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Clinton council urges state action on health care affordability, transparency and accountability
Summary
The Town of Clinton adopted a resolution urging the state legislature and governor to strengthen the Department of Health's Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency, create a hospital price-growth benchmark, form an independent review commission, and require clearer hospital price disclosures; an advocate and the mayor cited hospital price growth and personal high bills in support.
The Town of Clinton council unanimously adopted Resolution #100-26 calling on the New Jersey Legislature and governor to take steps to address high health care costs. The resolution asks the state to strengthen the Department of Health's Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency, create a hospital price growth benchmark tied to a metric such as median income growth or inflation, establish an independent commission to review data and hold hearings, and require hospitals to publish accessible price information.
Advocate Ali Jawetz summarized supporting evidence presented by health-care advocates and state health data showing hospital spending is the largest component of state health-care spending and that price increases — rather than higher utilization — are driving cost growth. Jawetz urged legislative action to promote public accountability and more transparent price reporting. Mayor Janice Kovach said the issue was personal for her, recounting two recent hospital bills she received — $16,000 for care at Hunterdon Medical Center and $25,000 for a second procedure at Morristown Medical Center — as part of her reason for supporting the resolution.
The resolution also asks the town's state legislators to back affordability legislation and directs that copies be sent to the governor and specified legislative leaders and local representatives.
