New Jersey Assembly Bill A2017

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22
• Report Pass: 9/15/22
• Engrossed: 10/3/22
• Refer: 10/3/22

Caption

Requires Medicaid Fraud Division to enter into data sharing agreement upon request of county to provide access to third party insurance liability data regarding certain COVID-19 related health claims.

Impact

The implications of A2017 are significant for local governance and public health administration. By enabling counties to examine claims and identify insurance coverage for services provided during the COVID-19 emergency period, this bill aims to relieve some of the financial burdens on publicly-funded health programs. If successful, counties will be better equipped to recover costs from private insurers, thereby ensuring that limited state resources can be allocated more efficiently. The requirement for insurance carriers to provide detailed data elements, including policyholder information, enhances transparency and accountability within the healthcare financing system.

Summary

Assembly Bill A2017 is an initiative designed to facilitate better access to health-related data regarding COVID-19 services provided to residents at a county level. Specifically, this bill mandates the Medicaid Fraud Division within the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller to engage in data sharing agreements with counties upon their request. The goal is to allow counties access to third-party insurance liability data, which is vital for determining whether individuals receiving health services related to COVID-19 have other forms of insurance coverage. This access to data aims to maximize the use of public funds and appropriately bill insurance carriers for relevant health services.

Contention

While the bill's objective is to strengthen local health funding, there may be concerns regarding data privacy and the logistics of effectively managing this data-sharing process. Critics may argue that compliance with both federal and state laws concerning data protection presents challenges. Furthermore, there are discussions around the potential risks of accessing sensitive personal information during a public health emergency. Stakeholders may also express worries about the efficacy of such data sharing among different counties and agencies, especially in light of varying local capacities and resources.