Horizon's newest Medicare Advantage plan encourages use of 'patient-centered' practices

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is offering a new Medicae Advantage Plan that has lower out-of-pocket costs and more coordinated care when members choose doctors in Horizon's network of patient-centered practices, the largest such network in New Jersey.

Horizon has more than 3,700 doctors at 900 locations across New Jersey that participate in its patient-centered programs, which include patient-centered medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations. “Patient-centered” care uses financial incentives to reward the quality, rather than the quantity, of the care patients receive from health care professionals. Physicians in patient-centered practices are rewarded by Horizon for improving the patient experience and patient outcomes and for delivering care that follows national clinical guidelines.

“We have worked with doctors and hospitals to build New Jersey’s largest network of patient-centered practices, and we’re committed to extending the many benefits of this approach to our Medicare Advantage consumers,” said Erhardt Preitauer, chief executive of Horizon NJ Health and senior vice president, government programs, for Horizon.