Downey Measure to Restore Women's Health Funding Progresses

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Health Committee met Monday for the first time in the new legislative session and approved a top priority for Assembly Democrats - a two-bill package that will restore the healthcare funding for low and middle income women and children that the Christie administration had cut for the last eight years.

The measures, sponsored by local Assemblywoman Joann Downey, would would restore the $7.45 million in funding for women's health centers eliminated by Gov. Christie and expand Medicaid coverage under federal law to help serve some of the state's poorest women.

The first bill (A-2134) would provide $7,453,000 for the current fiscal year in supplemental funding for Family Planning Services grants through the state Department of Health.

"Access to preventative screenings, routine exams and low-cost birth control are often scarce in many low income communities, but particularly so since the Christie administration cut funding for women's health, forcing the closure of a number of women's health centers throughout the state," said Downey (D-Monmouth). "Now we finally have the chance to make good on our promise to restore this funding once and for all."

Despite being funded in every state budget since 1970, Governor Christie routinely eliminated the $7.4 million appropriation for women's health care services in the state budget every year of his tenure. Assembly Democrats repeatedly attempted to restore the funding only to have it vetoed by Christie.

The sponsors noted that in 2009 this funding helped support life-saving services for over 136,000 patients, including cancer screenings, birth control, prevention and treatment of STIs, breast health services, Pap tests and other health screenings. As a direct result of Christie's cuts, six out of 58 women's health and family planning centers closed while other health centers had to cut back staff or hours. In 2013, New Jersey's family planning providers saw at least 37,000 fewer patients compared with 2009 - a 27 percent drop in patients served.

The second bill (A-1656) would expand Medicaid coverage of family planning services to non-pregnant individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under current state plan, which is currently 200 percent of the federal poverty level in New Jersey.

This bill would exercise a state option provided under the federal "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," which permits states to expand family planning services through a state plan amendment. In doing so, the federal government would pay 90 percent of the costs for these services.

The bills now await consideration by the full Assembly.