b'Restructuring HorizonLegislative UpdateA Lobbyists PerspectiveBy Jon Bombardieri ANJC Government Affairs Counselcost, quality and consumer experience.Senate President Steve Sweeney said that he supports the legislation and stated that this bill will help Horizon to move forward with reforms that aid healthcare consumers and enhance the quality of care they receive. These changes will better enable New Jerseys only not-for-prot health insurer to modernize the way it is organized so it can invest more in member benets, including consumer technology and preventive care.The Murphy administration has not publicly stated their position on the legislation; however, they have expressed some concerns to the sponsors, including their opinion that this would only be benecial to the executives of the company. While New Jerseys largest health insuranceexpands the corporations opportunitiesthey are open to discussion on this company wants to broaden its businessfor investment in new technologieslegislation, they feel that there needs to portfolio and gradually reduce its taxand other healthcare avenues. Withbe more thoughtful debate on this issue burden. an increased exibility to provide itsbefore the Legislature moves forward policyholders with more innovativewith a vote.Legislation, A-6062/S-4296, introducedproducts and services, Horizon wouldHealthcare advocates agree that lame by Assemblyman John McKeon andbecome more competitive, putting it onduck is not the time to be fast-tracking Senator Nellie Pou, would allow Horizonequal footing with industry competitors.this legislation, because it is too broad to reform its corporate structure thatIts a win-win for Horizon policy holdersand complex to try to move through the will enable it to modernize and improveand all NJ residents to assure access toLegislature without the proper time to care for its current policyholders,affordable, quality healthcare. pore over the issue. save on healthcare costs over time, and provide economic and publicHorizon is currently a not-for-protDuring a press conference on health benets to the state in general.health services corporation, a corporateDecember 3rd, New Jersey Citizen Further, the proposed law would allowform that restricts its ability to investAction Health Care Program Director Horizon to become a not-for-protin technologies and innovations thatMaura Collinsgru said, A change of mutual holding company, and createsupport its goal to improve healthcarethis magnitude cannot be undertaken for-prot subsidiaries in businessescost, quality and consumer experience.without all the facts. A comprehensive outside commercial insurance. It is theSpecic limitations include caps on theanalysis of Horizons current assets and intention of the legislature to move thissize of investments the company canan independent health and rate impact bill quickly and get it on the Governormake, a ceiling on business outside ofassessment need to be done before Murphys desk before the end of thisthe core commercial insurance services,legislators and the public can consider lame-duck session. and an inability to use a modern holdingany such change. Assemblyman McKeon released acompany structure commonly usedAs of yet the legislation has not been statement saying, Increasing accessby health insurers and important toposted in committee for discussion.to health care, bolstering affordability,facilitating investments benecial to and ensuring the delivery of qualitypolicyholders.care throughout New Jersey has alwaysHorizon feels that its current structureJon Bombardieri and his rm, CLB been a top priority for the state. Byrestricts its ability to invest in tech- Partners, serve as the Government Affairs moving Horizon toward a not-for-protnologies and innovations that supportCounsel to the ANJC.mutual holding structure, this legislationHorizons goal to improve healthcare 8 I Winter 2020 www.anjc.info'