- Christie says he’ll take U.S. money to expand Medicaid, By Kate Zernike, February 26, 2013, New York Times: “Gov. Chris Christie, one of the most strident Republican critics of President Obama’s health care overhaul, announced on Tuesday that he would accept federal money to expand the Medicaid program in New Jersey. The expansion, which the governor described in his annual budget address to the Legislature, would provide health insurance to 104,000 of the poorest 1.3 million residents currently living without it, though some groups say the number could be higher…”
- Gov. Chris Christie agrees to expand Medicaid in NJ, still ‘no fan of affordable care act’, Associated Press, February 26, 2013, Washington Post: “Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he would expand Medicaid health insurance coverage to more low-income New Jersey adults as part of President Barack Obama’s health insurance overhaul — all while making it clear he’s ‘no fan of’ the president’s program…”
- Medicaid expansion could save Iowa counties up to $60 million on mental health, state experts say, By Tony Leys, February 28, 2013, Des Moines Register: “Iowa counties could save up to $60 million per year in mental-health costs if the state agrees to expand its Medicaid program, state experts estimate. The estimate, which comes from within Gov. Terry Branstad’s administration, could increase pressure on the governor to accept the Medicaid expansion. Branstad, a Republican, has steadfastly resisted the idea, saying he doubts the federal government’s promise to pay nearly all the cost…”
- W.Va. Medicaid expansion would create 6,000 jobs, activists say, By Lori Kersey, February 26, 2013, Charleston Gazette: “Expanding Medicaid in West Virginia would create about 6,200 new jobs across the state in 2016, according to a study released today by the West Virginians for Affordable Health Care and Families USA…”
- Medicaid expansion a short-term money maker for Utah, By Kirsten Stewart, February 28, 2013, Salt Lake Tribune: “As Gov. Gary Herbert awaits the results of a study predicting what it would cost Utah to expand Medicaid, lawmakers have produced their own estimate. Not only would the expansion cost Utah nothing the first three years, it would save the state $222,000 in general and education funds in 2014 and $444,000 in 2015…”
Tag: New Jersey
Juvenile Justice System – New Jersey
Number of minors in N.J. youth detention centers declined significantly, report shows, By Matt Friedman, October 24, 2012, Star-Ledger: “A new report shows that the number of minors in the counties’ youth detention centers has declined by more than half since New Jersey implemented a program to divert them to alternatives in 2004, saving the state an estimated $16 million. The report, issued today by Advocates for Children in New Jersey, studied the effect of the eight-year-old Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. ‘New Jersey’s juvenile justice system is, by and large, smarter, safer and savings taxpayer dollars,’ according to the report, which noted that just 3 percent of youth re-offend while participating in the program. For children arrested but not deemed a threat to public safety, the program changes the focus from locking them up to alternative means of supervision, like electronic monitoring and home visits. It also provides them with job training, counseling services and other services…”
School Breakfast Programs – New Jersey
Report: NJ makes progress with school breakfasts, By Katie Zezima (AP), October 2, 2012, Long Island Newsday: “The number of low-income children who receive breakfast in New Jersey schools each day has dramatically increased, according to a new report released Tuesday, but the state still lags far behind nationally. There was a 21 percent increase in the number of low-income students eating breakfast at school from October 2010 to March 2012, according to Advocates for Children of New Jersey, which released the report. The group compiled its findings from state data. Schools are increasingly serving students breakfast after the school day starts, allowing more children to access a healthy breakfast and attributing to the jump, the report said…”