S 167 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes pilot program for 24-hour urgent care for behavioral health.

S 167 establishes a two-year pilot program to integrate 24-hour behavioral health services into hospital urgent care facilities across New Jersey. The bill requires participating hospitals (selected by Medicaid managed care organizations) to provide integrated care through licensed behavioral clinicians, telehealth psychiatry, and specific care transition methods like "warm hand-offs" (direct connections to providers) and "supportive contacts" (brief follow-up communications). This program targets individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, aiming to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and inpatient admissions by stabilizing patients at urgent care facilities. It will be funded through Medicaid using a value-based payment system that covers costs for participating facilities and providers.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jim Beach
Jim Beach
DDemocratic
NJ
6