The short answer New Jersey's Licensing Standards for Home Health Agencies (N.J.A.C. 8:42) were readopted with amendments effective Nov. 20, 2023, and its TB provision (N.J.A.C. 8:42-3.4(h)) was amended to align with current CDC recommendations for health care personnel (risk-assessment-based, baseline with no routine serial testing). Every NJ employer not covered by federal programs must carry workers' comp, effectively from the first employee.
What New Jersey requires
New Jersey
2023 readoption. NJ DOH readopted N.J.A.C. 8:42 (Licensing Standards for Home Health Agencies) with amendments, repeals, and new rules effective Nov. 20, 2023.
Source ↗
TB provision aligned with CDC. The readoption amended N.J.A.C. 8:42-3.4(h) so that home health agency personnel TB screening/testing conforms to updated CDC recommendations for U.S. health care personnel (the 2019 MMWR update to the 2005 guidelines).
Source ↗
Employee health regime. N.J.A.C. 8:42, Subchapter 3 (Personnel), requires personnel health evaluations and CDC-based TB screening as a condition of the license.
Source ↗
Workers' comp from 1st employee. NJ DOL: all New Jersey employers not covered by federal programs must have workers' compensation coverage or be approved for self-insurance, applying from the first employee.
Source ↗
☆ Rules change. We watch them for you.
Get one short email when New Jersey's home care requirements change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Reviewed quarterly by Vitable Health.
The federal baseline (applies in every state)
Federal
No federal TB mandate for home care workers. There is no federal law requiring tuberculosis screening of home care or home health workers; TB screening obligations for this workforce are set by each state's facility licensing law. Federal Medicare Conditions of Participation for home health agencies (42 CFR Part 484) require an infection-prevention program but do not prescribe worker TB testing.
Source ↗
2019 CDC/NTCA baseline screening standard. The 2019 CDC/National Tuberculosis Controllers Association recommendations for U.S. health care personnel call for a baseline (pre-placement) individual TB risk assessment, symptom evaluation, and a TB test (IGRA or TST) for those without documented prior positive results. Routine annual (serial) testing of health care personnel is no longer recommended absent ongoing exposure; instead facilities should provide annual TB education and symptom screening.
Source ↗
Positive-result workup. Personnel with a newly positive TB test or TB symptoms should receive a chest X-ray and clinical evaluation to rule out active TB disease; those found to have latent TB infection should be offered and encouraged to complete LTBI treatment per CDC guidance.
Source ↗
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to home care/home health workers with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Employers must maintain a written exposure control plan, provide annual training, and offer the hepatitis B vaccine series at no cost within 10 working days of assignment to covered workers.
Source ↗
Primary sources for this page
More New Jersey guides