WASHINGTON, DC-Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced more than $920,000in federal fundingfor Cooper University Hospital in Camden. The funding is the first installment of a three-year,$3.3million grantthrough the Affordable Care Act, and will allow the hospital to hire 14 new employees, save millions through improved long-term care, and improve care for patients with special medical needs.

Over the course of the three-year grant, Cooperis expected tosave an estimated $6million by providing improvedpreventivecare services and better monitoringpatient transitions.New employees and improved care management funded by the award will help reduce patients' reliance on emergency services and increase the hospital's efficiency.

"Thisfederalfunding installment will help Cooper University Hospital serve patients with special needs and reduce long-term costs,"said Senator Lautenberg."In South Jersey andthroughoutour state,familiesare benefitting from programsin the newhealth reform law, and I will continue fighting for federal resources to improve health care in every corner of New Jersey."

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Cooper University Hospital is able to expand its innovative approach to patient management, reducing unnecessary readmissions and relieving stress on families,"said Menendez."Cooper is a national leader in health care delivery system innovations and this grant will allow them to improve patient care while reducing unnecessary costs. This is exactly why I supported health care reform and why I will continue to fight to ensure all New Jerseyans have the quality, affordable health care they need."

TheSenators arestrong supportersof the Affordable Care Act,the health reform law thatwas signed into law in March 2010. Since the law's passage,1.7 million New Jerseyanshave benefittedfrompreventiveservices, like wellness visits, without a deductible or copay. Under the new law, more than73,000young adults in New Jersey have gained health insurance through their parent's plan. Additionally, 126,000 New Jersey seniors who hit the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap, known as the "donut hole," saved an average of $809per person.

Health care costs in Camden are largely driven by uninsured patientswhorely on hospital emergency services for health care.According to the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers,13 percent of patients in Camden account for 80percentof health care costs, and in one year, 55percentof Camden residents visit the emergency department, compared with 25-30percentof residents in other U.S. Cities.

###