Recreation is Good Medicine |
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Dear Friend,
Many things contribute to our quality of life. Aside from a decent place to live, quality recreational activities and spaces are essential for well-being. We believe in the importance and positive power of physical activity, and our young people must have decent facilities to play and exercise. That's why we've made improving our recreational areas a priority.
Regular exercise is vital for our bodies; it increases your overall health and can act as a stress reliever. Exercise uplifts us, stimulates us, and enables healing in the body.
With the recent transformation of the Rushmore Recreational Complex in the 4th ward, we now have two state-of-the-art artificial turf fields in Plainfield; the first was Seidler Field, located on the border of the 1st and 2nd Wards. We've also made improvements to the tennis courts at Milt Campbell Field and Hannah Atkins Playground. Additionally, through a partnership with Union County, we can boast of a third artificial multisport turf facility at Cedarbrook Park.
Before these transformations, the playing fields were sparse looking, and the grass had no time to rejuvenate because there are not enough fields to rotate usage. Some would get muddy and soggy during the rainy season, and in short, it was a poor offering for residents. Our residents deserve more, and we did the right thing investing five million dollars in having them done correctly. They will now serve our community for many years to come.
Last year we made some hard decisions to protect our community during the pandemic, and we temporarily closed our parks and playgrounds. It was a tough call, but we felt it was the right one, given our relative lack of knowledge at the time about the virus and the reason for its rapid spread around the globe. We all felt the effects of this lack of access and isolation, not the least our children and older residents. We missed being able to enjoy our outdoor recreational facilities.
On May 1st of this year, we threw open the gates of our parks and playgrounds with joy and relief. On Memorial day, our pools will once again ring with the laughter of young and old as we welcome them back.
The vaccination program continues, and as more people get vaccinated, our susceptibility to the virus diminishes rapidly. However, we still want you to be careful; the virus is still present in our city and positive cases are still being reported on a daily basis. It is still important for you to take all necessary precaution to protect yourself, your family members and those with whom you come in contact. More importantly, please, take the vaccine. As you use the recreational facilities, please wear your mask around others, maintain the six feet social distancing protocol and follow the rules set by our Recreation team.
Let us heal together as we put the nightmare of last year behind us. Come out and enjoy the beautiful spring and summer days ahead of us. Let's exercise and allow our bodies to enjoy the benefits of those good endorphins. As a city, let's collectively take a breath and release tension, fear, anger, and all other negativity.
We stood as one to face this deadly virus, and now we move forward as one to heal our bodies and our minds.
Creating One Plainfield. One Future
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La Recreación es Buena Medicina |
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Querido Plainfield,
Muchas cosas contribuyen a nuestra calidad de vida. Aparte de un lugar digno para vivir, las actividades y los espacios recreativos de calidad son esenciales para el bienestar. Creemos en la importancia y el poder positivo de la actividad física, y nuestros jóvenes deben contar con instalaciones dignas para jugar y hacer ejercicio. Es por eso que hemos priorizado mejorar nuestras áreas recreativas.
El ejercicio regular es vital para nuestro cuerpo; aumenta su salud en general y puede actuar como un alivio del estrés. El ejercicio nos eleva, nos estimula y permite la curación en el cuerpo.
Con la reciente transformación del Complejo Recreativo Rushmore en el cuarto distrito, ahora tenemos dos campos de césped artificial de última generación en Plainfield; el primero fue Seidler Field, ubicado en el límite de los distritos 1 y 2. También hicimos mejoras a las canchas de tenis en Milt Campbell Field y Hannah Atkins Playground. Además, a través de una asociación con el condado de Union, podemos presumir de una tercera instalación de césped artificial multideporte en Cedarbrook Park.
Antes de estas transformaciones, los campos de juego tenían un aspecto escaso y el césped no tenía tiempo para rejuvenecer porque no hay suficientes campos para rotar el uso. Algunos se ensuciaban y empapaban durante la temporada de lluvias y, en resumen, era una oferta pobre para los residentes. Nuestros residentes merecen más, e hicimos lo correcto al invertir cinco millones de dólares para que se hicieran correctamente. Ahora servirán a nuestra comunidad durante muchos años.
