TRENTON, NJ – A measure advancing through the New Jersey Legislature seeks to increase Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates for pediatric special care nursing facilities, which provide around-the-clock medical and rehabilitative care for medically fragile children. The proposal, Assembly Bill 2940, was reported favorably by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee on May 6, 2024.
Under the bill, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) within the Department of Human Services would be required to establish a minimum reimbursement rate of $950 per patient per day for qualifying pediatric special care nursing facilities. The increased rate would apply only to facilities that comply with all state and federal laws related to licensure, patient safety, and quality of care.
The legislation also appropriates from the state’s General Fund the amount necessary to implement the higher reimbursement rate. Supporters say the change is essential to help facilities manage rising operational costs and maintain the level of skilled staffing required to care for children with complex medical needs.
New Jersey currently has four such pediatric facilities participating in Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare: the Pediatric Long Term Care Center at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and Toms River, the Phoenix Center for Rehabilitation and Pediatrics in Haskell, and the Voorhees Pediatric Facility in Voorhees.
The bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024–2025 legislative session and has undergone technical review.
Assembly Bill 2940 would establish a $950 daily Medicaid reimbursement rate for pediatric special care nursing facilities to support care for medically fragile children.