Sponsored by:
Senator STEVEN V. OROHO
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Requires professionals certifying death to perform any testing and related actions necessary for survivors to claim State and federal benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning claims for death benefits and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The attending, covering, or resident physician, the attending advanced practice nurse, or the county medical examiner who provides the death and last sickness particulars for a death certification shall provide or offer to provide any examination, screening, test, report, or certification as shall be necessary for the survivor of the deceased person to prosecute a claim for State or federal benefits arising from the deceased person’s death. The examination, screening, test, report, or certification shall be provided upon request by the survivor, and shall be offered in any case in which the attending, covering, or resident physician, the attending advanced practice nurse, or the county medical examiner is aware that a valid claim for State or federal benefits is likely to exist.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the attending, covering, or resident physician, the attending advanced practice nurse, or the county medical examiner who provides the death and last sickness particulars for a death certification to provide, or offer to provide, any examination, screening, test, report, or certification as may be necessary to prosecute a claim for State or federal benefits arising out of the deceased person’s death. The professional certifying the death will be required to provide the examination, screening, test, report, or certification upon request by the deceased person’s survivor, and is required to offer to provide them in any case in which the professional is aware that there may be a valid claim for State or federal benefits.