TRENTON – At Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg’s request, the full Senate today voted to accept the Governor’s recommendations regarding S-782, legislation that will enhance the transparency and accountability of hospital finances, including the use of public funds:
“The Senate has accepted the Governor’s recommendations on legislation to ensure a greater depth of disclosure for hospitals and increased financial transparency throughout the state. Since most New Jersey hospitals operate using public funds, we will be taking a step forward today to increase accountability of how these hospitals use taxpayer dollars.
“While I wish that the initial legislation, which would have placed both for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals on equal footing in terms of financial disclosure requirements, had been signed into law, Commissioner O’Dowd has assured me that her department will conduct a thorough study of this issue that will include all stakeholders. I look forward to the results.”