Bill Text: NJ S51 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes commission to study impact of certain Medicaid reimbursement rate change on nursing homes.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-02-13 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee [S51 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-S51-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 51

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Senator  PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.

District 18 (Middlesex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators T.Kean and Greenstein

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes commission to study impact of certain Medicaid reimbursement rate change on nursing homes.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on January 27, 2020, with amendments.

  

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)¹, as amended by P.L.2019, c.275,¹ 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 ¹or the enactment of P.L.2019, c.275,¹ 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 State¹[,]¹ 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(1)¹      the ¹[Commissioner] Commissioners¹ of Human Services¹[, or the commissioner's designee; the Commissioner of] and¹ Health, or ¹[the commissioner's designee] their designees¹;

     ¹(2)¹    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:

      ¹(a)¹     two members ¹[to] shall¹ be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;

      ¹(b)¹    two members ¹[to] shall¹ be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and

      ¹(c)¹     one member ¹[to] shall¹ be appointed by the Governor;

      ¹(3)¹    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 Assembly¹[,];¹ and

      ¹(4)¹    one member of the public with expertise in State fiscal and budgetary matters, ¹[to] who shall¹ 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.  ¹The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.¹  The study commission may meet and¹[holding] hold¹ meetings at the times and places ¹[it may designate] as shall be designated by the chair¹.  A majority of the authorized members shall constitute a quorum ¹for the purpose of conducting official commission business¹.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.  The members shall serve without ¹[remuneration] compensation¹, 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.  ¹The Department of Human Services shall provide staff and administrative support to the commission.¹

      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)¹, as amended by P.L.2019, c.275,¹ on nursing homes in the State, as well as any recommendations ¹for legislation or other action as the commission deems appropriate¹.  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 ¹and shall expire on the first day of the third month next following submission of the study commission's report¹.