SENATE, No. 5035

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 6, 2026

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DHS to establish framework to increase collaboration among certain Statewide entities to optimize federal and State Medicaid resources; appropriates $250,000.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning collaboration of Statewide entities to optimize Medicaid resources, supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes, and appropriating $250,000.   

 

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

 

     1.    a. Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, the Department of Human Services shall develop a framework by which the State may increase collaboration between State academic institutions, healthcare providers including Level 1 trauma centers as designated by the Department of Health, and Medicaid managed care organizations to optimize federal and State Medicaid resources needed to support long-term, sustainable improvements in the quality of healthcare across New Jersey.

     b.    The Department of Human Services may contract with a third-party entity to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

 

     2.    There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services the sum of $250,000 to implement the provisions of this act.

 

     3.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for any federal Medicaid waivers or State plan amendments as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act and ensure continued federal reimbursement for State expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.

 

     4.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the Department of Human Services (department), within 180 of the effective date of the bill, to develop a framework by which the State may increase collaboration between State academic institutions, healthcare providers including Level 1 trauma centers as designated by the Department of Health, and Medicaid managed care organizations to optimize federal and State Medicaid resources needed to support long-term, sustainable improvements in the quality of healthcare across New Jersey.  The department is permitted to contract with a third-party entity to develop this framework, and is required to apply for any federal Medicaid waivers or State plan amendments  necessary to implement this provision and ensure continued federal reimbursement for State expenditures under the Medicaid program.  Finally, the bill appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to the department to fulfill these provisions.