El año pasado tomamos algunas decisiones difíciles para proteger a nuestra comunidad durante la pandemia y cerramos temporalmente nuestros parques y áreas de juego. Fue una decisión difícil, pero sentimos que era la correcta, dada nuestra relativa falta de conocimiento en ese momento sobre el virus y la razón de su rápida propagación por todo el mundo. Todos sentimos los efectos de esta falta de acceso y aislamiento, no menos nuestros niños y residentes mayores. Echamos de menos poder disfrutar de nuestras instalaciones recreativas al aire libre.
El 1 de mayo de este año, abrimos las puertas de nuestros parques y patios de recreo con alegría y alivio. En el Día de los Caídos, nuestras piscinas volverán a sonar con las risas de jóvenes y mayores cuando les demos la bienvenida.
El programa de vacunación continúa y, a medida que se vacunan más personas, nuestra susceptibilidad al virus disminuye rápidamente. Sin embargo, queremos que tenga cuidado; el virus todavía está presente en nuestra ciudad y todavía se reportan casos positivos a diario. Aún es importante que tome todas las precauciones necesarias para protegerse a sí mismo, a los miembros de su familia y a aquellos con quienes entra en contacto. Más importante aún, por favor, tome la vacuna. Mientras usa las instalaciones recreativas, use su máscara alrededor de otras personas, mantenga el protocolo de distanciamiento social de seis pies y siga las reglas establecidas por nuestro equipo de recreación.
Vamos a curarnos juntos mientras dejamos atrás la pesadilla del año pasado. Ven y disfruta de los hermosos días de primavera y verano que tenemos por delante. Hagamos ejercicio y dejemos que nuestro cuerpo disfrute de los beneficios de esas buenas endorfinas. Como ciudad, tomemos un respiro colectivamente y liberemos la tensión, el miedo, la ira y toda la negatividad.
Nosostros nos paramos como uno para enfrentar este virus mortal, y ahora avanzamos como uno para sanar nuestros cuerpos y nuestras mentes.
Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro.
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Division of Parks and Recreation Update |
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The Division of Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce the reopening of our parks and pools:
𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒:
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐤.
Athletic facilities open May 1st and close on November 28, 2021, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲.
𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬.
𝐏𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐒:
Hannah Atkins pool opens Memorial Day Weekend – Saturday May 29th and will be open only on weekends until June 26, 2021 from 1:00pm – 6:00pm.
Will open daily June 26 – September 6, 2021 from 1:00pm – 6:00pm.
Seidler Field and Rushmore Pools will open daily from 1:00pm – 6:00pm from Saturday June 26 through August 22, 2021
𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
- Residents will register in Community pass for free pool membership.
- Residents must take a photo either at the City Hall Annex or another identified off site location
- Youth 12 and younger must be accompanied by someone 16 years or older.
- 𝐍𝐨 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 - 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲.
- Residents must reserve swim time in community pass.
- Entry will be first come first served for unreserved time as space allows.
- 40 swimmers per session for 1.5 hour sessions - 3 per day.
- Time Slots: 1:00pm-2:30pm, 2:45pm- 4:00pm, 4:30 – 6:00pm.
- Members will swipe in and out of facility for contract tracing purposes.
COVID-19 Ambassadors will enforce social distancing and cleaning. Lifeguards will be on duty.
𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌:
Beginning on Monday, June 28, 2021 the Summer Food Program Grab and GO pick up will be available between 11:30am -1:00pm Monday- Friday at all Plainfield Public School locations.
Please contact the division of parks and recreations with any additional questions at 908.753.3096 or email recreation@plainfieldnj.gov.
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SAVE THE DATE for July 4th Fireworks |
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Celebrating the Independence of this great nation is about family, friends, barbecues, parades and fireworks. As COVID restrictions begin to loosen we are still focused on keeping our residents safe and will only offer a fireworks display this year.
