The Honorable Herbert C. “Herb” Conaway, Jr., MD (Delanco, NJ) was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly on November 4, 1997. Dr. Conaway received his Bachelor of Arts in politics from Princeton University; his Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia; and his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School in Camden. He served in the United States Air Force Medical Corps and attained the rank of Captain. The only member of the Legislature with both a medical and law degree, Dr. Conaway specializes in internal medicine and practices in Willingboro. Dr. Conaway represents the 7th Legislative District, which encompasses municipalities in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
The AACU Distinguished Leadership Award annually recognizes elected officials and executive-level policymakers who promote the interests of urologists and their patients in state government. In sponsoring Dr. Conaway’s nomination, New Jersey Patient Care and Access Coalition President David Taylor, MD, highlighted the Assemblyman’s commitment to public service, as well as leadership on issues that impact the urologic community. The AACU Board of Directors was particularly impressed with Dr. Conaway’s support of prostate-specific antigen-based screening for prostate cancer and access to patient-centered integrated care.
In the New Jersey General Assembly’s ongoing 2012-2013 legislative session, Assemblyman Conaway serves on the following committees: Health and Senior Services, Chair; State Government, Vice-Chair; Appropriations.
Notable bills sponsored by the Assemblyman include:
- A559 Allows gross income tax deduction for first $200,000 earned by certain new physicians in their first seven taxable years of practice in New Jersey.
- A1572 Establishes standards for commercial insurers and Medicaid program implementing electronic prescribing systems.
- A1810 Revises standards for expert witnesses in medical malpractice actions. (A1831, A1806)
- A1818 Requires certain health benefits plans to include coverage for treatment at ambulatory surgical centers and surgical practices and prohibits riders to the contrary.
- A1828 Requires Commissioner of DHSS to assess how to increase number of teaching hospitals and medical residency programs throughout State.
- A2468 Prevents managed care plan from denying coverage for certain health care services provided to covered person solely because covered person did not present referral to provider who performed services. (A2177)
- A2475 Expands NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection Program in DHSS to include treatment for colorectal and prostate cancers; appropriates $450,000.
- A2479 Requires health insurers to cover medically necessary expenses for preventing infertility in women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.