Bill Text: NJ S2283 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 and for telemedicine and telehealth during coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-19 - Substituted by A3843 [S2283 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2283-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Senator JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 and for telemedicine and telehealth during coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health insurance and Medicaid coverage and coronavirus disease 2019 and supplementing P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) and P.L.1997, c.192 (C.26:2S-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. During the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020, the State Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs shall provide coverage and payment for expenses incurred in:
(1) the testing for coronavirus disease 2019, provided that a licensed medical practitioner has issued a medical order for that testing; and
(2) the delivery of health care services through telemedicine or telehealth in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.).
b. The coverage shall be provided to the same extent as for any other health care services, except that no cost-sharing shall be imposed on the coverage provided pursuant to this section.
c. The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.
2. a. During the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020, a carrier that offers a health benefits plan in this State shall provide coverage and payment for expenses incurred in:
(1) the testing of coronavirus disease 2019, provided that a health care professional in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.) has issued a medical order for the testing; and
(2) any health care services delivered to a covered person through telemedicine or telehealth in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.).
b. The coverage shall be provided to the same extent as for any other health care services under the health benefits plan, except that no cost-sharing shall be imposed on the coverage provided pursuant to this section.
c. As used in this
section, "carrier," means an insurance company, health service corporation,
hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health
maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this
State, and shall include the State Health Benefits Program and the School
Employees' Health Benefits Program.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all health benefits plans currently in effect in the State, or that are delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires health insurance carriers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations and insurance companies), as well as the State and School Employees' Health Benefits Programs and the State Medicaid program, to provide coverage for expenses incurred in:
(1) the testing for coronavirus disease 2019, provided that a licensed medical practitioner has issued a medical order for that testing; and
(2) the delivery of health care services through telemedicine or telehealth in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.).
The requirements of the bill remain in effect during the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020.
The bill requires the coverage to be provided to the same extent as for any other services under the health benefits plan, except that no cost-sharing may be imposed on the coverage provided pursuant to the bill.
The bill takes effect immediately and applies to all health benefit plans currently in effect in the State, or that are delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of the bill.
