| Trenton – The Coalition for Affordable Hospitals proudly celebrates a year of growth and advocacy at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Convention. Last year the coalition announced their formation at the League. This year they attend with new members, powerful legislative allies, a statewide media campaign and a renewed commitment to reining in out-of-control hospital pricing.
“Today we are larger, stronger & more committed to hospital pricing transparency, accountability & affordability for every New Jerseyan,” said Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU. “For a year now we’ve held rallies, testified before the Legislature, sat down with reporters and editorial boards, met with leadership in both chambers, drafted legislation and had countless conversations with workers, advocates and advocacy groups. We’ve seen our support grow throughout the public and private sectors and we begin this new year, and the upcoming lame duck period, with a renewed focus and sense of purpose.”
In February, the coalition held a speak out rally in front of the New Jersey State House. In March, coalition members testified before the State Assembly Budget Committee on the hospital price issue. In June, they advocated for greater transparency in the healthcare system before the Senate Budget Committee. In late June, the Star-Ledger wrote a powerful editorial on the hospital pricing system after sitting down with members and staff from the coalition.
“You know the cost of bread and eggs at the store but step into a hospital and you are blind,” said Antoinette Miles, Interim State Director of NJ Working Families Party. “You have no idea what your bill will be when you walk out or that it might have cost you less if you went to the hospital a town over. This is not an attack on the nurses, doctors or frontline workers – who we advocate for as part of this coalition – it is about the system that has led to 100% inflation in hospital prices over the past 15 years. Tackling this issue is crucial and it’s going to put money back in the pocket of every single one of us in New Jersey.”
New Jersey taxpayers paid hospitals $2 billion more than Medicare prices in a three year period from 2016 – 2018, according to the recent RAND Report for the New Jersey Public Worker Health Insurance program. Hospital services are the single largest component of healthcare spending in New Jersey, which makes addressing hospital pricing crucial to curbing the cost of healthcare across the board.
“Right now, hospitals have the power. They are indispensable yet their pricing is opaque and it’s time to give some of that power back to the patients. It’s time to rein in these uncontrollable, unsustainable prices because, put simply, it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg just to fix an arm and a leg.” said Sean M. Spiller, President of the NJEA.
If you or your organization would like to learn more or join the coalition, please see below or download here. |
