34:8-79. Information provided to patients receiving home care services regulated by Division of Consumer Affairs

2. a. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, shall require that, no later than the 180th day after the date of enactment of this act, each health care service firm regulated by the Division of Consumer Affairs shall provide the following information to each patient receiving home-based services from that firm, or to a person designated by the patient:

(1) `the name and certification or licensure title, as applicable, of the homemaker-home health aide or other health care professional whose practice is regulated pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, to be displayed on an identification tag as required by regulation of the New Jersey Board of Nursing, or as otherwise to be prescribed by regulation of the director for other health care professionals, that the homemaker-home health aide or other health care professional shall wear at all times while examining, observing or caring for the patient; and

(2) a copy of the most current edition of the consumer guide to homemaker-home health aides published by the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

b. The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, shall require that, no later than the 180th day after the date of enactment of this act, each health care service firm, employment agency or registry and temporary help service firm or personnel consultant regulated by the Division of Consumer Affairs shall provide the following information in writing to each consumer receiving home-based services, including, but not limited to, domestic, companion, sitter and live-in services, from a person who is employed by that firm, agency, registry or consultant and is not a certified homemaker-home health aide or other health care professional whose practice is regulated pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, or to a person designated by the consumer:

(1) notification that the person is not a certified homemaker-home health aide or other health care professional whose practice is regulated pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes;

(2) any training received by that person which the firm, agency, registry or consultant deems relevant to the provision of those services that the person is assigned to provide to the consumer;

(3) proof that the person is a United States citizen or legally documented alien; and

(4) evidence of employment history verification or character references for that person.

c. The information provided pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section shall be provided:

(1) in advance of the provision of services to the patient or consumer, as applicable, whenever possible; and

(2) otherwise upon the initial visit to the patient's or consumer's home of the person assigned to provide services to the patient or consumer.

d. Beginning on the first day of the 13th month after the date of enactment of this act, the identification tag required pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include a photograph of the homemaker-home health aide or other health care professional.

e. The director, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section.

L.2002,c.81,s.2.