HPAE Statement on the signing of the FY 2022 New Jersey Budget

Please attribute the following statement to HPAE President Debbie White, RN:

We applaud the New Jersey Legislature for approving a State budget that invests in essential programs and services for next year and Gov. Phil Murphy for his leadership during the process and for now signing that budget into law. The FY 2022 Budget has the following improvements relevant to our members, our patients and New Jersey residents as a whole:

• Expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) so that every child in New Jersey will be eligible for health insurance.
• A significant increase in the line-item allocation for University Hospital increased to $73.7 million and the allocation of $500,000 for the study of a new UH hospital building.
• A special $450 million allocation to our state’s three Level-1 trauma centers to strengthen regional health emergency preparedness infrastructure in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State.
• Fully funding the state pension-the first full contribution in 25 years.

This budget is a crucial step forward in funding New Jersey public healthcare, building an infrastructure for future pandemic preparedness and ensuring New Jersey residents have a secure retirement.

Fore more information, contact: Michael Allen, (646) 436-7556