Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's episode-of-care pilot for Crohn's disease is its first bundled-payment program that includes behavioral health treatment.
A Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate that has played a leading role in developing commercial insurance bundled-payment models is launching an episode-of-care pilot program for Crohn's disease that includes a behavioral health component.
Last month Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey announced that the Crohn's disease bundled payment program will start with about 50 patients in partnership with Hillsborough, NJ-based Digestive Healthcare Center (DHC).
Horizon and DHC launched The Garden State's first colonoscopy bundled-payment program in 2014.
The behavioral health component in the Crohn's disease pilot program aims to have a positive impact on patient outcomes and help control costs, according to a prepared statement from Horizon.
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The goal of the one-year pilot is to identify Crohn's patients who may benefit from behavioral health support and to ensure that they receive those services.
"That support can prove essential to optimizing the benefits of their medical care by increasing the likelihood that patients adhere to their treatment plans, better manage their disease, and avoid unneeded emergency room visits and hospital admissions," Horizon stated.
Seven physicians at DHC's clinics in Hillsborough, Somerville and Warren, NJ, will be providing treatment through the Crohn's program, according to the statement.
Crohn's disease is associated with inflammation of the digestive track's lining, with symptoms including abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, and malnutrition, according to the Mayo Clinic.
With the launch of the Crohn's disease episode-of-care pilot program, Horizon has developed more than a dozen bundled-payments programs.
"Horizon continues to break new ground in our collaborations with doctors, hospitals and specialists who share our commitment to transform New Jersey's healthcare delivery system to be more patient-centered and value based," Lili Brillstein, MPH, Horizon's episodes of care director, said in the statement.
"Bringing a behavioral health component into this episode can help us understand how to improve care for the whole person, which can ultimately enhance the patient experience, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs."
Horizon offers healthcare providers shared-savings payments as part of its bundled-payments programs.
In 2014, fifty-one medical practices earned $3 million in shared-savings payments in five specialty areas, including colonoscopy and pregnancy, according to the not-for-profit's 2015 annual report.
Horizon is New Jersey's largest health insurer, with more than 3.8 million members. Last year, it reported total revenue at $11.4 billion.