Summary
The Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) submitted an application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on February 28, 2022 to renew the New Jersey FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration. This demonstration, authorized under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act, governs the operations of significant components of New Jersey’s Medicaid program and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This demonstration is currently in its second five-year performance period, which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2022. The application and supporting documents submitted to CMS are available below.
On September 10, 2021, DMAHS had posted a draft version of this renewal proposal and requested public review and comment. We received over 120 public comments, and have made numerous changes and clarifications to our final proposal in response. A detailed summary of public comments and our responses begins on page 73 of the renewal proposal.
CMS is currently reviewing New Jersey’s application renewal for completeness and will subsequently post it on Medicaid.gov. At that time, it will be open it for a 30 day federal comment period. Stakeholders should submit any subsequent comments on the proposal through the federal comment process.
When developing our renewal proposal, DMAHS focused on several overarching policy goals.
- Maintain momentum on existing demonstration elements:
- Continue improvements in quality of care and efficiency associated with managed care; improve access to critical services in the community through Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and other home and community based services programs; and create innovative service delivery models to address substance use disorders.
- Update existing demonstration terms and conditions to address implementation challenges, and accurately capture how the delivery system has evolved in New Jersey over the past several years.
- Expand our ability to better serve the whole person:
- Test new approaches to addressing the social determinants of health, with a particular emphasis on housing-related issues.
- Encourage greater integration of behavioral and physical health, and continued availability of appropriate behavioral health services for all Medicaid beneficiaries.
- Serve our communities the best way possible:
- Address known gaps and improve quality of care in maternal and child health.
- Expand health equity analyses to support better access and outcomes for communities of color and people with disabilities, while also seeking to improve the experience of other historically marginalized groups where data may not be available for analysis (e.g. LGBTQ identity).
Final Demonstration Renewal Proposal Documents
NJ Familycare Comprehensive Demonstration Renewal Proposal
Attachment 1: Quality and Monitoring Activities
Attachment 2: NJ Familycare Comprehensive Demonstration Interim Evaluation
Attachment 3: NJ Familycare Comprehensive Substance Use Disorder Demonstration Interim Evaluation
Draft Demonstration Documents
1115 Demonstration Renewal Draft Proposal
Appendix A: Quality and Monitoring Activities
Public Notice
Abbreviated Pubic Notice
Full Public Notice
Public Forums
New Jersey hosted two public hearings to solicit feedback and stakeholder comment. The public hearings were held virtually due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. To ensure statewide public access, the hearings were accessible via web conferencing, telephone, ASL-interpreter and closed captioning services. The recordings of both hearings are available below:
- Special Meeting of the MAAC on the 1115 Renewal Public Hearing September 13, 2021 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon.
Audio Visual Recording
*Passcode 7*ij2JeB
- Public Hearing on the 1115 Renewal September 27, 2021 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM.
Audio Visual Recording
*Passcode: t@=A8W3v
A copy of the 1115 NJ FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration Renewal presentation (used in public hearings) can be found here.
Public Comment
Comments or inquiries for the draft version of this proposal were due by COB, October 11, 2021. Please note that comments were accepted after October 11, 2021, but DHS may not have been able to consider those comments prior to the submission of the application to CMS.
Comments or inquiries can be sent to:
By e-mail: DMAHS.CMWcomments@dhs.nj.gov
Or
By mail or fax:
Margaret Rose
Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services
Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
P.O. Box 712, Mail Code #26
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0712
Fax: 609-588-7343
After New Jersey reviews comments submitted during this state public comment period, the Department will submit a revised application to CMS. Interested parties will also have opportunity to officially comment during a subsequent federal public comment period.
Further information about the 1115 New Jersey FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration can be found on the CMS website here.