News Flash

State Health Benefits Increase Continues to Remain Unresolved

There continues to be no progress in efforts to mitigate the impact of the unprecedented health care contribution increase for State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) participants and employers. As reported last week, employers are beginning to leave the sys...

State Health Benefits Increase Remains Unresolved

Unfortunately, as we reported last week, the talks regarding relief for raising healthcare premium costs remain unresolved. This comes among news that Newark, Camden, and Trenton have all left the State Health Benefits system, or are in the process of doi...

SHBP Municipalities: Please Continue to Reach Out to Governor & Your Legislators

The New Year has come and the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will still have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs, unless an immediate solution i...

State Extends Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance

New Jersey extended its health benefits contract with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for another year, media outlets report. This occurred after state officials alleged the health insurer failed to meet the terms of the deal.   ...

SHBP Update: No Relief In New Year

Earlier today the Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC) met to consider items including the transfer of Federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds. The transfers, which were already outlined in the State budget, included:

• $300 million for various ca...

SHBP Municipalities: Reach Out to Governor & Your Legislators

In less than two weeks, the 379 municipalities participating in the State Health Benefits system, along with their employees, and ultimately their taxpayers, will have to fund a 22% increase in health benefits costs. It is imperative that the Governor and...

Unions and Local Government Management Submit Plan to Address Pending SHPB Increase

The League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, and New Jersey Association of Counties have been working with other interested stakeholders, including the major public sector union representative...

State Health Benefits Update

State Health Benefits Update

The League continues to work pro-actively and collaboratively with our partners at the NJ Conference of Mayors and NJ Association of Counties to identify a workable plan and means toward a resolution by the Governor and the le...

State Health Benefits Commission Meets – No New Action on SHBP 2023 Increase

Earlier this week, the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) met to consider regular business and appeal requests. During the meeting, SHBC Committee member Dudley Burge asked for an update on and solutions to the 22% cost increase in local government h...

OSC Municipal Sick and Vacation Leave Corrective Action

If you were one of the municipalities that had their sick and vacation time policy reviewed by the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) earlier this year and asked to make corrective action by September, we ask you to share your response with the League ...

SHBP Plan Design Committee Meets & Labor Launches Campaign

On Oct. 26, the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) Plan Design Committee (PDC) held its regularly scheduled meeting. Agenda items included a review of 2023 Dental CDT codes and the bi-annual Optum Rx formulary review.   ...

SHBP Rate Increase Adopted

Last week, the State Health Benefits Commission adopted the rate increase as proposed in the AON Rate Renewal Report Local Government Employee/Retiree Group and State Employee/Retiree Group. Municipalities in the State Health Benefits Plan will s...

Duct Cleaning Subject to Prevailing Wage Law

On September 22 Governor Murphy signed into law S-1027/A2208, which makes duct cleaning as public work subject to the prevailing wage law. P.L. 2022, c. 113 took effect immediately.  Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Dire...

Legislation Will Add Local Representation to State Health Benefits Commission

Senators Ruiz and Sarlo have introduced legislation that would expand the State Health Benefits Commission from five members to nine members and add local representation to Commission. S-3033 would add two local government management members, a m...

State Health Benefits Commission Approves 2023 Rate Increase

Today, during the Annual Rate Renewal meeting of the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC), the trustees voted to approve a nearly 23% local government health insurance rate increase and a 21% increase in state employee health insurance rates. The three...

State Health Benefits Program Plan Design Committee Meets

Yesterday, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Plan Design Committee met, and the members were given an Overview of the Rate Setting Environment by AON, a risk management firm assisting the SHBP. AON’s overview offered a number of reasons f...