Court Opinion

ID: 9929842
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-05 15:06:01.306798+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:55:50.306118
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-2028-21

J.R.,

          Petitioner-Appellant,

v.

HORIZON NJ HEALTH,

     Respondent-Respondent.
___________________________

                   Argued December 13, 2023 – Decided February 5, 2024

                   Before Judges Currier, Firko and Susswein.

                   On appeal from the New Jersey Department of Human
                   Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health
                   Services.

                   Dillon Scott Reisman argued the cause for appellant
                   (American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
                   Foundation, attorneys; Dillon Scott Reisman,
                   Alexander R. Shalom, Jeanne M. LoCicero, on the
                   briefs).

                   Robert J. Norcia argued the cause for respondent
                   Horizon NJ Health (Stradley, Ronon Stevens & Young,
                   LLP; Adam J. Petitt, of counsel; Robert J. Norcia, on
                   the brief).
            Barkha Patel, Deputy Attorney General, argued the
            cause for respondent New Jersey Division of Medical
            Assistance and Health Services (Matthew J. Platkin,
            Attorney General, attorney; Donna Sue Arons,
            Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; Jacqueline R.
            D'Alessandro, Deputy Attorney General, on the brief).

            Michael Raymond Brower, attorney for amicus curiae
            Disability Rights New Jersey (Melissa Zeidler and
            Arielle Schoenburg, on the brief).

            Barry, Corrado, Grassi, PC, attorneys for amicus curiae
            National Health Law Program (Frank L. Corrado, on
            the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Plaintiff J.R.,1 a disabled child, appeals from a January 18, 2022 final

agency decision by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services

(DMAHS). DMAHS upheld the decision of J.R.'s Medicaid provider, defendant

Horizon NJ Health, to reduce the hours of private duty nursing (PDN) 2 care

1
  We refer to J.R. by initials because we discuss her medical records. See R.
1:38-3(a)(2).
2
   For purposes of this appeal, PDN means: "[c]ontinuous nursing care, as
different and apart from part-time or intermittent care, provided by licensed
nurses in the community to eligible Medicaid Members inclusive of [Early and
Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment/Private Duty Nursing]
beneficiaries."        Horizon    NJ   Health,    Private    Duty     Nursing,
https://www.horizonnjhealth.com/for-providers/resources/policies/health-
services-policies/utilization-management/private-duty (Dec. 13, 2023).
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                                      2
services J.R. receives. After carefully reviewing the record in light of the

governing legal principles and the arguments of the parties, we affirm.

                                         I.

      We discern the following pertinent facts and procedural history from the

record. In February 2019, J.R. was born premature and spent six months in a

neonatal intensive care unit.       She was diagnosed with numerous medical

problems, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, hypertension, patent ductus

arteriosus, laryngomalacia, gastroesophageal reflux, and oral phase dysphagia.

Because of these conditions, J.R. has received PDN services from Horizon 24

hours per day, 7 days per week. 3

      Pursuant to Medicaid regulations promulgated by DMAHS, the medical

necessity of J.R.'s PDN care is subject to periodic reassessment. See N.J.A.C.

10:60-5.5. Horizon used a PDN Acuity Tool developed by a company, Milliman

Care Guidelines, to determine the number of PDN hours J.R. should receive.

The Tool consists of a list of different categories of a child's skilled nursing

needs. The Tool calculates a total score based on the needs applicable to the

child, which determines the recommended hours of PDN service.

3
   J.R.'s PDN authorization of 24 per hours per day has been maintained
throughout the course of this litigation.
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      A nurse employed by Horizon, Tamaria Brown, RN, performed the PDN

assessment. Brown utilized the PDN Acuity Tool based on her review of the

skilled assessment form, the plan of care, and a letter of necessity from one of

J.R.'s treating physicians, Dr. Maria Rivera-Penera, who requested "24 hours per

day, 7 days per week of skilled nursing care. . . ." Brown testified she reviewed

all 527 pages of nursing notes.

      Brown forwarded the PDN Acuity Tool score and supporting documents

to a Horizon medical director, Dr. Sariya Pacheco-Smith, who approved 24/7

PDN care for two months. After two months, PDN care would be reduced to 16

hours a day for one month, and then to 8 hours per day thereafter.

      On November 4, 2020, Pacheo-Smith sent a letter to J.R. and her mother

notifying them of the reduction in PDN hours. The letter included the following

explanation:

            Reason for this action:

            The reason for this action is:
            The requested private duty nursing (PDN) hours for
            your child is denied. This is based on the information
            we were given about your child's health. I looked at the
            medical records provided. Your child has complex
            medical problems. She is on oxygen. Your child is not
            on a breathing machine. Your child is starting to take
            her feeds by mouth. She still receives some feeds and
            medications through a stomach tube. Based on this
            information (G-Tube feedings, aspiration precautions,

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                                       4
            oxygen needs, suctioning, positioning needs, etc.), she
            is approved for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for 2
            months, followed by 16 hours per day, 7 days per week
            for one month for transitional care. Your child will then
            be approved for 8 hours per day, 7 days per week
            ongoing.

