ASSEMBLY, No. 2736
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 20, 1997
By Assemblywoman VANDERVALK
An Act concerning limited purpose managed health services organizations and supplementing Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. An entity shall not contract with the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services or the Division of Mental Health Services in the Department of Human Services, or with the Division of Addiction Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services, to offer comprehensive specialized mental health or substance abuse services on a prepaid contractual basis to recipients of the State Medicaid program, P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.), Medicare program pursuant to Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §1395 et seq.) or other publicly funded services, unless that entity is issued a certificate of authority for a limited purpose managed health services organization pursuant to this act.
The entity shall apply to the Department of Banking and Insurance for a limited purpose managed health services organization certificate of authority pursuant to this act and shall submit such information about the entity and remit such application fees as shall be required by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, by regulation.
2. a. Following receipt of an application for a certificate of authority, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall review it in consultation with the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Human Services and notify the applicant of any deficiencies contained therein.
The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall determine whether the applicant is financially sound and may reasonably be expected to meet its obligations to recipients. The commissioner may require the applicant, if he deems it necessary in order to ensure that the applicant will be able to meet its obligations to recipients, to:
(1) deposit with the commissioner or with an entity or trustee acceptable to the commissioner through which a custodial or controlled account is utilized, cash, securities or any combination of these or other measures that is acceptable to the commissioner in an amount established by the commissioner; or
(2) purchase stop-loss insurance in an amount specified by the commissioner.
b. The commissioner shall issue the certificate of authority if he finds that the entity meets the standards required by the Department of Banking and Insurance and the Departments of Health and Senior Services and Human Services pursuant to this act.
c. The certificate of authority shall be valid for three years and may be renewed in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner.
3. a. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, in consultation with the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Human Services shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to carry out the purposes of this act. The regulations shall include standards regarding financial solvency of limited purpose managed health services organizations.
b. The Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Human Services, respectively, shall adopt regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) regarding standards for comprehensive specialized services provided by limited purpose managed health services organizations for which their respective departments may contract pursuant to this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to issue a certificate of authority for a limited purpose managed health services organization providing comprehensive specialized mental health or substance abuse services to recipients of Medicaid, Medicare or other publicly funded services. The limited purpose managed health services organization would contract with the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services or the Division of Mental Health Services in the Department of Human Services, or the Division of Addiction Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services, to provide the services on a prepaid contractual basis.
Following receipt of an application for a certificate of authority, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall review it in consultation with the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Human Services. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall determine whether the applicant is financially sound and may reasonably be expected to meet its obligations to recipients. If the commissioner deems it necessary, he may require the applicant to deposit with the commissioner or with an entity or trustee acceptable to the commissioner, cash, securities or any combination of these or other measures that is acceptable to the commissioner in an amount established by the commissioner; or to purchase stop-loss insurance in an amount specified by the commissioner.
The commissioner shall issue the certificate of authority if he finds that the entity meets the standards required by the Department of Banking and Insurance and the Departments of Health and Senior Services and Human Services, by regulation. The certificate of authority shall be valid for three years and may be renewed in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner.
The bill directs the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, in consultation with the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Human Services, to adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of the bill, including standards regarding financial solvency of limited purpose managed health services organizations. Also, the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services and Human Services are directed to adopt regulations regarding standards for comprehensive specialized service provided by the organization for which their respective departments may contract.
Authorizes Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to issue certificate of authority to certain limited purpose managed health services organizations.