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Returning members of the State Senate are sworn in

04 Mar: Vitale-Scutari Bill To Ensure Medical Marijuana Users Are Not Kicked Off Organ Transplant Lists Approved By Senate Health Panel

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Nicholas P. Scutari that would ensure a person’s use of medical marijuana would not prohibit him or her from receiving needed medical care, such as an organ transplant, was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“We are hearing of cases in other states of sick and dying patients being kicked off organ transplant waiting lists for their legal use of medical marijuana,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “This practice is unconscionable as the patients have followed their doctors’ orders and have taken a legal medication to reduce the pain and suffering associated with their illness. Transplant centers should not be able to discriminate against people for using this prescription pain killer.”

18 Jun: Weinberg-Turner Measure To Expand Primary Care Provider Loan Redemption Program Received Final Legislative Approval

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Shirley K. Turner which would make changes to the “Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program” to expand the scope of the program to other primary care practitioners was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 69-5, with two abstentions, receiving final legislative approval.

“Today’s Assembly vote was an important step forward in guaranteeing access to quality health care services for New Jerseyans living in underserved communities,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, and Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “This bill will make sure that we have the health care resources in place in neighborhoods that have the greatest need for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. It will bring quality care to the community, and encourage health care professionals to practice medicine where their skills are needed most.”

24 Nov: Weinberg Measure To Expand Primary Care Provider Loan Redemption Program Approved By Senate

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg which would make changes to the “Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program” to expand the scope of the program to other primary care practitioners was unanimously approved by the Senate today.

“Today, the State Senate took an important step to ensure that medically-underserved communities in New Jersey will have access to quality care,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “We need to make the most of existing State programs to provide incentives for health care professional to practice where they can do the most good. By expanding the primary care loan redemption program to include a wider variety of health care professionals, we are essentially saying that all New Jerseyans deserve high-quality care, no matter where they live.”

16 Oct: Weinberg Measure To Expand Primary Care Provider Loan Redemption Program Advances In Committee

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg which would make changes to the “Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program” to expand the scope of the program to other primary care practitioners was unanimously approved by the Senate Education Committee today.

“Quality primary care is the foundation of a strong health care system, and New Jersey must do everything it can to encourage the best and the brightest primary care providers to use their talents where they are needed most,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “In the Garden State, we have a loan redemption program as an incentive to primary care doctors and dentists to practice in underserved areas, but we need to be more aggressive in our efforts. New Jersey cannot turn its back on citizens who need access to quality primary health care, and we must do more to bring doctors and other health care professionals to areas where they can do the most good.”