NEWARK, NJ – Today, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to keep providing affordable cancer care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in Basking Ridge.  As reported by the Star Ledger, approximately 1,000 cancer patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering who are covered by Horizon may be forced to pay more, find a new provider or travel to Sloan-Kettering’s New York City facility.

    “Horizon Blue Cross needs to be more sensitive to these patients.  Cancer treatment is hard enough, but this kind of disruption is simply unacceptable,” Lautenberg said.

    Lautenberg wrote in a letter to Horizon CEO William J. Marino: “Your announcement is causing a great deal of anxiety among many New Jersey cancer patients receiving treatment in Basking Ridge.”

    A copy of the letter is below.

August 6, 2008

William J. Marino
President and Chief Executive Officer
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Three Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ  07105-2200

Dear Mr. Marino:

    I have been contacted directly by several constituents who are also your customers about an urgent matter that affects more than 1,000 cancer patients in New Jersey.  Patients covered by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield receiving care at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, NJ, have been notified that they will soon have to receive care in New York City or pay “out of network” rates – a full twenty percent of the treatment costs.

    As you know, forcing cancer patients to change providers or travel long distances during a crucial time in their treatment can be devastating.  Your announcement is causing a great deal of anxiety among many New Jersey cancer patients receiving treatment in Basking Ridge.

    I strongly urge you to do more to reach an agreement with Sloan-Kettering or to work with The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association to provide an exception for these patients.  I look forward to hearing from you to learn what steps you are taking to rectify the situation. 

Sincerely,

Frank R. Lautenberg