Clara Maass Hospital Waives Some Fees For Fed Workers In Shutdown

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Federal workers and their families will find a temporary respite from certain healthcare expenses at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville during the ongoing government shutdown, the hospital announced Monday.

According to RWJBarnabas Health, all of its hospitals – including Clara Maass – will waive co-pays, deductibles and additional eligible patient care balances for furloughed federal employees and their dependents.

Hospital administrators said:

“This action is effective immediately and applies to all inpatient, outpatient, emergency and ambulatory-based care provided by RWJBarnabas Health... The waiver will be discontinued upon federal employees returning to their pre-shutdown employment status.”

RWJBarnabas administrators added:

“In addition to waiving payments due for care provided during the current government shutdown, any payments that these same workers may be obligated to make to the health system on past visits will be deferred until their wages are reinstated. The waiver has been made available to all federal employees and dependents who provide proof of federal employment upon receiving a bill.”

“We recognize the financial hardship being experienced by these families, because they are our neighbors and friends – they live in the communities we serve each day,” Board of Trustees Chair Jack Morris said.

In New Jersey, about 5,000 federal government workers are going without pay as a result of the shutdown, a group of U.S. lawmakers said last week. Since then, reports of local outreach to the affected workers and their families have emerged across the state.

• See related article: PSEG Cuts Unpaid Federal Workers Some Slack During Gov't Shutdown
• See related article: Montclair Businesses Stand Up For Federal Workers In Shutdown

The shutdown was born from a bitter Democrat/Republican budget battle that escalated over the holiday season. President Trump is sticking with his demand for money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and Democrats, who took control of the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 3, are refusing to give him what he wants.

• See related article: 5 Ways Government Shutdown Could Hurt New Jersey

The shutdown isn't just affecting government workers and their families, many of whom had to pinch pennies over the holiday season due to the lack of a paycheck. It's also throwing a monkey wrench into IRS refunds, SNAP and WIC benefits, school/daycare food programs and immigration courts.

• See related article: NJ Congresswoman-Elect Refuses Pay Until Government Shutdown Ends
• See related article: New Jersey Workers Pine For Paychecks Amid Government Shutdown

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