Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2815: Requires Medicaid coverage of social day care services for senior citizens.

This bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover social adult day care services for seniors aged 60 or older who meet the same clinical, income, and asset requirements as participants in the state's Medicaid long-term care program (MLTSS). It expands current coverage, which only applies to MLTSS enrollees, to all eligible seniors regardless of MLTSS enrollment. Social adult day care is defined as a community-based program providing non-medical support (like meals and supervision) during the day when caregivers are unavailable. The state must seek federal approval for implementation through Medicaid waivers before the coverage becomes active.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage for senior day care services, increasing access to non-medical health support for seniors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2386: Establishes Kidney Donor Insurance Fund.

This bill establishes a state fund to provide lifetime health insurance coverage for live kidney donors in New Jersey. It requires the state to cover all premiums for a gold-level health plan (including prescription drugs) through the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program, with no cost to donors or their employers. The Kidney Donor Insurance Fund, created in the Department of Banking and Insurance, will pay for these premiums using state funds. The coverage applies to all live kidney donations occurring on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides state-funded lifetime health insurance for kidney donors, expanding coverage without cost to donors or employers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1891: Requires DHS to establish five-year pilot program to facilitate coordinated provision of systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment (START) services to adults who have both developmental disabilities and mental illness.

S 1891 establishes a 5-year pilot program requiring New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to coordinate START services (systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resource, and treatment) for adults with both developmental disabilities and mental illness. The program creates community-based therapeutic respite homes with dedicated beds for crisis stabilization (stabilization beds) and preventive respite (respite beds), alongside 24/7 crisis response services. It mandates individualized crisis management plans to prevent emergencies and stabilize crises without hospitalization or institutional care. This directly affects eligible adults in New Jersey who currently face challenges accessing integrated support across mental health and disability service systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates coordinated START services for mental illness/developmental disability patients, establishing crisis respite beds and 24/7 crisis response to expand access to therapeutic care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2388: Expands purpose of Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to support transportation costs incurred by eligible individuals in accessing support group meetings.

This bill expands New Jersey's Traumatic Brain Injury Fund to cover transportation costs for eligible individuals attending support group meetings. It directly affects residents of New Jersey who have survived traumatic brain injuries and need transportation to access these meetings, which are defined as gatherings focused on sharing information and improving well-being related to their injuries. The fund will now pay for transportation to these meetings as part of its existing purpose, alongside existing coverage for medical appointments and treatment. This change builds on the current fund structure, which already provides up to $100,000 per person annually for transportation and other support services when other resources are unavailable.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands transportation funding for brain injury support groups, improving access to healthcare-related services and well-being programs.95% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 777: Increases Medicaid reimbursement for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services, and associated transportation services, for adults.

This bill increases Medicaid payment rates for specific behavioral health services provided to adults in New Jersey. It raises reimbursement rates for in-person partial care (20+ hours/week) and intensive outpatient services (9+ hours/week) by 35%, covering costs like counseling, psychiatric evaluations, and medical services. It also sets a minimum $10 reimbursement per one-way trip for transportation to these providers. The changes apply to adult Medicaid beneficiaries (21+) with severe mental illness or substance use disorders receiving these services, effective after the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services by 35%, expanding access to mental health care for adults through higher provider payments and transportation support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 439: Restricts certain billing practices for early intervention program services.

This bill prohibits health care providers from billing patients for early intervention services more than one year after the service was provided or attempting to collect on such late bills. It allows providers to seek full reimbursement from insurance plans at any time, but if insurance denies or partially pays a claim, providers cannot bill patients for the remaining balance if the claim was submitted over one year after the service or if more than 18 months passed since the service. The bill directly affects parents of infants and toddlers (birth to age two) receiving early intervention services for developmental delays or disabilities. It targets a practice where providers issued bills years after services, creating financial strain for families already managing complex care needs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents providers from billing patients for late claims after insurance denial, protecting patients from financial burden related to healthcare services.95% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1375: Establishes Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing in DOE; appropriates $1 million.

S 1375 creates a Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing within New Jersey's Department of Education, appropriating $1 million to fund it. The program trains educators to lead school-wide sessions on student behavioral and mental health, covering trauma-informed approaches, recognizing mental health challenges, restorative practices, and crisis de-escalation. Public school staff - not districts - voluntarily participate in the training, which uses evidence-based methods to improve school climate and student support. The program requires annual evaluations and a three-year effectiveness report to the Governor and Legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $1M for train-the-trainer program on student mental health, using evidence-based methods to enhance educator capacity and school wellbeing initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health training for educators in schools, directly supporting student mental health services through evidence-based programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 544: Exempts certain health information contained in 9-1-1 calls from definition of government record.

This bill (S 544) amends New Jersey's open records law to exempt specific health information disclosed in 9-1-1 calls from being classified as a "government record." It directly protects individuals who share health details (like medical conditions, treatments, or insurance) during emergency calls by removing these elements from the definition of public records. The key provision ensures that transcripts or recordings of 9-1-1 calls containing health information cannot be accessed under the Open Public Records Act. This change applies only to health-related content in emergency calls, not to other 9-1-1 call details. The bill is currently pending in the Senate committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts health details in 9-1-1 calls from public records, protecting patient privacy rights in healthcare as per bill's intent.95% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 350: Prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices.

This bill (S 350) prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers - including licensed facilities and sober living homes - from using deceptive marketing practices. It requires all advertising materials to clearly state service types, locations, and provider names in plain language, banning false claims about insurance network status, locations, websites, or false relationships with other providers. Violations could result in $1,000 penalties per offense, triple damages for affected individuals, or license suspension by the Department of Health. The law directly affects treatment providers and patients seeking care, aiming to ensure transparent information for informed decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits deceptive marketing by substance use treatment providers, ensuring transparent advertising to protect patient rights and informed choices in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 404: Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for hospitalizations resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 without imposing cost-sharing requirements.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates cost-sharing for COVID-19 hospitalizations, expanding patient access to covered care without deductibles or copays.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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