This bill requires lead screenings for children aged six months to six years at specific intervals: between 9-18 months, 18-26 months, and immediately before school entry (starting 2024-2025). It directly affects young children, parents/guardians (who must provide screening documentation), healthcare providers (who must conduct screenings), and schools (which must verify results before enrolling pre-K or kindergarten students). Schools cannot admit children without proof of the required screening, and healthcare providers must document results in permanent health records and share them on school enrollment forms. The law updates existing screening schedules and mandates documentation to ensure early detection of lead exposure, a known health risk for young children.
This bill establishes a statewide system for reporting vaccine side effects in children under 19. It requires health care providers (including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and emergency staff) to report any adverse event occurring within eight weeks of a child's vaccination, regardless of whether they believe the vaccine caused it. The system, managed by the New Jersey Department of Health, collects specific details like the child's information, vaccine type, and event description. Reports not already mandated by federal law must also be sent to the national VAERS system. This directly affects children receiving vaccines and the health care providers who administer them.
S 2943 requires New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) to create an integrated enrollment platform connecting the state's health insurance exchange with the NJ FamilyCare program (which includes Medicaid and CHIP). This directly affects New Jersey residents applying for health coverage through the Individual Health Coverage Program, Small Employer Health Benefits Program, or NJ FamilyCare. The bill mandates DOBI, in coordination with the Department of Human Services, to integrate the exchange with Medicaid eligibility systems so applicants can determine eligibility for all programs through one platform. It also establishes a nine-member advisory committee with health insurance expertise to guide implementation, including consumer advocates and industry representatives.
S 3161 requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury and Department of Human Services to annually report to the Governor and Legislature on funding for two key programs. For NJ FamilyCare (which covers Medicaid and CHIP health coverage for low-income residents), the report must identify available state funds and evaluate care quality, then prioritize the 12 most urgent policy changes needed to fix deficiencies. Similarly, for child care subsidy programs, the report must identify unspent state funds and evaluate service quality, compiling a prioritized list of 12 needed improvements with required funding. The bill mandates these annual reports starting January 1 after enactment, focusing on using existing funds more effectively to improve program quality.
This bill (S 756) mandates that health insurance plans in New Jersey (including hospital, medical, and health service corporation contracts) cover specific preventive services without requiring copayments or deductibles. It covers services rated "A" or "B" by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, CDC-recommended immunizations, pediatric preventive care per federal guidelines, and women’s preventive services. Plans must provide these services at least once annually within the calendar year (January 1-December 31), with coverage for out-of-network care if no in-network provider is available. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it had already been enacted as P.L.2025, c.386.
This bill requires all licensed general and special hospitals in New Jersey to create and implement evidence-based protocols for early sepsis recognition and treatment. The protocols must cover screening, treatment guidelines (with separate adult and pediatric components), infection source identification, antibiotic timing, and exclusion criteria for inappropriate cases. Hospitals must submit protocols to the Department of Health within 120 days of enactment, train staff regularly, and annually report data to track adherence and mortality rates for quality improvement. The law focuses on standardizing care for a life-threatening condition that can cause organ damage or death if untreated.
This bill requires health care providers to obtain written parental or guardian consent before sharing any child's medical information with government agencies, including the Department of Health. It applies to all existing reporting requirements for conditions like newborn hearing screenings, lead testing, autism diagnoses, cardiac events, and immunization records. Exceptions allow sharing only if a provider suspects child abuse, including sexual abuse. The law directly affects parents/guardians (who must consent), health care providers (who must seek consent), and government agencies (which cannot receive unconsented data).
New Jersey bill S 598 requires health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment for two specific pediatric neurological conditions: PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). The bill mandates coverage for treatments including antibiotics, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG), provided by a treating physician. Insurance plans must cover these expenses "to the same extent as for any other condition," applying to hospital service, medical service, health service, individual, group, and health benefits plans. This directly affects patients diagnosed with PANDAS or PANS and all health insurance providers operating in New Jersey.
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.
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.
