Murphy Administration Highlights Need for Health Care Affordability

The Murphy administration recently published several reports by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance analyzing information on health care spending, quality, access, and affordability in New Jersey. The reports indicated that increases in health care spending were not due to an increase in services provided, but rather from increases in the actual cost of health care. Additionally, while quality and access have remained consistent or improved for many New Jerseyans, affordability has decreased due to increased spending for out-of-pocket medical costs and health care premiums. The reports also addressed health care inequalities, with the burden of medical costs being the greatest among low income residents. As the Murphy administration and future administrations focus on health care costs, quality, and accessibility, providers should be aware of legislation being adopted and proposed to address these issues, such as the recently adopted Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act, which is intended to curb predatory medical debt collections.

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