SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3992

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 11, 2026

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3992.

This bill increases the cap on personal care assistant (PCA) services from 40 hours to 91 hours per week for a Medicaid beneficiary determined clinically eligible for nursing facility level of care.  The bill defines “personal care assistant services” to mean health related tasks associated with the cueing, supervision, or the completion of activities of daily living, as well as related tasks.  PCA services are certified as medically necessary; delivered in accordance with a beneficiary's written plan of care; and performed by a qualified individual, typically in a beneficiary's home, and under the supervision of a registered professional nurse.

     Currently, pursuant to State regulation, the Medicaid program limits PCA services to a maximum of 40 hours per week per beneficiary.  Additional hours of service may be approved by the Department of Human Services on a case-by-case basis and based on exceptional circumstances. 

     Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Human Services to approve, as medically necessary, up to 91 hours of PCA services per calendar week for any eligible Medicaid beneficiary who is clinically eligible for nursing facility level of care. The department is also required to modify the existing assessment tool for PCA services to reflect the provisions of this bill.