This bill mandates the establishment of a program by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to certify family members or approved third-party individuals as certified homemaker-home health aides (CHHAs) for enrollees in Medicare, Medicaid, or NJ FamilyCare who are 65 years or older and qualify for CHHA services. Under the supervision of a registered professional nurse, these certified individuals will provide home health aide services through a home care services agency, which will be reimbursed at a minimum rate of $30 per hour. The DMAHS is also tasked with developing an assessment tool to identify eligible enrollees.

To become certified, family members or approved third-party individuals must complete all necessary training and testing as required by state and federal law, with the home care services agency covering all associated costs. Importantly, these individuals will not be required to repay the agency for certification expenses. The bill also stipulates that the tasks assigned to these certified aides must align with the delegation rules set by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The DMAHS is required to implement this program within six months of the bill's effective date, and the DHS must seek any necessary state plan amendments or waivers to ensure federal financial participation in Medicaid expenditures.