Section 17B:27A-19.34 - Small employer health benefits plan to cover newborn home nurse visitationa. Every small employer health benefits plan that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L. 1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.) or approved for issuance or renewal in this State, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any person covered thereunder for expenses for services provided under the newborn home nurse visitation program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 2021, c. 187(C.26:2H-159). The plan shall: (1) provide coverage for the services provided by the newborn home nurse visitation program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 2021, c. 187(C.26:2H-159);(2) notify a covered person of the services provided by the newborn home nurse visitation program, upon application by the covered person for coverage of a newborn infant;(3) ensure that the plan does not contain any provision that requires a covered person to receive the services provided by the newborn home nurse visitation program as a condition of coverage, or that denies or limits benefits to the covered person if that person declines the services provided under the program; and(4) have the discretion to determine how best to reimburse for the expenses incurred for services provided under the newborn home nurse visitation program, including, but not limited to, utilizing: (a) a value-based payment methodology;(b) an invoice claim process;(c) a capitated payment arrangement;(d) a payment methodology that takes into account the need for an agency or organization providing services under the program to expand its capacity to provide services and address health disparities; or(e) any other payment arrangement agreed to by the carrier and an agency or organization providing services under the program.b. Any copayment, coinsurance, or deductible that may be required under the health benefits plan for such services shall be waived.c. Every carrier that is subject to the provisions of this section shall submit to the Department of Banking and Insurance, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, a report on the claims submitted for services provided under the newborn home nurse visitation program. The information contained in the report shall be shared with the Department of Children and Families and used by that department to assess the newborn home nurse visitation program pursuant to subsection a. of section 4 of P.L. 2021, c. 187(C.26:2H-161).
d.(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the contract shall specify that no deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement may be imposed on the coverage required pursuant to this section.(2) A small employer health benefits plan that qualifies as a high deductible health plan shall provide benefits for expenses incurred for services provided under the newborn home nurse visitation program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 2021, c. 187(C.26:2H-159) at the lowest deductible and other cost-sharing requirement permitted for a high deductible health plan under section 223(c)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s. 223).(3) A small employer health benefits plan that meets the requirements of a catastrophic plan, as defined in 45 C.F.R. s. 156.155, shall provide benefits for expenses incurred for services provided under the newborn home nurse visitation program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 2021, c. 187(C.26:2H-159) at the lowest deductible and other cost-sharing requirement to the extent permitted for a catastrophic plan under federal law.e. The provisions of this section shall apply to all health benefit plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.Added by L. 2021, c. 187, s. 11, eff. 7/29/2021.