RUIZ-VITALE MEASURE TO HELP HARD-HIT NEW JERSEYANS DURING RECESSION RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Teresa Ruiz and Joseph F. Vitale which would provide financial assistance to individuals and families as part of the “New Jersey Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan” was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“As the national economic meltdown continues to drive down stock prices and increase the volatility in the banking and loan industries, it can be very easy to lose sight of the human impact of the crisis,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, and a member of the Budget Committee. “However, the bad state of the economy has very real consequences for families struggling to make ends meet. These are people who are at the lowest ends of the economic spectrum and may face foreclosure, extreme poverty and homelessness as the cost of living climbs higher and higher – and they need our help.”

Normal 0

Leonard Lance Toes Right-wing Republican Party Line in Opposing Vitale Bill to Stop Gouging of Senior Citizens

VITALE MEASURE TO ENCOURAGE NURSING EDUCATION ADVANCES

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would establish a loan incentive and redemption program for nursing educators in New Jersey was approved unanimously by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today.

“New Jersey’s nursing workforce is absolutely essential to providing for quality health care in the State,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chair of the Senate Health panel. “While we’ve made progress in reducing a nursing staff deficit, we’re currently facing a critical shortfall of nursing teachers which could jeopardize any progress that we’ve made. We need to ensure that New Jersey residents looking to enter into the nursing profession have the quality teachers available to give them the strong academic foundation to succeed.”

VITALE BILL TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY-DISABLED INDIVIDUALS LIVING AT HOME APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, which would direct the State to develop support services for developmentally-disabled individuals living on their own or with a parent or guardian was unanimously approved by the Health Committee today.

“New Jersey has an obligation to provide assistance to families or individuals who are coping with developmental disabilities while treating the individuals with dignity and respect,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “This measure allows for a Statewide effort to expand self-directed support services for developmentally-disabled New Jerseyans who are living outside of the community residential setting. Living at home shouldn’t preclude an individual from receiving the services they’re entitled to that would maximize their developmental potential.”

SENATOR VITALE CHALLENGES NJ 101.5 TO A ‘BATTLE AT THE BALLPARK’

WOODBRIDGE – On next Thursday evening, under the lights of Field 1 at Warren Park, Senator Joe Vitale and his team of softball all-stars are hoping to continue their dominance over NJ 101.5’s The Jersey Guys, led by Team Captain Ray Rossi, at the 11th annual “Battle at the Ballpark” charity softball game.

At their last game, Team Vitale took the Jersey Guys to the cleaners, despite protests from Captain Rossi that last year was a ‘rebuilding year.’  The team is hoping to add to its winning streak, and send the Jersey Guys for yet another in a long line of losses.

VITALE - PRESIDENT’S CONVERSION ON SCHIP GOOD NEWS FOR NJ

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the chief author of legislation expanding FamilyCare in order to guarantee affordable health care for all New Jersey children, issued the following statement after reading reports that President Bush had decided to back off threatened cuts to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides federal matching dollars to programs like NJ FamilyCare:

“Whether the President decided to make an election year conversion regarding SCHIP, or actually got religion in terms of access to quality health care for the working poor, the news that the Bush Administration is backing off intended cuts to the program are great news for New Jersey.

Legislation Expands FamilyCare for Uninsured, Moves NJ to Affordable Health Care for All

            PERTH AMBOY - A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which expands the FamilyCare safety net for uninsured New Jerseyans and takes the first step to ensure affordable health care coverage for all State residents was signed into law by the Governor today at a ceremony at Raritan Bay Medical Center.

            "Today's bill signing marks a commitment from the State of New Jersey - that we will not turn our backs on the 1 million working poor State residents who are one major health crisis away from bankruptcy," said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.  "With this new law, we are recognizing that the Garden State must spend its health care dollars smarter, and that the old system of reimbursing hospitals for providing emergency room care as a way to fund our obligation to the uninsured is dysfunctional and unsustainable.  Through this law, we are saying that the dream of affordable, quality health care for all New Jerseyans is within reach, and that our State can be a national leader in providing access to appropriate care for the uninsured."

