Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey announced today that it has launched a new management tool to improve the speed and accuracy of coordinating benefits – the process for determining primary and secondary coverage for members who are insured by more than one plan.The tool, a coordination of benefits (COB) registry launched last month by CAQH, a non-profit alliance of health plans and trade associations, will enable Horizon BCBSNJ to streamline COB processes, better ensure accurate payments to providers and improve the health care experience for members. Horizon BCBSNJ worked with CAQH and other plans aligned with the organization to design the new solution, called “COB Smart,™ “ which will enable providers, once the solution becomes available to them this summer, to access complete and accurate benefits coordination for their patients.“Horizon is committed to providing our 3.7 million members and 34,000 providers with a claims system that operates efficiently and reliably,” said Mark Barnard, Senior Vice President, Service Division, Horizon BCBSNJ. “The registry solution will help Horizon ensure that COBs are assigned right the first time, which will ease the administrative burden on providers and streamline the claims process.”COB Smart is a national registry that is currently identifying COB for more than 100 million patients. The solution has been designed for industry-wide adoption to help drive the greatest efficiencies and value. Horizon BCBSNJ is one of 12 major health plans – covering more than 165 million lives – that is participating in the registry.About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New JerseyHorizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer, is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health services corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving 3.7 million members with headquarters in Newark and offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com.About CAQH CAQH, serves as a catalyst for industry collaboration on initiatives that simplify healthcare administration for health plans and providers, resulting in a better care experience for patients and caregivers. CAQH solutions help promote quality interactions between plans, providers, and other stakeholders; reduce costs and frustrations associated with healthcare administration; facilitate administrative healthcare information exchange; and encourage administrative and clinical data integration. Visit www.caqh.org for more information.