Governor Christie Opts For Federally Administered Health Exchange For NJ

Governor Christie Outlines Path Forward to Best Maintain New Jersey's Delivery of Excellent Healthcare to Residents

Federally Administered Health Exchange Is Most Responsible Choice

Trenton, NJ – Continuing with his commitment to comply with the mandates of the Affordable Care Act in a manner that protects the best interests of New Jersey and its Citizens, Governor Christie has given formal notice to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that New Jersey is opting to put in place a federally administered Exchange for Plan Year 2014.

Read Letter to Kathleen Sebelius Here

Under the Christie Administration, New Jersey has already taken numerous significant steps to comply with the federal mandates under the Affordable Care Act, 

· In December of 2012, New Jersey selected an Essential Health Benefits Benchmark plan, as required under the Affordable Care Act.

· New Jersey has successfully implemented NJ Protect, a federally subsidized health insurance program for individuals with pre-existing health conditions. 

· New Jersey is in the final stages of modernizing our Medicaid and social service eligibility information systems, which will work with the federal exchange, through the Consolidated Assistance Support System (CASS). 

· In 2011, New Jersey was certified as operating an “Effective Rate Review Program” in all insurance markets. The certification meets a requirement of the Affordable Care Act and confirms that consumers are paying reasonable rates.

·The State of New Jersey worked with the Obama Administration to protect access to the state’s most affordable insurance coverage, “Basic and Essential” coverage utilized by approximately two-thirds of the 145,000 New Jerseyans covered by individual insurance in New Jersey, a coverage option threatened under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

· In October of 2012, New Jersey secured approval of our Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver in order to preserve New Jersey’s Medicaid program for the most vulnerable. The waiver allows the Christie Administration to move forward with bold, innovative reforms to decrease the cost of care, improve quality and delivery through integrated, managed care, and offer premium payment assistance for needy families. Read More Here

         

·       Previously, Governor Christie declined to establish a state run exchange citing the many critical, open policy questions before states – even as federally imposed deadlines loomed to make far-reaching and significant decisions with respect to implementation of provision of the Affordable Care Act. View The Governors concerns detailed in his S-2135 Veto Message Here. 

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