VITALE CLARIFIES HIS POSITION ON CHRISTIE PROPOSAL REGARDING HORIZON RESERVE FUNDS

TRENTON – Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vitale issued the following statement in response to a recent media report and subsequent email blast from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, which stated that he opposes a Horizon Reserve Conversion as proposed by Governor Christie in his budget address last month:

“If I had been asked before assumptions were made and widely distributed based on a fragmented media report, my position would have been clear to Horizon and all other stakeholders involved in the conversation. I have always been and continue to remain open to converting any excess funding Horizon may have in their reserves and to ensuring the charitable purpose for those funds is fulfilled.

“In 1986, the State of New Jersey granted Horizon non-profit status making it exempt from federal and state taxes because of Horizon’s mission of being ‘the insurer of last resort.’ That changed in 1992 when State policy required all insurers in NJ to insure all applicants. Horizon still plays a very important role in serving the underserved and it is incumbent on State officials and policymakers to ensure that they continue to fulfill their obligation to their mission to continue to expand access and enhance the quality of health care for New Jersey residents. 

“I have worked with Governor Christie during the last three years to address the opiate epidemic in New Jersey.  Access to care is one of the foremost impediments to making real progress. It would certainly be within Horizon’s mission to utilize any available funds to support efforts to expand access to care or to respond to any future healthcare-related crisis.

“I look forward to reviewing Governor Christie’s proposal and working with my colleagues in the Legislature on this important issue.”