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Issue Brief

Child Health - New Jersey

Scope of the Problem  factual statements on the extent of the problem in the past, current, or future

Past Policy & Program Milestones  key legislation and milestones including significant policy and funding shifts, major studies, etc.

• Health Care Reform Act of 1992 was enacted by the newly Republican legislature in response to the recession and judicial decision invalidating hospital rate setting.^[1] The Act: 
• Ended hospital price regulation;
• Ended Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s obligation to serve as a last resort insurer;
• Reduced state regulation of hospital investment and services through certificate of need;
• Called for new state support to help the near-poor buy private coverage; and
• Issued direct state assistance to hospitals for charity care.
• In the 1990s Governor Christine Whitman worked to consolidate long-term care and other services for senior citizens within the health department, which was rechristened the Department of Health and Senior Services.  
•  Governor Whitman also promoted welfare reform and the development a children’s health insurance program called KidCare.

Current Policy & Programs  summary of current policies in the form of legislation, programs, and funding

• Affordable Care Act of 2010 enacted by the United States Congress in 2010 established an overhaul of the healthcare system in America. It is currently under the review of the Supreme Court who are scheduled to make their decision in June 2012. Among many provisions, the act:

Key Organizations contacts for public and private organizations

• Government
• Executive Branch
• New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
• NJ Department of Children and Families
• NJ Department of Education
• Keeping Our Kids Safe, Healthy & in School
• NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
• Division of Family Health Services
• NJ Environmental Public Health Tracking Program 
•  
• Legislative Branch
•  
• Judicial Branch 
•  
• Non-Profit
• Service Providing
• University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ  
• Advocacy/Membership/Network
• Friend’s Health Connection 
• NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids
• NJ YMCA State Alliance  
• Foundation
•  
• Other
•   

Bibliography   web sites, reports, articles, and other reference material

Contributor(s):

Footnotes

1. “Health Policy for Low-Income People in New Jersey.” 1998. The Urban Institute, http://www.urban.org/PDF/Njhealth.pdf. ▲