Union Leaders, Policy Advocates Call for Action on Healthcare Affordability Crisis Ahead of Budget Address

Trenton, NJ - Representatives from the New Jersey Coalition for Affordable Hospitals joined progressive advocates and policy analysts ahead of Governor Sherrill’s Budget Speech to discuss the urgent need to address New Jersey’s healthcare affordability crisis.

Ana Maria Hill, Ali Jawetz, Antoinette Miles, Brittany Holom-Trundy and Brandon McKoy spoke to a diverse crowd of nonprofit leaders, ministers and Trenton insiders, all with a unique stake in addressing this complex issue.

“Rising healthcare costs are eating into wages, leaving families to do more with less, as costs of everyday items continue to rise and more and more employers shift to higher deductible plans,” said Ana Maria Hill, New Jersey State Director at 32BJ SEIU. “For 32BJ, nearly 40 cents of every dollar won at the bargaining table goes towards member health benefits. When we talk about the affordability crisis and we talk about income inequality, we have to talk about what is stagnating wage growth and healthcare is a big piece of that puzzle.”

The conversation focused on tangible solutions for what will likely be a pinch point in the state budget again this year – public employee benefit costs. They also highlighted the impact federal cuts will have on the state budget and on residents, both in the short term and in the long term, if proactive measures aren’t taken.

“Hospital prices remain the number one driver of high and rising healthcare costs and without accountability those prices will only continue to climb,” Ali Jawetz, New Jersey Coalition for Affordable Hospitals. “The New Jersey Coalition for Affordable Hospitals is advocating for strong enforcement tools so the state can hold providers accountable to doing their part to bring down healthcare costs across the board.”

The group also discussed the burden rising healthcare costs are having on working families across industries and income levels, and the systemic factors driving rising costs.

“People are struggling. Everything just keeps getting more expensive, and there is only so much families can do to stretch their budgets,” said Antoinette Miles, State Director at NJ Working Families Party. “If we’re truly going to make New Jersey more affordable for average working-class people, we need to address the healthcare affordability crisis and take a good hard look at the systems controlling the market and the provider consolidations driving up costs.”

The New Jersey Coalition for Affordable Hospitals used the panel to launch their latest report, breaking down the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency’s recent findings which underscore the need to pass the accountability measures the coalition has been advocating for since last session.

“New Jersey has made real progress expanding coverage since the Affordable Care Act — but that progress is fragile,” said Brittany Holom-Trundy, Research Director at New Jersey Policy Perspective. “The end of pandemic-era protections and cuts to marketplace subsidies have already pushed the state’s uninsured rate back up, and federal Medicaid cuts threaten to make things significantly worse. This year's budget needs to include a real plan to protect coverage and keep people connected to care. When people lose insurance, health outcomes suffer and costs rise — for patients and the state alike.”

“Ensuring every New Jerseyan has access to affordable health care isn't just a policy goal—it’s a moral imperative that safeguards the dignity and stability of our entire community,” said Brandon McKoy, President of The Fund for New Jersey. “As we tackle rising costs and decreasing federal funds, it is vital that the state budget invest in programs which protect the most vulnerable communities and for state representatives to proactively address the exploitative practices that prevent people from getting the care they need and deserve.”

View the full report, New Data, Same Crisis: Why New Jersey Needs to Pass the Health Care Accountability Law.

An audio recording of the full conversation can be found here.