Governor Corzine Signs Important Health Care Transparency Bills into Law

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July 29, Governor Corzine signed four important health care transparency bills into law. The bills were signed at a public bill signing in front of St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton.

AARP and Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) worked in coalition for the passage of these four powerful consumer health bills.

A2607/S1794 requires each state hospital and psychiatric facility to conduct annual public meetings for the community it serves.

“The public meeting bill complements AARP’s agenda for transparency in health care,” said Patricia Kelmar, AARP Associate State Director-Advocacy. “Public meetings required under this bill will give consumers a chance to voice their concerns to hospital administrators about the services provided in their local hospitals.”

A2606/S1895 requires that all hospital board of trustee members undergo a training program approved by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services that is designed to clarify the roles and duties of a hospital trustee.

A2608/S1796 allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to monitor a hospital’s financial performance. If the Department identifies a hospital as financially distressed, it will be able to intervene in fiscal management by sending an appointed monitor.

“Timely review of a hospital’s financial situation by the Department of Heath and Senior Services and training for hospital trustees holding positions of great power will help to improve the fiscal management and quality of medical services in our State’s hospitals,” said Sy Larson, AARP New Jersey State President.

The final bill, A2609/S1797, prevents hospitals from charging uninsured patients excessively high medical bills in an attempt to recoup losses due to government underpayment and charity care programs. This bill affects those with a family income of less than 500% of the federal poverty level.

All four of these bills resulted from recommendations in the state-commissioned Rationalizing Health Care Resources 2008 report (the Reinhardt Commission). AARP commends New Jersey Health Commissioner Heather Howard for bringing these important recommendations before the legislature.