TRENTON, May 31, 2018—Governor Murphy today announced the formation of the State Health Benefits Quality and Value Task Force. The group will identify reforms and cost-saving strategies for the State Health Benefits and School Employee Health Benefits Programs. It includes health policy experts, state government officials, representatives of public employee unions, and representatives of public employers, including the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Jonathan Pushman, NJSBA legislative advocate, will serve on the panel.
According to the governor, the task force will meet monthly to identify specific near-term opportunities for reform, including best practices in health management, cost savings and recommendations for plan design by October 2018. Following the completion of that work, the Task Force will explore longer-term reforms and issue a comprehensive report, he said.
In addition, the governor announced that the Department of Treasury is reconstituting the Plan Design Committees for both the state health benefits and school employee plans “to leverage savings and institute potential improvements in the quality of care provided to state and local governmental employees.”
The full announcement, including the list of task force members, is available on the governor’s website.
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The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of the state’s local boards of education and includes the majority of New Jersey’s charter schools as associate members. NJSBA provides training, advocacy and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance.