Amends definition of "participating county'' under County Option Hospital Fee Program.

This bill amends the definition of "participating county" in New Jersey's County Option Hospital Fee Program by lowering the required Municipal Revitalization Index Distress score from 35 to 33 for municipalities with a population over 30,000. The change allows Gloucester County to qualify as a participating county, which it previously did not meet under the higher threshold. Participating counties can then impose a local fee to enhance Medicaid funding for hospitals, supporting healthcare access in high-need areas. The County Option Hospital Fee Program, established in 2018, currently includes 12 counties, and this amendment would expand participation to include Gloucester.