Hospitals in New Jersey are protesting a plan by Gov. Jon Corzine (D) that would assess a bed tax on all facilities in the state to help pay for care for the uninsured. Corzine floated the idea this week in his budget proposal. Hospitals would pay a $632-per bed tax, an approach that his office says would raise $234 million. State law already requires that hospitals provide care for anybody who needs it. Trenton reimburses a portion of those expenses. "It's a really bad idea," said Gary Carter, president of the New Jersey Hospital Association. "To me, the worst part is the fact we are going to be taxed to provide something we are mandated to do."
- see this article from the Newark Star Ledger