The Personal Injury Attorney in Hackensack, NJ, You Can Trust

You can get just about anything you need from Amazon, and now that also includes medical care.

Amazon One Medical is a hybrid virtual and in-person primary care service that is opening three offices in North Jersey. The first care office is located in Edgewater Towne Center, with two more partnerships with Hackensack Meridian Health opening in Jersey City and Englewood later this year.

Amazon One Medical is promising a different type of health facility, where they promise a calm space, easy online booking, and appointments where the doctor doesn’t rush you.

You’ll use an app to book appointments, renew prescriptions, message your care team, and access medical records. That means your doctors and specialists who are affiliated with Hackensack Meridian will have easy access to your history.

Amazon One Medical also offers same-day and next-day appointments for everything from cold and flu to managing more chronic conditions like diabetes.

Plus, you can see a doctor within minutes through the in-app “Treat Me Now” feature, that lets members get fast care for common issues including allergies, skin issues, urinary tract infections, and more.

“Members have been asking us to open up offices in New Jersey for some time, and we are thrilled to start caring for this community in-person and via our 24/7 virtual care, starting with our Edgewater location in collaboration with Hackensack Meridian Health, making it easier for New Jerseyans to improve their health and well-being,” says Evelyn Chu, MD, district medical director for Amazon One Medical in New Jersey.

Amazon One Medical memberships can be added as a Prime benefit for Amazon Prime members at health.amazon.com/prime for $9 per month or $99 per year, or purchased at OneMedical.com. Membership covers access to Amazon One Medical’s technology and on-demand virtual care services at no extra cost, and Amazon One Medical accepts most major insurance plans for in-person care or pre-scheduled remote visits.

Patients can find out if their insurance plan is accepted by visiting OneMedical.com/insurance and searching for their local office. Insurance is accepted but not required. In addition to its new New Jersey offices, Amazon One Medical has offices in more than 20 U.S. locations.

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HEALTH

Two-minute read

Asbury Park Press

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey customers could find Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals out of network this spring, the companies said Thursday, after they were unable to agree to terms on a new contract.

Hackensack Meridian, the Edison-based health care system, has sent letters to patients with Horizon saying the insurer has been offering inadequate reimbursement rates during its negotiation.

"We have been and remain committed to reaching an agreement but must receive fair care reimbursements from Horizon to continue to invest in the care, medical technology and locations that the local communities we serve rely on and expect," Hackensack Meridian said in a statement.

The battle pits two health care giants against each other. Newark-based Horizon is the state's biggest health insurer with 3.8 million members. Hackensack Meridian operates 18 hospitals and has 36,000 employees.

Its hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties are: Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel; Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank; Ocean University Medical Center in Brick; and Southern Ocean County Medical Center in Stafford.

The contract affects Horizon's commercial customers. It doesn't apply to customers covered through Medicaid or its Braven Medicare Advantage plan. And it doesn't apply to Hackensack Meridian physicians such as primary care providers.

The stalemate between Horizion and Hackensack Meridian comes as medical costs are predicted to increase this year at their fastest rate in 13 years, according to PwC, a consulting firm.

The two sides have been negotiating a new contract for the past year that would keep Hackensack Meridian hospitals in Horizon's primary network. Patients typically pay less out of pocket when they visit in-network providers.

Hackensack Meridian terminated its hospitals from the Horizon network last October. The move takes effect Feb. 1, but patients can continue to receive care until June 1. After that, customers with a terminal illness, a serious or complex condition, behavioral health services, a non-elective surgery, or pregnancy,can continue to receive care for up to 90 days. Other patients could continue to visit the hospitals, but they would pay more out of pocket.

Horizon said Hackensack Meridian has demanded significant price increases for services and care at its facilities. "High prices at hospitals directly increase members’ out-of-pocket costs and insurance premiums and make health care less affordable," Horizon said in a statement.

"We continue to work with HMH to reach an agreement for a fair and reasonable increase in the prices that Horizon members pay for care and to keep HMH hospitals in our network," it said.

Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter at the Asbury Park Press. He has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry since 1999. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.

