newjerseynewsroom.com

Gov. Jon S. Corzine Friday announced he has directed the State Health Benefits Commission and the School Employees Health Benefit Commission to review a series of broad-based reforms in anticipation of what he expects will be a substantial, double-digit increase in program premiums expected to hit the state and local governments and school districts as early as January.

"Due to escalating health care costs nationwide and the downturn in the economy, premium increases are unavoidable, but we need to do everything we possibly can to hold the line and stabilize this fund to avoid high premium spikes going forward," Corzine declared in a statement released late in the afternoon.

The governor asked the commissions to immediately consider measures that would:

* Suspend a government's or school district's ability to delay premium payments, effective immediately.

* Place a surcharge on governments or district that enter and leave the program within a two-year period.

* Identify any new cost-saving opportunities that will stabilize the program going forward.

The commissions are part of the state Treasury Department's Division of Pensions and Benefits and oversee the state's health insurance plans for state and other government workers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP).

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM