NJ A2044

Expands eligibility for maximum charity care reimbursement (96%) to the top two hospitals in each of the 10 lowest-income municipalities, up from only the top one hospital under current law

Adds a population threshold requiring municipalities to have at least 20,000 residents to qualify for the special charity care ranking based on lowest median household income

Maintains existing baseline that no hospital receives less than 43% of its hospital-specific reimbursed documented charity care

Preserves the requirement that the State maintain total charity care subsidies at no less than 75% of Medicaid-priced amounts of charity care provided statewide

Takes effect immediately, with the revised hospital ranking criteria applying in the fiscal year following enactment