PRESS RELEASE – June 17
Contact: Donald Sico (609) 351-3591
Statement by the CEO’s of New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals
on Reform of Public Employee’s Pension and Health Benefits System
The New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals supports the efforts of the Governor and Legislature to pass meaningful reform of the public employee's pensions and health benefits system. This measure is critical in order to help reduce the high cost of medical care in New Jersey, including the establishment of incentives for use of in-state health care providers by public employees.
We have excellent medical services and facilities in New Jersey and they should be utilized, supported and encouraged wherever possible. Presently the costs associated with out-of-state health care, and in particular tertiary care performed out-of-state, is extraordinarily high and ordinarily not subject to reasonable reimbursement agreements between health care providers and insurance carriers. This leads to substantially higher health care costs for public employees, their publicemployers and taxpayers.
New Jersey health care providers offer world-class health care services and public employees should be incentivized to utilize in-state care where services are accessible and equivalent to care given by out-of-state providers.