Singer Bill to Prohibit Sudden Medicaid Reimbursement Decreases Clears Senate
Senator Robert Singer’s bill to prohibit unauthorized provider reimbursement rate decreases by Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare and other managed care organizations was passed Thursday by the full Senate.
“Vulnerable patients should not be blindsided with higher health care costs,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “Managed care organizations must explore all other options before seeking to decrease provider benefits via a rigorous public process.”
Kean, Singer Measure to Educate Families on College Debt Heads to Gov. Christie
Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. and Senator Robert Singer to assure that New Jersey families understand student loan rates, schedules, debt and defaults was passed unanimously by the full Senate and heads to Gov. Christie for consideration.
“High school juniors and seniors pursue college with great anticipation and understandable anxiety,” said Kean (R-Union). “Students, parents and guardians are rightly concerned with finding the right schools, visiting campuses and preparing to live on their own. It is just as important for them to fully understand the substantial short- and long-term costs of collegiate investments.”
Singer Introduces Trio of Sandy Bills to Improve Response by Utility Companies
Senator Robert Singer introduced today three bills to improve response by public utility companies and facilitate power in natural disasters, such as Superstorm Sandy.
“Many of New Jersey’s Sandy victims have cause to be upset about being without power for weeks or several days, and there are others who are lucky their utilities were promptly restored,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “No matter the overall effectiveness of utility responses during and after Superstorm Sandy, we should not fail to adopt initiatives to assure that no one suffered in vain and we are best prepared for future catastrophes.”
Beck, Singer Veterans Tax Relief Amendment Approved by Committee
A proposal by Senators Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth) and Robert W. Singer (R- Ocean) to extend tax benefits to eligible veterans residing in continuing care retirement communities has been approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
SCR-130 amends the state constitution to extend the state’s current veterans property tax deduction and disabled veterans property tax exemption to residents of qualifying residential health care facilities.
Obama Breaks Promise, Prosecutes California Man for Medical Pot; Singer Asks Chiesa ‘Is NJ Next’?
In light of last week’s federal medical marijuana dispensary conviction in California, New Jersey Senator Robert Singer (R-30) sent today a letter asking state Attorney General Chiesa to report any potential impact on the Garden State’s medical marijuana enterprises, particularly for-profit facilities.
Click here to view the letter from Senator Singer to Attorney General Chiesa (PDF).
“As a proponent of this state’s medical marijuana law, I want to make sure the law works to provide this medicine to victims of chronic illnesses,” Singer said. “The California business in question was of a large scale and suspected of being driven by profits.”
Committee Releases Singer Bill Protecting Ticket Buyers
The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to restructure ticket sale and resale laws.
“We are bringing accountability to an expanding realm of event ticket sales, which for too long and in too many cases has taken advantage of consumers by imposing ambiguous fees and creating an unlevel playing field,” Singer said. “This balanced legislation provides overdue consumer protections, introduces transparency into the ticket sale process and facilitates responsible ticket resales in a free market.”
Singer’s Out-of-Pocket Hospital Patient Notice Bill Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer, (R-Monmouth, Ocean) to require hospitals in New Jersey to notify observation patients of potential out-of-pocket costs was advanced today by the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee.
“Many patients admitted to hospitals for observation are not considered inpatients, so their insurance plans may not cover prescriptions otherwise covered if administered during an inpatient stay,” Singer said. “Often times, patients who suffer unforeseen out-of-pocket expenses after hospital observations suffer from chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.”
Senate Passes Singer/Beck Bill of Rights for Retirement Community Residents
The Senate passed today a “Bill of Rights for Continuing Care Retirement Community Residents in Independent Living,” sponsored by Senators Robert Singer and Jennifer Beck.
The Senators’ S-2052Sca to establish and clarify basic rights for retirement community residents under continuing care was unanimously approved on Sept. 20 by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Singer’s ‘Janet’s Law’ Signed by Gov. Christie
Life-saving measure “Janet’s Law,” sponsored by Senator Robert Singer, R-Monmouth, Ocean, has been signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie.
“This action by the legislature and administration is long overdue to prevent tragic student-athlete deaths due to unexpected cardiac arrests,” Singer said. “I am proud that after several years, we finally achieved this law in Janet Zilinski’s memory, assuring her heartbreaking passing wasn’t in vain.”
Kean/Singer Student Loan Literacy Legislation Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senators Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union) and Robert W. Singer (R- Ocean) designed to help high school students better understand the financial obligations they are incurring when taking out student loans to finance their post-secondary education has been approved by the Senate Higher Education Committee.
The bill, S- 2150, requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to develop a document containing student loan repayment information on state, federal and private student loans, and mandates that document be disseminated by school districts and nonpublic high schools to students.
