SENATE, No. 2269

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 17, 1997

By Senator DiFRANCESCO

An Act establishing the Children's Health Care Coverage Program, amending P.L.1968, c.413 and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. (New section) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Children's Health Care Coverage Act."

    2. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that:

    a. Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act, which was created by Subtitle J of Title IV of the federal "Balanced Budget Act of 1997," Pub.L.105-33, established the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which allows a state, subject to certain conditions, to establish a health insurance program for low-income children.

    b. A substantial number of New Jersey's children who reside in low-income families lack health care coverage, and this lack of coverage prevents these children from obtaining needed preventive and other care on a consistent and managed basis.

    c. Because of a lack of health insurance coverage, children forgo care until conditions which were either preventable or treatable at the outset require more extensive and expensive interventions or treatment, and providing health care coverage will prevent these conditions from occurring or deteriorating in these children.

    d. Children with health care coverage have a significantly greater opportunity to stay healthy and to realize their full educational and developmental potential and become productive citizens.

    e. The Children's Health Care Coverage Program established pursuant to this act builds on New Jersey's longstanding commitment to assure access to quality health care provided in an efficient and effective manner and at a reasonable cost through the Medicaid program, services provided in certain health care facilities, and limited subsidized health insurance coverage.

    f. In addition, the Children's Health Care Coverage Program will utilize the new options permitted under federal law and State and other resources to establish the foundation for assuring health care coverage for all of New Jersey's children.

    3. (New section) As used in this act:

    "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.

    "Program" means the Children's Health Care Coverage Program established pursuant to this act.

    4. (New section) a. The Children's Health Care Coverage Program is established in the Department of Human Services. The purpose of the program shall be to provide subsidized private health insurance coverage, and other health care benefits as determined by the commissioner, to children from birth through 18 years of age within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program. The program shall require copayments and a premium contribution from families with incomes which exceed 150% of the official poverty level, which shall be based upon a sliding income scale. The program shall include the provision of well-child and other preventive services, hospitalization, physician care, laboratory and x-ray services, prescription drugs, mental health services, and other services as determined by the commissioner

    b. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, shall take such actions as are necessary to implement and operate the program in accordance with the provisions governing the State Children's Health Insurance Program in Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act, as provided in Subtitle J of Title IV of the federal "Balanced Budget Act of 1997," Pub.L.105-33.

    c. The commissioner shall by regulation establish standards for determining eligibility and other requirements for the program, including, but not limited to, premium payments and copayments, and may contract with one or more appropriate entities to assist in administering the program. The commissioner shall take, or cause to be taken, any action necessary to secure for the State the maximum amount of federal financial participation available with respect to the program, subject to the constraints of fiscal responsibility and within the limits of available funding in any fiscal year.

    5. Section 3 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-3) is amended to read as follows:

    3. Definitions. As used in this act, and unless the context otherwise requires:

    a. "Applicant" means any person who has made application for purposes of becoming a "qualified applicant."

    b. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.

    c. "Department" means the Department of Human Services, which is herein designated as the single State agency to administer the provisions of this act.

    d. "Director" means the Director of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services.

    e. "Division" means the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services.

    f. "Medicaid" means the New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program.

    g. "Medical assistance" means payments on behalf of recipients to providers for medical care and services authorized under this act.

    h. "Provider" means any person, public or private institution, agency or business concern approved by the division lawfully providing medical care, services, goods and supplies authorized under this act, holding, where applicable, a current valid license to provide such services or to dispense such goods or supplies.

    i. "Qualified applicant" means a person who is a resident of this State and is determined to need medical care and services as provided under this act, and who:

    (1) Is a dependent child or parent or caretaker relative of a dependent child and a recipient of benefits under the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) who would be, except for resources, eligible for the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act as of July 16, 1996 ;

    (2) Is a recipient of Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind and Disabled under Title XVI of the Social Security Act;

    (3) Is an "ineligible spouse" of a recipient of Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind and Disabled under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, as defined by the federal Social Security Administration;

