Goal to Identify New and Innovative Ways to Improve the Quality, Efficiency, and Sustainability of Health Benefits System
On Wednesday, August 22nd Governor Murphy’s State Health Benefits Task force convened for the first time. The task force is charged with identifying new and innovative ways to improve the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of our health benefits system.
Governor Murphy formed the State Health Benefits Quality and Value Task Force by way of Executive Order Number 31 this past July.
The Task Force has announced three “Public Listening Sessions”:
Central Jersey
Thursday September 20th at 6:00 PM at the Department of Law and Public Safety, Technology Complex Auditorium, 1200 Negron Drive, Hamilton
North Jersey
Friday, November 16th at 10:00 AM at a Location To Be Determined
South Jersey
Friday, October 26th at 10:00 AM at a Location To Be Determined
The members of the Task Force are:
- Task Force Chair, Commissioner Carole Johnson, Department of Human Services
- Mark Blum, America’s Agenda
- Joel Cantor, Rutgers Center for State Health Policy
- Commissioner Marlene Caride, Department of Banking and Insurance
- Michael Cerra, NJ League of Municipalities
- Donna M. Chiera, American Federation of Teachers
- Comptroller Philip J. Degnan, State Comptroller’s Office
- Commissioner Shereef Elnahal, Department of Health
- Heather Howard, Princeton’s State Health and Value Strategies
- John Jacobi, Seton Hall Center for Health Law and Pharmaceutical Policy
- Kevin Kelleher, New Jersey Education Association
- Kevin Lyons, Policemen’s Benevolent Association
- Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio, Department of Treasury
- Pete Nowak, International Association of Fire Fighters
- Jonathan Pushman, NJ Schools Boards Association
- Hetty Rosenstein, Communications Workers of America
- Steve Tully, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
To keep up with the Task Force’s work and to share your views, visit: NJ.GOV/StateHealthBenefitsTaskForce
The State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Plan (SEHBP) together cover over 800,000 active and retired members in the New Jersey and their costs account for 8.4 of the overall State Budget. NJPSA looks forward to hearing the ideas and recommendations from the Task Force in the coming months. As we learn new information, including the locations of the Public Listening Sessions, we will be sure to share it with you.
Senate President Sweeney also convened a task force earlier this year with the goal of finding ways to make the state more affordable. That Task Force, the Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup, released their report earlier this month, and recommended sweeping reforms to not only health benefits and pensions, but also suggested the merger of hundreds of small school districts, and adding new toll lanes to highways. Finding the best way to address New Jersey’s financial troubles will surely be a hot topic when the Legislature meets this fall, so be sure to stay tuned!