Revises law concerning substance use disorder treatment facility patient referrals.

This bill (A4031) revises New Jersey law to make it a third-degree crime (up from fourth-degree) for health care providers, facilities, non-profits, and recovery residences to accept or give payments for referring patients to substance use disorder treatment facilities. It mandates a $50,000 fine for violations and prohibits payments tied to referral volume, treatment duration, or service type. The law explicitly exempts payments that don’t vary based on these factors, such as standard fees not linked to specific referrals. It directly affects entities that connect patients to treatment centers, aiming to prevent financial incentives that could influence referrals.