The working group will bring together organizations representing the State, participating unions, and stakeholders with relevant healthcare and program expertise. Participants will undertake a sustained review of the structural challenges facing the SHBP and develop concrete, evidence-backed recommendations for making high-quality health benefits more affordable and sustainable.
“From Day One, I have been focused on making New Jersey more affordable, and that means tackling hard problems instead of kicking them down the road,” said Governor Sherrill. “Rising healthcare costs affect public employees and retirees, the local governments and schools that serve our communities, and taxpayers across the state. For too long, New Jersey has responded one rate cycle at a time. We are taking a different approach by bringing stakeholders together, working from shared data, and pursuing long-term changes that preserve high-quality benefits while making these programs more affordable and sustainable. I appreciate everyone’s willingness to come to the table ready to problem solve.”
The working group will develop advisory recommendations for the Governor. Its work will address how the State administers public employee health benefits; how provider networks are structured and paid; plan pricing, premium-contribution structures, and plan and benefit design; how employers and members participate; and whether the programs have the governance, information, and operating capacity necessary to manage costs effectively.
A central feature of the effort will be dedicated subcommittees aligned with these areas. The subcommittees will bring together participants and subject-matter experts to conduct deeper analysis, engage additional stakeholders, and develop concrete recommendations.
“The Sherrill Administration is committed to making government work better by bringing people together to solve tough problems, based on data, expertise, and best practices from across the country,” said Chief Operating Officer Kellie Doucette. “The challenges facing public employee health benefits demand that same approach. We look forward to working collaboratively to build a road map for systemic reform, using all of the levers available to us and focusing not just on the what but on the how; understanding that a plan for implementation is as important as the recommendations themselves. It is the only way to get the measurable results that employees, employers, and taxpayers deserve.”
The working group will be led by Chief Operating Officer Kellie Doucette and will include other representatives of State government and the organizations listed below:
Labor and employee organizations
