Health Care
Keeping the Promise of Social Security
For the last 70 years Americans have spent their working years knowing that we are paying for a guaranteed insurance and retirement program called Social Security. Two-thirds of our nation's seniors, along with millions of families and people with disabilities, rely on Social Security as their primary source of income. When President Bush announced that his chief domestic policy priority would be the partial privatization of Social Security, NJCAEF immediately joined forces with and mobilized partners throughout the state and the country to oppose this plan.
NJCAEF was the New Jersey representative of Americans United to Protect Social Security. Our Keep the Promise Campaign was created to defend Social Security and its mission to insure that those who work hard and play by the rules will retire with dignity. Given that Social Security currently is the primary or significant portion of household income for millions of older and disabled Americans, gutting this program would have serious impacts for the health security of this population as well.
NJCAEF's Keep the Promise Campaign fought the privatization of Social Security through the development and implementation of an extensive education and outreach campaign that informed individuals of the implications of the President's proposed plans. In 2005, we coordinated and conducted workshops for senior citizen organizations, labor unions, faith-based organizations, housing and tenant groups, women's groups, disability organizations, health care advocacy groups, and other organizations. NJCAEF also worked with coalition partners to release reports on the negative impact of the President's proposed plan, specifically how this plan would affect the state's current and future Social Security beneficiaries. To see some of these reports go to our Reports section.
Our Keep the Promise Campaign garnered extensive media coverage and was instrumental in providing information to New Jersey residents, organizations and key policymakers on the effects of the proposed partial privatization of Social Security. As a result of efforts made by organizations like NJCAEF and all of its partners throughout the country, we have helped to keep Social Security as a promise from one generation to another, guaranteeing the security of stable retirement income. Contrary to President Bush's administration claims, Social Security is not in crisis. In reality, President Bush wanted to privatize part of the system that would result in benefit cuts of up to 45% and $1-$2 trillion dollars of borrowing on top of already astronomical deficits. If this plan is raised in the future, NJCAEF will be ready again to do everything needed to Keep the Promise of Social Security!
Expanding NJ FamilyCare Towards Universal Coverage
In response to cutbacks in the State's Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), FamilyCare, a federal and state funded health insurance program created to help working families who cannot afford to privately pay the high cost of health insurance, stopped accepting applications of parents, individuals and couples in 2002. These cutbacks came at a time when enrollment in FamilyCare had peaked with more than 180,000 adults and over 95,000 children enrolled in the program.
By cutting enrollment of parents, the state had also adversely affected the number of children enrolled in FamilyCare. In fact, overall enrollment in FamilyCare decreased to 100,000 adults and only 58,000 children by 2005. Moreover, those individuals who were still eligible for FamilyCare were often left without renewed coverage because of the program's lengthy and confusing application. Despite the state's efforts, there were more than 264,000 children in New Jersey who remained uninsured.
From 2002 and through 2005, NJCAEF and community allies and health care advocates, including Legal Services of New Jersey, New Jersey Citizen Action, the Association for Children of New Jersey and the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries, fought to restore FamilyCare to its original mission and expand health care opportunities for low-income adults and children in New Jersey as a step towards universal health care in the state. NJCAEF and our partners succeeded in the following: increasing funding for the program to allow more participants overall; re-opening FamilyCare for New Jersey's eligible parents and adults without children; and simplifying the application and renewal process.
In its first six months, the expansion funds increased enrollment for all children under 350% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and shifted some of the current FamilyCare participants below 133% of FPL to Medicaid, in order to increase funding for those above that level. In the second six months, the expanded program enrolls parents below 133% of FPL and childless adults below 50% of the FPL. In the second year, the program will expand to include parents under 150% of FPL and childless adults under 75% of FPL. In the third year, parents under 200% of FPL and childless adults under 100% of FPL will be eligible. Parents of children above 350% of FPL will also be eligible to pay into the system for their children, at cost.
While all of the aspects of the program expansion mark a fundamental step forward, it is the last element of a low-cost universal buy in that is the greatest program achievement for 2005, as it brings New Jersey closer to a universal health care system. It is anticipated that due to the expansion of NJ FamilyCare, more than 140,000 additional adults and 101,000 additional children will be eligible to enroll in the program. In its expanded form, NJ FamilyCare currently offers one of the most generous programs in the country. The enabling legislation was signed into law on July 13, 2005 and went into effect on September 1, 2005.