    (4) Would be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act or would be, except for resources, eligible for the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act as of July 16, 1996, except for failure to meet an eligibility condition or requirement imposed under such State program which is prohibited under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act such as a durational residency requirement, relative responsibility, consent to imposition of a lien;

    (5) Is a child between 18 and 21 years of age who would be, except for resources, eligible for the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act as of July 16, 1996, living in the family group except for lack of school attendance or pursuit of formalized vocational or technical training;

    (6) Is an individual under 21 years of age who would be, except for resources or dependent child requirements, eligible for the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act as of July 16, 1996 , or groups of such individuals, including but not limited to, children in foster placement under supervision of the Division of Youth and Family Services whose maintenance is being paid in whole or in part from public funds, children placed in a foster home or institution by a private adoption agency in New Jersey or children in intermediate care facilities, including developmental centers for the developmentally disabled, or in psychiatric hospitals;

    (7) Except for resources, would be eligible for the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act in effect as of July 16, 1996 or the Supplemental Security Income program, but is not receiving such assistance and applies for medical assistance only;

    (8) Is determined to be medically needy and meets all the eligibility requirements described below:

    (a) The following individuals are eligible for services, if they are determined to be medically needy:

    (i) Pregnant women;

    (ii) Dependent children under the age of 21;

    (iii) Individuals who are 65 years of age and older; and

    (iv) Individuals who are blind or disabled pursuant to either 42 C.F.R.435.530 et seq. or 42 C.F.R.435.540 et seq., respectively.

    (b) The following income standard shall be used to determine medically needy eligibility:

    (i) For one person and two person households, the income standard shall be the maximum allowable under federal law, but shall not exceed 133 1/3% of the State's payment level to two person households under the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act in effect as of July 16, 1996 ; and

    (ii) For households of three or more persons, the income standard shall be set at 133 1/3% of the State's payment level to similar size households under the aid to families with dependent children program under the State Plan for Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act in effect as of July 16, 1996 .

    (c) The following resource standard shall be used to determine medically needy eligibility:

    (i) For one person households, the resource standard shall be 200% of the resource standard for recipients of Supplemental Security Income pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s.1382(1)(B);

    (ii) For two person households, the resource standard shall be 200% of the resource standard for recipients of Supplemental Security Income pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s.1382(2)(B);

    (iii) For households of three or more persons, the resource standard in subparagraph (c)(ii) above shall be increased by $100.00 for each additional person; and

    (iv) The resource standards established in (i), (ii), and (iii) are subject to federal approval and the resource standard may be lower if required by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

    (d) Individuals whose income exceeds those established in subparagraph (b) of paragraph (8) of this subsection may become medically needy by incurring medical expenses as defined in 42 C.F.R.435.831(c) which will reduce their income to the applicable medically needy income established in subparagraph (b) of paragraph (8) of this subsection.

    (e) A six-month period shall be used to determine whether an individual is medically needy.

    (f) Eligibility determinations for the medically needy program shall be administered as follows:

    (i) County welfare agencies and other entities designated by the commissioner are responsible for determining and certifying the eligibility of pregnant women and dependent children. The division shall reimburse county welfare agencies for 100% of the reasonable costs of administration which are not reimbursed by the federal government for the first 12 months of this program's operation. Thereafter, 75% of the administrative costs incurred by county welfare agencies which are not reimbursed by the federal government shall be reimbursed by the division;

    (ii) The division is responsible for certifying the eligibility of individuals who are 65 years of age and older and individuals who are blind or disabled. The division may enter into contracts with county welfare agencies to determine certain aspects of eligibility. In such instances the division shall provide county welfare agencies with all information the division may have available on the individual.

