(Bloomberg) -- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a second-termRepublican who has called President Barack Obama’s health careoverhaul a “failed federal program,” is benefiting from it in hisfiscal 2016 budget.

The state will spend $150 million less on charity care foruninsured patients next year, Christie saidTuesday at a town- hall meeting in Somerville. The expansion inMedicaid eligibility under Obamacare has led to a 43 percent dropin the number of uncompensated hospital cases, he said.

“ExpandingMedicaid was the right decision for New Jersey,” hesaid during the 90-minute session in an elementary school gym.“It’s helping to save us money. Our state taxpayers are seeing morefederal dollars and we’ve also added more people covered so theydon’t go for their primary care in a hospital emergency room.”

Christie, 52, has formed a federal political action committee tofinance travel and raise visibility ahead of a possible White Houserun in 2016. Back home, he is dealing with record-low approvalratings as the state’s economic recovery lags behind thenation’s.

Agenda pitch

The Somerville event was his 130th since taking office, and histhird in less than two weeks. The gatherings are an opportunity forChristie to pitch his agenda to mostly friendly crowds during theworkday. The governor is trying to gain support for his plan tocurb pensions and benefits for state workers.

At a South River town-hall meeting a year ago, Christie calledObamacare a “failed federal program.” During the Somervillegathering, he never called the program by name, only referring toit as the “Medicaid expansion.”

Christie had refused to establish a state-run health exchange,leaving the task to the federal government. Then in 2013, he agreedto expand the state’s Medicaid program, known locally asFamilyCare. Since then, more than 390,000 uninsured New Jerseyresidents have enrolled in Medicaid through FamilyCare and another250,000 have secured private health insurance through thefederally-operated marketplace, according to state budgetdocuments.

During a budget briefing with reporters last month, Christie’streasurer, Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, said that the “dramaticreduction in documented charity-care clients” and the Affordable Care Act enrollments were “an opportunityto realize some state savings.”

“It’s been a blessing for providing appropriate care to our mostvulnerable populations,” the treasurer said.

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