For more information, download NJCAEF's Fact Sheet on NJ FamilyCare.
Fighting Medicaid Cuts
In 2005 President Bush proposed drastic budget cuts as part of his fiscal year 2006 budget. His proposed cuts included $45 billion in net cuts to Medicaid, $1.3 billion in cuts to student loans, and billions more in cuts to child care, food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), HeadStart, education and other vital programs and social services for America's most vulnerable populations.
NJCAEF joined other organizations throughout New Jersey and the country, representing New Jersey in the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP), a national coalition that led the fight against these draconian cuts. NJCAEF developed a statewide educational campaign to raise awareness among New Jersey's state and federal decision makers regarding the negative impacts that the proposed cuts would have on both New Jersey's and the nation's most vulnerable citizens.
NJCAEF and our coalition partners released a report on December 12, 2005 entitled, "The Federal Budget: What's at Stake for New Jersey," on the budget's devastating effects and coordinating informational leafleting events in areas throughout the state. On November 9, 2005 we coordinated a multi-vehicle caravan that delivered material analyzing the budget and upside down cakes to members of Congress to further highlight the wrong priorities the proposed budget reflected. Additionally, on December 14, 2005, NJCAEF and coalition partners held informational pickets in front of the offices of members of NJ's Congressional delegation, which included appearances by the Grinch who stole Christmas, symbolizing the vital services that would be stolen from vulnerable New Jersey residents as a result of proposed cuts.
Although the budget passed through the budget reconciliation process, it did so by the narrowest of margins – one vote. NJCAEF was successful in raising awareness among members of New Jersey's Congressional delegation and staffers, an awareness that we believe will inform our policy makers as we deliberate the 2006-2007 budget.
Fighting for Prescription Drug Access
Despite the large number of pharmaceutical companies headquartered in the state, New Jersey pays the highest out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs in the country. In 2005, NJCAEF continued to fight for a state prescription drug plan to help make drugs more affordable for New Jersey residents. This included increased efforts to educate individuals, organizations and policymakers on the need for a state prescription drug plan, including the plan proposed by the New Jersey Fair Market Drug Pricing Act (initially proposed in 2003).
Such a plan would allow the state to operate as its own Pharmaceutical Benefits Manager, negotiating rebates with drug manufacturers. Instead of having state agencies individually negotiate prescription drug prices, the state as a whole would use its buying power to create more affordable prices for prescription drugs in New Jersey. The proposed program would establish a New Jersey Prescription Drug Card to provide discounts to New Jersey residents who do not receive any drug coverage through state programs such as Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare.
Despite our education and outreach efforts, the NJ Legislature failed to take action on the bill prior to the close of the legislative session. However, the proposal has been reintroduced in the New Jersey Assembly in the 2006 session.
As part of an effort to quell the growing public outcry for relief from high prescription drug costs, pharmaceutical companies agreed to participate in two voluntary discount programs, Together Rx Access and the Rx4NJ programs, which offer information on discounts on some widely used prescription drugs. While these programs do offer some relief, NJCAEF expressed concerns regarding their lack of a mandated structure and the security of consistent discounts that protect consumers. As a result, NJCAEF is encouraging policy makers and regulators to carefully monitor the progress of these programs to determine whether they provided the needed relief to New Jersey consumers.
At the same time, in early 2005 NJCAEF expressed concerns regarding a proposal in the state legislature that could have severely restricted consumers' ability to purchase drugs from other countries via the Internet. Based on our concerns, which generated substantial media coverage, we were able to get the proposal clarified so that it does not limit access to medication through this important avenue.
Prescription Access Litigation Project
In 2005, NJCAEF helped to educate consumers about their legal rights concerning prescription medications and unfair practices that lead to overpricing. In January 2005, in partnership with other organizations, including NJCA and the Prescription Access Litigation Project (PAL), NJCAEF recruited individuals to be plaintiffs in PAL's lawsuit against Merck for its practice of failing to disclose negative information about the Vioxx, ( i.e., that information revealing the drugs significant side effects) which in turn allowed it to charge inflated prices. We identified individuals who had bought Vioxx during the appropriate time period and worked with the attorneys to file the complaint. NJCAEF served as PAL's New Jersey contact for all prospective NJ plaintiffs and evaluated each potential plaintiff before forwarding individuals to PAL's legal team for further consultation.
