Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Provides Commissioner of Human Services temporary discretion to apply certain State-optional NJ FamilyCare benefits under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning NJ FamilyCare benefits and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provision of any law or regulation to the contrary, and with the exception of any benefit mandated pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.s.1396 et seq.), the Commissioner of Human Services may, at his discretion, suspend the application of any NJ FamilyCare benefit established pursuant to legislation enacted on, or after, January 1, 2024, with the exception of the following benefits:
(1) primary care services provided for individuals aged 18 years and older;
(2) comprehensive pediatric care provided for individuals under the age of 18 years;
(3) gynecological health care and services; and
(4) behavioral health care services.
b. If the commissioner makes a determination to suspend any NJ FamilyCare benefits pursuant subsection a. of this act, the commissioner shall provide the Legislature with at least 30 days advanced notice. The notification provided by the commissioner shall include the number of days for which the suspension will be in effect.
d. The commissioner shall report biennially to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), concerning the NJ FamilyCare benefits subject to suspension under subsection a. of this act, and the number of days for which each benefit has been suspended.
e. As used in this act:
“NJ FamilyCare” means the program established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.), which includes the State’s Medicaid Program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
“Pediatric care” has the same meaning as provided in subsection b. (19) of section 6 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-6).
“Primary care" means the practice of family medicine and general internal medicine.
2. The Commissioner of
Human Services shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure
Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as
necessary to implement this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire three years thereafter.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Human Services to suspend, at his discretion, the application of any NJ FamilyCare benefit established under legislation enacted on, or after, January 1, 2024, with the exception of federally-mandated Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits, primary care for individuals ages 18 years and older, comprehensive pediatric care for individuals under the age of 18, gynecological care, and behavioral health services. The provisions of the bill will be contingent upon continued receipt of federal reimbursements for State expenditures under the federal Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
If the commissioner decides to suspend any NJ FamilyCare benefits, the commissioner must provide the Legislature with at least 30 days advanced notice. The notification will include the number of days for which the suspension will be in effect. The commissioner also will report biennially to the Governor and to the Legislature concerning the NJ FamilyCare benefits subject to suspension and the number of days for which each benefit has been suspended. The provisions of the bill will take effect immediately and will expire three years thereafter.