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 will also be required to post inspection reports for residential health care facilities, including serious health and safety violations, on its website within 72 hours of an inspection. Furthermore, the bill allows for the amendment of a facility's license to reduce bed capacity based on actual utilization.

The bill also revises the assessment structure for hospitals, increasing the per adjusted admission charge from $10 to $12.50 effective July 1, 2025, with funds earmarked for health planning and administrative costs. It establishes a Safety Net Graduate Medical Education funding pool for eligible hospitals based on their Relative Medicaid Percentage (RMP). Additionally, the bill outlines a new assessment process for licensed ambulatory care facilities, implementing a tiered fee structure based on gross receipts, with exemptions for facilities earning under $300,000. The assessment rates will gradually decrease from 3.5% in Fiscal Year 2005 to 2.5% starting in Fiscal Year 2026, and all facilities must report their gross receipts, facing penalties for non-compliance. The generated revenues will be deposited into the Health Care Subsidy Fund, and the bill is set to take effect immediately upon approval, which occurred on June 30, 2025.

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