Menendez & Pallone Praise NJ Dems For Defying Christie on Health Care for the Needy

Washington, D.C. - Senator Robert Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. on Wednesday praised the Democratic Legislature for refusing to comply with Governor Chris Christie's plan to decimate the state program that provides critical health care services to the needy. Democrats in both the Senate and Assembly are planning to act to prevent NJ FamilyCare participants from being denied care in the upcoming budget year. The restoration of the program is included in the budget plans set for final legislative approval by both chambers.

The Legislature will also officially call on federal Medicaid officials to deny the "waiver" the Christie Administration is seeking to make the draconian cuts to the state program that serves low-income families and children. Menendez and Pallone welcomed the show of support by the Legislature with resolutions urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reject the Christie proposal.

“The governor’s proposal to deny health coverage and increase costs for the most vulnerable is unconscionable," said Senator Menendez. "Our budgets are reflections of our priorities, and Democrats have shown that we can be responsible without abandoning families during these tough economic times.”

Christie's plan would reduce the income eligibility limit from approximately $25,000 to about $5,300 annually for a family of three.

"The budget shouldn't be balanced on the backs of the working poor and their children," said Pallone, "and the Democratic budget shows that it doesn't have to be. We should maintain our values and our priorities by standing behind these services, especially during tough times."

Pallone co-authored the congressional legislation that led to the creation of NJ FamilyCare and programs like it.

In addition to lowering income eligibility, the waiver application would reduce services, increase co-pays and cut reimbursement rates.

Approximately 917,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid or FamilyCare in New Jersey and 668,000 of them are children.

Some of the so-called financial savings the governor is predicting are illusory, Pallone noted. Closing enrollment to parents will reduce expenses by $9 million but it would sacrifice $17 million in federal matching grants. By eliminating parents, their children are often the victims of lost care. Studies show that when parents aren't included their children often don't receive treatment. There are an estimated 228,100 uninsured children in New Jersey, ranking the state 28th in the country.

Christie also wants to remove completely an estimated 1,400 childless adults from coverage, regardless of their medical conditions.

Menendez and Pallone urged the governor to rescind the waiver application and maintain the health services that are so important to the lives of so many.