SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4169

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 6, 2021

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4169.

     As amended, this bill increases the number of hospitals eligible for certain reimbursement for charity care.  The bill appropriates $30 million from the General Fund for the purpose of providing a State fiscal year 2022 charity care payment equal to 96 percent of the hospital's hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care to the hospital determined eligible for such a payment, pursuant to the bill.  Any appropriated funds not utilized for this purpose will be distributed, on a prorated basis, to all eligible hospitals receiving charity care payments in State fiscal year 2022 of less than 96 percent of the hospital's hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care.

     As amended, the bill amends a provision of the FY22 annual appropriations act concerning charity care payments for hospitals to reflect the changes provided under the bill.

     Under current law, nine hospitals are eligible to receive a charity care payment equal to 96 percent of each hospital's hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care.  Under the bill, 10 hospitals are eligible to receive a charity care payment equal to 96 percent of each hospital's hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care. 

     As amended, the bill specifies that it is the intent of Legislature to provide that the bill will be retroactive to July 1, 2021 and apply to the newly eligible hospital’s State fiscal year 2022 charity care payment.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments add language clarifying that it is the intent of Legislature to provide that the provisions of bill will be retroactive to July 1, 2021 and apply to the newly eligible hospital’s State fiscal year 2022 charity care payment.  The committee amendments revise the effective date of the bill to reflect this clarification.

      The committee amendments appropriate $30 million from the General Fund to the Health Care Subsidy Fund for the DOH to provide a State fiscal year 2022 charity care payment equal to 96 percent of the hospital's hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care to the hospital newly determined to be eligible for such a payment under the provisions of the bill.  Any appropriated funds not allocated for this purpose will be allocated, on a prorated basis, to all eligible hospitals receiving charity care payments in State fiscal year 2022 of less than 96 percent of the hospital's hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care.

      The committee amendments revise a provision of the FY22 annual appropriations act concerning charity care payments for hospitals to reflect the changes provided under the bill.