Bill Text: NJ A4841 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare to cover kidney disease education services; Requires DOH to develop policies and procedures regarding kidney disease education services.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-05-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [A4841 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A4841-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman KENYATTA STEWART
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare to cover kidney disease education services; Requires DOH to develop policies and procedures regarding kidney disease education services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning kidney disease education services and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The State Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract providing hospital or medical expense benefits, which is purchased by the commission on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for kidney disease education services provided by a health care professional according to the policies and procedures developed by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to a subscriber with kidney disease who requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, as determined by a health care professional.
b. As used in this section, "kidney disease education services" means comprehensive information, communicated in a verbal manner over the course of one or more encounters prior to an appointment for dialysis or a kidney transplant, regarding: (1) the management of comorbidities with kidney disease; (2) the prevention of uremic complications; and (3) each option for renal replacement therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and transplantation. "Kidney disease education services" shall also ensure that the beneficiary has the opportunity to actively participate in the choice of renal replacement therapy.
2 a. The School Employees' Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract providing hospital or medical expense benefits, which is purchased by the commission on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for kidney disease education services provided by a health care professional according to the policies and procedures developed by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to a subscriber with kidney disease who requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, as determined by a health care professional.
b. As used in this section,
"kidney disease education services" means comprehensive information, communicated
in a verbal manner over the course of one or more encounters prior to an
appointment for dialysis or a kidney transplant, regarding: (1) the management
of comorbidities with kidney disease; (2) the prevention of uremic
complications; and (3) each option for renal replacement therapy, including
peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and transplantation. "Kidney disease
education services" shall also ensure that the beneficiary has the opportunity
to actively participate in the choice of renal replacement therapy.
3. a. The NJ FamilyCare program shall provide coverage for kidney disease education services provided by a health care professional according to the policies and procedures developed by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to a beneficiary with kidney disease who requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, as determined by a health care professional.
b. The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such federal waivers or state plan amendments as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section and to continue to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the federal Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
c. Coverage of kidney disease education services under the NJ FamilyCare program, pursuant to this section, is contingent upon federal approval of the State's application for a waiver or a state plan amendment under Title XIX of the Social 22 Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1315 et seq.).
d. As used in this section:
"Kidney disease education services" means comprehensive information, communicated in a verbal manner over the course of one or more encounters prior to an appointment for dialysis or a kidney transplant, regarding: (1) the management of comorbidities with kidney disease; (2) the prevention of uremic complications; and (3) each option for renal replacement therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and transplantation. "Kidney disease education services" shall also ensure that the beneficiary has the opportunity to actively participate in the choice of renal replacement therapy.
"NJ FamilyCare" means the State-branded name given to the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) and the program established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.) which includes the Children's Health Benefits Program.
4. a. The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with physicians, health educators, professional organizations, accrediting organizations, kidney patient organizations, dialysis facilities, transplant centers, and any other knowledgeable entity, shall develop policies and procedures regarding the provision of kidney disease education services by a healthcare professional to a patient with kidney disease who requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
b. As used in this section, "kidney disease education services" means comprehensive information, communicated in a verbal manner over the course of one or more encounters prior to an appointment for dialysis or a kidney transplant, regarding: (1) the management of comorbidities with kidney disease; (2) the prevention of uremic complications; and (3) each option for renal replacement therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and transplantation. "Kidney disease education services" shall also ensure that the patient has the opportunity to actively participate in the choice of renal replacement therapy.
5. The State Treasurer, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Commissioner of Health, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
6. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment, except that the State Treasurer, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Commissioner of Health may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the State Health Benefits Program, the School Employees Health Benefits Program, and the NJ FamilyCare program to provide coverage for kidney disease education services provided by a health care professional, according to the policies and procedures developed by the Commissioner of Health under the bill, to a subscriber or beneficiary with kidney disease who requires dialysis or a kidney transplant, as determined by a health care professional. The bill directs the Commissioner of Health to develop such policies and procedures in consultation with physicians, health educators, professional organizations, accrediting organizations, kidney patient organizations, dialysis facilities, transplant centers, and any other knowledgeable entity.
As used in the bill, "kidney disease education services" means comprehensive information, communicated in a verbal manner over the course of one or more encounters prior to an appointment for dialysis or a kidney transplant, regarding: (1) the management of comorbidities with kidney disease; (2) the prevention of uremic complications; and (3) each option for renal replacement therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, and transplantation. "Kidney disease education services" are to ensure that the patient has the opportunity to actively participate in the choice of renal replacement therapy.