- Tickets can be reserved beginning on Monday, June 28th.
- Limit of one (1) ticket per car/household
- Cars may enter the park between 8:00pm and 9:15pm
- Fireworks begin at 9:30pm
- Rain Date – Sunday, July 11, 2021
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Plainfield City Council Adopts Zero Increase Budget for Second Year |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Council Votes Yes to Zero Tax Increase Budget
For the second year in a row, the City of Plainfield has adopted a budget with a ZERO tax increase for city residents.
On Monday, May 10, the City Council voted almost unanimously to adopt the budget presented by the administration. The only NO vote against the reduction in property taxes for city residents was cast by Councilman for the Second Ward, Sean McKenna, who is also running for Mayor. The budget was adopted by a vote of six to one, making it the second consecutive year that municipal taxes have been reduced.
Throughout the budget hearings, each Director emphasized their directive to dig even deeper than they did last year and present a bare-bones, no-frills budget. Several City Council members commended the administration for their commitment to doing what’s best for Plainfield residents. For making the necessary cuts to deliver a budget with zero impact on taxpayers' wallets. This sentiment was echoed by the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC).
The adopted budget is $86,802,591.51. The municipal tax rate decreased from $4.916 to $4.909 per $100 of assessed value. $8.0 million was added to the fund balance, and the Tax Collection rate increased to a record 97.54%. There were zero audit findings, and the city invested approximately $4 million in infrastructure-based capital improvement initiatives. All this happened while Moody’s Rating Remained A1 for Bonds and MIG1for Bond Anticipation Notes, with a positive outlook.
Looking ahead, the administration will focus on Economic Development, funding programs to play a lead role in community health and wellness, reducing overtime costs, selling
City-owned properties, property tax stabilization, as just a few of the initiatives to continue on the road to financial health.
“It is no small task to deliver a zero tax increase for two years in a row.” Said, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp. “We stretched our resources to their limits and found ways to deliver services at a minimal cost. My administration understood how important it was for our residents already greatly challenged by the economic effects of the pandemic. My commitment to the Plainfield community has never wavered, and it is reflected in this fiscally sound budget. As we recover from the effects of the coronavirus, we will continue to put the needs of our residents first. We are a resilient city used to weathering adversity, and working together, we will get back on track and be even stronger than we were before.”
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Special Town Hall Meeting for Marijuana Legislation and Marijuana Survey |
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On Tuesday, May 11th, the City of Plainfield hosted a special town hall meeting that included updates in the areas of:
Parks & Recreation
Health & Social Services - COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Public Safety
The main topic of discussion centered around upcoming marijuana legislation and its potential impact on the city. Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Business Administrator Abby Levenson, Economic Development Director Valerie Jackson and Corporation Counsel David Minchello provided updates, engaged with residents and answered questions.
We welcome your input by completing a survey which ends on May 31, 2021 either by using the below link or QR code.
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Check Presentation from Union County |
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Union County Commissioner Rebecca Williams presented Mayor Adrian O. Mapp with an infrastructure Grant award in the amount of $145,000 for the city's road improvement projects.
Also at the presentation was Business Administration Abby Levenson, Director of DPW Oren Dabney Sr. and Chief of Staff and Director of Communications & Technology Jazz Clayton-Hunt.
Thank you the board of Union County Commissioners for their continued support of the City of Plainfield!
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Virtual Activities and Programs for Seniors |
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#LOVEPLAINFIELD | #AMOPLAINFIELD
SPOTLIGHT
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Showing Love in Plainfield #LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield |
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#LovePlainfield is a movement to instill pride in our City while we showcase the culture, art, commerce, spirit, and natural beauty of Plainfield and the people who live here.
Here a friendly smile, beautiful architecture, old world neighborhoods, world class music and eclectic dining are never more than a few steps away. We believe that community is something to be cherished.
