SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 846

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 27, 2020

     The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 846.

     This bill requires the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to provide certain information concerning health care professionals on the License Verification System maintained by the division for any health care professional whose license may be verified through use of that system.

     The bill provides that the background information must include, but need not be limited to, the following information:

     (1)   any professional discipline by a health care professional board in this State or any other state;

     (2)   any malpractice claim, settlement, or judgment against the professional;

     (3)   any loss of hospital privileges;

     (4)   any criminal convictions;

     (5)   any Medicaid or Medicare exclusions pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s.1320a–7;

     (6)   any actions taken against the professional by federal regulators; and

     (7)   any other information as determined by the director pursuant to regulation.

     The bill also requires the professional licensing boards that regulate the practice of health care professionals to report to the director any information relevant to the web-based background information required to be provided pursuant to the bill.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.