    The division shall notify all eligible recipients of the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled program, P.L.1975, c.194 (C.30:4D-20 et seq.) on an annual basis of the medically needy program and the program's general requirements. The division shall take all reasonable administrative actions to ensure that Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled recipients, who notify the division that they may be eligible for the program, have their applications processed expeditiously, at times and locations convenient to the recipients; and

    (iii) The division is responsible for certifying incurred medical expenses for all eligible persons who attempt to qualify for the program pursuant to subparagraph (d) of paragraph (8) of this subsection;

    (9) (a) Is a child who is at least one year of age and under [six] 19 years of age; and

    (b) Is a member of a family whose income does not exceed 133% of the poverty level and who meets the federal Medicaid eligibility requirements set forth in section 9401 of Pub.L.99-509 (42 U.S.C. s.1396a);

    (10) Is a pregnant woman who is determined by a provider to be presumptively eligible for medical assistance based on criteria established by the commissioner, pursuant to section 9407 of Pub.L.99-509 (42 U.S.C. s.1396a(a));

    (11) Is an individual 65 years of age and older, or an individual who is blind or disabled pursuant to section 301 of Pub.L.92-603 (42 U.S.C. s.1382c), whose income does not exceed 100% of the poverty level, adjusted for family size, and whose resources do not exceed 100% of the resource standard used to determine medically needy eligibility pursuant to paragraph (8) of this subsection;

    (12) Is a qualified disabled and working individual pursuant to section 6408 of Pub.L.101-239 (42 U.S.C. s.1396d) whose income does not exceed 200% of the poverty level and whose resources do not exceed 200% of the resource standard used to determine eligibility under the Supplemental Security Income Program, P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.);

    (13) Is a pregnant woman or is a child who is under one year of age and is a member of a family whose income does not exceed 185% of the poverty level and who meets the federal Medicaid eligibility requirements set forth in section 9401 of Pub.L.99-509 (42 U.S.C. s.1396a), except that a pregnant woman who is determined to be a qualified applicant shall, notwithstanding any change in the income of the family of which she is a member, continue to be deemed a qualified applicant until the end of the 60-day period beginning on the last day of her pregnancy;

    (14) [Is a child born after September 30, 1983 who has attained six years of age but has not attained 19 years of age and is a member of a family whose income does not exceed 100% of the poverty level;] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. )(pending before the Legislature as this bill) or

    (15) (a) Is a specified low-income [medicare] Medicare beneficiary pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s.1396a(a)10(E)iii whose resources beginning January 1, 1993 do not exceed 200% of the resource standard used to determine eligibility under the Supplemental Security Income program, P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.) and whose income beginning January 1, 1993 does not exceed 110% of the poverty level, and beginning January 1, 1995 does not exceed 120% of the poverty level.

    (b) An individual who has, within 36 months, or within 60 months in the case of funds transferred into a trust, of applying to be a qualified applicant for Medicaid services in a nursing facility or a medical institution, or for home or community-based services under section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1396n(c)), disposed of resources or income for less than fair market value shall be ineligible for assistance for nursing facility services, an equivalent level of services in a medical institution, or home or community-based services under section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1396n(c)). The period of the ineligibility shall be the number of months resulting from dividing the uncompensated value of the transferred resources or income by the average monthly private payment rate for nursing facility services in the State as determined annually by the commissioner. In the case of multiple resource or income transfers, the resulting penalty periods shall be imposed sequentially. Application of this requirement shall be governed by 42 U.S.C. s.1396p(c). In accordance with federal law, this provision is effective for all transfers of resources or income made on or after August 11, 1993. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection to the contrary, the State eligibility requirements concerning resource or income transfers shall not be more restrictive than those enacted pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s.1396p(c).

    (c) An individual seeking nursing facility services or home or community-based services and who has a community spouse shall be required to expend those resources which are not protected for the needs of the community spouse in accordance with section 1924(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1396r-5(c)) on the costs of long-term care, burial arrangements, and any other expense deemed appropriate and authorized by the commissioner. An individual shall be ineligible for Medicaid services in a nursing facility or for home or community-based services under section 1915(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1396n(c)) if the individual expends funds in violation of this subparagraph. The period of ineligibility shall be the number of months resulting from dividing the uncompensated value of transferred resources and income by the average monthly private payment rate for nursing facility services in the State as determined by the commissioner. The period of ineligibility shall begin with the month that the individual would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid coverage for nursing facility services or home or community-based services.

