Buono To Introduce Legislation To Crack Down On Charity Care Fraud

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono, Ellen Karcher and Joseph F. Vitale which would improve State oversight over the hospital charity care subsidy program, which provides funding for emergency health care for the uninsured, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 36-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jersey’s charity care subsidy program is fraught with loopholes and lax oversight, and has become a magnet for abuse and fraud,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex, a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “We need to step up efforts to ensure the State’s investment in hospital charity care is going to the people who need it most – those New Jerseyans who are legitimately uninsured and cannot afford the high cost of health care in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Nicholas J. Sacco and Nicholas P. Scutari that would set forth specific guidelines to be followed by law enforcement agencies when employing unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, for surveillance purposes was approved today by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

“Over the past several years, the drone industry has grown rapidly and is expected to double in the next decade. Before that happens, we need to institute strict safeguards to protect the privacy of all New Jersey residents,” said Sacco, D-Hudson/Bergen. “Although drones offer a great solution to overcome cost and manpower shortages, this technology cannot be used without limitations. The safety of our residents must always come first.”

FREEHOLD – State Senator Ellen Karcher, Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, said today that massive waste and fraud in our State’s charity care subsidy for hospitals providing health care access to the uninsured need to be addressed, and announced that she will be introducing legislation when the Senate reconvenes in May to provide necessary oversight and require greater accountability.

“Charity care is an integral part of our State’s health care safety net for the uninsured, and we cannot allow those dollars to go to waste,” said Senator Karcher, D-Marlboro. “After reading the SCI (State Commission of Investigation) report on the problems within our charity care system, I was shocked at the lack of oversight and review New Jersey provides for this multi-million dollar investment of public dollars. We need to ensure the integrity of our charity care program, and protect public funds from massive levels of institutional waste and abuse.”

TRENTON – Senators Joseph Coniglio and Joseph Doria welcomed committee approval of their bill that would establish prevailing wage rates for workers employed by contractors performing building services for State run facilities.

“New Jersey should not do business with companies that inflate their profits by underpaying their employees,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “By requiring State building services contracts be fulfilled by workers making the prevailing wage, these companies will no longer be able to benefit from paying their workers less than fair wages.”

TRENTON – Senators Joseph Coniglio and Joseph Doria welcomed Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approval of their bill that would establish prevailing wage rates for workers employed by contractors performing building services for State run facilities.

“New Jersey needs to make sure it does right by every individual who works in our buildings, whether they work directly for the State or through a contractor providing services,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “By requiring State building services contracts be fulfilled by workers making the prevailing wage, those companies who share this philosophy will no longer be at a disadvantage when competing for state service contracts.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which will improve State oversight over the hospital charity care subsidy program, which provides funding for emergency health care for the uninsured, was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Charity care has been an essential part of the State’s response to providing access to health care for the uninsured,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health panel. “However, the lack of oversight has created a program ripe for fraud and abuse, and millions of dollars each year are lost to illegitimate and fraudulent claims. With these added protections, we can ensure that State health care assistance is only available to those who legitimately need it.”

TRENTON – Senator Nicholas J. Sacco, D-Hudson and Bergen, introduced legislation on Monday that would set forth specific guidelines to be followed by law enforcement agencies when employing unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, for surveillance purposes.

“Recent federal legislation has paved the way for the commercial use of drones here in the United States,” said Sacco, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “While this technology has many useful applications, it is important that we have stringent guidelines in place to ensure the safety and privacy of our residents.”

TRENTON – A group of measures sponsored by Senator Jim Beach which would upgrade the penalties associated with child pornography were unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

“These bills have one common goal – protecting the children of New Jersey from sexual predators,” said Senator Beach, D-Camden. “I am sponsoring this legislation as a Senator, but also as a concerned grandfather who wants to make this a safer State for all children.”

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s budget panel hearing on the State Department of Health and Senior Services, in which the need to overhaul New Jersey’s charity care subsidy for hospitals serving the uninsured was discussed:

“Charity care is a necessary part of our State’s safety net to provide health care access to the uninsured. However, relying too heavily on charity care, without proper oversight of the system, is a backwards way to meet our obligation to uninsured New Jerseyans.

TRENTON – A group of measures sponsored by Senator Jim Beach which would upgrade the penalties associated with child pornography were unanimously approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“As a parent and a grandparent and a legislator, it is my responsibility to do what I can to help ensure the safety and well-being of the children of New Jersey,” said Senator Beach, D-Camden. “These measures are designed to send a clear message that anyone who intends to harm our youth will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We must protect the children of our State.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono called the “Charity Care Fraud Prevention and Detection Act” was signed into law by the Governor today. This bill will improve State oversight and implement measures to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program, commonly called Charity Care.

“New Jersey Charity Care has been highly susceptible to fraud and abuse for far too long,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex, a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizen Committee. “We need to make sure that Charity Care is going to the people who actually qualify, and that New Jersey taxpayers are not subsidizing fraudulent Charity Care claims.”