SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2988

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2024

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2988.

      As amended, this bill updates section 11 of P.L.2021, c.310 to extend the end date from December 31, 2024 to July 1, 2026, during which time a health benefits plan in this State is to provide coverage and payment for health care services delivered to a covered person through telemedicine or telehealth at a provider reimbursement rate that equals the provider reimbursement rate that is applicable, when the services are delivered through in-person contact and consultation in New Jersey, provided the services are otherwise covered by the health benefits plan when delivered through in-person contact and consultation in New Jersey.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to further extend the coverage and payment for health care services delivered through telemedicine or telehealth to July 1, 2026.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services concludes that the bill will result in an indeterminate one and a half year increase in State expenditures and revenues.  NJ FamilyCare expenditures will increase by an indeterminate amount in order to extend by one and a half years the statutory requirement that NJ FamilyCare reimburse for telemedicine and telehealth services at a rate that equals the provider rate paid when the same services are delivered on an in-person basis, provided the services are otherwise covered when delivered in person in the State.

      Any increase in NJ FamilyCare expenditures will result in additional State revenues, in the form of federal reimbursements for eligible State expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.