West Orange, N.J.-based Barnabas Health has linked with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's largest health insurer, for an accountable care organization.
Under the ACO agreement, Horizon BCBSNJ will provide care coordination payments as the ACO's providers take on additional responsibility for improving health and the patient experience while lowering costs. The ACO and affiliated practices can share in the savings generated if the ACO meets certain patient satisfaction, health improvement and cost goals, according to the news release.
"Our collaborative ACO program highlights our mutual desire to transform the healthcare delivery system in New Jersey by providing support to improve care coordination and positive patient outcomes," Jim Albano, vice president of network management and Horizon healthcare innovations for Horizon BCBSNJ, said in the release.
"Barnabas Health is extremely proud to collaborate with our physicians and Horizon in the implementation of a new healthcare model that will advance the level of care patients receive throughout the state," Anthony Slonim, MD, DrPH, CMO and executive vice president of Barnabas Health and president of the Barnabas Health Medical Group, added in the release.
This collaboration is the fifth ACO or population health initiative Horizon BCBSNJ has launched in the last year. Barnabas has two affiliated Medicare ACOs, Barnabas Health ACO-North and Central Jersey ACO.
The ACO program will launch Sept. 1.
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