New Jersey Gov. Corzine signs bill to track company employees enrolled in public health insurance programs

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) this week signed a bill (S539) that will track how many employees at large companies are enrolled in the state's public health insurance programs, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.

A recent report finds that 51 New Jersey businesses -- including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, The Home Depot and Pathmark -- had 100 or more workers enrolled in the state's FamilyCare program.

Under the bill, the New Jersey Department of Human Services will track which large employers have at least 50 of their workers enrolled in FamilyCare.

The health department will compose an annual report to Corzine and the Legislature by Feb. 1, 2007, to detail company information, the type of health insurance offered, the number of employees and family member enrolled in the plans, and how much the state is paying to cover uninsured workers.

The report will be used to evaluate employer-provided health insurance levels. It also could create support for another bill (S477) requiring large employers to contribute to the cost of providing health coverage for uninsured workers, the Star-Ledger reports (Livio, Newark Star-Ledger, 8/23).