New Jersey’s chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee says he has a plan to preserve the state’s health plan rather than tighten restrictions as Gov. Jon Corzine seeks to do.

Joseph Vitale

State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) said he will not vote to approve a budget offered by Corzine that tightens access to the state’s FamilyCare program, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The FamilyCare program offers free or low-cost health insurance to children in lower-income families. If the program enrolled more parents, then more children would follow, advocates suggest.

In light of the state’s fiscal crisis, Corzine is proposing to restrict new adult enrollment in FamilyCare beginning July 1, in an effort to save $9.7 million.

At a May 12 news conference, Vitale offered three alternatives to restore funding to the program.  One is to reduce or eliminate property-tax rebates for seniors earning between $100,000 and $150,000 in taxable income, excluding Social Security income. Also, Vitale said he would redirect $9 million from the $603 million scheduled to partially reimburse hospitals caring for the uninsured. Finally, he advocated for the state to apply for matching Medicaid funds for half of the $40 million assessed to hospitals to pay for care of the uninsured at federal health clinics.

The $20 million remaining could be used toward Family Care, the Inquirer reported.