ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 168

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 12, 1997

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Resolution No. 168.

      As amended by the committee, this resolution memorializes the President and Congress of the United States to reject any federal budget proposal that includes a major reduction in Medicaid disproportionate share payments to hospitals.

      The committee amendment includes language in the preamble which cites an estimate that, as a result of federal immigration policy and more stringent Medicaid eligibility criteria, the number of hospital charity care patients in New Jersey will increase by about 6,000 in 1997.