Horizon Healthcare Innovations, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Horizon Blue Cross Blue shield of New Jersey and 63 primary care physicians, has announced the launch of New Jersey's first state-wide patient centered medical home, according to a Horizon news release.
The effort is designed to improve the quality and integration of care provided to Horizon BCBSNJ members, according to the release. The initial pilot will include 63 physicians at 23 offices located in eight counties throughout New Jersey. Together, the physicians provide care for more than 24,000 Horizon BCBSNJ members. HHI will continue to expand the number of participating physicians and members throughout the next year.
Under the current healthcare delivery system, patients are often treated by more than one physician, and many times, physicians fail to communicate adequately with one another. This lack of communication means financial waste as well as patient confusion and potential medical errors. According to the release, the PCMH model will change physician incentives to reduce waste and promote more coordinated care.
To assist physician groups in meeting benchmarks, Horizon BCBSNJ will staff "population care coordinators" at physician offices to provide clinical and administrative support to each practice. The coordinators are expected to help physicians transform their offices into "medical homes."
Read the HHI release on patient centered medical homes.
Read more on the development of patient centered medical homes:
-Tennessee, BCBS Fund Patient-Centered Medical Home Models at 15 Practices
-System Integration in 2011: Q&A With Gary Campbell, President and CEO of Centura Health
The effort is designed to improve the quality and integration of care provided to Horizon BCBSNJ members, according to the release. The initial pilot will include 63 physicians at 23 offices located in eight counties throughout New Jersey. Together, the physicians provide care for more than 24,000 Horizon BCBSNJ members. HHI will continue to expand the number of participating physicians and members throughout the next year.
Under the current healthcare delivery system, patients are often treated by more than one physician, and many times, physicians fail to communicate adequately with one another. This lack of communication means financial waste as well as patient confusion and potential medical errors. According to the release, the PCMH model will change physician incentives to reduce waste and promote more coordinated care.
To assist physician groups in meeting benchmarks, Horizon BCBSNJ will staff "population care coordinators" at physician offices to provide clinical and administrative support to each practice. The coordinators are expected to help physicians transform their offices into "medical homes."
Read the HHI release on patient centered medical homes.
Read more on the development of patient centered medical homes:
-Tennessee, BCBS Fund Patient-Centered Medical Home Models at 15 Practices
-System Integration in 2011: Q&A With Gary Campbell, President and CEO of Centura Health