For that we can be grateful. That system is used elsewhere, but not here in New Jersey. In the Garden State all state residents are guaranteed access to all hospitals. It's an issue of fair access to local care, and it's part of New Jersey hospitals' mission to treat anyone in need. Unfortunately, the funding for charity care doesn't pay hospitals anywhere near what it actually costs to treat these patients.
Some hospitals receive no reimbursement at all.
For those that do receive some funding, the costs of staffing, technology and pharmaceuticals far outweigh the state's reimbursement, and hospitals can't continue to absorb the shortfall. Let's reinforce our commitment to caring for each other and supporting our hospitals. And with mounting financial pressures and more people joining the ranks of the uninsured every day, this charity care shortfall adds even more strain to a fragile situation. What none of us can afford to risk is our commitment to providing healthcare to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. Recently a state-commissioned advisory group recommended that all New Jersey hospitals receive a minimum level of charity care funding.