Permits clinical laboratories to provide certain patients discounts without affecting NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates or violating NJ FamilyCare rebate prohibitions.

This bill allows clinical laboratories to offer discounted rates to patients facing financial hardship without reducing their NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates or violating anti-rebate rules. It directly affects vulnerable patients (including those in poverty, homeless individuals, substance use disorder treatment patients, and those in drug court programs) and the laboratories providing their testing services. The key provision permits labs to charge lower prices to qualifying patients based on documented financial hardship (e.g., income below 200% of federal poverty level), while still receiving full NJ FamilyCare reimbursement for the same service. Labs must verify hardship through income documentation or exceptional circumstance evidence, ensuring discounts comply with federal anti-kickback laws.