We believe that this is an amazing place to live, work, and play. It’s time to show that we’re a lot more than just an urban melting pot. It’s time to showcase our diversity, embrace our differences, celebrate our uniqueness, beautify and clean our spaces, and unify to cherish this place we call home.
Keep posting your photos and videos about why you LOVE Plainfield and use the hashtags.
Our next event will focus on landscaping and beautifying space. Stay tuned!
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To be installed throughout the City. Take a photo using the QR code and submit to loveplainfield@plainfieldnj.gov for prizes.
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp is leading the #LovePlainfield initiative and is encouraging Plainfield residents to get involved and show their love for the Queen City. |
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#LovePlainfield Reporting and Nominations |
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REPORTING AND NOMINATING
We’re pleased to share that REPORT IT is a proud sponsor of #LovePlainfield
We have added a new Category called Love Plainfield to the App. You can send in your pictures and report when you catch people in the act of showing love to someone or to our city.
You see someone pick up litter on the street and throw it into a trashcan. Snap a pic – send a report and nominate them for a Love Plainfield award. If you see someone lending a helping hand to an elderly person – snap a pic and send a report.
There are a million ways to show and spread love around our city and now the Report It app will help us capture it because our LovePlainfield Ambassadors can’t be everywhere.
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The situation with the Coronavirus changes rapidly and we want to ensure that you are aware of all resources available to you. Please click the below buttons for updates about COVID-19 on a local and state level. |
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Important COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Information |
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The Moderna vaccine option is still available to residents 18 years or older who would like to be vaccinated. Registration is available at the Senior Center by calling 908- 753-3506 between the hours of 10:00am – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. Vaccinations are administered on Wednesdays from 2:00pm – 7:00pm at the Plainfield High School.
All Union County residents can follow this link, https://ucnjvaccine.org/, to schedule a vaccination appointment. ID showing proof of age required.
Hackensack Meridian Health is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible New Jersey residents, students and workers. Anyone 16 & older who lives, works or studies in New Jersey is eligible. Appointments are available at 11 sites throughout New Jersey.
Use the below link to register:
You can also pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine with the State of NJ at https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine. As additional information becomes available, we will keep you updated.
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Front Street Pharmacy located at 204 East Front, Plainfield - 908.222.7100 offers PCR nasal tests. Below are dates and times for your convenience.
Monday - Friday - 10:00am - 1:00pm or while supplies last
No testing on Wednesday
Saturday - 10:00am - 1:00pm or while supplies last
Closed on Sunday
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Front Street Pharmacy ubicada en 204 East Front, Plainfield - 908.222.7100. Ofrece pruebas nasales de PCR. A continuación se muestran las fechas y horas para su conveniencia.
Lunes - Viernes - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm o hasta agotar existencias
No hay pruebas el miercoles
Sábado - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm o hasta agotar existencias
Cerrado los domingos
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Available Resources for our Seniors |
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Available Emergency Food Resources |
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Union County Commissioners will host two (2) emergency food drives next week to assist those affected by COVID-19 on the following dates and locations:
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Tuesday, May 18th at 10:00am at Warinanco Park in Roselle
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Saturday, May 22nd at 8:00am Union County Vo-Tech Campus located at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.
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Skip the Trip to City Hall
Do Business Online!
Omita el Viaje al Ayuntamiento
Hacer Negocios en línea
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month |
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Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, NAMI joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.
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UNION COUNTY:
Union County Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Outreach Plan to Boost Numbers - Transitions to New Online Online Registration System
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Union County, NJ – In an effort to ensure that as many county residents are vaccinated as possible, the Union County Board of Commissioners today announced a door to door campaign aimed at reaching the unvaccinated that will begin at the end of May throughout the County.
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The announcement is part of a comprehensive outreach plan that involves a transition to a new pre-registration system that is now online at www.ucnj.org/vax, mobile vaccination clinics, partnerships with hospitals, churches and community-based organizations, and efforts to vaccinate both the young and elderly population segments and under vaccinated urban communities. Vaccination appointments are currently available to anyone wishing to get one.
