The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee is responsible for the oversight of health care policy. Its focus is legislation that works to prevent disease, promote well-being at all life stages and encourage informed choices that enrich the quality of life for residents and communities.
Democratic Research Aide:  Nicole A. Brown   
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Wagner & Eustace Welcome Reopening of Pascack Valley Hospital as HUMC-North

Bergen Lawmakers Applaud Westwood Mayor's Efforts to Keep Hospital Open for Community
Assembly Democrats Connie Wagner and Tim Eustace (both D-Bergen/Passaic) on Thursday attended the grand reopening of Pascack Valley Hospital as Hackensack University Medical Center-North and applauded the efforts by Westwood Mayor John Birkner to ensure that the surrounding community still has access to vital, first-rate medical care.

The hospital closed in 2007 and in 2009 eight municipalities, including Oradell in the lawmakers' 38th District, had successful referendums in support of reopening a hospital at the site. At today's grand reopening, HUMC-North announced it plans to begin accepting patients again on June 1.

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Barnes, Quijano & Gusciora Bill to Ensure Medical Marijuana Patients Receive Needed Care Clears Assembly

The General Assembly this week approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Peter J. Barnes, III, Annette Quijano and Reed Gusciora to allow patients registered for New Jersey's Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana program to be able to receive needed medical care, including organ transplantation.

"Now that this program is beginning to operate, it's important that we protect patients desperately in need of this assistance," said Barnes (D-Middlesex). "This will help ensure that the law cannot be misconstrued to hold these patients liable so that they receive the care they need."

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Vainieri Huttle, Burzichelli, Singleton & Coughlin Bill to End Organ Transplant Discrimination Based on Mental, Physical Disability Gets Final Legislative OK

Measure Stems from Stratford, NJ Family's Troubles Securing Kidney Transplant for Disabled Three-Year-Old Daughter
Legislation Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle, John J. Burzichelli, Troy Singleton and Craig Coughlin sponsored to prohibit discrimination against organ transplant candidates because of physical or mental handicaps was granted final legislative approval by the full Assembly on Monday.

"Refusing to allow a viable candidate for an organ transplant to receive one, simply because they have a preexisting mental or physical disability that has no impact on their transplant suitability should not be allowed to occur," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), the Human Services Committee Chair. "We wouldn't allow discrimination based on race or religion, and we shouldn't allow it based on non-medically relevant disabilities."

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Conaway, Riley & Chivukula Resolution to Move Forward in Establishing State Health Insurance Exchange Advances

(TRENTON) - A concurrent resolution sponsored by Assembly Democrat Herb Conaway, Jr. M.D., Celeste M. Riley and Upendra J. Chivukula to help smooth the process of establishing a state health insurance exchange for consumers and businesses under the landmark federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was approved 46-30-2 today by the full Assembly.

The measure (ACR-184) would establish the Joint Legislative Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation to oversee and develop recommendations for the implementation of a health insurance exchange in New Jersey in accordance with the federal act.

The sponsors noted that the insurance exchange is designed to promote choice and value by allowing an individual or small business to compare the costs and benefits of various health plans and options, while being part of a large insurance pool, which helps lower rates.

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Final Legislative Approval for Gun Violence Prevention Legislation Highlights Monday Assembly Voting Session

Economic Development Reform, Social Media Instruction for Students, Making Dog Fighting a Crime & Protecting First Responders Also on Tap

Final legislative approval for four Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention measures, economic development incentive reform, social media instruction for students, making dog fighting a crime and protecting first responders top Monday's Assembly voting session.

The four gun violence prevention bills - these dealing with school security, mental health records, improved firearms information sharing among law enforcement and unlawful weapon disposal - would be the first from the Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention effort to go to the governor's desk...

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