SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 4169

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 16, 2021

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4169 (1R).

      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.  Funds appropriated by this bill to an eligible hospital are to be issued, as soon as practicable, in the form of a supplemental payment to the hospital.

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

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amendments remove language from the bill that specified that the provisions of the bill would apply retroactively to July 1, 2021.

      The committee amendments provide that any funds appropriated by the bill to an eligible hospital will be issued, in the form of a supplemental payment to the hospital, as soon as practicable.

      The committee amendments revise the findings and declarations section added by the bill to reflect these changes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.