S 3947 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Extends certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth.*

This bill permanently extends pay parity for telemedicine and telehealth services in New Jersey, requiring health insurance carriers to reimburse providers at the same rates as in-person care. It directly affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients by mandating that out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copayments for virtual visits cannot exceed those for in-person appointments. The legislation also prohibits insurers from restricting telehealth platforms, limiting service locations, or denying coverage for routine remote monitoring if the same care would be covered in person. Additionally, carriers must continue to allow patients to choose between in-person and virtual care rather than forcing telehealth as a substitute.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Signed Jun 30, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially restructured in committee. The introduced version sought to permanently extend telemedicine pay parity by amending P.L.2017, c.117. The reprint version instead extends the existing sunset date in P.L.2021, c.310 from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, a roughly 18-month extension rather than a permanent one. The original sections amending P.L.2017, c.117 were removed and replaced with a new amendment to Section 11 of P.L.2021, c.310.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from a permanent elimination of the telemedicine pay parity sunset (by amending P.L.2017, c.117) to a time-limited 18-month extension of the existing sunset in P.L.2021, c.310, moving the expiration from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.

SCOPE

The bill now amends P.L.2021, c.310 (Section 11) instead of P.L.2017, c.117 and P.L.1997, c.192. The legislative target shifted to a different statute governing the same telemedicine pay parity requirement.

The original Section 1 amending P.L.2017, c.117 (C.26:2S-29) and the original Section 2 creating a new carrier reimbursement parity provision were both removed from the bill.

TIMELINE

The sunset date for telemedicine pay parity was extended from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, an approximately 18-month extension. The introduced version had removed the sunset entirely (making it permanent), but the reprint version retains a finite expiration.

REQUIREMENT

A new Section 11 amendment to P.L.2021, c.310 was added, containing the same pay parity requirements (full rate for video telemedicine, minimum 50 percent for audio-only physical health, full rate for behavioral health audio-only) but with the extended December 31, 2027 expiration date.

TECHNICAL

The synopsis was changed from 'Extends permanently certain pay parity' to 'Extends certain pay parity,' removing the word 'permanently' to reflect the finite extension rather than a permanent change.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (73-6-0)

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (40-0)

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

upper

4 primary · 7 co-sponsors