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Assembly Committee Advances Bill Providing Financial Relief to Ambulatory Care Facilities Through Deferred Payments

In an effort to provide financial relief to facilities providing ambulatory care, also referred to as outpatient care, three Assembly Democrats sponsor a bill to defer the upcoming payment these facilities owe the Department of Health (DOH). The Assembly Health Committee advanced the legislation Thursday.

Under the bill (A-4201), the quarterly assessment ambulatory care facilities (ACF) normally owe the DOH on June 15 would be deferred by 90 days. Upon the legislation advancing, Assembly sponsors Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), Louis Greenwald (D-Camden, Burlington) and Nancy Pinkin (D-Middlesex) released the following joint statement:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an economic toll on businesses throughout New Jersey, and ambulatory care centers are no exception.

“Elective surgeries were halted for two months in order to reduce the burden on our state’s healthcare system and direct personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals overrun with sick patients. Many people were also unable or unwilling to have scans performed or receive any in-person medical care unless absolutely necessary while residents remained under the stay-at-home order.

“As such, ACFs have seen a significant reduction in revenue this quarter and are only just beginning to see an increase in the number of patients requiring their services. Expecting these facilities to pay an assessment at this time would pose an undue financial burden.

“The loss of ACFs would significantly reduce the quality and affordability of health care throughout our state, which is why we must give these facilities time to recoup revenue losses and get back on their feet before payments are due.”