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15 Oct: Senate Panel Acts Against HMO Home Health Care Cuts

TRENTON –The sudden attempt by Horizon NJ health, one of the largest HMO’s in New Jersey, to reduce payments for home health care services prompted action by a Senate committee on Monday when it approved legislation that would require HMO’s to justify any such cuts and get approval from the state Department of Human Services.

The hearing drew a broad contingent of groups, organizations and individuals directly involved in the increasingly-important work of providing home health care services. Their testimony focused on the negative impact the reductions could have on the availability and quality of in-home services.

“Home health care is a service that allows patients to remain in their homes and their communities, living with family and staying involved with friends and community activities,” said Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a co-sponsor of the bill. “It can make the difference between living at home or going into a nursing home.”

23 Jun: Senate Approves Coniglio Bill To Provide Green Acres Funds To North Jersey

TRENTON – The Senate approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Joseph Coniglio that would allocate more than $25 million to fund efforts in northern New Jersey to acquire or develop open spaces for recreation and conservation purposes.

“As the most densely populated state in the nation, we need to work doubly hard to make sure to preserve open space and parks for future generations,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “This $25 million will give our towns and counties in North Jersey the ability to acquire undeveloped land to protect it from sprawl and provide our families with green spaces in which they can enjoy nature.”