The letter advised J.R. of her right to appeal.

      J.R. filed an internal appeal. On January 7, 2021, Horizon upheld its

initial determination, explaining:

            Reason for this action:

            The reason for our action is: The request for Private
            Duty Nursing Services for your child was reviewed
            again. We received more information to review. It is
            still denied. You asked for 24 hours per day, 7 days per
            week of this service. Private duty nursing is for
            members with extensive skilled needs (IE prolonged
            seizures, vent management, complicated tube feeds,
            etc.). Your child had an assessment by a nurse. The
            policy states that your child's nursing hours are
            determined by scoring of this assessment. Your child
            qualifies for 8 hours per day, 7 days per week of private
            duty nursing. Your child has been approved for this
            number of hours based on their skilled needs. Your
            child will be transitioned gradually to that amount
            starting 1/20/2021 with 16 hours per day. Your child
            will then receive 8 hours per day starting 2/19/2021.

      The second letter explained J.R. had the option to appeal to an

Independent Utilization Review Organization (IURO) or to request a Medicaid

Fair Hearing. J.R. pursued both avenues of review. The IURO upheld Horizon's

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                                         5
decision. In July 2021, a Medicaid Fair Hearing was heard by an Administrative

Law Judge (ALJ).

      On November 23, 2021, the ALJ issued his initial decision, concluding

"Horizon correctly applied the PDN Acuity Tool and correctly determined that,

based on the most recent assessment of J.R.'s needs, the transition from 24 hours

to 16 hours and finally 8 hours a day was reasonable and not violat ive of any of

J.R.'s rights."

      In support of that conclusion, the ALJ made the following factual findings:

             1. No critical clinical evidence was provided for by
             petitioners which contradicted the information
             contained in the PDN Acuity Tool.

             2. The reduction in time from 24 hours to 8 hours was
             based on the objective uncontradicted clinical evidence
             as described accurately by Nurse Brown and as
             provided in the admitted clinical documentary
             evidence.

             3. There is no evidence that the PDN Acuity [T]ool as
             described heretofore under "Respondent’s Evidence"
             was administered incorrectly.

             4. While Nurse Brown did not personally observe the
             patient J.R., such observation is not usually part of the
             review process and should have made no difference in
             her testimony, as she is entitled to rely on the clinical
             information in the Plan of Care and the clinical
             assessments [of] Star Pediatric Agency, meaning a
             review of the PDN services provided over a two-week

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                                        6
            period to J.R., shortly before the change in services was
            determined.

The ALJ explained, "the use of the P[D]N Acuity [T]ool . . . would not appear

to even approach a concern for a lack of due process or fundamental fairness."

      J.R. did not file any exceptions to the ALJ's initial decision. On January

18, 2022, DMAHS rendered its final agency decision. It determined:

                  The clinical records used by Nurse Brown to
            complete the tool reflected [p]etitioner's nursing needs
            and included services on the Plan of Care but not being
            currently performed. The PDN Acuity Tool then
            provided a score that aligned with a range of hours
            which is used "in conjunction with the application
            clinical judgment and proper consideration" of any
            unique circumstances. Petitioner's score resulted in a
            range of 4 to 7.9 hours and led Horizon to authorize 8
            hours per day. I concur that [p]etitioner presented no
            evidence to contradict the use or accuracy of the PDN
            Acuity Tool by Horizon and the use of the tool is
            "reasonable and objective" to determine medical
            necessity for PDN hours. N.J.A.C. 10:60-5.3 and
            10:74-1.4.

      DMAHS upheld Horizon's determination. This appeal follows.

      J.R. contends on appeal: (1) DMAHS erred in its decision because

Horizon failed to provide sufficient reasons explaining its reduction of J.R.'s

PDN care, violating J.R.'s procedural due process right to adequate notice; (2)

Horizon relied on an unascertainable standard in violation of due process; and

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                                       7
(3) DMAHS erred in upholding Horizon's decision because it failed to consider

J.R.'s doctor's clinical recommendations in its decision-making process.

      Amicus National Health Law Program contends automated decision-

making systems often hide inequities and errors, and transparency in such

systems is needed to address bias and to safeguard the due process rights of

Medicaid beneficiaries. Amicus Disability Rights New Jersey argues Horizon

violated J.R.'s due process rights to adequate notice and a meaningful hearing

by failing to explain how it calculated the number of PDN hours it believed to

be medically necessary and by failing to submit any evidence that the Acuity

Tool correctly applies the statutorily required standards for Medicaid eligible

children. Amicus further contends "[t]he failure to ensure due process increases

the likelihood of erroneous service cuts to Medicaid beneficiaries who lack the

resources to defend or replace essential medical services, leading to a higher risk

of unnecessary institutionalization" and "exacerbat[ing] the shortage of home

and community-based services that allow people with disabilities to live as

integrated members of their community."

