Health official: New fees in New Jersey may lead poor to skip care

The New Jersey human services commissioner said it was a "valid concern" that poor people would avoid medical care if the governor's proposal to charge them new fees for prescription drugs and some hospital visits is approved. Gov. Jon Corzine has proposed co-payments for Medicaid recipients to raise $7.55 million for the state budget. Legislators fear the payments could prompt poor people to forgo healthcare, especially senior citizens, the disabled and mentally ill.