In September and October 2005, NJCAEF partnered with PAL for a second time - this time concerning litigation relevant to the manipulation of the Average Wholesale Price (AWP), the standard used by many pharmaceutical companies to determine drug prices. PAL's litigation contends that the AWP inflates the cost of prescription drugs without justification. NJCAEF worked with PAL to identify prospective NJ plaintiffs who had paid out-of-pocket expenses for any of the dozens of identified prescription drugs used to treat Cancer, Asthma, Emphysema, Hepatitis C, and other conditions.
How to get involved:
- Contact PAL immediately if you are interested in fighting drug company greed by joining this important case! Call toll-free 1-866-208-9800 ext. 2810 or send an email to hodin@communitycatalyst.org.
- For more information about the Prescription Access Litigation Project, visit PAL online at www.prescriptionaccess.org or contact the NJ Citizen Action Education Fund at 732-246-4772.
Educating Consumers on Medicare Part D
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MPDIMA), which created Medicare Part D, was passed in 2003 despite the opposition of NJCAEF and its coalition partners. Since the passage of the bill, NJCAEF has been working to emphasize the need for reform and address the complex nature of Medicare Part D, which has left many Medicare beneficiaries confused regarding their options and rights. In response to the overwhelming need for public education, NJCAEF developed an education and outreach campaign that informs individuals on the implications of the new law and offers assistance to ensure that people can make informed, independent decisions regarding their health insurance.
The New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund CANNOT assist you with picking a plan but we can point you in the right direction so you can make an informed, independent decision.
SHIP
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about their health insurance. SHIP is a statewide program sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services with major funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
SHIP volunteers are available to meet with you on a one-to-one basis to discuss the new Medicare law and offer you information and assistance. To request an appointment with a trained SHIP volunteer, call toll-free 1-800-792-8820.
Resources:- Visit the SHIP website.
- View a list of local SHIP counseling sites.
- Contact your local Office on Aging by calling: 877-222-3737
- For information on Medicare call toll-free: 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) or visit the Medicare website by going to www.medicare.gov.
- Or to schedule an informational workshop on Medicare Part D, contact the New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund at 732-246-4772!
Health Care Access Commission Act
The Health Care Access Commission Act was introduced in early 2005 with the purpose of establishing a 'blue ribbon' commission to identify problems and concerns with New Jersey's health care system and make recommendations for affordable health care insurance for all New Jerseyans. The bill was signed into law on January 11, 2006.
The Commission will be comprised of the Commissioners of the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, the NJ Department of Human Services, the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, as well as the State Treasurer, and 24 public members to be appointed by the Governor. Public members will include the State AFL-CIO federation, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), AARP, Legal Services of New Jersey, and Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE).
The Commission, which will convene its first meeting sometime in March or April of 2006, has the right to conduct public hearings and must make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than January 1, 2008. NJCAEF believes this Commission may serve as a helpful vehicle through which to expand the dialogue for and support of a state-based universal health care system.
Universal Health Care in New Jersey – One for All
At the end of 2005, NJCAEF launched its One for All campaign, a renewed, long-term campaign to promote single-payer universal health care for all New Jerseyans.
The campaign was kicked off at New Jersey Citizen Action's biennial convention on December 16, 2005. The convention included informational workshops and a plenary session on the need for universal health care in New Jersey. Over 60 of the state's leading health care advocates attended the plenary session. NJCAEF provided information explaining how a single-payer program would enhance choice of provider and service, provide universal access for all, and minimize the price manipulation and administrative overhead that currently makes private health care unaffordable.
Key participants at the convention included affiliate and allied organizations such as Legal Services of New Jersey and its Health Care Access Project, Heightened Independence for Progress and local Monday Morning Networks which represent individuals with disabilities, and Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE)/AFT/AFL-CIO. The purpose of the workshops and plenary session was to educate participates and generate discussion on the current health care situation in New Jersey, including SCHIP, Medicaid, Medicare Part D, PAAD and Senior Gold.
The convention also included discussions on important health care concerns for individuals with disabilities, such as quality of care, sensitivity to their needs, and physical accessibility of medical facilities. An interactive session was also coordinated to discuss how New Jersey could achieve a universal, single-payer system and was ultimately designed to mobilize individuals and organizations to action.
If you or your organization is interested in being a part of NJCAEF's One for All campaign, complete and return our "Action Sign-Up Sheet" to participate in future events.
For more information on our One for All campaign, view our One for All Fact Sheet, or contact NJCAEF by calling us at 732-246-4772.