Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Ruiz, Gordon, Turner, Cunningham, Buono, Gill, Beach, Girgenti, Sarlo, B.Smith, Stack and Van Drew
SYNOPSIS
Makes supplemental appropriation of $7,453,000 for Women's Health and Family Planning Services for State fiscal year 2010-2011 and requires filing of application for expansion of Medicaid coverage for family planning services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
AN ACT amending and supplementing the Fiscal Year 2011 annual appropriations act, P.L.2010, c. .
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2010, c. , the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2011, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:
|
46 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES 20 Physical and Mental Health 21 Health Services GRANTS-IN-AID |
||
|
02-4220 Family Health Services ...................................................... |
$7,453,000 |
|
|
Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation, Health Services ………… |
$7,453,000 |
|
|
Grants-in-Aid: |
|
|
|
02 Women's Health and Family Planning Services …………………………………. |
($7,453,000) |
|
2. The following language provisions in section 1 of P.L.2010, c. , the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2011, are amended to read as follows:
|
54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 20 Physical and Mental Health 24 Special Health Services 7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services DIRECT STATE SERVICES |
The amounts hereinabove appropriated for Health Services Administration and Management shall be conditioned upon the following: Pursuant to federal law, the Department of Human Services shall submit a State Plan Amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the Medicaid state option to expand Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals whose income is up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010 but remain inoperable until the date of enactment of P.L.2010, c. (the annual appropriation act for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2011.)
STATEMENT
This bill expands the availability of family planning services in State fiscal year 2010-2011. The legislation accomplishes that important objective by making a supplemental appropriation of $7,453,000 for Women's Health and Family Planning Services for fiscal year 2011 and by requiring the State to seek permission from the federal government to expand coverage for family planning services under the Medicaid program.
Supplemental Appropriation for Women's Health and Family Planning Services: In fiscal year 2010, the State appropriated $7,590,000 for grants to organizations providing family planning services. The appropriations act for State fiscal year 2011 irresponsibly eliminates that funding, thereby severely impairing New Jerseyans’ access to vital health care services. The supplemental appropriation now ensures that the State makes adequate resources available to individuals looking for services related to family planning, such as information and counseling on reproductive choices and birth control methods; comprehensive physicals and health screenings; pelvic and breast exams; pregnancy testing; the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; AIDS testing and counseling; prenatal substance abuse programs; colposcopy, cryotherapy, and loop electrosurgical excision procedures; and adolescent risk reduction counseling.
Medicaid Coverage Expansion for Family Planning Services: In New Jersey, Medicaid currently provides family planning services to individuals whose income is no more than 133 percent of the federal poverty level. This bill requires the State to submit the necessary application to the federal government so that individuals with incomes of up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level can receive family planning services under the Medicaid program. If successful, New Jersey would make cost-effective family planning services available to more low-income individuals.
The recently enacted federal health care reform law created a state option to provide Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals with income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. By adopting this Medicaid state option, New Jersey would receive $9 in federal reimbursement for every additional $1 the State spends for family planning services provided through the Medicaid program.
Previously, states that sought to expand family planning services to these low-income individuals were required to apply for and obtain a Medicaid waiver. The waiver, however, was difficult to obtain, was only valid for a limited number of years, and had to be renewed periodically. New Jersey sought such a waiver but the federal government has never approved the State’s request.