NJBIA Urges Legislators to Pass Comprehensive Out-of-Network Reform Bill

TRENTON, N.J., June 29 -- The New Jersey Business and Industry Association issued the following news release:

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association is urging lawmakers to finish their hard work on the contentious issue of out-of-network healthcare costs by passing a comprehensive reform bill today.

NJBIA supports S-1285 (Vitale, D-19; Weinberg, D-37)/A-1952 (Coughlin, D-19; Schaer, D-36). It is scheduled for a vote in the Senate, but would also need to pass the Assembly before it can be sent to the Governor.

"The sponsors in both the Senate and Assembly have worked tirelessly over the last two years and have produced a balanced approach to an extremely difficult problem," said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka. "This is a good bill, so let's finish the job and pass it today."

S-1285/A-1952 would set limits on payment to out-of-network healthcare providers in emergency or inadvertent situations, establish an arbitration process, and require more transparency on the in-network status of healthcare providers.

"We need a plan that provides transparency and cost containment," said Mary Beaumont, NJBIA vice president of Health and Legal Affairs. "We believe this bill delivers on both counts. Out-of-network reform is essential to reining in the high cost of health insurance so that businesses can continue to afford the health benefits they provide to their employees.

"These out-of-network costs play an increasingly significant role in the rising cost of healthcare for both large and small employers in New Jersey, triggering both higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses," she added.