Bill > A2631

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "Long-Term Care Facility Infectious Disease Preparedness and Home Health Care Study Commission" (commission). The purpose of the study commission is to analyze the ability of long-term care facilities to respond to an infectious disease outbreak and to determine methods to encourage home health care in the State. Specifically, the commission is to examine policies and procedures established by long-term care facilities to respond to an infectious disease outbreak and to curb the spread of the disease; analyze whether long-term care facilities have a sufficient number of employees to meet residents' needs in the event of an infectious disease outbreak within the long-term care facility; make recommendations as to how long-term care facilities may better respond to an infectious disease outbreak; analyze methods to retain home health aides within the State; and examine methods to encourage home health care in the State. Under the bill, "home health care" means nursing and other home health care services rendered to a person in the person's place of residence, under the following conditions: (1) on a part-time and intermittent basis, except when full-time or 24-hour services are needed on a short-term basis; (2) if continuing hospitalization would otherwise have been required if home health care were not provided; and (3) pursuant to a physician's order and under a plan of care established by the responsible physician in collaboration with a home health care provider, which plan is to be periodically reviewed and approved by the physician. "Long-term care facility" means a veterans' home or a nursing home, assisted living residence, comprehensive personal care home, residential health care facility, or dementia care home licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). The commission is to consist of 15 members as follows: the Commissioner of Human Services, or the commissioner's designee; the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee; and 13 members of the public with significant operational, financial, or managerial expertise in the home health care and long-term care facility industry, four of whom are to be representatives of entities currently operating a long-term care facility or home health care service in the State. The bill provides that not later than 12 months after the initial meeting of the commission, it is to prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and Legislature presenting its analysis of long-term care facility infectious disease preparedness and methods to encourage home health care in the State. The commission is to expire on the first day of the third month following the submission of its written report to the Governor and Legislature.

AI Summary

Chris DePhillips (R)*,  Vicky Flynn (R),  Greg McGuckin (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Infrastructure Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document