FEBRUARY 2009
Legislative Management Team (LMT) Report:
This Report includes 2 Sections:
1. Recently Introduced Bills – State & Federal
2. The LMT at Work
Recently Introduced Bills – State & Federal
S2532 (Weinberg)
Requires additional public participation and health impact "fairness analysis" as conditions of conversion of health service corporation to domestic stock insurer.
S2533 (Weinberg/Allen)
Provides support for obstetric services by certain health care facilities.
S2534 (Buono)
Revises New Jersey False Claims Act to comply with federal Deficit Reduction Act for purposes of entitling State to enhanced recovery in Medicaid fraud cases.
S2545 (Lesniak)
Provides continuing education credits to dentists who render dental services to certain persons free of charge.
S2549 (Vitale)
Makes technical correction to definition of "creditable coverage" in individual, small employer and larger group insurance laws.
S2550 (Weinberg)
Permits physicians to issue multiple prescriptions for total of up to 90-day supply of Schedule II drugs.
A3710 (Quigley/Johnson)
Requires health insurers, SHBP, and SEHBP to provide coverage for interpreter services for persons who have limited English proficiency or deafness.
AR174 (Conaway)
Memorializes Congress to provide Medicare coverage for eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures.
Recently Introduced Bills and Issues: Federal
President Obama signed legislation reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009. The legislation contains the premium assistance provisions long advocated by NAHU in title three of the legislation.
The Economic Stimulus Package that passed in the House and was being debated in the Senate has some key differences on COBRA extension. See below.
House Bill: Extends COBRA coverage for older and tenured workers beyond the 18 months provided under current law. Specifically, workers 55 and older, and workers who have worked for an employer for 10 or more years will be able to retain their COBRA coverage until they become Medicare eligible or secure coverage through a subsequent employer. This provision would be very expensive for employers and is widely opposed by employer groups.
Senate Bill: Does not extend COBRA eligibility beyond the terms of the current law.
House Bill: Contains a subsidy administered through the employer for the first 12 months of COBRA coverage for eligible persons who have lost their jobs on or after September 1, 2008, at a 65 percent rate.
Senate Bill: Contains an identically administered subsidy but for 9 months of coverage, not 12.
House Bill: Only allows the subsidy to be used to purchase COBRA coverage.
Senate Bill: Also allows the subsidy to be used for state continuation coverage, allows workers the ability specially elect a less expensive coverage option if available and allows employers 30 days to begin subsidy administration.
House Bill: Expands Medicaid coverage to individuals (and their dependents) that are receiving unemployment benefits or have exhausted those benefits and have no health insurance coverage. Optional coverage groups would be individuals (and their dependents) who are involuntarily unemployed and uninsured and whose family income does not exceed 200 percent of poverty, and unemployed uninsured individuals who are receiving food stamps.
Senate Bill: Does not expand Medicaid to unemployed individuals
THE LMT AT WORK
UPCOMING EVENTS AND FUNDRAISERS
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February 4th, 2009 – Eileen Shrem met with Assemblywoman Amy Handlin at a fundraiser. She also set up a future appointment with State Senator Joseph Kyrillos. |
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Joseph Torella will be attending a fundraiser for Senator Barbara Buono. |
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PPAG is hosting some fundraisers. Please see the list below. |
Monday, February 23rd
Senator Paul A. Sarlo, Deputy Majority Leader (District 36, Democrat)
Chairman - Senate Judiciary; Vice Chair - Budget & Appropriations; Vice Chair - Labor
11:30am – 1pm Luncheon Reception at PPAG
$500 – Checks payable to “Election Fund of Senator Paul A. Sarlo”
Thursday, February 26th
Senate President Codey and the Senate Democratic Majority
9am – Breakfast Reception at PPAG
$1,000 – Checks payable to “Senate Democratic Majority PAC”
Monday, March 9th
Assembly Republican Victory with Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce
1:30am- Lunch Reception
$1,000 – Checks payable to: “Assembly Republican Victory ‘09”
Thursday, March 12th
Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee with Speaker Joe Roberts
4PM Reception at PPAG
$1,000 – Checks payable to “Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee”
February 19th, 2009 NJAHU State of the State Summit – Trenton Marriott
CAPITOL CONFERENCE 2009 – Monday, March 30th – Wednesday, April 1st
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!!
ONGOING WORK
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The “State of the State” symposium on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 has reached over 350 respondees so far. We look forward to an interesting discussion. Our thanks to David Oscar and Jaffe Communications for their extraordinary efforts.
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On Monday, January 5th, a few of our LMT members met with Assemblyman Schaer, Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. For 55 minutes we discussed insurance matters that were of concern to him and NJAHU. His concern with mandates and their additional cost has allowed us to volunteer to do some research for him when one of these mandate bills is proposed. He wants us to stay in touch with him and furnish him with a constant stream of information and education.
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PPAG is hosting some fundraisers. Please see the list below. |
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Joan Fusco and the rest of the LMT posted a few more position papers. Please go to our website at www.njahu.org to review them. |
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