Horizon BCBSNJ Sponsors Two-Year Pilot To Implant Medical Microchips

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (BCBSNJ) entered into a two-year collaboration with Hackensack University Medical Center and the VeriChip Corporation (VeriChip) to implant FDA-approved microchips into select patients.

The microchips enable emergency room physicians to access a patient’s medical record electronically and obtain immediate access to family contact information and information about the patients’ medical histories that could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

Horizon BCBSNJ said it will make the new technology, developed by the VeriChip Corporation of Delray Beach, Fla., available to select members with chronic conditions.

Members who participate in the program will agree to have an implantable radio frequency identification device (RFID), the size of a grain of rice, placed under their skin, the health plans said.

VeriChip calls the RFID a personal health record module. This RFID emits a 16-digit number that links the patient to their electronic medical record when a special hand-held scanner is waved over it.

The information on the module will include medical information from Horizon BCBSNJ’s claim records, such as lab test data and pharmacy prescription information.

The pilot program will give Hackensack Medical Center physicians access to the member’s electronic medical records and other vital information in the event the chronically ill member cannot respond during an emergency.

The content of the electronic medical records will be approved by each member and include information about their condition, family contact information as well as lab test data and pharmacy information maintained by Horizon BCBSNJ.

Addresses: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, 3 Penn Plaza East PP13K, Newark, NJ 07015; (973) 466-8100, www.horizon-bcbsnj.com. Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601; (201) 996-2000, www.humed.com.