SENATE, No. 3228

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 27, 2022

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Senator  ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Revises eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning adult medical day care and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

 

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

 

     1.  a.  As used in this section:

     "Activity of daily living" means a function or task that is completed for self-care.  “Activity of daily living” includes, but is not limited to:  dressing, bathing, toilet use, transfer, locomotion, bed mobility, and eating.

     "Adult medical day care" means a community-based group program designed to meet the needs of functionally or cognitively impaired adults through an individual plan of care structured to provide a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day but less than 24 hours.

     b.  A Medicaid enrollee shall be deemed eligible to receive adult medical day care services if the individual:

     (1) requires assistance or supervision with an activity of daily living;

     (2) possesses a letter or prescription from a physician recommending adult medical day care services; and

     (3) furnishes an up-to-date copy of the individual’s medical history and a current report of a physical examination of the individual completed by a physician.  

 

     2.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

 

     3.  The Commissioner of Human Services may adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.

 

     4.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill revises the eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services.

     Under the bill, a Medicaid enrollee is to be deemed eligible to receive adult medical day care services if the individual:  (1) requires assistance or supervision with at least one activity of daily living; (2) possesses a letter or prescription from a physician recommending the individual receive adult medical day care services; and (3) furnishes an up-to-date copy of the individual’s medical history and a current report of a physical examination of the individual completed by a physician.

     The bill defines "activity of daily living" to mean a function or task that is completed for self-care.  “Activity of daily living” is to include, but is not to be limited to:  dressing, bathing, toilet use, transfer, locomotion, bed mobility, and eating.  "Adult medical day care" means a community-based group program designed to meet the needs of functionally or cognitively impaired adults through an individual plan of care structured to provide a variety of health, social, and related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day but less than 24 hours.

     Adult medical day care allows individuals with a functional impairment to remain in a community setting, rather than being institutionalized, and is the preferred method of providing services to this population.  It is the sponsor’s belief that the current eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services are too onerous, and prevent people who would benefit from adult medical day care services from receiving those services while remaining in their own communities.  It is the sponsor’s intent to ease the eligibility criteria for adult medical day care services in order to expand the population benefitting from those services.