Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) and University Hospital in Newark announced today that they are entering into a strategic partnership to accelerate the integration of Horizon’s patient-centric value-based care models into University Hospital’s ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of Newark residents and the surrounding communities. The new collaboration will launch with an initial focus on expectant mothers and bring Horizon’s highly successful “Episodes of Care for Pregnancy and Delivery” protocols to University Hospital’s maternity care program.“University Hospital has always made the health of our community, and the wellness of Newark, our priority and we share Horizon’s commitment to collaboration that raises the bar on care quality while identifying pathways and investments that lower costs,” said John N. Kastanis, President and Chief Executive Officer of University Hospital. “Value based care is clearly a model whose time has come and we’re excited to join Horizon at the forefront of bringing the benefits of this approach to our patients, the residents of Newark and the surrounding communities. Expectant mothers have unique health challenges that, if left unaddressed, can quickly lead to greater health risks for both patients -- mother and baby,” said Kastanis.Dr. Mark H. Einstein, MD, Chair of the University Hospital Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health added, “patient-focused care is our priority, and our goal is to continue to achieve the best possible outcomes for our expectant moms and babies. We look forward to working with Horizon to maximize and operationalize the best clinical practices.”Horizon is eager to work with urban hospitals in New Jersey seeking to collaborate with us on ways to improve care quality, enhance the patient experience and control health care costs,” said Robert A. Marino, Chairman and CEO of Horizon BCBSNJ. “Safe and healthy maternity care is a top priority for University Hospital, so Horizon is pleased that our initial focus will be on developing a program with them that provides incentives for getting expectant mothers and their children off to a healthy start. University Hospital plays a critical role in the health of Newark and I’m grateful that they see the value in working with Horizon to achieve our shared goals.”Horizon BCBSNJ’s physicians, nurses and coordination team leaders will work with their counterparts at University Hospital to help improve outcomes and manage the full spectrum of a patient’s maternity care needs including pre-natal, pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum care. The Episodes of Care for Pregnancy and Delivery program has proven highly effective at reducing the number of unnecessary C-sections, postpartum infections and complications. The teams will also work together to develop protocols specifically aimed at bringing down the number of pre-term births at University Hospital.More than 800,000 Horizon members participate in one of the company’s patient-centered, value-based care programs, which include patient-centered-medical homes, episodes of care, and accountable care organizations. These value-based-care initiatives have proven effective at improving the of quality care, lowering overall costs and, and improving patient experience.According to recently released results for its Episodes of Care (EOC) program that included 51 specialists and more than 8,000 patients, Horizon BCBSNJ members in EOC practices had a far lower hospital re-admission rate and experienced other high quality outcomes compared to members receiving the same services from a non-EOC practice, including a 32% reduction in unnecessary Pregnancy C-Sections. Patients involved report satisfaction rates in excess of 90%.University Hospital and Horizon BCBSNJ have committed to continue working closely together to develop additional value-based collaborations that achieve the triple aim of raising the quality of care, lowering the overall cost of that care, and improving patient experience.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 service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.8 million members.About University HospitalUniversity Hospital is an independent medical center with more than 500 licensed beds, an active medical staff of more than 600, and over 3,000 employees. Located in the Central Ward of Newark, New Jersey, University Hospital is a regional resource for advanced care in a wide range of medical specialties. University Hospital was awarded the prestigious Gold Plus recognition by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for Heart Failure and Stroke. Designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center, the Hospital maintains 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons, and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine, plastic surgery, and pediatrics. As part of its mission to serve the residents of Newark and surrounding communities, University Hospital is also proud to be the principal teaching hospital of the schools of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, including New Jersey Medical School, the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Health Related Professions, and the School of Nursing. Learn more at www.uhnj.org.