ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3406

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 18, 2019

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3406 (1R).

     This bill codifies current practices regarding the completion of the Perinatal Risk Assessment form by certain Medicaid health care providers. 

     The Perinatal Risk Assessment form is used by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to collect certain demographic, medical, and psychosocial information about Medicaid-eligible pregnant women in New Jersey in order to identify prenatal risk factors early in the pregnancy, provide referrals to evidence-based home visiting programs, and provide access to prenatal care initiative projects.  Currently, the Perinatal Risk Assessment form is one of several forms that serve as an authorization for payment to providers from Medicaid managed care organizations.  As amended by the committee, this bill directs that the Perinatal Risk Assessment form is to be the uniform document used by all providers and Medicaid managed care plans.

     The bill requires an obstetrical provider, nurse midwife, or other licensed health care professional who is approved as a provider under the Medicaid program to complete the Perinatal Risk Assessment form for each pregnant Medicaid recipient and each individual eligible for Emergency Medical Services for Non-Qualified Aliens who receives prenatal care from the provider.  The provider is required to complete the form during the first prenatal visit with the pregnant Medicaid recipient or other eligible individual and to update form in the third trimester.

     The bill additionally directs the division to require providers to submit each completed Perinatal Risk Assessment form to the division, or to a nonprofit entity contracted by the division to process, distribute to appropriate Medicaid managed care plans, and maintain the Perinatal Risk Assessment data.  The bill stipulates that a provider will not receive authorization for reimbursement for prenatal services provided to a pregnant Medicaid recipient until a Perinatal Risk Assessment form is submitted for that recipient. 

     The bill also requires the division, in collaboration with the Department of Health, Medicaid managed care organizations, and any nonprofit entity contracted by the division to process, distribute, and maintain the Perinatal Risk Assessment data, to analyze the Perinatal Risk Assessment data in order to identify trends in the risk factors associated with Medicaid recipients during pregnancy.  Commencing no later than 18 months after the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, the division will be required to submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature providing a summary of its findings and any proposals for legislative action needed to improve the maternal outcomes of Medicaid recipients.

     As reported this bill is identical to Assembly No. 4993 (1R), which was amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMNETS:

      The committee amended the bill to delay the effective date by one year.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.