“We are targeting under-vaccinated communities in an effort to reach herd immunity,” said Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “While many people who wanted a vaccine have already received one, there are still many in certain population segments and urban communities that we will reach out to vaccinate.”
Commissioner Sergio Granados, who is Chair of the County’s Public Safety Committee that is overseeing the County’s COVID-19 response, added: “Our plan is to target residents in their own neighborhoods. We will eventually begin a door to door effort to ask, educate and register residents at home, with a ‘pop up’ or mobile clinic the following day or two in their neighborhood. We are taking a community-wide approach and building partnerships that will boost our vaccination numbers.”
The outreach plan is as follows:
- The County is partnering with area hospitals, churches, schools, community organizations and youth groups to build lists and target anyone who doesn’t have a vaccination;
- The County’s Vaccination Call Center is calling Union County residents in under vaccinated areas to see if they’ve received a vaccination;
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A new registration system is now in place for the Dunn Center and Plainfield vaccination clinics, as well as mobile walk-up clinics, at www.ucnj.org/vax. Eventually all vaccinations will be transitioned online to the same system.
- The County also began its vaccination program for homebound residents several weeks ago and has been vaccinating the homeless for the past several months;
- The County is working with Union County College and Kean University to vaccinate staff and students at the County’s vaccination center at Downs Hall, Kean University in Union;
- At the end of May, the County is seeking to launch a door to door campaign and within a few days, launch a mobile vaccination clinic in the area to serve residents. Some of the areas that are being targeted include: Elizabeth, Plainfield, Roselle, Linden and Hillside.
A little more than 45 percent of all Union County residents have received at least one vaccination, while about 34 percent have been fully vaccinated. Some suburban communities have vaccination rates nearing 80 percent, while a number of urban areas throughout are under 50 percent.
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FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE:
Governor's State Health Benefits Quality and Value Task Force Releases Final Report: Improving Health Outcomes
and Managing Costs
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TRENTON, NJ – Today, Governor Phil Murphy’s State Health Benefits Quality and Value Task Force released their final report on recommended longer-term strategies to improve health outcomes for members and better manage the costs of employee and retiree health benefits. Together, the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) and School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) cover approximately 820,000 people at a cost to the State and local participating employers of about $5.79 billion in 2019. The State of New Jersey spends about 8.4% of its budget on these programs, or about $3.2 billion in 2019.
“Now more than ever, this work is critical to the well-being of our public members, the SHBP and SEHBP, as well as the financial
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well-being of our State as we look toward economic recovery post pandemic,” said Governor Murphy. “I want to commend all of our members of the Task Force for their dedication and hard work to identify real solutions that will help increase accessibility and availability – particularly in primary care and behavioral health – that will move us toward a stronger, fairer, and more resilient New Jersey.”
“Improving health outcomes and managing costs within the state’s health benefits system is crucial for employees, retirees and taxpayers alike,” Human Services Acting Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “I thank the Task Force members for their commitment and hard work in identifying these opportunities for savings. Our public workers have made their dedication clear during this public health emergency, and the financial strength of our state is always a priority. With this report, we can find savings – including recurring annual savings - that will benefit all of New Jersey.”
“In recent years, New Jersey’s elected state leaders and public employee unions have set the standard for all the states in high-value transformation of primary care and affordability of prescription medicines,” said Mark Blum, Executive Director of the America’s Agenda.
“The Final Report and Recommendations of the State Health Benefits Quality and Value Task Force builds on this legacy with recommendations for securing and expanding New Jersey’s successful high-value innovations and piloting new ones in areas like mental and behavioral health services where there is substantial unmet need. High-value transformation of health care that works for New Jersey’s working families will not be led by powerful health industry interests with a financial stake in the status quo. It will be led by the alignment of health care purchasers and representatives of working families like the State of New Jersey and its public sector unions. The consensus of these diverse voices reflected in the Task Force recommendations makes the Final Report an important marker to the direction State Health Benefits need to go.”
