer products); Maxine Ballen, president and CEO of the New Jersey Technology Council (technology); and Joseph Corbo, Jr., president of Casino Association of NJ and vice president/general counsel of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa (gaming).

About AmeriHealth

AmeriHealth, Inc., a growing group of health care plans with its base in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, has grown to more than 265,000 members since its inception in 1995.

AmeriHealth companies have been recognized for their commitment to providing high-quality products. AmeriHealth HMO of New Jersey and Delaware's AmeriHealth HMO have received the highest possible accreditation by the national leader in HMO quality evaluation. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded both HMOs "Excellent" status for meeting its rigorous evaluation standards.

AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey; AmeriHealth HMO; QCC Insurance Company d/b/a AmeriHealth Insurance Company.

AmeriHealth, Inc.

CONTACT: Liz Williams of AmeriHealth, +1-215-241-2220

Source: PRNewswire

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