The bill amends Section 12 of P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-12) to strengthen operational requirements for health care facilities in New Jersey. It introduces a centralized discharge planning system and mandates that no patient can be discharged against their will if they are not receiving state or federal assistance. Additionally, health care facilities are required to maintain a uniform system of cost accounting and reporting. The Department of Health is tasked with posting inspection reports for residential health care facilities, including serious violations, on its website within 72 hours of an inspection. The bill also allows for the amendment of a facility's license to reduce bed capacity based on actual utilization.

Moreover, the bill modifies the assessment structure for hospitals, increasing the per adjusted admission charge from $10 to $12.50 starting July 1, 2025, with revenues supporting health planning and administrative costs. It establishes a Safety Net Graduate Medical Education funding pool for hospitals with a high Relative Medicaid Percentage and outlines a uniform gross receipts assessment rate for licensed ambulatory care facilities, starting at 3.5% and decreasing to 2.5% by Fiscal Year 2026. Facilities must submit annual reports on patient visit volumes and revenues, with penalties for underreporting. The bill also allows hospitals to appeal calculation errors related to subsidy allocations and exempts off-site ambulatory care service facilities from the assessment. The revenues from these assessments will be deposited into the Health Care Subsidy Fund, supporting healthcare services in the state, and the act will take effect immediately upon approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2H-12, 26:2H-18.57
Advance Law: 26:2H-12, 26:2H-18.57
Pamphlet Law: 26:2H-12, 26:2H-18.57