“Recommendations of the task force draw on a growing body of experience and research about how to maintain access to services, improve the value of care delivered, and stem cost increases,” said Joel Cantor, Rutgers Center for State Health Policy.
“Our work brought together a cross section of experts and stakeholders to focus on the goal of improving health outcomes while identifying opportunities to better manage costs of the programs,” said Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride. “The solutions developed are a testament to the commitment of this administration to ensure access to quality health care through the programs that serve public employees, while also improving the quality and value of the benefits provided.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with other stakeholders and the Administration, and are hopeful the concepts advanced result in advancing health care for our workers while providing relief to our public employers, and by extension, our taxpayers,” said Michael Cerra, New Jersey League of Municipalities.
“To be at the table of the State Health Benefits Task Force and represent the realities of our members’ experiences as well as those of New Jersey taxpayers was a welcome and refreshing opportunity,” said Donna M. Chiera, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ). “All too often, government will create a task force to address an issue without including the voices of those most affected. I applaud the Murphy administration for implementing a labor management process to seek solutions related to issues with health benefits.”
“Now more than ever, it is critical to ensure both high-quality coverage and good value in the State’s health benefits programs,” said Heather Howard, Princeton University Lecturer in Public Affairs and Director of the State Health and Value. “I’m honored to have been a part of this Task Force and worked with the members to set forth recommendations that offer long-term solutions to improve both the quality of services public employees receive while also creating savings and efficiencies in the system.”
“It was a pleasure to work in a process dedicated to evidence-based measures to improve access to care for State Health Benefits participants,” said John V Jacobi, Seton Hall Center for Health Law and Pharmaceutical Policy. “Mental health and substance use disorders are pressing concerns for all families in New Jersey. The report carefully focuses on the critical need to integrated behavioral health care into primary care to improve access and quality of care. It also addresses the vexing need to increase the behavioral health workforce to ensure that care is available when needed.I applaud the Task Force’s focus on issues central to the health of the families of state workers, and to behavioral health needs in particular. Mental health and substance use disorder needs occur in many families in New Jersey, and State workers.”
“Now more than ever, everyone understand the need for high value healthcare,” said Kevin Kelleher, Deputy Executive Director of the New Jersey Education Association. “This governor put together a diverse group of healthcare thinkers to come up with guiding principles to do just that. I believe that these recommendations can be used as a roadmap to move the state in that direction.”
“I am honored to have been a part of the State Health Benefits Quality and Value Task Force and am proud of the work put forth by the members and staff,” said Kevin Lyons, Plan Administrator at the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association. “This report details the first steps of a roadmap that will allow us to break the stranglehold of the big hospital systems and dominant carriers, make long overdue investments in primary care and behavioral health, and positions NJ workers and taxpayers to make bold and quality driven progress for the State Health Benefits Plan.”
“We’ve made great strides over the last several years to rein in costs for health benefits while maintaining or improving the quality of benefits offered,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “This was not by accident. This administration is committed to delivering on this promise to benefit both public employees and taxpayers. The taskforce’s final report provides a comprehensive blueprint to guide us moving forward, using a data-driven approach to tackle some of the primary drivers of healthcare costs.”
“Governor Murphy had the foresight to bring Labor and Management together and created the State Health Benefits Task Force to achieve savings for the taxpayers,” said Pete Nowak, President of the International Association of Fire Fighters. “Together, not only did we find savings for the Taxpayer’s, but we were also able to enhance benefits for our members as well. This report is a true testament to the leadership shown by everyone involved.”
“The Department of Health is committed to ensuring access to care at the most appropriate setting throughout the State,” said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “We commend the Task Force on recognizing the importance of the coordination of care between health care settings and the need for expanded behavioral health care and access to specialty care. These are key issues as our health care delivery system continues to evolve to ensure access for all New Jersey residents.”
