Outgoing Assemblyman John Allen’s (D-32) Alzheimer’s Disease Public Awareness and Education Act and Patient and Provider Protection Act both cleared the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee last week.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“With healthcare for millions of Americans coming under assault from the White House, it’s more important now than ever before to strengthen our own healthcare system here in New Jersey,” Allen said in a statement.
“I’m proud to report that both of these bills will help do just that, by reforming pharmacy benefit manager operations and increasing education resources for Alzheimer’s Disease. I look forward to a full vote of these two bills before the Assembly and respectfully ask for my colleagues’ support.”
Bill A-2490 would require the NJ Department of Human Services to establish a public awareness campaign of Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of early detection and possible treatments.
This would include the development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics, as well as the training of emergency responders to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
That bill cleared the committee by a unanimous vote (10-0), with Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-29) not voting on the measure.
Additionally, Bill A-4953 would reform and modernize the operation of pharmacy benefit managers to increase fairness and transparency.
It would also strengthen oversight, outlaw marketing that is misleading or inaccurate to use a contracted network pharmacy, and ensure pharmacies are reimbursed appropriately without additional and unnecessary costs passed on to patients, among other reforms.
That legislature was voted out of committee by a tally of 7-0(5), with Allen not voting and all five Republican members abstaining.
