ASSEMBLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 378

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 22, 2024

      The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee reports favorably an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 378.

      This substitute bill requires health insurance carriers to accommodate reasonable requests by a covered person, or the parent or guardian of a covered person who is a minor, to receive communications of protected health information, including Explanations of Benefits, from the carrier by alternative means or at alternative locations, if the covered person is receiving sensitive services or clearly states that the disclosure of all or part of that information could endanger the covered person.

      The bill also requires health care providers, hospitals or other health care facilities to accommodate reasonable requests by an individual, or the parent or guardian of an individual who is a minor, to receive communications of protected health information from the health care provider, hospital, or other health care facility by alternative means or at alternative locations, if the individual is receiving sensitive services or clearly states that the disclosure of all or part of that information could endanger the individual.

      Pursuant to the bill, a carrier, health care provider, hospital, or other health care facility is to provide the communications of protected health information in the manner requested by the covered person or individual until the request is cancelled in writing by the covered person or individual who made the request or as permitted under federal regulations.