VITALE-SWEENEY-WEINBERG BILL TO PUBLICIZE HOSPITAL ERRORS SIGNED INTO LAW

PRINCETON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which will require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“Health care consumers have a right to know, particularly when it comes to the safety and quality of their health care experience,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the lead sponsor on the bill and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “This new law requires hospitals to report some basic information which will allow health care consumers to make informed choices regarding their care, and will prohibit hospitals from being paid for errors which should have never happened. Ultimately, fair market principles will help put pressure on underperforming hospitals to do better, and will put greater focus than ever before on patient safety in health care facilities across New Jersey.”

VITALE APPLAUDS FIRST PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS FOR GOING SMOKE-FREE

Greystone and Ancora First to Implement New Smoke-Free Policies as a Result of Senator’s Law

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale today applauded officials at Greystone Park and Ancora psychiatric hospitals for being the first in the State to implement smoke-free policies under a law sponsored by the Senator and signed by the Governor last year.

“By their nature, psychiatric hospitals exist to promote health and wellness of the mind, body and soul,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Looking the other way while patients and employees light up seems contrary to the very mission of these facilities. I’m glad Greystone and Ancora are becoming the first smoke-free psychiatric hospitals in New Jersey, and I hope other facilities follow their lead.”

VITALE TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, today testified before the Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health regarding national health care reform.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished in New Jersey,” said Senator Vitale. “We have been one of the most progressive states in offering expanded access to hundreds of thousands of children and working parents and we are currently well down the road toward comprehensive and transformational health reform.”

VITALE-SWEENEY-WEINBERG BILL TO PUBLICIZE HOSPITAL ERRORS RECEIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Loretta Weinberg, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to publicly report certain preventable patient safety errors at New Jersey’s hospitals was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“The best thing New Jersey can do to improve the safety of health care in our State is to allow free-market principles and business competition to drive patient safety improvements,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Health care consumers deserve to know how safe hospitals and other health care facilities are, and they deserve to be able to compare patient safety records at different facilities. By creating a more informed health care consumer, we’re putting the spotlight on health care facilities that aren’t living up to their patient safety responsibilities, and forcing them to do better in order to remain economically competitive.”

VITALE-WEINBERG BILL TO REQUIRE HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE FOR AUTISM TREATMENT RECEIVES SENATE APPROVAL

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would require health insurers in New Jersey to provide coverage for screening for autism and other developmental disabilities as well as any medically-necessary occupational, physical and speech therapy, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 35-0.

“New Jersey has one of the highest rates of autism incidence in the entire country, and we have to do more for families struggling to get their loved ones the treatment they need to mitigate the effects of the disorder,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Insurance companies have a sacred responsibility to provide access to medically-necessary and scientifically proven care which can help improve outcomes for autistic children. Through this legislation, we’re making sure that insurers live up to that responsibility and cover the treatment and therapy which will make a difference in the lives of autistic children.”

RUIZ/VITALE BILL TO GIVE DISABLED RESIDENTS MORE CONTROL OVER ASSISTANCE SERVICES CLEARS SENATE

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Teresa Ruiz and Joseph F. Vitale which would revise the “Personal Assistance Services Program” (PASP) to grant disabled New Jerseyans more control over their service plan received approval today from the full Senate by a vote of 39-0

“This legislation would allow disabled New Jerseyans to choose the service plan that best fits their particular needs,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union. “Currently, the majority of the people enrolled in the PASP program have limited choices because county agencies have the final say in who provides the care and how much money is spent. Through this bill, more say would be given to the recipients of the program’s benefits, and allow them to take an active role in selecting who they trust to handle such an integral part of their lives.”

VITALE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR NATIONAL UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ADVANCES

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, issued the following statement today on the passage, by a vote of 6-2, with 2 abstentions, of his resolution, a Senate Committee Substitute for SR-47 and SR-100, calling for federal enactment of the “United States National Health Insurance Act,” a measure which would set up single-payer not-for-profit universal health care nationally:

“If you were to build the perfect health care system, ensuring that all people have access to appropriate, quality health coverage, our current national model wouldn’t even be under consideration. We waste far too much money on executive perks and needlessly complex administration, taking funds away form where they should be spent – on direct care.

VITALE STATEMENT ON HEALTH COMMITTEE HEARING ON NURSING SHORTAGE

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the panel’s hearing on the shortage of nurses and nursing faculty members in the Garden State:

“Quality nurses are at the very backbone of any good health care system. They serve on the front-lines, providing care and compassion to patients seeking medical care and seniors seeking dignity and long-term care in their twilight years. They also sometimes serve as the first – and usually, most significant – contact for worried family members trying to get the best care possible for their sick loved ones.

VITALE-WEINBERG BILL TO REQUIRE HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE FOR AUTISM TREATMENT APPROVED IN ASSEMBLY

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Loretta Weinberg which would require health insurers in New Jersey to provide coverage for screening for autism and other developmental disabilities as well as any medically-necessary occupational, physical and speech therapy, was approved by the Assembly today by a vote of 71-4, with one abstention.

“With one of the highest rates of prevalence in the entire country, autism spectrum disorders have reached epidemic proportions in the Garden State,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “New Jersey must take the initiative to make sure children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities have access to the treatment and therapies which can make a difference in their lives. This bill is about holding health insurers to their obligation of providing coverage for medically-necessary treatments, including those that may hold promise for children living with autism.”

VITALE-REDD BILL TO CODIFY VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE PROGRAM FOR ABUSED CHILDREN APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Dana Redd which would codify an existing Statewide program to allow judges to appoint volunteer advocates on behalf of children under 18 who have been removed from their homes due to child abuse or neglect was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0.

“The CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) program has been one of the success stories in ensuring abused and neglected kids get the support they need through the courts,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “However, many CASA volunteers have run into road-blocks in their efforts to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable kids, due to the lack of statutory authority. Through this legislation, we are empowering CASA volunteers to act on a child’s best interest, and creating safeguards against abuse of the program.”