“It was a pleasure serving on this Task Force that brought together various stakeholders representing a broad range of constituencies,” said Jonathan Pushman, Director of Governmental Relations, New Jersey School Boards Association. “Health care spending constitutes a significant cost-driver in school district budgets, and it is critical that we continue to explore and implement ways to get the most value out of every dollar we spend. We are hopeful that the innovative solutions included in this report will produce long-term savings for school districts that participate in the School Employees Health Benefits Program, while providing a level of health care coverage and services necessary to recruit and retain a high-quality workforce.”
“The recommendations put forth by our Task Force ensures that the State provides both quality and value through our state health benefits in the most cost-effective way,” said Steve Tully, Executive Director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “I applaud our members and the work we’ve done collectively to improve and provide best practices and efficiencies within our health care systems.”
“New Jersey’s health benefits programs insure public employees and their family members throughout the state and are big parts of the State’s and local governments’ budgets,” said Acting State Comptroller Kevin D. Walsh. “When so much money is at stake, we have to be sure it is being appropriately spent. The important work of the Task Force ensures the health benefits programs will deliver good health to plan members and good value to taxpayers.”
Created by the Governor in June 2018, the Task Force is comprised of state and national health policy experts, union and employer stakeholders, and experts from within the Administration. The Task Force’s objective is to conduct a comprehensive review of the employee and retiree health benefits programs to identify near-term strategies (previously published in an interim report released December 2018) and longer-term strategies (released in this final report) that could significantly improve health outcomes and better manage the costs of employee and retiree health benefits.
The Task Force recommends nine strategies for long-term improvement in quality and value, organized into three thematic areas: Primary care and care coordination; Behavioral health; and Specialty care, and has the potential to improve access to care, outcomes, and member experience, while also mitigating growth in health care expenditures over the next five years and potentially beyond. Below is an overview of the themes and summary recommendations:
- Primary care and care coordination: Solutions may include a combination of value-based payment for advanced primary care; direct contracting for primary care; and helping members navigate their benefits and the health care delivery system.
- Behavioral health: Solutions may include integrating behavioral health more closely with primary care; direct contracting for mental health and substance use disorder treatment; and strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
- Specialty care: Solutions may include reference-based pricing; centers of excellence; and episode-based payment
The strategies recommended in the final report could—by the report’s estimates—collectively generate savings of up to $380 to $420 million over five years, and up to $160 to $180 million in recurring annual savings, if fully implemented. These savings are made possible by directing members to hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers that deliver high-quality care at a lower overall cost and by investing in expansion of high value primary care and improved behavioral health access, which is arguably more important than ever.
For a copy of the final report, please click here.
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FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
Executive Order on Improving the
Nation's Cybersecurity
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By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The United States faces persistent and increasingly sophisticated malicious cyber campaigns that threaten the public sector, the private sector, and ultimately the American people’s security and privacy. The Federal Government must improve its efforts to identify, deter, protect against, detect, and respond to these actions and actors. The Federal Government must also carefully examine what occurred during any major cyber incident and apply lessons learned. But cybersecurity requires more than government action. Protecting our Nation from malicious cyber actors requires the Federal Government to partner with the private sector. The private sector must adapt to the continuously changing threat environment, ensure its products are built and operate securely, and partner with the Federal Government to foster a more secure cyberspace. In the end, the trust we place in our digital infrastructure should be proportional to how trustworthy and transparent that infrastructure is, and to the consequences we will incur if that trust is misplaced.
Incremental improvements will not give us the security we need; instead, the Federal Government needs to make bold changes and significant investments in order to defend the vital institutions that underpin the American way of life. The Federal Government must bring to bear the full scope of its authorities and resources to protect and secure its computer systems, whether they are cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid. The scope of protection and security must include systems that process data (information technology (IT)) and those that run the vital machinery that ensures our safety (operational technology (OT)).
It is the policy of my Administration that the prevention, detection, assessment, and remediation of cyber incidents is a top priority and essential to national and economic security. The Federal Government must lead by example. All Federal Information Systems should meet or exceed the standards and requirements for cybersecurity set forth in and issued pursuant to this order.
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