"Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services.

The Mental Health Access Act (A2500) requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to reimburse providers for specific outpatient behavioral health services at rates no lower than Medicare's rates. This directly affects licensed mental health professionals and facilities that provide evidence-based counseling (such as individual or group therapy for mental health, addiction, or emotional disorders) to Medicaid patients. The bill defines "evidence-based" as treatments meeting state criteria set by health officials and mandates that services must be delivered in outpatient settings. It also directs state agencies to seek federal approval for funding adjustments to cover the increased costs, with implementation beginning four months after enactment.