Jennifer Spiegel

Jennifer Spiegel (she/her), Policy Analyst, researches health policy with a focus on advancing health equity by expanding access to affordable, high-quality care for all New Jerseyans.

New Jersey’s FY28 Human Services Budget Must Protect Families From Federal Cuts

November 9, 2026 • Health
Dear Commissioner Cha and the DHS team: Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony on the FY 2028 budget for the Department of Human Services. My name is Jennifer Spiegel, and I am a policy analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). NJPP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit [...]

New Census Data on Poverty and Health Coverage Needs a Careful Read

October 30, 2026 • Economic Justice, Health
On October 29, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2025 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates, a release delayed from its usual September date by a U.S. Department of Commerce administrative order. The data show New Jersey’s poverty rate fell to 8.7 percent. The child poverty rate was [...]

New Jersey Should Keep Families Connected to Food and Health Assistance Benefits

October 27, 2026 • Economic Justice, Health
Testimony from NJPP Policy Analysts Tonanziht Aguas and Jennifer Spiegel urging state leaders to protect SNAP and Medicaid.

Medicaid Work Requirements: Barriers by Design

September 15, 2026 • Health
New federally mandated work requirements threaten to rip health coverage away via eligibility obstacles, and burdensome paperwork and reporting requirements.

NJ FamilyCare 101: How Medicaid Works in New Jersey

September 9, 2026 • Health
As federal cuts threaten access to care, New Jersey leaders must strengthen Medicaid so residents can get the health care they need.

New Jersey’s Medicaid Fee Raises Money, Not Coverage

August 5, 2026 • Health
Health care costs continue to rise, and shifting federal policies threaten long-standing access to coverage. New Jerseyans are calling on the state government to protect their health care. Federal cuts to Medicaid mean hundreds of thousands of residents are expected to lose coverage, and billions of dollars that [...]

Proposed Medicaid Work Rule Puts Coverage for the Medically Frail at Risk

July 30, 2026 • Health
Dear Administrator Oz: New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Interim Final Rule implementing Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Specifically, NJPP urges CMS to broaden its definition of medical frailty and preserve states’ ability [...]

A Solid First Budget, but New Jersey Still Needs Revenue That Lasts

July 16, 2026 • Tax and Budget
Gov. Sherrill made real progress on the deficit, but the toughest choices are waiting for next year.

Medicaid Per-Employee Fee Puts Workers at Risk

June 30, 2026 • Health
The Senate and Assembly budget committees voted last night to advance A5324/S4533, which establishes the new Employer Health Care Contribution Assessment. This new revenue raiser, intended to support Medicaid in the face of significant federal cuts, charges corporations with more than 50 employees enrolled in Medicaid a per-employee [...]

Proposed Medicaid Per-Employee Fee Puts Workers at Risk

June 28, 2026 • Health
Testimony from NJPP Policy Analyst Jennifer Spiegel providing guidance on how to protect health care for New Jersey's workers.