Budget Panel To Review Banking, Health & DCA

TRENTON – The Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee will continue its review of Governor Chris Christie’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal on Thursday when the panel hears from the Department of Health, the Department of Banking & Insurance and the Department of Community Affairs.

Among the issues that will be discussed are the budget consequences of actions by the Trump Administration on health care and housing, the status of affordable housing, the state’s efforts to keep lead out of drinking water, the out-of-network issue, and the governor’s proposal to tap Horizon’s reserve fund to pay for drug rehabilitation services, said Senator Paul Sarlo, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

“These departments are responsible for an array of programs and services that are important to the quality of life in New Jersey,” said Senator Sarlo. “We still live with the threat of a Washington repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the enormous consequences that could have on Medicaid funding and charity care, as well as other cuts by the Trump Administration on programs such as housing. We will also review municipal aid, housing and health issues such as lead remediation, out-of-network hospital care, co-occurring disorders and the governor’s proposal to have Horizon contribute to drug rehabilitation programs.”

Senator Sarlo said the hearing would also include discussion of cuts to Democratic priorities such as cancer research, autism services, and the Housing First pilot program, among others.

The hearing will be held in Committee Room 4, 1^st Floor of the State House Annex on Thursday, April 20^th with the Department of Health appearing at 10:00 a.m., the Department of Community Affairs at 1:00 p.m. and the Department of Banking and Insurance at 3:00 p.m.

The session will be available via OLS’s audio link: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp