A4931

An Act concerning Medicaid beneficiaries.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, Commissioner of Human Services shall issue guidance to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies to connect individuals who are receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) to Medicaid housing-related services and supports and other housing resources in an integrated manner. At a minimum, such guidance shall include information that:

(1) establishes, or describes, the State’s framework for coordinated interagency housing-services assistance under the Medicaid program;

(2) simplifies health care services for housing and homelessness service providers and simplifying housing support services for health care service providers to understand the respective sectors;

(3) provides guidance with respect to tracking common outcome measures, including housing stability rates and health outcomes disaggregated by race; and

(4) describes existing authorities under which the Medicaid program may make funds available to providers of housing-related services and supports to build information technology and financial systems and establish adequate infrastructure and staffing levels to seek Medicaid reimbursement.

b. Within 12 months, the division shall develop a memorandum of understanding between the division, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies that:

(1) coordinates housing-related services and supports provided under the Medicaid program with other housing resources by aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility determination processes, and outcome measures, including housing stability and health outcomes disaggregated by race; and

(2) encourages providers of housing-related services and supports to seek reimbursement for such services and supports through the Medicaid program, including by:

(a) explaining how such providers may receive such reimbursement;

(b) helping such providers understand the eligibility determination process for housing-related services and supports offered under the Medicaid program.

c. The division shall provide technical assistance to public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies, who are providing Medicaid housing-related services and supports and other housing resources to Mediciaid beneficiaries, which technical assistance may include, but not be limited to, the provision of training webinars, reimbursement manuals, and provider enrollment support.

2. No later than two years after the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Human Services shall prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature a report that includes:

a. information on the progress of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies in aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility determination processes, and outcome tracking;

b. information on outcome measures associated with the housing-related services and supports offered under the Medicaid program, including, but not limited to: housing stability rates; hospitalization rates; emergency department usage rates; and any Medicaid cost savings;

c. information on the adoption by such agencies and Continuums of Care of recommendations made in the guidance issued pursuant to section 1 of this act;

d. feedback from such agencies and Continuums of Care on such guidance and challenges faced by such agencies and Continuums of Care in connecting individuals receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program with housing-related services and supports and other housing resources; and

e. an analysis on whether any State plan amendments or waivers are necessary to maximize funding for housing-related services and supports offered under the Medicaid program.

3. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire six months after the issuance of the report required pursuant to section 2 of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to issue guidance on housing-related services for Medicaid beneficiaries. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services will issue guidance to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (division) in the Department of Human Services, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies to connect individuals who are receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) to Medicaid housing-related services and supports and other housing resources in an integrated manner. At a minimum, such guidance will include information that:

1) establishes, or describes, the State’s framework for coordinated interagency housing-services assistance under the Medicaid program;

2) simplifies health care services for housing and homelessness service providers and simplifying housing support services for health care service providers to understand the respective sectors;

3) provides guidance with respect to tracking common outcome measures; and

4) describes existing authorities under which the Medicaid program may make funds available to providers of housing-related services and supports to build information technology and financial systems and establish adequate infrastructure and staffing levels to seek Medicaid reimbursement.

The bill requires the division to develop a memorandum of understanding between the division, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies that: coordinates housing-related services and supports provided under the Medicaid program with other housing resources by aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility determination processes, and outcome measures; and encourages providers of housing-related services and supports to seek reimbursement for such services and supports through the Medicaid program.

The bill requires division to provide technical assistance to public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies, who are providing Medicaid housing-related services and supports and other housing resources to Mediciaid beneficiaries, which technical assistance may include, but not be limited to, the provision of training webinars, reimbursement manuals, and provider enrollment support.

No later than two years after the effective date of the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services will prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report that includes:

1) information on the progress of the division, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies in aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility determination processes, and outcome tracking; information on outcome measures associated with the housing-related services and supports offered under the Medicaid program;

2) information on the adoption by such agencies and Continuums of Care of recommendations made in the guidance issued pursuant to the bill;

3) feedback from such agencies and Continuums of Care on such guidance and challenges faced by such agencies and Continuums of Care in connecting individuals receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program with housing-related services and supports and other housing resources; and

4) an analysis on whether any State plan amendments or waivers are necessary to maximize funding for housing-related services and supports offered under the Medicaid program.