The Self-Directed Care Access Act mandates the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a unified online portal for individuals participating in or applying for Medicaid waiver programs that provide home and community-based services. This portal will facilitate an initial screening assessment to determine eligibility for self-direction of services. Based on the assessment results, applicants will be automatically referred to suitable Medicaid waiver programs that allow for self-direction. The act aims to streamline the application process and reduce administrative barriers for individuals and families seeking to access these services.

Additionally, the bill requires DHS to implement a single, standardized application for all relevant Medicaid waiver programs and to establish uniform documentation requirements for participants hiring self-directed employees. The Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with applying for necessary state plan amendments or waivers to ensure compliance with federal regulations and to secure federal funding for state Medicaid expenditures. The provisions of the act will take effect twelve months after its enactment, with the intent to simplify access to self-directed home and community-based services.