VITALE PHASE 1 HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL APPROVED BY BUDGET COMMITTEE

Bill Would Expand NJ FamilyCare, Set Stage for Affordable Health Care for All New Jerseyans

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the author of a health care reform plan to make health coverage affordable for all New Jersey residents issued the following statement regarding the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee’s unanimous approval of the first phase of his plan, which would expand eligibility and outreach for NJ FamilyCare and enact market-level reforms, with an eye towards affordability for policy holders, on the individual and small group health insurance markets:

“Today’s Budget Committee approval was a strong statement on the feasibility of transformational health care reform in the State of New Jersey. At a time when the Budget Committee is grappling with a substantial fiscal shortfall in State finances, the fact that Committee members would lend their support to this measure speaks volumes on the priorities we hold dear in the Garden State.

VITALE HEALTH CARE BILLS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

Measures Would Cut Down on False Claims, Create Statewide Health Care IT Network, Allow Families to Make Decisions on Medical Research

TRENTON – Five bills sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale aimed at improving Statewide health care programs, protecting against fraud and streamlining services were signed into law by the Governor over the weekend.

VITALE RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and one of New Jersey’s chief advocates of healthcare reform and universal care, today issued the following statement regarding Governor Corzine’s 2008 State of the State Address: