Hackensack Meridian Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey have reached a multi-year agreement that will provide Horizon plan patients with uninterrupted and in-network access to Hackensack's doctors, hospitals, and facilities. The announcement was made Monday.
The agreement was finalized ahead of the June 1 deadline and resolved months of negotiations that had reached a stalemate over payment rates. This impasse posed a risk to millions of New Jersey residents insured by Horizon regarding their access to Hackensack hospitals.
Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said, “As New Jersey’s largest health network, Hackensack Meridian Health is committed each day to ensuring that our patients have access to high-quality, innovative patient care. We are thrilled to have reached a resolution with Horizon ensuring that our world-class team members can continue to provide excellent care to the patients and communities we serve."
Gary D. St. Hilaire, Chairman, and CEO of Horizon emphasized collaboration, saying, "All of us in health care have an obligation to work to make health care more affordable and accessible. This agreement reflects our shared belief that health care works best when providers and insurers work together to put the people we serve at the center of everything we do."
