Sponsored by:
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Commissioner of Health to designate a special care nursing facility to treat patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders dual diagnosis.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning special care nursing facilities 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 Commissioner of Health shall designate at least one existing free-standing special care nursing facility that is located in a city of the first class as a facility for the treatment of patients who are dually diagnosed with psychiatric and substance use disorders. A special care nursing facility seeking designation shall apply to the commissioner for designation and shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the facility can provide appropriate care to patients with a dual diagnosis.
2. The Commissioner of Health may, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
3. The Commissioner of Human Services shall establish a reimbursement rate sufficient to cover the cost of care provided to patients pursuant to section one of this act.
4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Health may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to designate at least one existing free-standing special care nursing facility that is located in a city of the first class as a facility for the treatment of patients who are dually diagnosed with psychiatric and substance use disorders. A facility seeking designation would apply to the commissioner for designation, and would need to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the facility can provide appropriate care to patients with a dual diagnosis. The Commissioner of Human Services would establish a reimbursement rate sufficient to cover the cost of care provided to patients pursuant to the bill.