New Jersey § 26:2h-5

§ 26:2h-5.

The Legislature finds and declares that: a. According to the American Association of Retired Professional's Public Policy Institute,

at any given time, an estimated 1.75 million people in New Jersey provide varying

degrees of unreimbursed care to adults with limitations in daily activities. The total value of the unpaid care to individuals in need of long-term services

and supports amounts to an estimated $13 billion per year. b. Caregivers are often members of the individual's immediate family, but friends

and other community members also serve as caregivers. Although most caregivers are asked to assist an individual with basic activities

of daily living, such as mobility, eating, and dressing, many are expected to perform

complex tasks on a daily basis, such as administering multiple medications, providing

wound care, and operating medical equipment. c. Despite the vast importance of caregivers in the individual's day-to-day care,

and despite the fact that 78 percent of caregivers report managing multiple medications,

administering injections, and performing other health maintenance tasks, research

has shown that many caregivers feel that they do not have the necessary skill set

to perform the caregiving tasks they are asked to perform when a loved one is discharged

from the hospital. d. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that $17 billion

in Medicare funds is spent each year on unnecessary hospital readmissions. Additionally, hospitals desire to avoid the imposition of new readmission penalties

under the federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” Pub.L.111-148 , as amended by the “Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,” Pub.L.111-152 (ACA). 1 e. In order to successfully address the challenges of a surging population of older

adults and others who have significant needs for long-term services and supports,

the State must develop methods to enable caregivers to continue to support their loved

ones at home and in the community, and avoid costly hospital readmissions. f. The New Jersey Hospital Association and hospitals in its Hospital Engagement Network

have utilized transitional caregiver models to reduce readmissions by over 13 percent

from January 2012 to December 2013, leading to 5,492 fewer patients being readmitted

during that time, at a cost savings of over $52 million. g. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that this act enables caregivers

to provide competent post-hospital care to their family and other loved ones, at minimal

cost to the taxpayers of this State. 1

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