Healthcare

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 2733: Requires emergency departments to provide certain information to parents of children experiencing mental health crisis.

Bill A 2733 requires emergency departments in New Jersey general hospitals to provide parents or guardians of children experiencing mental health crises with contact information for nearby county-based care management organizations (CMOs). These CMOs are defined as nonprofit groups offering in-person support for youth with complex needs and their families. The bill mandates that hospitals share this specific information during emergency visits, directly affecting parents/guardians, emergency departments, and CMOs. It takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates emergency departments to share CMO contacts, improving access to mental health support for youth in crisis85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 1502: "Patient and Provider Protection Act."

This bill regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurance carriers to increase transparency and fairness in prescription drug coverage. It requires carriers and PBMs to establish pharmacy and therapeutics committees with strict conflict-of-interest rules, prohibits commission-based PBM compensation (mandating flat fees instead), and mandates detailed reporting of PBM fees for insurance filings. The law directly affects insurers, PBMs, and pharmacies by changing how drug formularies (approved drug lists) are managed and how PBM costs are calculated and disclosed. Key provisions include banning preferential formulary placement for higher-cost drugs over lower-cost generics/biosimilars and requiring actuarial documentation for PBM compensation. The bill aims to reduce patient cost-sharing and ensure PBM compensation aligns with administrative costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates PBMs/insurers for transparency, fairness in drug coverage, bans commission-based fees, and mandates detailed reporting - directly protects patient access and rights in healthcare.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 2739: Prohibits social media platforms from promoting certain practices or features of eating disorders to child users.

This bill would prohibit social media platforms from promoting content related to eating disorders - such as diet products, extreme weight loss practices, or harmful eating behaviors - to users under 18. Platforms must conduct quarterly internal audits and annual independent audits to ensure their algorithms or features don’t contribute to eating disorders in children, and fix any issues within 30 days if identified. Small platforms with less than $100 million in annual revenue are exempt from the audit requirements. The bill does not hold platforms liable for user-generated content unless the platform paid to promote it (e.g., via advertisements).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents social media promotion of eating disorder content to minors, directly protecting youth mental health and reducing risk factors requiring healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill regulates social media algorithms to prevent harmful content promotion for minors, aligning with consumer protection regulations in digital rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 1040: Provides for expansion of county transportation services to include disabled veterans; provides funding source for expansion.

This bill expands New Jersey's existing Senior Citizens and Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program to provide transportation services specifically for disabled veterans needing to attend medical appointments for service-connected conditions. It directs the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to work with counties to identify veterans' transportation needs and provides funding by redirecting 4% of casino revenue fund allocations (previously used for senior/disabled transport) to cover these new services. The program helps counties pay for expanded transit options, including door-to-door service or subsidized rides, for veterans certified with service-connected disabilities by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This directly affects disabled veterans in New Jersey who require transportation to VA-approved medical appointments but are not covered by existing travel reimbursement programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 4% of casino revenue (previously for senior/disabled transport) to fund disabled veterans' medical transportation, providing essential program funding via budget reallocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands transportation access for disabled veterans to attend medical appointments, improving healthcare access for a vulnerable group.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExpands transportation services for disabled veterans with dedicated funding from casino revenue, directly advancing transportation access for a specific group needing medical appointments.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands transportation services specifically for disabled veterans' medical appointments with dedicated funding from redirected casino revenue.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2199: Requires child abuse reporting hotline maintained by DCPP to provide information on resources available to victims and families.

This bill requires New Jersey's child abuse reporting hotline (maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency) to provide callers with information about available resources for victims and their families. The hotline must now include details about community services such as counseling, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home support, foster care, and residential care. It directly affects families reporting or experiencing child abuse by connecting them to immediate support options. The policy change amends existing law to ensure victims and families are informed about these resources during hotline interactions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hotline to provide counseling and substance abuse treatment resources, directly improving access to mental health and healthcare services for child abuse victims.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2195: Directs DOH to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education concerning student vaping awareness campaigns.*

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE) to create and distribute annual guidelines for school districts and colleges. The guidelines must include research-backed materials on vaping's health risks (lung effects, mental health, comparison to smoking, dangers to pregnant people and children), age-appropriate anti-vaping campaigns, decision-making tools to resist peer pressure, and promotional materials for students from middle school through college. Schools and colleges must use these guidelines to implement campus anti-vaping programs. The DOH and DOE will update the guidelines yearly and post them online with additional resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires DOE/DOH to create anti-vaping guidelines for schools, enhancing student health education programs through research-backed materials and age-appropriate campaigns.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health risk education on vaping's effects, including mental health, to prevent harm and promote student health awareness.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2205: Requires signs to be posted in emergency rooms regarding VCCO.

Bill A 2205 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health (working with the Attorney General) to create clear, easily understandable signs for emergency rooms. These signs must display VCCO services/benefits, contact details, and how to file a compensation claim. The bill mandates posting these signs in all general hospital emergency departments and satellite emergency departments, with electronic displays permitted. It aims to make VCCO information more accessible to individuals who may qualify for victim compensation after crimes. The bill takes effect four months after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates accessible victim compensation info in ERs, supporting victims' rights and services within criminal justice system, aligning with reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires ER signs for VCCO benefits access, improving patient awareness of healthcare-related compensation services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates clear signage for VCCO (workers' compensation) benefits access, ensuring workers can easily file claims - directly supporting workers' compensation rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 1205: Requires Division of Developmental Disabilities to create and distribute satisfaction survey.

This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to create and distribute a client satisfaction survey to individuals using support coordination services. The survey will rate agencies on a 1-5 star scale based on client feedback, with results updated quarterly and published online. Support coordination agencies - which help people with developmental disabilities access medical, social, and educational services - are directly affected by this new rating system. The policy mandates transparency in service quality without altering existing support structures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates client satisfaction surveys for agencies providing medical access services, improving service quality and accountability in healthcare support coordination.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 947: Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.*

This bill (A 947) requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign and develop policies for recognizing and treating perinatal anxiety - a condition affecting approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all pregnant and postpartum patients for perinatal anxiety during prenatal visits (at least once per trimester), before discharge after birth, and at early postnatal check-ups, using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. Providers must also give patients and their families clear information about symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources. The bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women, their healthcare providers, and birthing facilities across New Jersey.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates perinatal anxiety screenings and policies, expanding access to mental health services for pregnant/postpartum patients.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2259: Authorizes hospital patient with developmental disabilities to have designated family member, guardian, direct support professional, or other caregiver accompany patient throughout hospital stay.

This bill grants patients with developmental disabilities in New Jersey hospitals the right to have a designated family member, guardian, direct support professional (DSP), or other caregiver accompany them throughout their entire hospital stay. Hospitals must provide an opportunity to make this designation at admission and document it in the medical record, with changes allowed upon 1-hour notice. The right does not apply during active surgery if the caregiver's presence would endanger the patient. It directly affects patients with developmental disabilities, their designated caregivers, and New Jersey hospitals. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly grants patients with developmental disabilities the right to have a caregiver present during hospital stays, improving patient access and protecting patient rights in healthcare settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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