Nearly one in five residents — or 1.8 million New Jerseyans — have health coverage through NJ FamilyCare, the Garden State’s Medicaid program. The program currently costs more than $15 billion a year, funded through a mix of state and federal funds. While the cost of the system is growing slowly, the potential of federal reforms and other changes could make it a challenge to maintain or expand the program.

On October 12, NJ Spotlight brought together experts, elected officials, and industry leaders to discuss these challenges, examine possible changes, and explore the mechanics of implementing changes. We also took a specific look at maternity health, one of the most costly and least efficient healthcare areas covered by Medicaid.

Overview

Heather Howard, Lecturer in Public Affairs, Princeton University
Former Commissioner New Jersey Department of Health 

Download Heather Howard's slide presentation

Panel I: The Future of Medicaid in New Jersey

Rachel Cahill, Senior Healthcare Program Officer,
The Nicholson Foundation

Matthew D’Oria, Chief Transformation Officer,
New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute

Ev Liebman, Director of Advocacy, AARP of New Jersey

Erhardt Preitauer, Senior Vice President for Government Programs,
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex), Chair Senate Health, Human Services
& Senior Citizens Committee, NJ Senate

Joseph B. Young, Esq., Executive Director, Disability Rights of New Jersey

Listen to a podcast of Panel I

Panel II: Focus on Maternity Health

Robyn D’Oria, MA, RNC, APN, Chief Executive Officer,
Central NJ Family Health Consortium

Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Deputy Assembly Speaker & Chair
of the Human Services Committee, New Jersey Assembly 

Linda Schwimmer, President & CEO, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute

Suzanne Spernal, APN-BC, MSN, RNC-OB, CBC Clinical Director,
Obstetric Services, Monmouth Medical Center

Colleen Nelson, Vice President, Children’s & Family Health Institute,
Visiting Nurse Association Health Group

Nicole Lamborne, MD, FACOG, Program Director for Women’s Health, Virtua Health System

Listen to a podcast of Panel II

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