"Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services.

This bill, the Mental Health Access Act (A555), increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services in New Jersey. It requires Medicaid to pay providers at least the Medicare rate for evidence-based outpatient counseling services (individual or group), provided the service is listed in the federal National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs or meets state-approved criteria. The policy directly affects licensed substance abuse treatment facilities and health professionals (under Title 45) who provide these services and bill Medicaid. The change applies to services provided on or after the effective date, which is four months after enactment.