Opioid crisis has killed more than 7,000 people in New Jersey since 2012

(TRENTON) – A measure sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Assemblyman Dan Benson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle to help fight the state’s opioid epidemic has been signed into law.

The opioid crisis has killed more than 7,000 people in New Jersey since 2012, according to a report by NJ Advance Media. Last year, at least 1,901 people died from opioid overdoses.

“This crisis is killing thousands of New Jerseyans every year and it is only getting worse,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “We must balance both the needs of patients who rely on these drugs for pain management, and the need to address the opioid misuse and abuse that continues to take a toll on so many families and communities throughout the state.”

“The unfortunate truth is that for many people these drugs are the only option to relieve severe or chronic pain,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “This law can help reduce the potential for abuse and help prevent the tragic consequences that come with opioid addiction.”

“There is no one solution to this problem. Tackling this epidemic is going to take a long-term, multifaceted approach,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Taking steps like enhancing monitoring of prescriptions and expanding opioid education to health care professionals who don’t prescribe, but work with these patients can help lessen the risk for abuse, which too often ends in tragedy.”

Opioid crisis has killed more than 7,000 people in New Jersey since 2012

(TRENTON) – A measure sponsored by Assembly Speaker-elect Craig Coughlin, Assemblyman Dan Benson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle to help fight the state’s opioid epidemic received final legislative approval Monday and now heads to the governor’s desk.

The opioid crisis has killed more than 7,000 people in New Jersey since 2012, according to a report by NJ Advance Media. Last year, at least 1,901 people died from opioid overdoses.

“This crisis is killing thousands of New Jerseyans every year and it is only getting worse,” said Speaker-elect Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “We must balance both the needs of patients who rely on these drugs for pain management, and the need to address the opioid misuse and abuse that continues to take a toll on so many families and communities throughout the state.”

“The unfortunate truth is that for many people these drugs are the only option to relieve severe or chronic pain,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “These measures can help reduce the potential for abuse and help prevent the tragic consequences that come with opioid addiction.”

“There is no one solution to this problem. Tackling this epidemic is going to take a long-term, multifaceted approach,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Taking steps like enhancing monitoring of prescriptions and expanding opioid education to health care professionals who don’t prescribe, but work with these patients can help lessen the risk for abuse, which too often ends in tragedy.”

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats Pamela Lampitt, Eliana Pintor Marin, Gabriela Mosquera and Valerie Vainieri Huttle sponsored to make breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, and certain services to breast pumps tax-free in New Jersey was signed into law on Monday.

“Breast pumps and pump supplies are basic necessities for many New Jersey families and should not be subject to sales and use tax,” said Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington), chair of the Assembly Women and Children Committee.

Currently, breast pumps, pump supplies and services are generally subject to sales and use tax.

The Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury previously determined through a formal letter ruling that breast pumps are not eligible for an existing exemption for durable medical equipment, so sellers must charge and collect tax from consumers unless another exemption or exclusion from tax applies.

Opioid crisis has killed more than 7,000 people in New Jersey since 2012

(TRENTON) – An Assembly panel on Monday approved a measure sponsored by Speaker-elect Craig Coughlin, Assemblyman Dan Benson and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle to help fight the state’s opioid epidemic.

The opioid crisis has killed more than 7,000 people in New Jersey since 2012, according to a report by NJ Advance Media. Last year, at least 1,901 people died from opioid overdoses.

“This crisis is killing thousands of New Jerseyans every year and it is only getting worse,” said Speaker-elect Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “We must balance both the needs of patients who rely on these drugs for pain management, and the need to address the opioid misuse and abuse that continues to take a toll on so many families and communities throughout the state.”

“The unfortunate truth is that for many people these drugs are the only option to relieve severe or chronic pain,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “These measures can help reduce the potential for abuse and help prevent the tragic consequences that come with opioid addiction.”

“There is no one solution to this problem. Tackling this epidemic is going to take a long-term, multifaceted approach,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Taking steps like enhancing monitoring of prescriptions and expanding opioid education to health care professionals who don’t prescribe, but work with these patients can help lessen the risk for abuse, which too often ends in tragedy.”

These steps, couple with other efforts, can help lessen the risk for abuse and prevent the tragic end that comes with an overdose.

(TRENTON) – The Assembly on Thursday voted 68-0 to approve  legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Daniel Benson, Tim Eustace and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to close a dangerous opioid prescription loophole. 

Specifically, the bill (A-4741) require practitioners to check prescription monitoring information before issuing certain prescriptions to emergency department patients and authorize medical scribes and licensed athletic trainers to access prescription monitoring information under certain circumstances.

(TRENTON) – An Assembly panel on Thursday advanced legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Daniel Benson, Jamel Holley, Joe Danielsen and Wayne DeAngelo to ensure hospital staff is well informed to deliver proper care and oversight for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.   

