Committee releases three bills: bans on paper-billing fees and prenatal preapproval, and tax-assessment change for fraud

The Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee moved and voted to release three bills after committee discussion on procedural and policy implications.

Assembly Bill 2841 would prohibit insurers as well as the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program from charging a fee for paper bills and paper notices. There were no witnesses requesting testimony on A2841, and the committee recorded an affirmative vote to release the bill for further legislative consideration.

Assembly Bill 2983 would prohibit preapproval or precertification requirements for prenatal ultrasound screenings covered under health benefits plans. Ward Sanders of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans said carriers generally do not oppose the ban and suggested allowing limited retrospective review to detect outlier providers who practice outside ACOG guidelines. The committee noted support on the record from the ACOG New Jersey section (via Laurie Clark) and the Medical Society of New Jersey (Josh Bangle) and moved A2983 as-is; the committee recorded affirmative votes and released the bill.

Assembly Bill 4473, sponsored on the record by Assemblyman Hutchinson, would eliminate a statute-of-limitations conflict in tax law and remove the five-year limit for assessments and additional taxes in cases of fraudulent refunds, applying retroactively to the prior five years. Hutchinson said the measure implements a 2023 recommendation by the New Jersey Law Review Commission and would take effect immediately. The committee recorded affirmative votes and released A4473.

Recorded on-the-record motions and votes for each bill were entered in the minutes; the committee adjourned after the votes and asked members to remain for signatures.