Requires DHS to issue guidance on housing-related services for Medicaid beneficiaries.

A4931

ASSEMBLY, No. 4931

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� KENYATTA STEWART

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires DHS to issue guidance on housing-related
services for Medicaid beneficiaries.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning Medicaid beneficiaries.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a.� Within 180 days of the
effective date of this act, Commissioner of Human Services shall issue guidance
to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of
Human Services, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing
finance agencies to connect individuals who are receiving medical assistance
under the Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1
et seq.) to Medicaid housing-related services and supports and other housing
resources in an integrated manner.� At a minimum, such guidance shall include
information that:�

���� (1)� establishes, or
describes, the State�s framework for coordinated interagency housing-services assistance
under the Medicaid program;

���� (2)�� simplifies health care
services for housing and homelessness service providers and simplifying housing
support services for health care service providers to understand the respective
sectors;

���� (3) provides guidance with
respect to tracking common outcome measures, including housing stability rates
and health outcomes disaggregated by race; and

���� (4)� describes existing
authorities under which the Medicaid program may make funds available to
providers of housing-related services and supports to build information
technology and financial systems and establish adequate infrastructure and
staffing levels to seek Medicaid reimbursement.

���� b.� Within 12 months, the
division shall develop a memorandum of understanding between the division,
public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies that:

���� (1)� coordinates
housing-related services and supports provided under the Medicaid program with
other housing resources by aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility
determination processes, and outcome measures, including housing stability and
health outcomes disaggregated by race; and

���� (2) encourages providers of
housing-related services and supports to seek reimbursement for such services
and supports through the Medicaid program, including by:

���� (a) explaining how such
providers may receive such reimbursement;

���� (b) helping such providers
understand the eligibility determination process for housing-related services
and supports offered under the Medicaid program.

���� c.� The �division shall
provide technical assistance to public housing agencies, Continuums of Care,
and housing finance agencies, who are providing Medicaid housing-related
services and supports and other housing resources to Mediciaid beneficiaries,
which technical assistance may include, but not be limited to, the provision of
training webinars, reimbursement manuals, and provider enrollment support.

���� 2.� No later than two years
after the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Human Services shall
prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991,
c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature a report that includes:

���� a.� information on the
progress of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the
Department of Human Services, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and
housing finance agencies in aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility
determination processes, and outcome tracking;

���� b.� information on outcome
measures associated with the housing-related services and supports offered
under the Medicaid program, including, but not limited to:� housing stability
rates; hospitalization rates; emergency department usage rates; and any
Medicaid cost savings;

���� c.� information on the
adoption by such agencies and Continuums of Care of recommendations made in the
guidance issued pursuant to section 1 of this act;

���� d. feedback from such agencies
and Continuums of Care on such guidance and challenges faced by such agencies
and Continuums of Care in connecting individuals receiving medical assistance
under the Medicaid program with housing-related services and supports and other
housing resources; and

���� e.� an analysis on whether any
State plan amendments or waivers are necessary to maximize funding for housing-related
services and supports offered under the Medicaid program.

���� 3.� This act shall take effect
immediately, and shall expire six months after the issuance of the report
required pursuant to section 2 of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the
Department of Human Services to issue guidance on housing-related services for
Medicaid beneficiaries.� Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services
will issue guidance to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services
(division) in the Department of Human Services, public housing agencies,
Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies to connect individuals who are
receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program established pursuant to
P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) to Medicaid housing-related services and
supports and other housing resources in an integrated manner.� At a minimum,
such guidance will include information that:�

���� 1)� establishes, or describes,
the State�s framework for coordinated interagency housing-services assistance
under the Medicaid program;

���� 2)��� simplifies health care
services for housing and homelessness service providers and simplifying housing
support services for health care service providers to understand the respective
sectors;

���� 3) provides guidance with
respect to tracking common outcome measures; and

���� 4)� describes existing
authorities under which the Medicaid program may make funds available to
providers of housing-related services and supports to build information
technology and financial systems and establish adequate infrastructure and
staffing levels to seek Medicaid reimbursement.

���� The bill requires the division
to develop a memorandum of understanding between the division, public housing
agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies that:� coordinates
housing-related services and supports provided under the Medicaid program with
other housing resources by aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility
determination processes, and outcome measures; and encourages providers of
housing-related services and supports to seek reimbursement for such services
and supports through the Medicaid program.

���� The bill requires division to provide
technical assistance to public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and
housing finance agencies, who are providing Medicaid housing-related services
and supports and other housing resources to Mediciaid beneficiaries, which
technical assistance may include, but not be limited to, the provision of
training webinars, reimbursement manuals, and provider enrollment support.

���� No later than two years after
the effective date of the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services will prepare
and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report that includes:�

���� 1)��� information on the
progress of the division, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and
housing finance agencies in aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility
determination processes, and outcome tracking; information on outcome measures
associated with the housing-related services and supports offered under the
Medicaid program;

���� 2)��� information on the
adoption by such agencies and Continuums of Care of recommendations made in the
guidance issued pursuant to the bill;

���� 3)��� feedback from such
agencies and Continuums of Care on such guidance and challenges faced by such
agencies and Continuums of Care in connecting individuals receiving medical
assistance under the Medicaid program with housing-related services and
supports and other housing resources; and

���� 4)��� an analysis on whether
any State plan amendments or waivers are necessary to maximize funding for
housing-related services and supports offered under the Medicaid program.