Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Chiaravalloti, Tully, Armato, Assemblywomen Downey, Speight, McKnight, Murphy and Assemblyman Mejia
SYNOPSIS
Makes FY 2021 supplemental appropriation of $210,000 to DHS for temporary 25 percent increase to certain assisted living resident providers in Medicaid.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations act, P.L.2020, c.97.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2020, c.97, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:
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54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 20 Physical and Mental Health 24 Special Health Services 7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services GRANTS-IN-AID |
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22-7540 General Medical Services ................................................. |
$210,000 |
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Total Grants-In-Aid Appropriation, |
$210,000 |
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Special Health Services .................................................. |
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Grants-In-Aid: |
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22 Medical Coverage– Nursing Home Residents..…………………………………………… |
($210,000) |
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2. The following language provision in section 1 of P.L.2020, c.97 is amended as follows:
54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
20 Physical and Mental Health
24 Special Health Services
7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services
GRANTS-IN-AID
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, the amounts hereinabove appropriated to the General Medical Services program classification are subject to the following condition: assisted living facilities, comprehensive personal care homes, and assisted living programs, shall receive a per diem rate of no less than $77, $67, and $57, respectively, as reimbursement for each NJ FamilyCare beneficiary under their care, provided that the reimbursement rate for assisted living facilities with a Medicaid population in excess of 50 percent of the facility’s total population shall be equal to the rate received on September 30, 2020, plus a 25 percent adjustment. Each facility that qualifies for such a rate adjustment shall use no less than 60 percent of the rate adjustment for the sole purpose of increasing wages or supplemental pay for certified nurse aides providing direct care. The remainder of the rate adjustment shall be used for other costs related to coronavirus disease 2019 preparedness and response, including enhancing infection control measures, cleaning, reconfiguration of the facility to support cohorting, procurement of personal protective equipment, testing, or other staff wages and needs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes an FY 2021 supplemental appropriation of $210,000 to Department of Human Services (DHS) for a temporary 25 percent increase to the certain assisted living facilities in the Medicaid program, which is anticipated to earn a federal match of $528,000. Currently, P.L.2020, c.90 and the FY 2021 Appropriations Act authorize a 10 percent temporary rate adjustment to nursing facilities.
The intent of the existing law is to provide nursing facilities with the financial support to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to comply with the various federal and State requirements imposed upon such facilities to continue to operate during this public health crisis. Assisted living facilities are subject to many of the same requirements, yet are not included in this temporary rate adjustment. It is the sponsor’s intent to ensure that all facilities serving the most vulnerable population are provided the same State support as nursing facilities to maintain healthy and safe operations during COVID-19.
Specifically, under the bill, the FY 2021 reimbursement rate for assisted living facilities with a Medicaid population in excess of 50 percent of the facility’s total population is to be equal to the rate received on September 30, 2020, plus a 25 percent adjustment. The current rate, under the NJ FamilyCare program, for assisted living facilities is $77 per diem. Under the bill, the rate for qualifying facilities would increase by $19.25 to $96.25 per day.
Each facility is to use no less than 60 percent of the rate adjustment for the sole purpose of increasing wages or supplemental pay for certified nurse aides providing direct care. The remainder of the rate adjustment is to be used for other costs related to COVID-19 preparedness and response, including enhancing infection control measures, cleaning, reconfiguration of the facility to support cohorting, procurement of personal protective equipment, testing, or other staff wages and needs.