Healthcare in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 18, 2026

S 4303: Permits physician assistant or advanced practice nurse to verify excusal from jury service due to medical inability to serve.

This bill allows physician assistants and advanced practice nurses to verify that a prospective juror cannot serve due to medical reasons, expanding the current rule which only permits licensed physicians to provide such verification. It directly affects individuals seeking jury excusal based on health issues and the medical professionals licensed under New Jersey's Title 45 who may issue these certifications. By amending the state's jury service statute, the legislation broadens the pool of qualified healthcare providers who can confirm a juror's medical inability to serve without altering other hardship exemptions like financial difficulties or family obligations. The change takes effect immediately for any jury summons issued on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4980: Establishes and requires coverage for routine opt-out HIV testing during provision of medical care in certain settings.

This bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover routine HIV testing for patients receiving care in primary care settings, emergency departments, and other appropriate health facilities. Under the new rules, HIV testing will be performed automatically unless a patient explicitly opts out, provided they have already given general consent for their medical visit. The legislation also mandates that insurance contracts cannot be issued or renewed without including these testing benefits, ensuring coverage is treated like any other medical condition.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4143: Requires State to permit foundation of association health plan and other multiple employer welfare arrangements; provides tax credit to members of plan.

This bill allows chambers of commerce, trade associations, and nonprofit business coalitions in New Jersey to create their own group health insurance plans for their member businesses. To encourage participation, the legislation provides a state tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee annually for businesses enrolled in these new plans, with a maximum annual limit of $20,000 per taxpayer. Additionally, the bill requires the state to launch a public awareness campaign funded by at least $500,000 to inform businesses about these coverage options and offers grants to help organizations cover the administrative costs of managing the plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 18, 2026

S 4299: Provides funding for Division of State Police opioid-related initiatives; appropriates up to $5 million annually.

This bill establishes a dedicated fund to manage money received from national opioid litigation settlements and appropriates up to $5 million annually for related state police initiatives. It designates the Department of Human Services as the lead agency responsible for distributing these funds to counties and municipalities while ensuring compliance with settlement terms. The legislation also creates a mechanism for the fund to earn interest and allows the department to adopt temporary regulations to oversee the allocation and reporting of these resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Policing Substance Abuse

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 5062: Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing and treatments to slow progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

This New Jersey bill mandates that health insurance plans and Medicaid cover medically necessary tests and FDA-approved treatments designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The law applies to hospital service, medical service, and health service corporation contracts, as well as individual and group health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state. A key provision ensures that these specific Alzheimer's treatments are not subject to step therapy requirements, meaning patients can access them without needing to try other medications first. Additionally, the coverage must be provided at the same level as benefits for other medical conditions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Medicaid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4089: Requires health insurance carriers to cover genetic testing after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

This New Jersey bill mandates that all health insurance plans cover the cost of genetic testing for individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The law applies to hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, and individual policies issued or renewed in the state after the effective date. Under the new rule, insurers must treat these genetic tests the same as any other medical condition, ensuring they are covered without additional restrictions. The legislation defines genetic testing broadly to include tests that analyze DNA, RNA, chromosomes, or proteins to identify mutations that guide treatment and monitoring.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4070: Amends law related to EMT eligibility for receiving funds from "Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund."

This bill updates New Jersey law to clarify how the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund reimburses agencies that train volunteer EMTs. It specifically defines "volunteer" as those who do not receive an hourly wage or salary for their services, while explicitly excluding full-time hospital employees from this definition. The legislation also broadens the definition of higher education to include out-of-state universities and sets a minimum service requirement of 12 calls or 150 hours annually for the first three years of certification. Additionally, it establishes rules for recovering training funds if a volunteer stops meeting service requirements, except when they leave to attend college.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4073: Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing and treatments to slow progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

This New Jersey bill mandates that all health insurance plans and Medicaid programs cover medically necessary tests and FDA-approved treatments designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The law requires these benefits to be treated the same as coverage for other conditions, specifically exempting them from step therapy requirements that often delay access to medications. These provisions apply to hospital, medical, and health service corporation contracts, as well as individual and group health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state. The coverage must be determined by a physician and align with the official labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Medicaid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 4843: "Community-led Birthing Justice and Equity Resource Initiative Program Act;" appropriates $12 million.

This bill establishes the Community-led Birthing Justice and Equity Resource Initiative Program to address high maternal and infant mortality rates among Black women in New Jersey. It allocates $12 million to fund community-based programs that provide culturally congruent care through Black OBGYNs, midwives, doulas, and other medical professionals. The initiative specifically targets underserved urban areas like Atlantic City, Newark, Trenton, and Plainfield, aiming to improve health outcomes by supporting accessible and culturally sensitive birthing resources.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4090: Establishes pancreatic cancer awareness campaign.

This New Jersey bill establishes a statewide pancreatic cancer public awareness and education program to be managed by the Department of Health. The initiative aims to improve early detection and treatment access by funding outreach campaigns, creating educational materials for the public and healthcare providers, and maintaining a directory of specialized care providers. The program is designed to inform residents about symptoms, risk factors, and available diagnostic services while acknowledging that surgery remains the primary cure option for a limited number of cases.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

All healthcare bills