The Conclusion of the Lame Duck Session
Happy Friday! The Lame Duck Session has officially concluded. I am very happy to report that all of the scope bills we were opposed to did NOT make it to the Governor’s Desk. Those bills as of 1-8-2024 received no further action. I expect that we will see all of those reintroduced in the new Legislative Session.
Many thanks to our leadership, board members, general membership and coalition partners for their support!
TRANSPARENCY IN PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS
A1255/S1794 Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act
Current Status: On the Governor’s Desk
PAYMENT PARITY FOR TELE-HEALTH (One year extension)
A5757/S4127Revises Reimbursement Payments for provides using telemedicine and telehealth
Current Status: Signed into Law
BILLS THAT DID NOT REACH THE GOVERNOR’S DESK:
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE FOR APNs
S1522 A2296 Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advance practice nurses.
Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session
NURSE MIDWIVES NEW SCOPE AND LICENSING BOARD
S4042/A5674 Creates Midwifery Licensing Act
Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session
OPTOMETRIST SURGERY BILL
S3841/A5445- Updates scope of practice of optometrists
Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session
ATHLETIC TRAINERS - Scope Changes
A560/S135 – Revises the “Athletic Training Licensure Act”
Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session
ICYMI -TELEMEDICINE PARITY EXTENSION SIGNED INTO LAW
New Law Extends Pay Parity for Telehealth and Telemedicine Providers through the End of 2024
A new law, sponsored by Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr., and Senator Vin Gopal to extend pay parity for telehealth and telemedicine providers until the end of 2024was signed by Governor Murphy on December 21. 2023. Under the new law, P.L. 2023, c. 199, reimbursement payments for providers using telemedicine and telehealth will continue to be equal to or no less than the reimbursement received for in-person consultations through next year.
Many health providers began offering telehealth services to their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government through the CARES Act stipulated pay parity for Medicare and Medicaid, and many private insurers followed suit. Pay parity rates are set to expire at the end of this year, and the federal government has not yet decided to further extend pay parity or to make it permanent. This legislation aims to ensure that important telehealth services are not lost at the end of the year.
During the previous legislative session, Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed telehealth pay parity legislation and directed the Department of Health to access the costs and impacts of the practice in New Jersey. The DOH expects the study will be ready next year. By extending pay parity through the end of 2024, the new law provides legislators the time to review the data once the study is complete to make informed recommendations.
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