SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3438

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 3, 2025

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3438.

      As amended, this bill provides Medicaid coverage for motorized wheelchairs for nursing facility residents under certain circumstances.  The bill requires the Medicaid program and the NJ FamilyCare program to provide coverage for a motorized wheelchair for an enrollee residing in a nursing facility if the enrollee is prescribed the motorized wheelchair by the enrollee’s licensed physician or primary healthcare provider.

      Under the bill, the enrollee will be granted a possessory interest for the motorized wheelchair for as long as the enrollee requires use of the equipment, even if the enrollee no longer resides in the nursing facility provided that the enrollee continues to be eligible for coverage for a motorized wheelchair under the NJ FamilyCare program.  When the enrollee no longer needs such equipment, possession and control will revert to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (division) in the Department of Human Services.  The nursing facility, or the enrollee if the enrollee no longer resides in the nursing facility, will notify the division in writing when such equipment is no longer in use.

      The Commissioner of Human Services will apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments provide that an enrollee who satisfies the criteria provided under the bill will be granted a possessory interest for the motorized wheelchair for as long as the enrollee requires use of the equipment, even if the enrollee no longer resides in the nursing facility provided that the enrollee continues to be eligible for coverage for a motorized wheelchair under the NJ FamilyCare program.  The committee amendments remove a requirement from the criteria that required the enrollee to receive prior authorization for the motorized wheelchair from the enrollee’s managed care organization.

      The committee amendments remove the bill’s definition of “managed care organization.”

      The committee amendments clarify that the nursing facility or enrollee will notify the division when a motorized wheelchair is no longer in use.  As introduced, the bill required the nursing facility to notify the enrollee’s managed care organization.

      The committee amendments make a technical change concerning terminology.