Outpatient Dialysis for Uninsured Signed Into Law

[okarol]

Vitale-Karcher Bill to Offer Outpatient Dialysis for Uninsured Signed Into Law

By Jim Griffin - May 7, 2007 - 12:09pm
politicsnj.com

Release Date: May 7, 2007

 TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Ellen Karcher which will require ambulatory care facilities in New Jersey to provide uncompensated outpatient renal dialysis services for uninsured, low-income people was signed into law on Friday by Governor Codey.

“For the many low-income New Jerseyans suffering from renal disease and kidney failure, this is great news,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “Our State is taking a big step to ensure access to life-sustaining dialysis treatments, without consideration of a patient’s ability to pay. We have made a bold statement that someone’s economic status shouldn’t prohibit them from receiving necessary medical attention and health care.”

 “Throughout the process, we heard from those people living every day with renal disease, and the hardships they have to endure to live their lives and get adequate treatment,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer, the Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “For New Jersey’s working poor, many of whom are paid an hourly wage, an overnight stay in an in-patient dialysis setting means less money to feed their families, or take care of other basic needs. This new law will allow them to receive needed dialysis treatments on their schedule, and spare them the difficult decision of a day’s pay, or their health.”

The new law, S-1250, will require ambulatory renal dialysis facilities to provide a specific amount of renal dialysis services without charge to certain uninsured low-income persons with a total family gross income that would qualify them for charity care services under the current law. The bill states that facilities will be required to provide treatment and services in an amount equal to the Medicare rate of reimbursement for up to 3.5 % of their total dialysis treatments and medication associated with dialysis. Compliance with the regulations of this bill will become a condition of licensure and renewal for outpatient dialysis facilities in New Jersey.

“When it comes down to it, we’re asking individual facilities to spare a small amount of their profit margin to help meet New Jersey’s health care access needs,” said Senator Karcher.

“Ultimately, with each of these facilities pitching in, we will be able to ensure access to outpatient dialysis for those who need the treatments, but cannot afford health insurance.” “New Jersey has a proud tradition of standing up for the working poor,” said Senator Vitale. “We don’t turn our backs on the economically disadvantaged when it comes to providing access to quality health care. This new law is an extension of the philosophy that so many of us share on the State level – health care is a basic right, and we need to do all we can to ensure access for all.”

The bill was approved by the Senate in February, and received final approval by the Assembly in March.

Contact:

Jason Butkowski
jbutkowski@njleg.org
609-292-5215

http://www.politicsnj.com/vitale-karcher-bill-offer-outpatient-dialysis-uninsured-signed-law-8131

[livecam]

Wonderful...every illegal alien and crackpot with renal disease who can't or won't pay will hightail it to New Jersey for free dialysis and they'll bring their destitute family members and friends with them.  Those who do have private insurance will of course be charged more to cover uncompensated dialysis for those who don't. 

Don't think for a minute that private dialysis facilities are going to suck it up and do this for free!

Medicare already foots most of the cost of dialysis for every American citizen who needs it.  This law is nothing more than an invitation to sick people from all over the world to come to New Jersey and take advantage of it's taxpayers and it's dialysis providers.

This bill and it's sponsors are absolutely, totally, completely, and undeniably brain dead.

[thegrammalady]

livecam, i think you've said all there is to say about it

[Joe Paul]

.......................

[st789]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ouch

[Rerun]

5 stars Livecam.  You sound Republican!  Good Job!

[Sara]

What is the alternative for these patients?  What was happening before this thing was signed into law?

[st789]

Even the one with money, it is still costs outrageous.  In the end, the corporate world still wins.  Check out the article section about health insurance and the B.S of politics involves.

[Joe Paul]

Vitale-Karcher Bill to Offer Outpatient Dialysis for Uninsured Signed Into Law

 “For New Jersey’s working poor, many of whom are paid an hourly wage, an overnight stay in an in-patient dialysis setting means less money to feed their families, or take care of other basic needs. This new law will allow them to receive needed dialysis treatments on their schedule, and spare them the difficult decision of a day’s pay, or their health.”

The new law, S-1250, will require ambulatory renal dialysis facilities to provide a specific amount of renal dialysis services without charge to certain uninsured low-income persons with a total family gross income that would qualify them for charity care services under the current law. The bill states that facilities will be required to provide treatment and services in an amount equal to the Medicare rate of reimbursement for up to 3.5 % of their total dialysis treatments and medication associated with dialysis. Compliance with the regulations of this bill will become a condition of licensure and renewal for outpatient dialysis facilities in New Jersey.

“When it comes down to it, we’re asking individual facilities to spare a small amount of their profit margin to help meet New Jersey’s health care access needs,” said Senator Karcher.

Where in this does it say anything about illegal aliens & crackpots? If I read it right, it says "CERTAIN low income" & "WORKING poor"

[Sara]

Where in this does it say anything about illegal aliens & crackpots? If I read it right, it says "CERTAIN low income" & "WORKING poor"

That's what I read too.  If somebody is working, or genuinely qualifies not to work, I, as a taxpayer, don't mind helping them. 

[livecam]

Vitale-Karcher Bill to Offer Outpatient Dialysis for Uninsured Signed Into Law

 “For New Jersey’s working poor, many of whom are paid an hourly wage, an overnight stay in an in-patient dialysis setting means less money to feed their families, or take care of other basic needs. This new law will allow them to receive needed dialysis treatments on their schedule, and spare them the difficult decision of a day’s pay, or their health.”

The new law, S-1250, will require ambulatory renal dialysis facilities to provide a specific amount of renal dialysis services without charge to certain uninsured low-income persons with a total family gross income that would qualify them for charity care services under the current law. The bill states that facilities will be required to provide treatment and services in an amount equal to the Medicare rate of reimbursement for up to 3.5 % of their total dialysis treatments and medication associated with dialysis. Compliance with the regulations of this bill will become a condition of licensure and renewal for outpatient dialysis facilities in New Jersey.

“When it comes down to it, we’re asking individual facilities to spare a small amount of their profit margin to help meet New Jersey’s health care access needs,” said Senator Karcher.

Where in this does it say anything about illegal aliens & crackpots? If I read it right, it says "CERTAIN low income" & "WORKING poor"

It doesn't say it but you sure can infur it.  Citizens are already covered by their state indigent care medical plans and Medicare.  This additional coverage isn't needed for low income American's in New Jersey because by default they are already covered.  For illegal aliens and crackpots this is a wonderful bill...something more for nothing...for everyone else it sucks.

[Mongo]

Vitale-Karcher Bill to Offer Outpatient Dialysis for Uninsured Signed Into Law

By Jim Griffin - May 7, 2007 - 12:09pm
politicsnj.com

Release Date: May 7, 2007

 TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Ellen Karcher which will require ambulatory care facilities in New Jersey to provide uncompensated outpatient renal dialysis services for uninsured, low-income people was signed into law on Friday by Governor Codey.

I thought Jon "I don't have to wear a seatbelt even though New Jersey has one of the strickest seat belt laws in the country" Corzine was govenor of New Jersey?