Nilsa Cruz-Perez

VAINIERI HUTTLE / WAGNER / CRUZ-PEREZ / VOSS BILL TO INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SCRUTINY OF HEALTH INSURER CONVERSIONS APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Connie Wagner, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Joan Voss to require increased public participation and independent analysis when a health insurer moves to convert to a for-profit company was approved 52-23-2 today by the Assembly.

The bill (A-3729) proposes more public hearings and a study by an outside consultant examining the health impact of any proposed conversion. The hearings and independent analysis would be required before the state grants approval for the conversion.

The bill comes as the state’s largest insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, seeks to convert into a for-profit company.

“This bill simply ensures sufficient public participation and that every issue has been carefully reviewed before a decision is reached on a conversion application,” Vainieri Huttle said. “We need extra caution when moving forward on issues that could, among other things, increase premium costs and influence the health care of so many New Jerseyans.”

VAINIERI HUTTLE / WAGNER / CRUZ-PEREZ / VOSS BILL TO INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SCRUTINY OF HEALTH INSURER CONVERSIONS ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Connie Wagner, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Joan Voss to require increased public participation and independent analysis when a health insurer moves to convert to a for-profit company was again advanced today by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-3729) proposes more public hearings and a study by an outside consultant examining the health impact of any proposed conversion. The hearings and independent analysis would be required before the state grants approval for the conversion.

The bill comes as the state’s largest insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, seeks to convert into a for-profit company.

“This bill simply ensures sufficient public participation and that every issue has been carefully reviewed before a decision is reached on a conversion application,” Vainieri Huttle said. “We need extra caution when moving forward on issues that could, among other things, increase premium costs and influence the health care of so many New Jerseyans.”

MORIARTY / GREENSTEIN / CONAWAY / GREENWALD / CRUZ-PEREZ BILL TO REDUCE SERIOUS MEDICAL ERRORS GAINS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL

Measure Would Prohibit Hospitals from Collecting Payment From Patients & Insurance Companies For Serious Preventable Mistakes

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblymen Paul Moriarty, Linda Greenstein, Lou Greenwald and Nilsa Cruz Perez sponsored to reduce serious and preventable medical errors by prohibiting hospitals from holding patients and their insurance companies liable for medical bills related to these errors and to improve hospital-specific reporting of hospital acquired medical conditions received final legislative approval today.

VAINIERI HUTTLE / WAGNER / CRUZ-PEREZ / VOSS BILL TO INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SCRUTINY OF INSURER CONVERSIONS RELEASED BY ASSEMBLY PANEL

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Connie Wagner, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Joan Voss to require increased public participation and independent analysis when a health insurer moves to convert to a for-profit company was released today by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-3729) proposes more public hearings and a study by an outside consultant examining the health impact of any proposed conversion.

The hearings and independent analysis would be required before the state grants approval for the conversion. The bill comes as the state’s largest insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, seeks to convert into a for-profit company.

“This bill simply ensures sufficient public participation and that every issue has been carefully reviewed before a decision is reached on a conversion application,” Vainieri Huttle said. “We need extra caution when moving forward on issues that could, among other things, increase premium costs and influence the health care of so many New Jerseyans.”

*** THURSDAY ADVISORY ***

ASSEMBLY PANEL TO CONSIDER HEALTH INSURER CONVERSION BILL

Bill Would Require More Public Hearings & Independent Analysis

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee will meet Thursday to consider legislation to require increased public participation and independent analysis when a health insurer seeks to convert to a for-profit company.

The legislation (A-3729) sponsored by Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Connie Wagner and Joan Voss (all D-Bergen) and Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) proposes more public hearings and an independent study examining the health impact of the proposed conversion.

PANEL CLEARS GUSCIORA / CRUZ-PEREZ / MORIARTY / RILEY BILL TARGETING SIMULATED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly members Reed Gusciora, Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Paul Moriarty and Celeste Riley sponsored to make it illegal for businesses to advertise using a simulated government document was released today by an Assembly committee.

The bill (A-3931) would make using such documents – whether through the mail or the Internet – a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act.

“Marketing companies that use these simulated forms are preying on the vulnerability of the average citizen during a global recession,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer).

OLIVER / LAMPITT / GREENWALD / LOVE / CRUZ-PEREZ BILL REQUIRING STATE TO REPORT ASSAULTS & DEATHS AT STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Sheila Y. Oliver, Pamela R. Lampitt, Louis D. Greenwald, Sandi Love and Nilsa Cruz-Perez to require the state to publicly report assaults and deaths at state psychiatric hospitals has been approved by the Assembly.

The legislation (A-2949) is a direct response to delays in the release of statistics on assaults at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Camden County. Lawmakers had requested the information following several high-profile incidents at the hospital, including a patient escape and several deaths.

“The well-being of patients at state-operated hospitals should never be in doubt and breaches in the safety net cannot be hidden from view,” said Oliver (D-Essex). “Any violent incident at a state hospital must be made part of the public record so health officials and legislators can take appropriate and immediate action.”

WATSON COLEMAN / CRUZ-PEREZ / JASEY / EVANS / GUSCIORA LEGISLATION TARGETING HOMELESSNESS ADVANCES

(TRENTON) – Legislation to give counties the ability to establish grant programs to provide affordable housing and support services for the formerly homeless and those at risk of losing their home was released Thursday by a Senate committee.

The bill (A-3101) is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic) and Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer).

“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure,” said Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

MORIARTY/CONAWAY/GREENSTEIN/CRUZ-PEREZ ON PROHIBITING PAYMENT FOR PREVENTABLE MEDICAL ERRORS

Measure Would Protect Consumers through Enhanced Error Reporting; Prohibition of Payment for Severe Medical Mistakes

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Paul D. Moriarty, Herb Conaway, M.D., Linda R. Greenstein and Nilsa Cruz-Perez today issued a multimedia package on their legislation to protect New Jersey consumers from being billed for certain egregious medical errors.

The measure (A-3371) is designed to mitigate serious and preventable medical errors. It would prohibit hospitals from charging patients and their insurance companies for medical bills related to these errors and require public hospital-by-hospital reporting of certain errors.

The number of Hispanics that will serve in the State Assembly, currently nine, could drop by one-third next year with the death of Eric Munoz (R-Summit) and the retirements of Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) and Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy).  A fourth Hispanic legislator, Matthew Milam (D-Vineland) is considered the most vulnerable incumbent in the November 2009 general election.  Munoz and Vas are not expected to be replaced by Hispanics.