Murphy signs legislation protecting ACA in NJ.

Byline: Anthony Vecchione

Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday signed a package of bills designed to safeguard the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in New Jersey.

According to Murphy, the nine bills, which will codify into state law the basic protections for health care consumers that are part of the Affordable Care Act, include protections for no-cost preventative care and contraception, prohibit exclusions for pre-existing conditions, allow children to stay on their parents' plan until age 26, and incorporate mental health and maternity care as part of essential benefits, among others.

The governor highlighted the importance of these bills during a round table discussion at JFK Medical Center in Edison where he was joined by Hackensack Meridian Health Chief Executive Officer Bob Garrett.

Murphy said the main themes of the bills that he signed are to assure health care affordability and access to health care.

"Whether you're a family, a business, or an individual, it's just too darn expensive in too many cases and hard to access. Our job collectively is to help keep the quality high and have New Jersey still be the place where folks come to get treatment, to do research and to make sure that we can make this a right and not a privilege for everybody," said Murphy.

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Safeguarding the ACA: Murphy signs 9 pieces of legislation

Assembly Bill 5500-Expands rate review process in NJDOBI for certain individual and small employer health benefits plans

Assembly Bill 5501 - Requires continuation of health benefits dependent coverage until a child turns 26 years of age

Assembly Bill 5503 - Establishes open enrollment period under the Individual Health Coverage Program

Assembly Bill 5504 - Applies 85 percent loss ratio requirement to certain large group health benefits carriers

Assembly Bill 5506 - Repeals statute authorizing offering of "Basic and Essential" health benefits plans under individual health benefits plans and other statutes concerning basic health plans; makes conforming amendments

Assembly Bill 5507 - Requires health benefits coverage for certain preventive services

Assembly Bill 5508 -...