    This subparagraph shall be operative only if all necessary approvals are received from the federal government including, but not limited to, approval of necessary State plan amendments and approval of any waivers.

    j. "Recipient" means any qualified applicant receiving benefits under this act.

    k. "Resident" means a person who is living in the State voluntarily with the intention of making his home here and not for a temporary purpose. Temporary absences from the State, with subsequent returns to the State or intent to return when the purposes of the absences have been accomplished, do not interrupt continuity of residence.

    l. "State Medicaid Commission" means the Governor, the Commissioner of Human Services, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, hereby constituted a commission to approve and direct the means and method for the payment of claims pursuant to this act.

    m. "Third party" means any person, institution, corporation, insurance company, group health plan as defined in section 607(1) of the federal "Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of 1974," 29 U.S.C. s.1167(1), service benefit plan, health maintenance organization, or other prepaid health plan, or public, private or governmental entity who is or may be liable in contract, tort, or otherwise by law or equity to pay all or part of the medical cost of injury, disease or disability of an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance payable under this act.

    n. "Governmental peer grouping system" means a separate class of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities administered by the State or county governments, established for the purpose of screening their reported costs and setting reimbursement rates under the Medicaid program that are reasonable and adequate to meet the costs that must be incurred by efficiently and economically operated State or county skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities.

    o. "Comprehensive maternity or pediatric care provider" means any person or public or private health care facility that is a provider and that is approved by the commissioner to provide comprehensive maternity care or comprehensive pediatric care as defined in subsection b. (18) and (19) of section 6 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-6).

    p. "Poverty level" means the official poverty level based on family size established and adjusted under Section 673(2) of Subtitle B, the "Community Services Block Grant Act," of Pub.L.97-35 (42 U.S.C. s.9902(2)).

(cf: P.L.1997, c.13, s.10)

    6. The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to effectuate the purposes of this act; except that, notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 to the contrary, the commissioner may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law, such regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to implement the provisions of this act, which shall be effective for a period not to exceed six months and may thereafter be amended, adopted or readopted by the commissioner in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410.

    7. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill establishes the Children's Health Care Coverage Program in the Department of Human Services pursuant to Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act, which was created by Subtitle J of Title IV of the federal "Balanced Budget Act of 1997," Pub.L.105-33. The program will provide subsidized private health insurance coverage, and other health care benefits as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, for children from birth through 18 years of age within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program.

    The Children's Health Care Coverage Program will require copayments and a premium contribution from families with incomes that exceed 150% of the official poverty level, which will be based upon a sliding income scale. The program will provide well-child and other preventive services, hospitalization, physician care, laboratory and x-ray services, prescription drugs, mental health services, and other services as determined by the commissioner.

    The bill also increases the Medicaid income eligibility limit for children ages 6 through 18 to 133% of the federal poverty level (i.e., up to $17,729 for a family of three and $21,347 for a family of four).     In New Jersey, under current law, children up to age 1 and those aged 1 through 5 are eligible for Medicaid if their family incomes do not exceed 185% and 133% of the federal poverty level, respectively; however, the Medicaid income eligibility limit for older children up to age 14 (as of October 1, 1997) is only 100% of the federal poverty level, and for children aged 15 to 18 is the regular Medicaid income eligibility standard.

    The implementation of the Children's Health Care Coverage Program and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility are expected to provide health insurance coverage for approximately 102,000 children and in the immediate future reduce the number of children without health care coverage in New Jersey by approximately 40%.

    Beginning January 1, 1998, New Jersey will invest $136 million ($88 million in federal funds and $48 million in State funds) to implement the Children's Health Care Coverage Program. It is anticipated that New Jersey will expand this effort to cover the remaining uninsured children in the State as public or private resources become available for this purpose, and utilizing federal government waivers as appropriate.

"Children's Health Care Coverage Act."