Tom Considine, former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, has questioned whether a recent report from the state comptroller's office is entirely accurate.

Considine responded to the Office of the State Comptroller's report, which suggested that local governments could save millions by joining the state health benefits program, indicating its projections might be overly positive, the Star-Ledger reports. Others have similarly indicated they have doubts, including three of the four local government bodies studied.

Using the state benefit plan would be an incomplete solution, Considine stated, adding that, "Many municipalities fair far better at pursuing a cost-effective solution by going out to bid."

According to Comptroller Matthew Boxer, the report was largely intended to raise and explore the possibility of joining the state plan for local governments who may not have considered the potential benefits and disadvantages. The office also indicated that the projected reductions in insurance benefit costs were conservative estimates, and real results could actually be better than the estimates. Some school districts might be unable to consider such a change until their current collective bargaining agreements expire and new ones can be negotiated, the news source notes.

A new report from the state's comptroller suggests that local governments could save millions of dollars by switching to New Jersey's state health plan.

According to the report, participation by all local governments currently using separate health options could save as much as $100 million in taxpayer funds. The state plan includes prescription and dental insurance benefits as well as health coverage. However, local officials may be unable to make a change until after current collective bargaining agreements expire.

The audit report also stated that several townships found their premium costs lower after switching to the state plan, and one noted it was able to hire a few additional workers while avoiding layoffs that had previously been planned.

Some local governments may not have effectively evaluated their options and the advantages of the state plan, according to the report, thus causing them to underestimate it. The available savings may be significant for school districts, NJ Spotlight reports, with one district reportedly saving one-third of its previous health insurance costs by making the switch and another possibly cutting more than 40 percent of spending.