Below are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register in May 2021:

•  On May 3, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 677(a), the Department of Banking and Insurance, Small Employer Health Program proposed an amendment regarding small employer health benefit plans. This includes language that should be changed to comply with several Public Laws. See proposed N.J.A.C. 11:21.

•  On May 3, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 680(a), the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, State Board of Pharmacy, proposed an amendment that will allow pharmacy interns and externs, under direct supervision of a pharmacist, to administer vaccinations. See proposed N.J.A.C 13:39-4.21.

• On May 3, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 700(b), the Health Department, Division of Certificate of Need and Licensing, Certificate of Need and Healthcare Facility Licensure Program, adopted several amendments and a new rule addressing hospice licensing standards and patient care services. This includes changes to the language of definitions and new guidelines for acceptance and disposal of prescription medication. See adopted N.J.A.C 8:42C-6.4. See adopted N.J.A.C. 8:42C-1.2, 2.1, 2.5, 2.7, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 10.2, 10.7, 11.8.

• On May 3, 2021 at 53 N.J.R. 703(a), the Department of Health, Health Systems Branch, Division of Certificate of Need and Licensing, repealed and adopted a new rule, as well as adopted several amendments. Definitional changes, licensure procedure changes, and other requirement changes were made to the Manual of Standards for Licensing of Ambulatory Care Facilities. Several changes were made to the Hospital Licensing Standards. A new form was added for the Acute Stroke Registry, which can be found at http://www.nj.gov/health/forms. See adopted N.J.A.C 8:43G-7A. See adopted N.J.A.C 8:43A-1.3, 2.2 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.8, 2.9, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 12.7, 16.3, 23.3, 28.3, 28.7, 29.1, 30.7, 30.10, 33.1, 33.4. See adopted N.J.A.C. 8:43G-2.13, 5.16, 7.23, 7.28, 7A.6, 12.12, 15.1, 16.1, 23.6, 28.19, 28.24, 32.23.

• On May 3, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 717(a), the Department of Human Services, Division of Disability Services, provided an updated Consumer Cost Share Obligation Table for 2021. See adopted N.J.A.C. 10:140-4.3.

• On May 17, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 761(a), the Governor extended the Public Health Emergency. See Exec. Order No 235.

• On May 17, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 936(b), the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Nursing, adopted new amendments and new rules addressing the Nurse Licensure Compact. See adopted N.J.A.C 13:37-2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 7.1, 9.3. See adopted N.J.A.C 13:37-2.4, 8.4.

• On May 17, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 937(a), the Department of Law and Public Safety, Divisions of Consumer Affairs, New Jersey Board of Nursing, adopted amendments addressing continuing education and educational requirements for certification of advanced practice nurses. See adopted N.J.A.C 13:37-5.3, 7.2.

• On May 17, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 953(a), the Department of Health released a public notice cancelling the certificate of need call for more long-term care beds for severe behavior management, which was originally in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:33-4.1(a) and N.J.S.A. 26:2H-1.

Special thanks to Jessica Warwick, Summer Associate