2-minute read

NorthJersey.com

HACKENSACK — The city Zoning Board did not vote on an application for a 19-story assisted living facility on Prospect Avenue last week. The board heard testimony from a city engineer about possible impacts from the project Thursday and will hear more expert testimony and comments from the public before reaching a vote.

Residents have voiced concerns that the building proposed for 329 Prospect Ave. is too large and would be out of character for the residential area.

“This project is just too big for this property. That’s really what it comes down to in a nutshell,” said Diane Some, a lifelong city resident who lives in a nearby apartment building. “They’re trying to put a huge project into a property that had two homes. They’re taking a project that belongs in a destination where there’s a large venue, where people can walk around, and they’re trying to put it in a small residential neighborhood.”

The applicant, Hackensack Assisted Living LLC, is seeking to build a 150-unit, 19-story building on a vacant lot on Prospect Avenue. Four of those stories would be below ground and house 250 parking spaces.

As part of the project, the developer is also proposing creating a community park, with a therapeutic garden and a dog run. The development would have frontage on both Prospect and Summit avenues.

The developer has argued that while the project would be 261% over the allowable density of the area — set at 50 units per acre — other nearby apartment buildings are also well over that limit, including the Blair House, with 214 units, and the Pierre, with 269 units.

But residents, who worry that the development would bring increased traffic and flooding issues and would strain the city's public services and sewer system, have said the building is much larger than most of the surrounding residences, particularly on the Summit Avenue side, which is largely single-family homes.

On either side of the property on Prospect are seven-story apartment buildings; on Summit Avenue, two-story houses border the 1.51-acre site.

Joseph Basralian, attorney for the applicant, said it is his policy not to comment on an application that is still pending.

Multiple hearings have been held since the application was first presented more than a year and a half ago. Basralian said there will not be a vote at the February or March meetings.

HACKENSACK — The city Zoning Board will continue to hear an application for a 19-story assisted living facility on Prospect Avenue on Thursday.

The applicant, Hackensack Assisted Living LLC, is proposing 150 residential units and 250 parking spaces below ground, with frontage on Prospect and Summit avenues. The units would be split between 45 studios, 81 one-bedroom units, and 24 two-bedroom units. The developer also plans on creating a community park, with a therapeutic garden and a dog run as part of the project.

In meetings over the past year and a half, the board has heard testimony on details of the proposed development at 329 Prospect Ave., and estimated traffic, construction and stormwater impacts to the community.

Some residents have opposed the application, saying it would bring additional noise and traffic to the area and strain the city's public services and sewer system.

In a letter to the board last spring, Barbara Gold, a resident of a nearby condominium, said the proposed business to provide “long-term care for the aged, staffed by employees who provide such care,” would be inconsistent with the residential zoning of the site.

“The fact that there are vacant lots in a residential district available for development cannot be justification for the board to ignore the intent of the guidelines” to maintain separate residential and business areas of the city, she wrote.

Diane Some, a lifelong, third-generation city resident who lives nearby, said Wednesday that the proposed building is out of character for the neighborhood.

“I feel I have a vested interest in Hackensack. I remember how it was years ago; I understand changes are necessary. Changes have to be made, but this is a residential street and to put this type of facility where beautiful homes used to be, it’s not appropriate,” she said. “Something has to go there, but not a 19-story assisted living facility.”

Some is part of a group of residents who oppose the project. She said she is hoping for a big turnout on Thursday to voice their concerns to the board.

“Hopefully everyone will be coming out in force,” she said. “We’re really concerned — it’s going to change the whole face of Summit Avenue.”

On either side of the property on Prospect are seven-story apartment buildings, but on Summit Avenue the area is less dense, with two-story houses bordering the 1.51-acre site.

The allowable density of dwelling units in the zone is 50 units per acre. Under those guidelines, the maximum number of units allowed at 329 Prospect would be 58. However, the applicant has argued, many of the apartment buildings along Prospect Avenue go well beyond that.

The Blair House, built in 1974 with 214 units, is 542% over the density limit. The Pierre, with 269 units, is 301% over the limit. The Stratford House, nearby on Overlook Avenue, is 261% over the allowable density — the same percentage as the proposed facility.

Joseph Basralian, attorney for the applicant, declined to comment and said there would likely be several more board meetings before a vote.