Requires DCF to strengthen Statewide pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health care services for children and families.
What changed between versions
All references to the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC) are replaced with 'Child Collaborative Mental Health Care Program' (CCMHCP), a newly defined term described as a Statewide initiative funded by DCF. This broadens the program from a specific collaborative entity to a statewide program concept.
Specific references to 'PerformCare or other future contracted system administrators' are replaced with the generic term 'contracted system administrators,' removing the named company and making the provisions apply regardless of which entity holds the contract.
The Department of Health is now the lead agency for standardized data collection and analysis (previously DCF was the lead with DOH in a consulting role). The Division of Consumer Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General is added as a new consulting party.
A new requirement is added for CCMHCP to provide medical education via case-based learning collaboratives addressing gaps in psychotropic medication management, side effect monitoring, co-occurring conditions, and care for youth with complex psychiatric presentations.
A new provision allows the Department of Health to define data elements and issue standardized definitions to guide reporting, giving it rulemaking-like authority over the data format.
The legislative report requirement no longer includes materials prepared for the public awareness campaign; only the standardized data collected must be reported to the Governor and Legislature.
A new penalty provision allows the Department of Health, DCF, Division of Consumer Affairs, or DHS to assess a penalty of $100 to $500 per day for each day an entity is in violation of data reporting requirements. Penalties are recoverable under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999.
Rule-making authority is expanded: both DCF and the Department of Health are now required to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the act (previously only DCF).
The data reporting requirement is now limited to health care facilities, pediatric primary care physicians, hospital emergency departments, and pediatric behavioral health care programs 'that use electronic health records,' narrowing who must report.
The definition of 'High acuity services' is deleted from the bill.
Assemblyman Verrelli and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson are added as co-sponsors.
