Here are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register on August 6, 2018:

• On August 6, 2018, at 50 N.J.R. 1699(a), the State Board of Respiratory Care proposed amendments to its rules regarding standards of practice and licensure requirements. Among the proposed rules codifies the Board’s position that respiratory care practitioners may conduct apnea testing and monitoring and addresses follow up visit timeframes, criminal background check requirements, license renewals and reactivations, education requirements and educational recordkeeping requirements. There is a 60 day comment period on this rule.
•  On August 6, 2018, at 50 N.J.R. 1704(a), the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, issued a proposed rule authorized by the Attorney General to relax certain limitations on prescriber acceptance of compensation from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The rules currently allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide a “modest meal” limited to $15.00 at an educational or promotional event for prescribers (NJ licensed physicians, podiatrists, PAs, APNs, dentists/optometrists). The new rules would relax this regulation and allow for $15 for breakfast/$30 limit for dinner as adjusted by CPI. There would be no cap for meals provided at an educational event or to non-faculty prescribers. The regulations enhance the definition of “prescriber,” “modest meal” and add the term “CPI Index”. The proposed amendment is due to Attorney General’s recognition of the educational value of learning about disease states and treatment options to further the educational exchange between practitioners and pharmaceutical manufacturers for the benefit of patient care. There is a 60 day comment period on this rule.
•  On August 6, 2018, at 50 N.J.R. 1704(a), the Department of Human Service, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, adopted an administrative correction to the maximum fee allowance for independent clinics for HCPCS code for immunizations (90632) to be $80.95. The citation is N.J.A.C. 10:66-6.2(q).
•  On August 6, 2018, at 50 N.J.R. 1818(b), Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, State Board of Psychological Examiners issued adopted a rule amending the regulation regarding degrees earned outside of the U.S. The individuals are required to provide the Board with a comprehensive evaluation of their degree performed by a foreign credential evaluation service that is member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and acceptable to the Board, and any other documentation the Board deems necessary.