                                        II.

      We begin our analysis by acknowledging the scope of our review is

limited. "[A]n appellate court reviews agency decisions under an arbitrary and

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                                        8
capricious standard." Zimmerman v. Sussex Cnty. Educ. Servs. Comm'n, 237

N.J. 465, 475 (2019); see also Melnyk v. Bd. of Educ. of the Delsea Reg'l High

Sch. Dist., 241 N.J. 31, 40 (2020). "An agency's determination on the merits

'will be sustained unless there is a clear showing that it is arbitrary, capricious,

or unreasonable, or that it lacks fair support in the record.'" Saccone v. Bd. of

Trs., Police & Firemen's Ret. Sys., 219 N.J. 369, 380 (2014) (quoting Russo v.

Bd. of Trs., Police & Firemen's Ret. Sys., 206 N.J. 14, 27 (2011)). We owe

"substantial deference to the agency's expertise and superior knowledge of a

particular field." In re Herrmann, 192 N.J. 19, 28 (2007). The party challenging

the administrative action bears the burden of making that showing. Lavezzi v.

State, 219 N.J. 163, 171 (2014).

      A reviewing court is not, however, "bound by an agency's interpretation

of a statute or its determination of a strictly legal issue" outside its charge.

Allstars Auto. Grp., Inc. v. N.J. Motor Vehicle Comm'n, 234 N.J. 150, 158

(2018); Dep't of Child. & Fam. v. T.B., 207 N.J. 294, 302 (2011); see also

Greenwood v. State Police Training Ctr., 127 N.J. 500, 513 (1992) (agencies

"have no superior ability to resolve purely legal questions," and "a court is not

bound by an agency's determination of a legal issue . . . .").

                                        III.

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                                         9
      We first address J.R.'s contention "DMAHS erred in its final agency

decision because Horizon failed to provide sufficient information or reasons

explaining its reduction of J.R.'s PDN care, violating J.R.'s procedural due

process right to adequate notice."    In Goldberg v. Kelly, a case involving

financial aid under a federally assisted program, the United States Supreme

Court held "[t]he fundamental requisite of due process of law is the opportunity

to be heard." 397 U.S. 254, 267 (1970) (quoting Grannis v. Ordean, 234 U.S.

385, 394 (1914)). The Court explained "these principles require that a [federally

assisted program] recipient have timely and adequate notice detailing the

reasons for a proposed termination [of assistance], and an effective opportunity

to defend by confronting any adverse witnesses and by presenting his [or her]

own arguments and evidence orally." Id. at 267-68. The Third Circuit Court of

Appeals has noted in a like vein that "[s]uch notice is necessary to protect

claimants against proposed agency action 'resting on incorrect or misleading

factual premises or on misapplication of rules to policies of the facts of

particular cases.'" Ortiz v. Eichler, 794 F.2d 889, 893 (3d Cir. 1986) (quoting

Goldberg, 397 U.S. at 268).

      But on the record before us, we are unpersuaded J.R. was "forced to appeal

without adequate information." N.J.A.C. 10:49-10.4 governs the content of

                                                                           A-2028-21
                                      10
notices to beneficiaries when a "Medicaid Agent or DMAHS" proposes to

"terminate, reduce or suspend assistance." That regulation provides in pertinent

part:

              "Adequate advance notice" means a written notice that
              includes a statement of the action the Medicaid Agent
              or DMAHS intends to take, reasons for the proposed
              departmental action, the specific regulations that
              support, or the change in Federal or State law that
              requires the action, the claimant's right to request a
              [F]air [H]earing, or in cases of a departmental action
              based on a change in law, the circumstances under
              which a hearing shall be granted, and the circumstances
              under which assistance shall be continued if a [F]air
              [H]earing is requested.

              [N.J.A.C. 10:49-10.4]

        Here, there was written notice to J.R. The notice included a statement of

the action taken stating, "[J.R.] is approved for 24 hours per day, 7 days per

week for 2 months, followed by 16 hours per day, 7 days per week for one month

for transitional care. Your child will then be approved for 8 hours per day, 7

days per week ongoing." The reason for the action was information about J.R.'s

health, including the progress she made, reducing the need for 24/7 PDN

services. The first letter explained "[y]our child has complex medical problems.

She is on oxygen. Your child is not on a breathing machine. Your child is

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                                       11
starting to take her feeds by mouth.        She still receives some feeds and

medications through a stomach tube."

