N.J. Senate OK’s Scutari-McKnight bill to assess priority needs of Medicaid & CHIP

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The New Jersey Senate approved a bill sponsored by Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22) and state Senator Angela McKnight (D-31) to assess the priority needs of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), both a part of NJ FamilyCare.

Instagram photo.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“With the threat of cutbacks in federal support for Medicaid and CHIP, it’s important that we evaluate their quality of care, prioritize vital services and find ways to optimize the use of available funds,” Scutari said in a statement.

“We need to maximize the impact these health care programs provide for so many of the state’s most vulnerable residents.”

S-3610 aims to help ensure that any available resources are used to address priority healthcare services for low-income families, children, and the disabled.

Specifically, the legislation would have the state Treasury Department and the Department of Human Services take an “inventory” of the varied medical services provided by NJ FamilyCare, compile a list of the 12 most important needed improvements, and comb the state budget to identify available funds.

A report on the findings would then be submitted to the legislature annually.

“Medicaid and CHIP deliver vital health care services to children, the disabled, and low-income families and individuals,” added McKnight.

“We want to ensure they have the support they need and that we are providing for the medical professionals who do the important work of caring for the people they serve. These programs save lives and help prevent serious and costly medical conditions.”

The program serves more than 1.8 million people in New Jersey and there are systemic problems that affect the accessibility and quality of care that need to be scrutinized, the Scutari and McKnight also said.

A limited number of providers, long wait times, slow reimbursements, and regional disparities in the delivery of care undermine the effectiveness of the program.

Furthermore, the potential reductions in federal aid are also a challenge, which is why this bill is a crucial step in ensuring quality care for state residents.

The bill was approved by a vote of 35-4(1) earlier today.


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