NJ Spotlight published the following article on February 26, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
MEDICAID SPENDING WOULD CLIMB WHILE OTHER HEALTH-RELATED PROGRAMS GET LESS
ANDREW KITCHENMAN | FEBRUARY 26, 2014
State spending on Medicaid would grow by $214.3 million in the budget proposed by Gov. Chris Christie yesterday, while other health-related spending would decline.
Christie, in his budget address, focused on changes in how the state delivers healthcare to low-income residents through Medicaid.
The increase in Medicaid spending, from $3.95 billion in the current fiscal year to $4.16 billion under the spending plan, is the biggest reason for an overall increase in Department of Human Services spending, from $6.49 billion to $6.64 billion.
State Department of Health spending would from fall from $371.3 million to $339.3 million, with much of the drop due to a one-time payment for Cooper Health Care’s new cancer treatment center.
While details of the budgetary impact of Christie’s proposal were still emerging yesterday, state officials highlighted some of the changes in a budget summary. They include $1 million to support the integration of substance-abuse treatment with employment services, $4.5 million to expand drug court treatment services, and $21 million more for children in New Jersey FamilyCare.