Report Details How More than $100M of Sought Savings has been Denied
Chairman Wonders if Any Other Parts of Medicaid Plan are in Jeopardy
(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto (D-Bergen/Hudson) released the following statement Friday after The Star-Ledger detailed how more than $100 million of the Christie administration’s Medicaid revision plan has been denied:
“It’s now clear why the Christie administration rejected our invitation to update taxpayers and legislators on the status of its Medicaid plan. Obviously the problem with the plan is not something it wanted to discuss, and that’s very disappointing.
“I also don’t want to hear anymore from the administration on how it’s premature to discuss the plan’s status. We’re eight months into the fiscal year. No more excuses.
“We cannot risk blowing a hole in this year’s budget, nor can we risk access to quality health care for low-income New Jerseyans. We all must work together, and that means being forthright about a $300 million plan that impacts a health care program for 1.25 million New Jerseyans.
“The Christie administration’s refusal to be open and transparent makes me wonder whether other parts of its Medicaid plan are also in jeopardy. It’s certainly a valid question at this point.
“I will again be inviting the Christie administration to appear before the Assembly Budget Committee to update taxpayers on how it plans to resolve this problem and avoid a major budget hole.”