TRENTON, NJ – A measure advancing through the New Jersey Legislature would streamline the process for physicians applying to become NJ FamilyCare providers, aiming to reduce delays that have left some patients waiting for care.
Assembly Bill 2804, recently reported favorably by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee, directs state agencies to coordinate more closely on physician licensure and enrollment data.
The bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services and the State Board of Medical Examiners to jointly develop a faster, more efficient system for reviewing NJ FamilyCare provider applications.
Key Points
- Assembly Bill 2804 mandates a coordinated review system for NJ FamilyCare provider applications.
- The State Board of Medical Examiners must share licensure data with the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services within five days.
- The bill aims to accelerate approvals without changing existing licensure or enrollment requirements.
Improving coordination between agencies
Under the proposal, the State Board of Medical Examiners would be required to provide the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services with each applicant’s medical license number within five days of issuance. If a license is denied, the board must notify the division within the same timeframe.
This change is designed to eliminate bottlenecks in communication that have historically slowed the approval of new providers in the state’s publicly funded NJ FamilyCare program, which serves more than 2 million low-income residents.
Faster processing of provider applications
Once the division receives an application containing licensure information—or documentation showing that licensure is pending—it must immediately begin processing the application. Within 15 days of obtaining a physician’s license number, the division must notify the applicant of any missing information or additional documentation required for approval.
The bill establishes a 365-day window from its effective date for both agencies to develop and implement the new system, ensuring accountability in execution.
Maintaining standards while cutting red tape
The measure clarifies that it will not alter any existing licensure or enrollment requirements, nor will it compel the state to approve an application before receiving the provider’s National Provider Identifier number. Lawmakers emphasize that the bill’s intent is administrative efficiency, not regulatory leniency.
Legislative intent and next steps
Members of the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee said the bill reflects a practical step toward expanding access to healthcare by speeding up the onboarding of qualified providers. Supporters believe that improving coordination between the Board of Medical Examiners and the Division of Medical Assistance will help strengthen NJ FamilyCare’s statewide provider network.
The legislation now moves forward for further consideration by the full Assembly, with lawmakers expecting bipartisan support given its focus on improving healthcare access and administrative efficiency.
