(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), chair of the Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee, released the following statement after today’s joint hearing with the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee to discuss a package of bills based on Manatt Health’s recommendations to improve long-term care in New Jersey:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the cracks in the foundation of our long-term care system. Our hearts continue to break for the families who lost a loved one in long-term care due to COVID-19, and it is for them that we must take action.
“In the less than two months since our initial hearing on long-term care in the Assembly, we have developed a package of legislation intended to reform and bolster our long-term care system. These bills, reflecting the recommendations made in the Manatt report, will protect our most vulnerable residents and the dedicated professionals who care for them.
“I thank the stakeholders who offered testimony in today’s hearing. Their input will guide us in improving this legislation to go further for residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
“We are taking important steps to ensure we are better prepared to mitigate the spread of the virus and navigate future crises.”