Struggling Hospitals Face More Cuts from Governor

‘Stop the health care cuts’, was the message delivered to Governor Christie on Monday, March 8 from HPAE, NJ Citizen Action and other members of the NJ For Health Care Coalition, joined by State Senators Loretta Weinberg (D-37), and Joseph Vitale (D-19), at a Statehouse Press Conference. Health care advocates used the event to call on NJ Governor Chris Christie to stop cuts to NJ's FamilyCare and Charity Care programs which he enacted through Executive Order just last month.

“Governor Christie’s cuts to FamilyCare will increase the number of uninsured families and force them into hospital emergency rooms, where the cuts to Charity Care will leave hospitals in even worse financial shape” said Eve Weissman of NJCA. “Christie’s cuts will cause even more hospitals to fail financially, affecting all of our communities.”

NJ FamilyCare subsidizes health insurance coverage for more than 580,000 NJ children and 200,000 parents. Governor Christie’s cuts freeze FamilyCare enrollment for adults just over the poverty line, and dumps legal immigrants who have been in the country less than five years from the program.

“In addition to 11,700 legal immigrant parents who would be terminated from the program, many other low-income parents who are United States citizens will be denied health coverage if their annual family income exceeds $24,000/year for a family of three” said Ray Castro, Senior Policy Analyst at NJ Policy Perspective.

As the numbers of uninsured NJ residents increase, the burden on our hospitals grows. “The cuts in Charity Care are particularly disturbing,” said Senator Weinburg, “especially when you consider the rash of hospital closings around the State in recent years.” NJ hospitals cannot afford to take on a new wave of uninsured patients.”

“HPAE members know all too well the importance of charity care funding for hospitals such as Christ Hospital in Jersey City,” said Charlotte Crowe, HPAE Local 5186 Grievance Chair. “The hospital relies on that money to provide care for those who need it most. Without it, we won’t have the revenue to support all of the services our community needs. That’s why it is so important that HPAE advocates for hospital funding and programs like Family Care and Charity Care.”

Join HPAE and other health care advocates in calling on Governor Christie to STOP cuts to NJ FamilyCare and CharityCare.