SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2791

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 8, 2020

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2791.

      This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to review and evaluate any existing requirements for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to contract with any willing provider for the delivery of nursing home services, and determine whether to request State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to allow MCOs to terminate or suspend a contract with a nursing home that has a history of multiple violations related to State or federal licensure requirements, or that has a history of one or more violations of licensure requirements that resulted in severe adverse health consequences for facility staff or residents. 

      The bill additionally requires the DHS to evaluate whether managed care plans can be used to assist the Department of Health in monitoring compliance and quality of care in nursing homes and, if so, identify any actions as may be needed to allow managed care plans to assist the Department of Health.