ASSEMBLY, No. 2559

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 9, 1996

By Assemblywoman GILL

An Act concerning the Health Care Subsidy Fund, amending P.L.1992, c.160 and making an appropriation.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 16 of P.L.1992, c.160 (C.26:2H-18.66) is amended to read as follows:

    16. The Health Access New Jersey subsidy account shall be allocated $50 million in 1995, $10 million in 1996, [and $25] $45 million in 1997, and $20 million in 1998. Of these amounts, $20 million in 1997 and $20 million in 1998 shall be used to provide subsidies to purchase health care coverage specifically for low income, uninsured children based on a sliding income scale with modest copayments.

(cf: P.L.1996, c.29, s.2)

    2. There is appropriated in Fiscal Year 1997 from the General Fund to the Health Access New Jersey subsidy account in the Health Care Subsidy Fund, $20 million for the purpose of providing subsidies to purchase health care coverage specifically for low income, uninsured children based on a sliding income scale with modest copayments.

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    Maintaining and promoting the health of children is an important goal of this State and the Health Access New Jersey subsidized insurance program serves as a means to provide low-income, uninsured children with health insurance coverage.

    Low income, uninsured children were recently explicitly stated as a category of individuals for whom the Health Access New Jersey program provides subsidies. To recognize and fulfill this objective, this bill makes a specific allocation of funds, $20 million in 1997 and $20 million in 1998, to the Health Access New Jersey subsidy account for the purpose of providing subsidies to purchase health care coverage for low income, uninsured children, based on a sliding income scale with modest copayments. The bill further appropriates the 1997 funds for this purpose.

Allocates funds to Health Access NJ program specifically for low income, uninsured children.