      Horizon "acknowledges that its initial and internal appeal determinations

did not specifically cite the Medicaid regulations . . . ." Rather, the authority

cited to support its decision was "Horizon NJ Health Policy-31C.096 Private

Duty Nursing." The ALJ nonetheless rejected J.R.'s argument the notice was

inadequate because it failed to specify which regulations were relied upon,

noting the Horizon Health Policy-31C.096 PDN "was developed as authorized

by Horizon's State Medicaid Contract as provided for in N.J.A.C. 10:74-1.4

Exhibit."

      On the record before us, we have no basis upon which to overturn the

findings of both the ALJ and DMAHS that Horizon adequately explained the

reasons for its decision to reduce PDN services as to permit a meaningful appeal

of that decision. But even if we were to assume for the sake of argument the

reasons stated in Horizon's two letters lack sufficient detail to explain the basis

for its decision, J.R. had the benefit of an evidentiary hearing before an ALJ. At

that proceeding, J.R. had the right to discovery, to subpoena witnesses, and to

call her own witnesses, including experts. J.R. is hard pressed to claim her due

process rights were violated given that she had the benefit of an internal appeal

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                                       12
to Horizon, an external appeal to an IURO, and a Fair Hearing before an ALJ

while represented by counsel and after conducting pre-hearing discovery.

      We add that well in advance of the plenary hearing, indeed, in the initial

Horizon letter, J.R. was advised of Horizon's reliance on the PDN Acuity Tool.

If J.R. hoped to challenge the medical reliability of that Tool, she did not lay the

foundation for any such challenge at the plenary hearing.

      That leads us to J.R.'s contention that DMAHS erred in its decision

because Horizon relied on an "unascertainable standard." In her reply brief, J.R.

argues "neither Horizon nor DMAHS have presented any evidence that the Tool

is reliable or accurate in the realm of EPSDT/PDN decision-making." In view

of the record and procedural posture of this case, we are unpersuaded by J.R.'s

contention the Tool itself is unreliable. DMAHS found Horizon's reduction of

J.R.'s PDN hours as determined by the PDN Acuity Tool "was reasonable and

based on the assessment of Petitioner's needs." The ALJ found "the employment

of the PDN Acuity [T]ool appears reasonable and objective and authorized by

New Jersey's Medicaid regulations, notwithstanding a lack of cases directly

interpreting or containing analysis of reliance on the PDN Acuity Tool." As we

have noted, J.R. did not file any exceptions to the ALJ's initial decision.

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                                        13
      DMAHS, in its final agency decision, adopted the ALJ's conclusion

regarding the Acuity Tool, stating:

            The clinical records used by Nurse Brown to complete
            the tool reflected [p]etitioner's nursing needs and
            included services on the Plan of Care but not being
            currently performed. The PDN Acuity Tool then
            provided a score that aligned with a range of hours
            which is used "in conjunction with the application
            clinical judgement and proper consideration" of any
            unique circumstances. Petitioner's score resulted in a
            range of 4 to 7.9 hours and led Horizon to authorize 8
            hours per day. I concur that Petitioner presented no
            evidence to contradict the use or accuracy of the PDN
            Acuity Tool by Horizon and the use of the tool is
            "reasonable and objective" to determine medical
            necessity for PDN hours. N.J.A.C. 10:60-5.3 and
            10:74-1.4.

DMAHS further acknowledged "numerous courts and commentators have

identified the Milliman Care Guidelines as 'nationally recognized' and 'widely

used.'" On the record before us, we have no basis upon which to conclude

DMAHS's determination regarding the Acuity Tool is arbitrary, capricious, or

unreasonable.

                                      IV.

      Finally, we address J.R.'s contention "DMAHS erred in upholding

Horizon's decision because Horizon violated the legal requirements of

Medicaid's [EPSTD] provisions when it failed to consider J.R.'s doctor's clinical

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                                      14
recommendation in its decision-making process." J.R.'s contention that her

doctor's clinical recommendation was ignored is belied by the record.

      Nurse Brown testified she reviewed all the assessments when completing

J.R.'s evaluation, which included the letter of medical necessity from Dr. Rivera-

Penera. She also testified she checked off the category for oxygen because the

letter of medical necessity included possible episodes of choking.        Brown

likewise testified she checked off "safety management" as well because "for

safety management, it gives you that option to put aspiration precaution as well,

which the aspiration precaution was mentioned in the plan of care, as well as the

letter of medical necessity." Therefore, it is clear Brown considered the doctor's

clinical recommendation in her assessment.

      In sum, we conclude DMAHS's final agency decision was based on

substantial credible evidence in the record and was not arbitrary, capricious, or

unreasonable as to warrant appellate intervention.

      Affirmed.

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