Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr., M.D., the lead Assembly sponsor of legislation that will establish the health insurance exchange component of the federal Affordable Care Act, will take part in a forum on Wednesday along with other policy makers and stakeholders to discuss the pathway to implementation of the exchange in New Jersey.
The forum is sponsored by the New Jersey Hospital Association and will take place on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at the NJHA’S Conference and Event Center, 760 Alexander Road, Princeton. Conaway will participate in the “Legislative Panel on Exchanges,” which is slated for 9:30 am.
Conaway’s legislation (A-3186) would establish the health insurance exchange component of the federal law, creating access to affordable, quality insurance for both consumers and small businesses and positioning New Jersey to help working people and small businesses receive millions of dollars in available federal tax credits and subsidies.
An identical measure (A-2171) had been passed by both houses of the legislature earlier this year, only to be vetoed by Governor Christie, citing the previously pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the law as constitutional, the federal government has set a deadline of Nov. 16 for states to express their intentions and demonstrate readiness to establish a health insurance exchange.
“Federal support to help individuals purchase insurance coverage depends on each state creating a functioning insurance exchange,” said Conaway. “Now that the Supreme Court has cleared the way for this law to be fully implemented, it’s time to move forward in making this a reality. The exchange is designed to promote choice and make insurance purchasing more value-based by allowing an individual or small business to compare the costs and benefits of various health plans and benefit options.”