Bill Text: NJ A4092 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes commission to study impact of certain Medicaid reimbursement rate change on nursing homes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-18 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee [A4092 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4092-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes commission to study impact of certain Medicaid reimbursement rate change on nursing homes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a commission to study the effects of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n through 7o) on nursing homes in the State.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established a study commission to be known as the "Impact of Medicaid Personal Care Services Reimbursement Change on Nursing Homes Study Commission." The purpose of the study commission shall be to analyze the effects of the adjustment to the Medicaid hourly reimbursement rate for personal care services within the Medicaid program resulting from the enactment of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n and 30:4D-7o), as amended by P.L.2019, c.275, and any corresponding appropriations, on nursing homes in the State. Specifically, the commission shall analyze the effects of the increase in the hourly reimbursement rate on the operations, ability to comply with any minimum staffing requirements, employee retention, financial health, resident costs, and related issues on nursing homes in the State, including whether any nursing homes closed following the effective date of P.L.2017, c.239 or the enactment of P.L.2019, c.275, and the reasons therefor. The commission shall also review the source of State funds used to support the rate increase, and determine, where possible, any reduction in funding of other State budget items that may have resulted from the necessity of funding the rate increase. To this end, the commission shall solicit data or information from nursing homes in the State or other entities, as necessary to carry out its duties hereunder.
b. The Impact of Medicaid Personal Care Services Reimbursement Change on Nursing Homes Study Commission shall consist of nine members as follows:
(1) the Commissioners of Human Services and Health, or their designees;
(2) five members of the public with significant operational, financial, or managerial expertise in the nursing home industry, three of whom shall be representatives of entities currently operating one or more nursing homes in the State, to be appointed as follows:
(a) two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;
(b) two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and
(c) one member shall be appointed by the Governor;
(3) one member of the public with expertise in State Medicaid policy and healthcare finance who shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and
(4) one member of the public with expertise in State fiscal and budgetary matters, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate.
c. The study commission shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members. Upon its organization, the study commission shall select a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission. The study commission may meet and hold meetings at the times and places as shall be designated by the chair. A majority of the authorized members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting official commission business. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the commission, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the study commission for its purposes.
d. The study commission is entitled to receive assistance and services from any State, county, or municipal department, board, commission, or agency, as may be available to it for its purposes. The Department of Human Services shall provide staff and administrative support to the commission.
e. Not later than 12 months after the initial meeting of the study commission, it shall prepare and submit a written report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), presenting its analysis of the effect of the enactment of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n through 30:4D-7o), as amended by P.L.2019, c.275, on nursing homes in the State, as well as any recommendations for legislation or other action as the commission deems appropriate. The study commission shall expire on the first day of the third month next following submission of its written report to the Governor and the Legislature, as required by this subsection.
2. This act shall take effect immediately upon enactment and shall expire on the first day of the third month next following submission of the study commission's report.
STATEMENT
The bill establishes the "Impact of Medicaid Personal Care Services Reimbursement Change on Nursing Homes Study Commission," to analyze the effects of the adjustment to the Medicaid hourly reimbursement rate for personal care services within the Medicaid program, resulting from the enactment of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n and 30:4D-7o), as well as the revisions to that law adopted pursuant to P.L.2019, c.275 and any corresponding appropriations, on nursing homes in the State. Specifically, the commission is to analyze the effects of the increase in the hourly reimbursement rate on the operations, ability to comply with any minimum staffing requirements, employee retention, financial health, resident costs, and related issues on nursing homes in the State, including whether any nursing homes closed following the effective date of P.L.2017, c.239 or the enactment of P.L.2019, c.275 and the reasons for any closures. The bill requires that the commission solicit data or information from nursing homes in the State or other entities, as is necessary to carry out its duties.
The study commission is to consist of nine members as follows: the Commissioners of Human Services and Health, or their commissioner's designee; one member of the public with expertise in State Medicaid policy and healthcare finance, who will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; one member of the public with expertise in State fiscal and budgetary matters, who will be appointed by the President of the Senate; and five members of the public with significant operational, financial, or managerial expertise in the nursing home industry, three of whom are to be representatives of entities currently operating one or more nursing homes in the State, two of whom will be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two of whom will be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and one of whom will be appointed by the Governor.
The bill requires that the study commission prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature not later than 12 months after its initial meeting. The report is to present the commission's analysis of the effect of the enactment of P.L.2017, c.239 (C.30:4D-7n through 30:4D-7o), as amended by P.L.2019, c.275, on nursing homes in the State, as well as any recommendations for legislation or other action the commissioner deems appropriate. The bill provides that the study commission is to expire on the first day of the third month following submission of its written report to the Governor and the Legislature.
