From NJ Citizen Action.
Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs: The NJ Legislature can take action now to lower the costs of prescription drugs. A2418/S1066 would create an independent New Jersey Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board to evaluate drug prices and set limits on how much payers, including state and local government agencies, pay for high-cost prescription medications. Unfortunately, the bill has stalled since its introduction a year ago.
We must renew the call for the prescription drug affordability board NOW! Soon budget negotiations, summer recess, and election season will dominate the legislature. Our chance to make prescription drugs affordable in New Jersey is now.
Action: Click here to contact your legislators today to show your support for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in New Jersey!
Expand Healthcare Coverage for Children: Today more than 80,000 children in New Jersey are uninsured, the majority of them are children of color. And, 1 in 4 of the uninsured children also live in households who have been excluded from pandemic relief aid for over a year. Governor Murphy indicated his support for covering all kids in his budget address. But to do that, we will need to pass S876/A4387 without delay. This bill supported by NJCA and our NJ For Health Care partner organizations will:
- Expand NJ Family Care eligibility to all children who meet the income requirement;
- Permanently waive premiums that were waived during COVID and eliminates the 90-day waiting period for enrollees;
- Re-establish a buy-in program within 18 months for children in households that exceed the NJ Family Care income limits and who lack access to affordable coverage; and
- Establishes an outreach program and demonstration project targeting uninsured children.
By passing this legislation now, we will make sure every child in our state will have access to quality healthcare in 2022. We cannot delay. Every day we delay the expansion of coverage for all of our children we risk their health and increase future health care costs for us all.
Action: Click here to send an email to your government officials to urge passage of S876/A4387