ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 760

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 7, 1996

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 760.

      As amended by the committee, this bill allows recipients of the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" (PAAD) program to designate a third party to whom the program must transmit eligibility renewal and termination notices. The envelope of the notice to a third party designee must be clearly marked to read: "IMPORTANT PAAD INFORMATION: OPEN IMMEDIATELY."

      A third party designee may terminate the designation by written notice to both the program and the recipient. The recipient may terminate the third party designation by written notice to the program.

      The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services must notify recipients of the PAAD program annually, in writing, of the availability of the third party notices. A third party designee is not liable for services provided to the recipient.

      The committee amendments, which are technical in nature:

      -- substitute the word "termination" for "cancellation," in order to use a term appropriate to eligibility for the PAAD program; and

      -- change the reference to the Commissioner of Human Services, to the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, to reflect the transfer of the PAAD program.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996-97 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.