This New Jersey bill (S 1976) prohibits hospitals from charging patients for medical transport between hospitals when no alternative transport options (like private vehicles) are clinically appropriate for the patient's condition. It directly affects patients requiring such transport who have no other safe or medically suitable choices. Hospitals may still bill health insurance plans for these services, and the bill does not apply to nonvolunteer ambulance services responding to 911 calls for transport to the nearest appropriate hospital. The law would take effect immediately upon passage.
This bill expands school staff's ability to administer epinephrine auto-injectors to students experiencing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in New Jersey schools, colleges, and youth camps. It allows trained school nurses or designated staff to give epinephrine without prior parental consent if they believe a student is having an anaphylactic reaction, even if the student hasn't been identified as needing it or parental forms are incomplete. Schools must store epinephrine securely but accessibly, train staff, maintain backup supplies, and follow specific protocols for emergency use and hospital transport. The law requires parental written authorization for routine use, but streamlines emergency administration to save critical time during allergic emergencies. It directly affects all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools, colleges, and youth camps with students at risk of anaphylaxis.
This bill creates a new licensure pathway for non-hospital inpatient mental health treatment facilities in New Jersey, specifically for adolescents (12-21) and adults requiring 45-120 days of comprehensive care. It mandates strict standards including national accreditation, specific staffing ratios (like licensed psychiatrists and trauma-informed therapists), mandatory staff training, and facility safety protocols. The bill also establishes a workforce program to address mental health professional shortages through training grants, loan forgiveness, and salary incentives. These licensed facilities must integrate with existing care systems, submit annual outcome reports, and operate under oversight by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
This bill requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey to cover non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a blood test performed starting at 10 weeks of pregnancy to screen for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. It directly affects pregnant people in New Jersey and applies to all major insurance types, including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and individual/group health plans. Insurers must cover the test "to the same extent as for any other medical condition" and follow American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines for testing methods. The law applies to contracts where insurers reserve the right to adjust premiums.
S 564 requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey - including hospital service contracts, medical service plans, individual policies, group plans, and HMOs - to cover prenatal genetic testing during the first trimester of pregnancy. It specifically mandates coverage for three test types: carrier screening (blood/tissue tests for inherited disorders), nuchal translucency screening, and chorionic villus sampling. The law states coverage must be provided "to the same extent as for any other medical condition," meaning no additional out-of-pocket costs for these tests. This bill directly affects pregnant individuals seeking genetic screening and all health insurers operating in New Jersey, though it remains pending in the Senate Commerce Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.
S 1496 creates a dedicated "Public Hospital Capital Fund" to use specific assessment revenues from health service corporation reorganizations (like Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield's reorganization) for capital projects at New Jersey's public hospitals. The fund will hold money collected under P.L.2020, c.145, and must be used solely for public hospital capital improvements based on legislative recommendations. The bill limits annual spending to no more than 25% of the initial assessment amount. This bill directly affects public hospitals in New Jersey by redirecting designated funding toward facility upgrades and infrastructure.
This bill establishes a pilot program in New Jersey's Department of Human Services to improve behavioral health care coordination for emergency department patients. It requires two hospitals in each Regional Health Hub to refer patients with mild-to-moderate behavioral health issues (like anxiety, depression, or substance use not requiring inpatient care) to community-based treatment services. Regional Health Hubs will support hospitals in developing protocols for timely referrals, follow-up, transportation, and connecting patients to services like housing assistance or medication treatment. The program will be covered under Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare once necessary federal waivers are approved, with funding provided through existing Regional Health Hub mechanisms.
This bill requires all health insurance carriers in New Jersey (including major health plans and state programs) to cover hospitalization costs for coronavirus (COVID-19) without any cost-sharing. It directly affects individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 by eliminating deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for these expenses. The key provision mandates that insurers cover all related hospitalization costs for eligible patients as defined in the bill. This applies immediately to all health plans issued or purchased on or after the effective date. The policy change removes financial barriers for COVID-19 hospital care.
This New Jersey bill (S 2998) requires health insurers to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and related services without cost-sharing. It specifically mandates no deductibles, copays, or prior authorization for over-the-counter contraceptives at the point of sale, while also covering prescription options and related services like counseling and device insertion. The law applies to all hospital and medical service corporations offering health insurance in New Jersey, directly affecting subscribers who use contraception. Insurers must cover these services at the same level as other preventive care, with no medical necessity review needed for over-the-counter products.
This New Jersey bill (S 1228) requires public schools to create emergency policies for students with seizure disorders. It mandates schools to train at least two non-nurse staff members (in addition to the school nurse) to administer nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator during emergencies, with parental consent and written documentation. Schools must also develop individualized emergency plans in collaboration with parents and healthcare providers, and ensure students receive hospital evaluation after treatment. The bill protects school staff from liability for good-faith actions under these protocols, provided they follow training and consent requirements. The bill was introduced to the Senate Education Committee in January 2026.
