SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 38

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 20, 2024

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 38.

      As amended, this resolution urges the Governor to direct all relevant State departments and agencies to help decrease number of fatalities caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

      Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 21 million Americans have been diagnosed with ASCVD, and are at risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event.  The Mayo Clinic states that ASCVD is linked to the buildup of cholesterol in arteries, and that risks associated with the buildup of cholesterol in arteries can be reduced by lowering the levels of a specific kind of cholesterol, namely low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

      In 2016, nearly 70 million adults in the United States had higher-than-recommended LDL-C levels.  Approximately 43.1 million Americans are currently treated with lipid-lowering therapies to manage cardiovascular risk.  Only 20 percent of individuals with ASCVD who are taking statins, which are one of the leading lipid-lowering therapies, actually achieve healthy levels of LDL-C.

      The total direct and indirect cost of ASCVD in the United States was $555 billion in 2016, and, according to the American Heart Association, is projected to climb to $1.1 trillion by 2035.  In New Jersey, as of 2019, 566,100 adults had been informed by a health care professional that they had angina, a stroke, a heart attack, or coronary heart disease, which are some of the manifestations of ASCVD.  New Jersey spends an estimated $3.39 billion dollars on direct and indirect medical expenses for ASCVD care each year.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments provide that the concurrent resolution will take effect immediately.