February 19, 2013
Gov. Christie
Outlines Path Forward to Best Maintain NJ's Excellent Healthcare
Continuing with
his commitment to comply with the
mandates of the Affordable Care Act
in a manner that protects the best
interests of New Jersey and New
Jerseyans, Governor Christie gives
formal notice to the federal
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) that New Jersey is
opting to put in place a federally
administered Exchange for Plan Year
2014, because it is the most
responsible choice for the state. In
a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius, the Governor affirmed his
Administration’s commitment to
protecting high quality healthcare
for New Jerseyans, cooperating with
the federal government as an
exchange comes online in New Jersey,
and detailed the many steps taken to
improve the excellence in care for
all of our state’s residents.
“My Administration is committed to
meeting our obligation to comply
with the Affordable Care Act, but
only in a manner that is the most
effective and efficient for the
residents of New Jersey, and the
businesses that will carry the costs
of this new program. New Jersey
enjoys a respected and earned
reputation as a national leader in
treatment and coverage, and our
residents rightfully expect
excellence in healthcare,” said
Governor Christie. “In order to move
forward in a manner that best meets
that standard for our families and
businesses, and that ensures that
all New Jerseyans have access to the
best healthcare options supported by
the most effective insurance
coverage, I have determined that
federal operation of the Exchange is
the responsible choice for our
state.”
Under the Christie Administration,
New Jersey has already taken
numerous significant steps to comply
with the federal mandates under the
Affordable Care Act, while also
instituting numerous reforms and
initiatives to improve the quality
of and access to care for all New
Jerseyans.
* In December of 2012, New Jersey
selected an Essential Health
Benefits Benchmark plan, as required
under the Affordable Care Act.
* New Jersey has
successfully implemented NJ Protect,
a federally subsidized health
insurance program for individuals
with pre-existing health conditions.
NJ Protect enrolled its first
policyholders in August of 2010 and
now serves 1,400 New Jerseyans with
serious illnesses such as cancer and
heart disease by providing them
access to affordable insurance and
care.
* New Jersey is in
the final stages of modernizing our
Medicaid and social service
eligibility information systems,
which will work with the federal
exchange, through the Consolidated
Assistance Support System (CASS).
CASS will allow one-stop shopping –
easier access, holistic benefit
delivery, and unified casework – for
New Jerseyans who qualify for the
state’s most-used social service
programs.
* In 2011, New
Jersey was certified as operating an
“Effective Rate Review Program” in
all insurance markets. The
certification meets a requirement of
the Affordable Care Act and confirms
that consumers are paying reasonable
rates.
* The State of New
Jersey worked with the Obama
Administration to protect access to
the state’s most affordable
insurance coverage, “Basic and
Essential” coverage utilized by
approximately two-thirds of the
145,000 New Jerseyans covered by
individual insurance in New Jersey,
a coverage option under threat due
to the provisions of the Affordable
Care Act.
* In October of
2012, New Jersey secured approval of
our Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver in
order to preserve New Jersey’s
Medicaid program for the most
vulnerable. The waiver allows the
Christie Administration to move
forward with bold, innovative
reforms to decrease the cost of
care, improve quality and delivery
through integrated, managed care,
and offer premium payment assistance
for needy families. This is being
accomplished without affecting
eligibility, imposing co-pays, or
cutting optional services.
Previously, Governor Christie
declined to establish a state run
exchange citing the many critical,
open policy questions before states
– even as federally imposed
deadlines loomed to make
far-reaching and significant
decisions with respect to
implementation of provision of the
Affordable Care Act. The absence of
clarity denied states the requisite
information needed to make informed
decisions for their residents. Those
concerns were detailed in Governor
Christie’s veto message of S-2135.
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