This bill (A1631) establishes a 3-year pilot program to expand NJ FamilyCare eligibility for children with special needs who live at home but would otherwise be ineligible due to parental income or assets. It directly affects middle-income families caring for children under 21 who meet the federal SSI definition of "blind or disabled" but are denied benefits because their parents' income or assets exceed limits. The program requires annual reviews to confirm the child still meets the disability definition, with an appeals process if benefits are terminated. After the pilot, the state must report on participation, costs, and whether to make the program permanent. The bill does not change existing Medicaid rules for children requiring nursing-home-level care.
This bill (S 3321) requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a Medicaid payment strategy that improves access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as IUDs and implants, for Medicaid clients. It mandates specific actions: ensuring comprehensive coverage for LARCs, separately reimbursing for immediate postpartum insertion, removing supply chain barriers, and eliminating administrative hurdles for providers. The strategy must be implemented by all Medicaid health insurers (managed care organizations) serving low-income women. The bill aims to address existing reimbursement gaps that limit LARC use, which the CDC identifies as highly effective contraception with very low pregnancy rates.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), and Medicaid from denying coverage for maintenance medications treating chronic conditions when a person's health plan or pharmacy benefits manager changes. It specifically prevents coverage loss if the person was already taking the medication before the change and the new plan covers that medication class. The law applies to all covered individuals under these programs who experience such plan transitions. It ensures continuity of essential medications without requiring new prior authorizations due to administrative changes.
This New Jersey bill (A 2432) requires the Commissioner of Human Services to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries receive respite care coverage when their primary health insurer (public or private) denies it, provided the beneficiary is otherwise Medicaid-eligible for such services. It mandates the Commissioner to create procedures guaranteeing this coverage without changing existing Medicaid eligibility rules for respite care. The law applies directly to Medicaid recipients who face coverage denials for respite care from their primary payer. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, with the Commissioner required to adopt implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
This bill requires New Jersey nursing homes to submit their most recent federal Medicare/Medicaid cost reports as part of their annual financial filings with the Department of Health, due within 90 days after their fiscal year ends. It also mandates detailed ownership disclosures for all owners (revising the prior 10% threshold to any ownership interest) and requires the Department to compile aggregated spending data - without naming specific facilities - into an annual public report published online. The report will include regional and county expenditure totals across categories like staffing and supplies. This amends existing annual reporting rules to add federal cost report requirements and enhance transparency around nursing home ownership and spending.
This bill creates a voluntary contribution option on New Jersey's gross income tax returns, allowing taxpayers to direct part of their refund or add a contribution to the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund." Funds collected would be distributed equally each year to the three largest providers of reproductive health care services for Medicaid patients, to cover costs for low-income individuals seeking services. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" to include medical, surgical, counseling, and referral services related to pregnancy or pregnancy termination. It applies to tax returns for years beginning after enactment, with no requirement for taxpayer participation.
This bill prevents New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), and Medicaid from denying coverage for maintenance medications treating chronic conditions when a person's health plan or pharmacy provider changes. It requires coverage continuity if a patient was taking the medication before the plan change and the new plan covers that specific drug class. The law applies to state employees, school staff, and Medicaid recipients who rely on ongoing medication for conditions like diabetes or hypertension. It ensures these individuals won't lose access to essential medications due solely to administrative shifts in their health coverage plans.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to shift Medicaid funding toward home and community-based services for eligible residents who currently receive nursing home care. By 2027, DHS must aim for 80% of these individuals to receive services at home or in community settings, with 60% of long-term care funding allocated to these options. By 2029, the target increases to 70% of funding for home and community-based services. The bill also mandates DHS to create a strategic plan to reduce institutionalization, ensure living wages for caregivers with inflation adjustments, and coordinate housing and care services across state agencies. These changes directly affect Medicaid recipients eligible for nursing home care, DHS, healthcare providers, and home care workers.
This bill allows New Jersey county correctional facilities to use inmate welfare funds for reentry services that help incarcerated individuals transition to community life after release. Specifically, it permits counties to spend these funds - currently used for amenities like recreation, library materials, and commissary items - to pay staff salaries for coordinating access to benefits such as Medicaid, housing assistance, and substance abuse treatment. The policy directly affects county correctional facilities and the inmates they serve, expanding the permitted use of existing welfare funds beyond in-facility amenities. It requires no new funding, instead redirecting existing county inmate welfare resources toward post-release support.
This bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for residential behavioral health services to at least 100% of the Medicare rate, starting July 1, 2024. It also requires annual cost-of-living adjustments for residential behavioral health providers based on the Consumer Price Index and creates a new fund to provide grants for facility repairs, maintenance, and provider training. These changes directly affect residential behavioral health service providers who receive Medicaid payments and the Department of Human Services, which administers the program. The bill aims to improve access to and quality of behavioral health care by strengthening financial support for providers.