The bill (A-918) would require hospitals to clearly note on a patient’s medical records whether they have dementia related disorders.

“From supervising my mother’s health needs for years, I understand the unique level of care that Alzheimer’s patients require,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).  “This simple annotation will alert hospital staff to be more vigilant in their oversight of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia or other related conditions.”

(TRENTON) – Assembly Human Services Committee Chair Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) expressed disappointment Thursday that the Christie administration’s plan to transfer the state's mental health and addiction services from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Health will now seemingly move forward.

Vainieri Huttle was the lead sponsor of legislation passed by the Assembly in July that would have blocked this move based on a litany of concerns regarding the content, potential effects, and timing of the planned reorganization.  With the plan scheduled to go into effect on Monday, the Senate had scheduled a voting session for tomorrow to take up the matter, however, the session was cancelled this afternoon.

“I’m extremely disappointed that this plan will seemingly take effect now when we still haven’t received any details or answers to the host of questions we have about its implementation.

“With the fate of so many of our most vulnerable residents hanging in the balance, it seems careless to embark on such a complex transition without concrete details when the current administration has one foot out the door.  As I have said repeatedly, we have no idea what the impact of this restructuring will be on those who rely on these services, but the one thing we do know is that a change of this magnitude should not be undertaken without those answers.

“Ultimately, I would like to see the governor reconsider this plan but, if not, this transition must be undertaken carefully and not hastily.  Hopefully the next administration will reexamine this issue thoroughly to ensure that it is in fact the right thing to do for those suffering from mental health, addiction and developmental disabilities,” said Vainieri Huttle.

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle to help towns crack down on smoking in public places without criminalizing smokers has been signed into law.

Specifically, the law (A-2368) authorizes a municipality to adopt an ordinance that provides a civil penalty of up to $200 for smoking in a public place without the option for incarceration of up to 30 days that exists under current law.

“Everybody should be entitled to breathe air free of smoke,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).  “This will tweak our current law to make sure there’s a clear enough disincentive to prevent people from violating the Smoke-Free Air Act without criminalizing smokers and threatening to throw them in jail.”

Current law limits the discretion of a municipality in regard to imposing a penalty for smoking in public places by requiring that the penalty be for a petty disorderly persons offense, which would include imprisonment for up to 30 days or a criminal fine of up to $200, or both.

This new law provides a municipality with the option to adopt an ordinance that penalizes smoking in a public place without making it a criminal offense or subjecting an offender to possible incarceration while still permitting the municipality to make the activity a disorderly persons offense as it is authorized to do under current law. The law takes effect immediately.

Resolution Cites Lack of Planning, Details & Consultation with Stakeholders; Now Awaits Senate Consideration 

(TRENTON) – By a vote of 42-25, the General Assembly on Monday approved a measure sponsored by Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Tim Eustace, Cleopatra Tucker, Angela McKnight and Daniel Benson to block Gov. Christie’s plan to transfer the functions of the state’s mental health and addiction services from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Health.

Last week, the Assembly Human Services Committee, chaired by Vainieri Huttle, held a joint hearing on the plan with the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee at which time representatives from over 20 organizations and stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the content, potential effects, and timing of the planned reorganization. 

 “I wholeheartedly agree that mental health and substance abuse diagnoses are indeed health issues and that primary physical healthcare must be integrated with mental healthcare and addiction treatment,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).  “However, the hasty, unilateral approach the administration has employed in going about this leaves little confidence that this is being undertaken in the right manner.  Mental health and addiction experts who testified at the joint legislative hearing we held last week adamantly agree that this is not a viable way to make this happen.”

Human Services Chairwoman Questions Wisdom of Transferring Addiction & Mental Health Services after Joint Legislative Hearing 

(TRENTON) – Assembly Human Services Committee Chair Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) questioned Gov. Christie’s decision to transfer the state’s mental health and addiction services from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Health after receiving several hours of testimony from providers and advocates during a joint hearing with the Senate on Tuesday.

“One thing advocates made repeatedly clear today is that the Christie administration did not consult with any of them to gauge the impact this overhaul will have on some of our most vulnerable populations.  That’s extremely concerning on many levels. 

“Perhaps the most pressing concern involves timing.  With less than six months left in his term, Gov. Christie has ordered a massive restructuring of mental health and addiction services to take place in less than 60 days.  With the state of healthcare in limbo at the federal level and a new state administration poised to take over in six months, consciously choosing to inject turmoil into an already chaotic situation seems ill-advised at best and extremely irresponsible at worse.  

“We have no idea what the impact will be on providers on the ground who are already grappling with the challenges of the fee-for-service transition.  We also have no idea how this will impact individuals and their families, many of whom suffer from both mental health issues and developmental disabilities and will now have to deal with two different departments when navigating an already difficult system.

“This hearing raised more questions than answers.  But one thing we do know is that a restructuring of this magnitude should not be undertaken without those answers.”