            "Every journey begins with a first step," said David Knowlton, who worked with Senator Vitale on the health care reform plan and serves as President and CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.  "Today actually marks a great leap forward for New Jersey on the road to health care reform.  As I have said in the past, absolutely nothing will more quickly improve health care quality in our state than providing affordable and accessible health care coverage to those who now find it out of reach.  In the near term, thousands of children in our state will see the quality of their medical care improved and in the very near future, all of our citizens will be able to say they reside in a state which treasures their health."

            The new law, S-1557, will expand eligibility for New Jersey FamilyCare to more low-income parents, as well as expand efforts to enroll uninsured dependents up to age 31 who meet current income standards into the program.  Under the bill, parents earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or $42,400 in annual income for a family of four, will be eligible for health care coverage, up from the current level of 133% of the federal poverty level, or $28,200 in annual income for a family of four.  This expansion of eligibility, paid for with $8 million in the FY 2009 Budget, will restore the FamilyCare program to the level of coverage it provided a few years ago, and will maximize federal matching funds for the program.

            "With the FamilyCare program, we've seen that when parents have greater access to care, kids get enrolled too," said Senator Vitale.  "When families are trying to stretch every penny from their weekly paycheck, sometimes people view health care as expendable, and that goes for parents as well as children.  However, we need to consider access to quality health care as a fundamental right for all Americans, not a privilege for those who can afford to think past soaring mortgage or rent payments and day-to-day living expenses."

            The bill will expand outreach and marketing of New Jersey FamilyCare for eligible uninsured dependents under the age of 31, and within a year of being enacted, all children age 18 and younger will be required to have some form of health care coverage, whether through public health care programs or private insurance.  The bill does not set punitive measures for non-compliance, but the "Kids First" mandate will increase marketing of the program and work with schools, hospitals, clinics and the medical community to enroll many more children, with $1 million set aside to promote the program.  Under current eligibility standards, children and adult dependents under 350% of the federal poverty level, or $74,200 in annual income for a family of four, are eligible for subsidized care, while parents whose family income is above 350% of the poverty level can purchase FamilyCare coverage for their children at the rate the State pays, based on an initiative unveiled late last year.

            The bill also establishes a hardship waiver program for all or part of the premium payments in the NJ FamilyCare program for all enrollees.  Waivers would be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Commission of Human Services, based on an application for a hardship waiver from a parent or legal guardian.

            "The promise of NJ FamilyCare has never been fully realized, and a big reason for that is that while we have come a long way in providing affordable care, we need to do more to promote the program," said Senator Vitale.  "By engaging so many stakeholders in children's health, we can get the word out to those who qualify for subsidized care.  And by offering a hardship waiver, we can guarantee that no one will have to pay more than they can afford for health care in New Jersey."

            Finally, the bill will make various reforms in the individual and small employer insurance markets to ensure affordability and stabilize cost.  The bill will require small business insurers to make a good faith effort to market individual policies, ensuring greater competition.  The bill also establishes modified community rating to make health care coverage more affordable for young professionals who have historically forgone health insurance due to the high cost, and modifies the minimum loss ratio to ensure that a greater percentage of health care premium dollars is dedicated to direct health care costs, and not insurance administration.

            "Ensuring affordable health care in New Jersey requires a soup-to-nuts perspective on the cost drivers for health care in the Garden State," said Senator Vitale, who credited Assemblymen Louis Greenwald, D-Camden and Neil Cohen, D-Union for most of the market reform measures found in the bill.  "We cannot focus solely on publicly-funded health care - just as we can't focus on the private health insurance market - to adopt lasting and needed change in the health care system.  This bill represents a balanced approach to the health care needs of our State residents, and will provide a stepping stone for future attempts to do more to ensure that everyone can afford the health care they need in New Jersey."

            The bill was approved by both the Senate and Assembly last month.

Democratic Leader Wants Healthy Debate on Issues Vital to All New Jerseyans

Andrews and Vitale Seek Expanded Benefits
Call for Repeal of Rule Shrinking Benefits

Prominent, Diverse Group of Democratic Figures Signifies Broad Support