Healthcare in New Jersey

signed · New Jersey · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 4113: Enters NJ into Athletic Trainer Compact.

This bill allows New Jersey to join the Athletic Trainer Compact, a national agreement that lets licensed athletic trainers practice in other member states without needing separate licenses for each location. Under the new rules, qualified trainers from other states can provide services in New Jersey through a streamlined "compact privilege" as long as they meet uniform standards and agree to be regulated by the state where the patient is located. The legislation also includes provisions to support military families, facilitate telehealth services, and improve the sharing of disciplinary information among member states to protect public safety.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Telehealth

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 4, 2026

S 4087: Requires DHS to establish system to ensure distribution of funds for certain support services for General Assistance beneficiaries ceases upon beneficiary's exit from support service.

This New Jersey bill requires the Department of Human Services to create a system that stops funding for substance use disorder treatment and housing once a General Assistance recipient leaves the service. The law authorizes officials to contact providers and beneficiaries to verify when services ended and to demand repayment from any provider who received funds for a client who is no longer receiving care. By mandating immediate cessation of payments upon discharge, the measure aims to prevent the state from paying for services that are no longer being delivered.

Topics ✗ Healthcare ✗ Housing

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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

A 4849: Creates civil and criminal penalties for invasive grooming of vulnerable adults.

This New Jersey bill establishes criminal and civil penalties for caretakers who perform invasive grooming, such as shaving or waxing, on vulnerable adults without proper authorization. The law defines "vulnerable adults" as individuals over 18 who lack the capacity to consent due to illness, disability, or incapacity, and requires both written permission from a legal guardian and a physician's certification of medical necessity for such procedures. Penalties escalate based on severity, ranging from a third-degree crime for causing minor distress to a first-degree crime if the act involves sexual gratification, repeated abuse, or recording the incident. Additionally, the bill allows affected adults to sue both the individual caretaker and their employer for damages, while explicitly removing the defense that the caretaker believed the procedure was in the victim's best interest.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

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

A 4854: Implements Mom Project oral health program in DOH; appropriates $3,000,000.

This bill establishes the Mom Project oral health program within New Jersey's Department of Health to provide dental care for low-income pregnant women and new mothers. The legislation defines eligible participants as residents earning less than 300% of the federal poverty level who are enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare, and it directs services to specific community oral health centers in medically underserved areas. A total of $3,000,000 is appropriated to fund the program, aiming to address the link between maternal periodontal disease and adverse birth outcomes such as preterm labor. The bill also includes findings on the health disparities affecting Black mothers in the state and the barriers that often prevent access to preventive dental care during pregnancy.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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

A 4868: Eliminates use of vaccines containing mercury over three years.

This New Jersey bill requires health care providers to phase out the use of vaccines containing mercury over a three-year period. Starting in 2016, providers cannot give certain flu shots with higher mercury levels to young children or any other vaccine with more than a trace amount, followed by a total ban on mercury-containing vaccines by 2018. The law includes a safety exception allowing the state health commissioner to permit higher mercury levels during disease outbreaks if no other options are available, provided patients are informed beforehand. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state health department create rules to enforce these restrictions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

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

A 4841: Requires SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare to cover kidney disease education services; Requires DOH to develop policies and procedures regarding kidney disease education services.

This bill mandates that New Jersey's state health insurance programs, including SHBP, SEHBP, and NJ FamilyCare, must cover education services for patients with kidney disease who need dialysis or a transplant. The legislation requires the Department of Health to create specific guidelines for these services, which involve verbal counseling on managing related health conditions, preventing complications, and understanding treatment options like different types of dialysis or transplantation. Under the plan, patients would receive this information before their appointments to help them actively participate in choosing their treatment path. The coverage for the NJ FamilyCare program is specifically noted as dependent on receiving approval from the federal government.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

A 4858: "Self-Directed Care Access Act"; requires DHS to establish common intake system and application process for Medicaid self-directed care programs.

This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a single online portal for applying to Medicaid programs that allow individuals to manage their own home and community-based services. The system will include a standardized application form and an automated screening process to determine eligibility and refer applicants to the appropriate waiver programs. Additionally, the bill mandates uniform documentation requirements for participants who wish to hire their own staff to provide care. These changes aim to simplify the enrollment process for people currently in or seeking these specific Medicaid support programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 4821: Enters NJ into Athletic Trainer Compact.

This bill introduces New Jersey into the Athletic Trainer Compact, a national agreement designed to allow licensed athletic trainers to practice across multiple member states without needing separate licenses in each location. The legislation establishes a commission to oversee the program and creates a streamlined process where qualified professionals can work in other states while still adhering to the specific rules and scope of practice of the state where the patient is located. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, support for military families relocating, and the use of telehealth to expand access to care. By adopting this compact, New Jersey aims to increase workforce mobility and public access to athletic training services while maintaining state authority over public health and safety.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Public Health

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Jul 8, 2026

A 4852: Revises certain requirements for prescription of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances via telemedicine and telehealth without in-person examination or review.*

This bill allows doctors in New Jersey to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, such as certain pain medications, through telemedicine and telehealth without requiring an in-person visit. It permits providers to use digital tools like video calls or asynchronous messaging to evaluate patients, provided they have already reviewed the patient's medical records and determined that remote care meets the same standard of care as an in-person appointment. The legislation also mandates that patients be informed if their provider is not a physician and must be given the option to request a consultation with a doctor, while ensuring all telehealth interactions are properly documented and referrals for in-person care are made when necessary.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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

A 4844: Establishes "Targeted Midwifery Workforce Development Act"; appropriates $12 million.

This bill, known as the Targeted Midwifery Workforce Development Act, aims to address racial disparities in maternal and infant health in New Jersey by investing $12 million in workforce development for midwives. The legislation is based on findings that Black women and infants in the state face significantly higher risks of pregnancy-related death and infant mortality compared to white residents. To tackle these issues, the act appropriates funds to expand training and education opportunities for midwives, thereby increasing access to culturally competent care and helping to close the gap in prenatal care and birth outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Children's Health Women's Health Workforce Development

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