Mercer County Goverment: Commissioners Approve Ordinance Ensuring Low Income Patients Continue To Receive Quality Care

Press release from the Mercer County Government:

04/22/2021 1:54 PM

Trenton – On Thursday, April 22, The Mercer County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an Ordinance brought forth by Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes which would ensure local hospitals continue to provide necessary services to low-income and uninsured patients. The ordinance is based on a pilot program signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy in 2018.

P.L. 2018, Chapter 136 and N.J.A.C. 10:52B establish the New Jersey County Option Hospital Fee Pilot Program to support local hospitals and to ensure that they continue to provide necessary services to low-income residents. The Act limits eligibility to a maximum of seven counties and delineates criteria for eligibility.

All monies collected during this five-year pilot program would be transferred to the New Jersey Department of Human Services which allows it to be eligible for Medicaid matching funds. The Department of Human services will use this revenue to enhance Medicaid payments to hospitals participating in the program.  Those funds can then be used to provide quality care to low-income and uninsured patients.

Participating facilities include; Capital Health-Hopewell, Capital Health Regional, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Hamilton, St. Francis Medical Center, St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center and Princeton House Behavioral Health.

“This program is a win for everyone.  It benefits our hospitals, our most venerable patients, and all of our residents due to the increased federal dollars it provides,” said Commissioner Nina D. Melker. I commend our Governor and Legislature for creating such an innovative pilot program and also commend our County Executive for his oversight in making the program a reality in Mercer County.”

This press release was produced by the Mercer County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.