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Bill > S1505


NJ S1505

NJ S1505
Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for persons 18 or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs.


summary

Introduced
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires health insurance carriers, including insurance companies, health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, or health maintenance organizations authorized to issue health benefits plans in New Jersey or any entity contracted to administer health benefits in connection with the State Health Benefits Program or School Employees' Health Benefits Program to provide coverage for persons 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs. The bill requires that the benefits be provided for expenses incurred in conducting medical services, procedures, or testing, nursing care, and the purchase of medical equipment or prescription drugs to persons 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs, provided the attending licensed health care provider determines it medically necessary. In addition, the bill requires that health insurance carriers and contracts for health benefits or prescription drug benefits purchased by the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program approve any benefit for a person 18 years of age or younger with diagnosed complex medical needs within three days of receipt of a letter from the attending licensed health care provider and shall not condition the payment of any benefit for a medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drug upon any pre-approval or precertification of any kind if that medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drug is otherwise covered under the health benefits plan and it has been prescribed by a licensed health care provider.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that health insurance carriers, which include insurance companies, health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, and health maintenance organizations authorized to operate in New Jersey, as well as entities administering benefits for the State Health Benefits Program or School Employees' Health Benefits Program, must provide coverage for individuals 18 years old or younger who have been diagnosed with complex medical needs. Complex medical needs are defined as conditions that have a high degree of outcome variation and require specialized skills to prevent serious adverse outcomes, or conditions that are emergent, persistent, substantially disabling, or life-threatening, requiring interventions across various care domains. This coverage applies to medical services, procedures, testing, nursing care, and the purchase of medical equipment or prescription drugs, provided a licensed healthcare provider deems them medically necessary. Furthermore, the bill requires that any benefit approval for these young individuals be made within three days of receiving a letter from their attending healthcare provider, and crucially, it prohibits insurance carriers from requiring pre-approval or precertification for any covered medical service, procedure, test, nursing care, or purchase of medical equipment or prescription drugs if it has been prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee (on 01/09/2024)

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