Report Finds NJ Spent $1B in Preventable Injection-Related Infection Healthcare Costs in 2019
November 8, 2022
A report from the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition released
last week has found that hospital charges for injection drug
use-related infections totaled more than $1.0 billion dollars in
New Jersey in 2019. This cost stems from more than 7,130 New
Jersey residents w...
Vaccines for Mothers-to-Be Show Future Promise amid Ongoing RSV Spike
November 7, 2022
Cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a respiratory
infection, have continued to rise in New Jersey and across the
country, particularly in children. As reported on
nj.com, cases are up as much as 35% this fall in New
Jersey. RSV has become the primary infectio...
Medical Debts Prevalent in New Jersey, Even among the Insured
November 3, 2022
A report recently released by New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA),
in partnership with Healthcare Valve Hub at Altarum, found that
38% of New Jersey residents have overdue medical bills. Nearly
three in 10 respondents reported owing $5,000 or more in medical
debt, and ju...
Healthcare.gov Coverage Options Available for Preview ahead of Open Enrollment Period
November 1, 2022
Open enrollment for health coverage through the HealthCare.gov
marketplace begins on November 1, 2022. Ahead of the open
enrollment period, as of October 26, 2022, consumers can preview
their healthcare coverage options and see the savings available
to them to help pl...
RSV Latest in Wave of Respiratory Infections Affecting Children
November 1, 2022
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has become the dominant
infection among children with respiratory viruses, for which a
spike has been observed having begun in the spring of 2022. As
reported in the September 31, 2022 edition of The
Star-Ledger, the spike began with ...
Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Waiver Ends October 31st
October 27, 2022
In October of 2021, the U.S. Department of Education announced a
temporary expansion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
program, expanding eligibility to many who previously didn't
qualify under strict income-driven repayment plan requirements.
Since then, ...
EMS Legislation Signed into Law to Allow for Faster Response Times
October 25, 2022
On Friday, October 21, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law
A4107, which makes various changes concerning regulation of
emergency medical services (EMS); and establishes a mobile
integrated health program, and new State Emergency Medical
Services Director in the...
The U.S. Surgeon General Publishes Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing
October 24, 2022
On October 20, 2022, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
released
The U.S. Surgeon General's Framework for Workplace Mental
Health & Well-Being, which offers a foundation that
workplaces can build upon to show workers that they matter, that
their work matters...
NJ DHS Announces Budget Listening Session, Nov. 3, 2022
October 20, 2022
Session at 1:00 p.m. on November 3rd to hear from
advocates on budget priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2024 (July 1,
2023 through June 30, 2024).
This is an opportunity to shape DHS' own input for the budget
that Governor Phil Murphy will propose next March for FY20...
Study Finds Racial Gaps in Mental Health Care Developing in NJ Schools
October 18, 2022
A report from New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) has found that
while access to mental health staff for White and Asian Students
has increased since 2008, it has actually decreased for Black and
Hispanic students in New Jersey over the same time.
The report looked...
HHS Extends COVID-19 Public Health Emergency through at least January 2023
October 17, 2022
Yesterday, on October 13, 2022, Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, renewed the
determination of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) as a result of
the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PHE, under this curre...
DOD Calls Mental Health and Suicide Prevention a “Key Priority” amid Rising Suicide Rates
October 13, 2022
In March of 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin
III established the Suicide Prevention and Response
Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC), intended to review
the military's mental health and suicide preventi...
