News

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's Contributions to "Project Vaccinate" Lead to a Dramatic Increase In Immunization Rates for Children in Newark

Newark Recognized at the Center for Disease Control's 41st National Immunization Conference for Most Improved Vaccination Coverage for Young Children In an Urban Area in the United States

(Newark, NJ) Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) announced today that its collaboration with Newark's Department of Health and Human Services/ (NDHHS)/Project Vaccinate and Eliza Corporation has led to a dramatic increase in immunization rates for children in the city of Newark.

"Project Vaccinate has been a resounding success and the children of Newark are the clear winners," said Doctor Richard Popiel, Chief Medical Officer, Horizon BCBSNJ. "Since the inception of the Project Vaccinate Quality Partnership in 2003, over 47,700 calls have been made to parents living in Newark and its surrounding areas. These calls have helped contribute to a 30% percent increase in childhood immunization rates in the city of Newark since 2002."

In 2002, Newark's immunization rate was 57.5 percent. By 2005, Newark's immunization rate had increased to 75 percent, only slightly below New Jersey's statewide average of 78.2 percent.

The partnership between the Horizon BCBSNJ, the NDHHS/Project Vaccinate, New Jersey Immunization Information System and the Eliza Corporation was established in 2003. Project Vaccinate (PV) is a NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) funded program within the Immunization Program at the NDHHS dedicated to the elevation and maintenance of timely, age-appropriate immunizations for pre-school children in Newark.

The partnership has developed a system through which Newark families with children between the ages of 2 through 18 months are reminded to have their children vaccinated. Families receive personalized telephone reminders emphasizing the importance of immunization within two (2) weeks of their child's 2-month, 4-month, 6-month, 12-month, and 15-month anniversary. These calls raise parent's awareness of their child's vaccine requirement prior to visiting their health-care provider.

Key components of the program are utilization of the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) and Eliza Corporation's state-of-the-art automated speech recognition system. The speech recognition system engages members in personalized conversations that remind families to receive timely vaccinations for their children.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, headquartered in Newark, is New Jersey's largest health insurer, providing coverage to more than 3.3 million people. Horizon BCBSNJ's company website is located at www.horizonblue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Eliza Corporation

Eliza Corporation pioneered the design, development, and hosting of speech-enabled programs for healthcare. The company's patented phone-based outreach supports and streamlines the collection and sharing of information between healthcare organizations and the people they serve with timely, relevant, and conversational interactions. Eliza's clients span leading health care organizations, including many of the top health plans, disease management companies, and pharmaceutical companies in the nation. Eliza interacts with healthcare members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.elizacorp.com or call 978-921-2700.

Contacts: