Bill > S1972

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "New Jersey Living Donor Support Program" (program) in the Department of Health (department). The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to cover eligible expenses incurred by a living donor in the process of making a living donation of an anatomical gift for the purpose of transplantation into another individual. The Commissioner of Health will determine which expenses incurred in the process of making a live donation will be eligible for reimbursement under the program, including, but not limited to: lost wages, including demonstrated lost non-employment income; the economic value of sick or vacation days expended; travel and lodging costs; child care and elder care expenses; and costs of medication and care. Subject to the availability of funds, the program will pay for the eligible expenses of a living donor who is a resident of this State and makes a living donation, in which the ultimate recipient is a resident of the State. Eligible expenses will be reimbursed as soon as practicable after they have been incurred, including by pre-payment when appropriate. The commissioner may impose a limitation on the amount of reimbursement made for lost wages for a living donor making an annual income in excess of $125,000, or for eligible expenses in excess of $14,000 for any single living donor. The commissioner may include additional expenses to be eligible for reimbursement under the program. If a living donor's eligible expenses are covered in whole or in part by any other third-party payer, the third-party payer will be the primary payer and the New Jersey Living Donor Support Program will be the payer of last resort. The department may contract with a third-party for the administration of the program. Factors such as the cost of the program to the State and the usability of the program by living donors and health care providers will be taken into consideration when awarding such a contract. This bill appropriates from the General Fund to the department such sums as will be necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.

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Joe Vitale (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document