SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 105

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 22, 2018

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 105.

      This bill would provide Medicaid coverage for family planning services to individuals whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

      Specifically, the bill expands coverage for family planning services provided to non-pregnant individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under the State plan under Title XIX or Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act (Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, respectively), which is currently 200 percent of the federal poverty level in New Jersey.

      This bill would exercise a new State option provided under the federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” Pub.L.111- 148, as amended by the “Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,” Pub.L.111-152, which permits states to expand family planning services through a State plan amendment, rather than through a demonstration waiver under section 1115 of the Social Security Act. Under federal law, the federal government would pay 90 percent of the costs for these services.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.