NJ FMBA, IBEW CONSTRUCTION DIVISION AMONG EIGHT ADDITIONAL GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS TO JOIN GROWING LIST OF SUPPORTERS OF LEGISLATION TO CREATE A BETTER HORIZON

Edison – Move Health Care Forward New Jersey today announced eight additional groups and organizations who are supporting S3218/A5119, legislation that would amend the Health Services Corporation Act and create a process where Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey could apply to the state to become a not-for-profit mutual health insurer. They join the already large list of groups, organizations and elected officials who have announced their support of the effort. Newly announced supporters include:

New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJ FMBA)

IBEW Construction Division

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

Visiting Nurse Association Health Group

Nassan’s Place, Inc

Hamilton Area YMCA

GlassRoots

“First responders, by the nature of our jobs, are constantly encountering health-related issues. Moreover, we can’t stay home during a pandemic: when the call comes in, we must respond. That makes affordable, quality health care vital for us. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey faces restrictions no other state health insurer does. This is not only unfair for a New Jersey-based company, but also prevents our members from having the kind of health care options they need. A better Horizon means better health care for the thousands of men and women we represent,” stated Ed Donnelly, President of the NJ FMBA.

“This change is in keeping with our mission of empowering and sustaining businesses across the state through entrepreneurship and capitalistic initiatives. New Jersey would be well served by this bill becoming law,” said Carlos Lejnieks President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties. “We support this legislation because it means bigger and better things for New Jersey’s future.”

“Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, one of the largest nonprofit providers of home health, hospice and community based care in New Jersey, has received generous support from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey for over two decades,” said Steven H. Landers, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Association Health Group. “Visiting Nurse Association supports allowing Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to apply to the state to become a not-for-profit mutual holding company with the continuation of its charitable and benevolent mission supporting nonprofits like VNA Health Group.”

“During the pandemic, Horizon continues to demonstrate its commitment to Nassan’s Place and residents statewide by providing the resources that are so desperately needed in and around under-served inner-city communities,” said Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr, President of Nassan’s Place, Inc. “Throughout our partnership, Horizon has shown dynamic leadership aimed at improving the health and lives of individuals and their families all across our state. We support Horizon’s effort to change its corporate form so it can better serve its 3.6 million members and continue providing affordable, quality health care in New Jersey.”

These organizations join an already extensive list of groups, organizations and elected officials who have come out in support of S3218/A5119. Supporters include:

Garden State Equality

The Latino Institute

Brand New J

Community in Crisis

ASPIRA Inc. of New Jersey

Parker Family Health Center

Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative

Mainstage Center For The Arts

Positive Impact

Community Foodbank of New Jersey

Diabetes Foundation

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo

State Senator & North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco

Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse

Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chair Anthony Vainieri

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise

African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio

Rutgers University Foundation

Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

Symphony in C

Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey

New Jersey Business & Industry Association

Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce

Trenton Thunder

Branch Brook Park Alliance

Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District

Somerset Patriots

The attached provides quotes from each of the groups, organizations and elected officials on why they support this legislation and allowing a process for Horizon to apply to the state to become a not-for-profit mutual health insurer.

Changing their corporate structure will allow Horizon, the state’s largest health insurer, to better adapt and evolve to the changing demands of their 3.6 million members. This change means creating better health care for New Jersey. But creating better health care for New Jersey starts with creating a better Horizon. It means creating an environment where Horizon can provide better access to and more affordable care.

About Move Health Care Forward New Jersey

Move Health Care Forward New Jersey is a 501(c)(4) established to educate the public on the value of modernizing New Jersey’s laws to facilitate advancements in affordable, accessible and quality health care by promoting health care innovation and modernization of nonprofit insurance entities. For more information on Move Health Care Forward New Jersey and the need to modernize New Jersey’s health care laws, log on to www.movehealthcareforwardnj.org.

###