ASSEMBLY AGING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1987

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 12, 2024

      The Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1987.

      As amended by the committee, this bill authorizes home care for individuals who are disabled or elderly with mobility issues and requires health insurance coverage therefor.

      Under the bill, a health care professional is to be permitted to provide care or treatment to an individual who is disabled or elderly with mobility issues in the home of the individual if the individual is unable to present for an in-person visit in a health care facility, as documented by a health care professional in the medical record of the individual based upon the good faith clinical judgment of the health care professional, and if the health care professional is able to provide adequate medical care or treatment in the home of the individual who is disabled or elderly with mobility issues in a manner that is consistent with the clinical standards for treatment in the applicable specialty.

      Further, the bill requires health insurance carriers, including insurance companies, health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey, and any entity contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program or School Employees’ Health Benefits Program, to cover home care. 

      The bill defines “home care” to mean preventative, primary, specialty, or urgent care or treatment provided by a health care professional to an individual who is disabled or elderly with mobility issues in the home of the individual if the individual is unable to present for an in-person visit in a health care facility, as reasonably documented by a health care professional in the medical record of the individual based upon the good faith clinical judgment of the health care professional, and if the health care professional is able to provide adequate medical care or treatment in the home of the individual in a manner that is consistent with the clinical standards for treatment in the applicable specialty.  “Home care” excludes custodial care.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments add language to clarify that “elderly” means those persons 65 years and older with mobility issues and a “health care professional” means a person licensed to practice a health care professional pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes and a nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist.