Medicaid and CHIP Coverage for Half a Million Children and Families Reinstated Following System Issue

10/31/2023

Amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases, several New Jersey hospitals have reinstated mask mandates. Hackensack Meridian Health has implemented mask requirements for all patients, visitors and staff at three of its facilities. Similarly, RWJBarnabas Health has implemented comprehensive masking protocols at all of its hospitals and facilities, requiring inpatients who are able to wear face masks when leaving their rooms, outpatients, visitors, volunteers and vendors to wear facemasks when in the presence of patients, and staff to wear face masks when providing direct care to patients. These facilities join Shore Medical Center in Somers Point and Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County, both of which also reinstated masking policies in September. At Shore Medical Center, face masks are mandatory for visitors and hospital staff in patient areas. Meanwhile, Cape Regional requires its workers to wear masks during direct patient care and patients to wear masks when receiving treatment. The health systems attribute the reinstitution of mask requirements to the increased prevalence of COVID-19 in the hospitals’ surrounding areas and communities, emphasizing that the safety of both their team members and patients remains their top priority. New Jersey has witnessed a steady rise in COVID-19 cases over the past several months, with the state reporting 15,513 cases in the month of September. The resurgence of mask mandates in hospitals underscores the ongoing threat posed by the virus, particularly to individuals with compromised immune systems, signaling the importance of continued precautions.

Click Here to read the entire October 2023 Healthcare Law Update now!

---

Attorney Advertising: This publication is designed to provide Brach Eichler LLC clients and contacts with information they can use to more effectively manage their businesses. The contents of this publication are for informational purposes only. Neither this publication nor the lawyers who authored it are rendering legal or other professional advice or opinions on specific facts or matters. Brach Eichler LLC assumes no liability in connection with the use of this publication.