Christie budget would bump up GME funding

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie proposed an 11% bump in funding for graduate medical education, Garden State officials said Friday.

The state's 71 hospitals would receive $100 million for GME in 2014, up from $90 million this year, according to the plan (PDF). The increase covers higher salaries, benefits and faculty costs.

The proposed GME funding ranges from $12,434 for 269-bed St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic to $16.4 million for 357-bed University of Medicine and Dentistry of (Newark) New Jersey-University Hospital.

“This funding supports the financial viability of hospitals and supports their ability to serve their communities,” New Jersey Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd said in a news release.

The amount that the New Jersey budget marked for GME is larger than the $80 million Florida Gov. Rick Scott pledged last month for his state. That money was earmarked to pay for additional residency training positions.

Christie unveiled his proposed $32.9 billion budget on Tuesday. A large portion of the governor's remarks during his budget address focused on Medicaid expansion and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Christie reiterated his opposition to the ACA, but stressed that New Jersey will participate in Medicaid expansion. Christie said his state would lose out on federal funds if it opted out.