Charity alliance sought. (charity care legislation)(South Jersey Business Journal)

New Jersey hospital officials are organizing civic leaders throughout the state to push the issue of charity care legislation in front of legislators reluctant to tackle such a thorny issue in an election year.

Current charity care legislation is set to expire in December and health care officials worry that debate will be postponed until after November elections - forcing last-minute wheeling and dealing that could derail attempts to find a permanent source of funding,

Since charity care legislation was first passed in 1992, legislators have disagreed on how to fund the program for people not covered by private insurance or public assistance. They have twice voted …