This bill establishes a new Office of Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders Policy within New Jersey's Executive Branch, independent of the Department of the Treasury but reporting directly to the Governor. The office coordinates all state efforts related to substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and research across departments and counties. Key provisions include requiring an annual statewide Master Plan for services, reviewing county plans, distributing grants to localities, and creating a centralized treatment resource database. The office directly affects state agencies, counties, and treatment providers by centralizing coordination and funding recommendations for substance use disorder services.
New Jersey bill S 2476 requires certain health insurance policies - including hospital service, medical service, health service, individual, and group health plans - to cover routine foot care services provided by podiatric physicians. It defines "routine foot care" as treatment for asymptomatic corns, calluses, or toenails (excluding cases involving metabolic disease), and mandates equal reimbursement for the same procedures regardless of provider type. The bill applies to all applicable insurance contracts issued or renewed in New Jersey after its effective date, requiring insurers to provide lists of excluded foot care services upon request. This policy change directly affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients seeking routine podiatric care.
New Jersey's S 839 requires health insurers and Medicaid to reimburse telemedicine and telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits when the services would be covered in person. It ensures providers receive equal payment whether care is delivered remotely or in person, and prohibits insurers from charging higher deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for telehealth visits. The bill also prevents restrictions on where telehealth can occur (as long as care standards are met), allows audio-only calls without video, and mandates coverage for remote patient monitoring. This directly affects healthcare providers, insurers, and Medicaid programs by standardizing telehealth reimbursement across New Jersey.
This bill creates the New Jersey Board of Paramedicine to regulate paramedics and emergency medical services. It establishes a 15-member board with specific representation (including 5 practicing mobile intensive care paramedics, 3 EMTs, medical specialists, and public members) to set licensing standards and oversee paramedicine practice. The bill repeals outdated statutes and defines key terms like "advanced life support" and "paramedicine" based on national guidelines. The board will regulate licensing, scope of practice, and professional standards for paramedics and EMTs in New Jersey. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Commerce Committee.
This bill establishes a New Jersey tax credit program to encourage businesses to hire and retain employees with developmental disabilities. Employers qualify for a credit of $1 per hour worked (up to $2,000 per employee annually), provided the employee works at least 500 hours in the state and the employer meets eligibility requirements like offering qualifying health insurance. The program is funded with a $2 million annual cap, administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and requires employers to apply yearly by January 15. It directly affects New Jersey employers and individuals with developmental disabilities meeting the defined criteria (including autism, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disabilities).
This bill ensures pediatric NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries transitioning from the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program to the Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program automatically retain their previous weekly private duty nursing hours and can carry forward unused hours. It requires managed care organizations to justify any reduction in nursing hours solely based on changed medical need (not other factors) and mandates that benefits continue during appeals for 30 days after an adverse decision. The bill also directs the state to review past transitions (within 5 years) to identify beneficiaries eligible for increased nursing hours and expands appeal protections by extending the appeal window from 10 to 30 days. These changes aim to prevent coverage gaps and streamline access to necessary nursing services during program transitions.
This bill establishes new licensing and operational standards for residential mental health treatment facilities in New Jersey. It requires these facilities to provide comprehensive 24/7 care consistent with medical guidelines, prohibits retrospective medical necessity reviews, and mandates licensing from the Commissioner of Health. The bill directly affects facilities offering residential mental health care (excluding hospital-based programs or substance use facilities) and the patients they serve. Key provisions include mandatory licensing, location restrictions (banning co-location with substance use facilities), and requiring the commissioner to adopt minimum care standards within 90 days.
S 1359 requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger. The bill mandates that physicians, nurses, and healthcare facilities perform lead screenings for eligible children unless parents object in writing, and requires providers to notify parents of elevated lead levels in plain language. It also directs the Department of Health to establish regulations based on CDC guidelines, including screening schedules, follow-up protocols for high lead levels, and a public education campaign about lead poisoning risks. This policy directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and families with children under 16.
This bill requires all basic life support ambulances and volunteer ambulance squad vehicles in New Jersey to carry epinephrine auto-injectors. Each vehicle must also have at least one emergency medical technician (EMT) certified to administer the auto-injectors. The law defines "basic life support" as standard pre-hospital care including airway management and CPR, and specifies that EMTs must be certified by the Department of Health. It does not override existing staffing rules but takes effect 180 days after enactment.
This bill (S 2901) expands New Jersey Medicaid coverage to include hearing aids and other assistive devices for hearing impairment. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries with hearing loss who currently lack coverage for these devices. The bill amends existing Medicaid rules to explicitly add "hearing aids and other assistive devices for the hearing impaired" to the list of covered prosthetic devices under Section 6(b)(6). This change clarifies that such devices will now be reimbursed under the state's Medicaid program without requiring separate legislative action for each case. The bill does not create new funding but adjusts coverage eligibility under current Medicaid rules.
