SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3847

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 6, 2021

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3847.

      This bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) in the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a program under which a family member of an enrollee in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare or a third-party individual approved by the enrollee’s parent or guardian may be certified as certified nursing assistant (CNA) and, under the direction of a registered nurse, provide CNA services to the enrollee through a private duty nursing agency, which services will be subject to an enhanced reimbursement rate.  The program established under the bill will apply to enrollees who are under 21 years of age and qualify for private duty nursing services under Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare.  The DMAHS will be required to develop an assessment tool that will allow the DMAHS to readily identify enrollees who meet these eligibility criteria.

      Under the program, the family member or approved third-party individual will be required to complete all the training, testing, and other qualification criteria as are required under State and federal law for certification as a CNA.  The private duty nursing services agency that will employ the family member or approved third-party individual will be required to pay all costs for the family member or approved third-party individual to become certified as a CNA.  In no case will the family member or approved third-party individual be required to repay or reimburse the agency for the costs of becoming a CNA.

      The tasks delegated by a registered nurse to a family member or approved third-party individual who becomes certified as a certified nursing assistant under the bill are to be consistent with the tasks that may be generally delegated to certified nursing assistants pursuant to the rules of the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

      The DMAHS will be required to establish the program within six months after the effective date of the bill.  The DHS will be required to apply for State plan amendments and waivers as are necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.