NEWS:

Newton Memorial Hospital to Return to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Hospital Network

MORRISTOWN, NJ – Newton Memorial Hospital will return to the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey hospital network beginning May 1, 2011.  The hospital and New Jersey’s largest health insurance company came to an agreement this week which will allow nearly 60,000 residents in the region covered by Horizon BCBSNJ to take advantage of Newton Memorial’s services as in-network.

Benefits to Horizon BCBSNJ members will include in-network access to all of Newton Memorial Hospital’s services, including elective procedures, in-patient and out-patient services.  The emergency department at Newton already accepts all insurances.

“Our new agreement with Horizon is terrific news for the patients we serve, and we are very pleased to be back in-network with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey,” said Tom Senker, president of Newton Memorial Hospital.  “This is a major step that will further our mission to provide exceptional care and service while continuing to deliver the highest quality health care to our community.”

The original contract between Newton Memorial and Horizon BCBSNJ ended in November 2008 and since then, the hospital has been an out-of-network facility for Horizon BCBSNJ members.  Through the recent merger with Atlantic Health, which also owns and operates Morristown Memorial and Overlook Hospitals and accepts Horizon BCBSNJ members as in-network, negotiations were restarted and an amicable agreement was reached.

For more information or to speak with a hospital spokesperson, please contact Rob Seman at 973-660-3145 or Robert.seman@atlantichealth.org.

About Atlantic Health

Atlantic Health is one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey and includes Morristown Memorial Hospital, Overlook Hospital in Summit and Newton Memorial Hospital. The three hospitals have a combined total of 1,308 licensed beds and more than 2,750 affiliated physicians providing a wide array of health care services to the residents of Northern and Central New Jersey. Morristown Memorial ranks as the No. 1 hospital in New Jersey by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., and the services provided at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute resulted in Morristown Memorial earning the No. 1 hospital in the state for the treatment of heart failure and coronary surgery. Castle Connolly recognized the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute at Overlook Hospital the No.1 hospital for the treatment of neurological disorders and the No. 2 hospital for stroke treatment in NJ. Specialty services areas include pediatrics, cancer care, orthopedics, diabetes care, gastroenterology, trauma and emergency medicine, behavioral health, minimally invasive surgery, radiology and advanced diagnostics, women’s health and maternal fetal medicine, home and hospice care and rehabilitation services. Atlantic Health is a Major Clinical Research Affiliate with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Atlantic Health’s hospitals are accredited by The Joint Commission. Atlantic Health has been chosen for the past three consecutive years by FORTUNE® as one of the magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®.” Atlantic Health has also been recognized four times by AARP as one of the organization’s “Best Employers for Workers over 50.”

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer, is a not-for-profit health services corporation.  Horizon BCBSNJ serves approximately 3.6 million members and is headquartered in Newark with offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton.

Horizon BCBSNJ provides a wide variety of medical, health and wellness, life insurance, worker compensation and dental insurance products and services, including Medicare and Medicaid products, for local and national businesses and individuals.  Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.  Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com.