Healthcare in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3821: Requires health insurers to cover self-measured blood pressure monitoring for subscribers with preeclampsia; requires health care professionals to provide home blood pressure monitor to pregnant patients diagnosed with preeclampsia.

This New Jersey bill requires health insurers to cover home blood pressure monitoring for pregnant patients diagnosed with preeclampsia, a dangerous high blood pressure condition that can harm both mother and baby. The legislation mandates that healthcare professionals provide validated home blood pressure monitors to affected patients and reimburse providers for time spent training patients on device use and interpreting results. Insurance contracts issued or renewed in the state must include this coverage to the same extent as other medical conditions, ensuring consistent access to monitoring tools that can help detect blood pressure spikes between clinical appointments.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 3867: Establishes Health Equity Access and Leadership Fund; appropriates $25 million from General Fund, and allocates portion of Health Care Subsidy Fund revenues, to fund.

This bill creates a new Health Equity Access and Leadership Fund in New Jersey to support health care organizations serving underserved communities. It establishes a dedicated account within the existing Health Care Subsidy Fund that will receive an initial $25 million appropriation plus ongoing allocations of at least 0.1 percent of projected Health Care Subsidy Fund revenues. The fund will distribute money through a competitive grant process to community-based organizations and service providers that offer essential health care services to underserved or underinsured populations affected by funding losses. The bill also requires the Health Care Subsidy Fund administrator to maintain separate accounts for different subsidy components and establish rules to ensure fund integrity.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4655: Requires New Jersey State Board of Dentistry to include oralfacial pain as a special area of dentistry.

This bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Dentistry to officially recognize orofacial pain as a specialized area of dentistry. It directs the board to update its rules so that licensed dentists can formally announce this specialty in their practice, similar to other recognized fields like orthodontics or periodontics. The change allows dentists to obtain permits to publicly identify themselves as specialists in treating facial and jaw pain conditions. This policy update affects dentists in New Jersey who wish to specialize in orofacial pain and patients seeking to identify providers with specific expertise in this area.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SR 78: Urges Governor and Legislature to establish initiatives towards education of social workers.

This Senate Resolution urges the Governor and Legislature of New Jersey to create initiatives that support the education of social work students. The bill specifically calls for the development of scholarships and loan repayment programs to help students pursuing bachelor's and graduate degrees in social work. By addressing high student debt and low salaries in the field, the resolution aims to encourage more individuals to enter social work careers and maintain a qualified workforce. The measure does not mandate funding but instead requests legislative action to establish financial support mechanisms for social work education.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3742: Creates special license plates supporting Autism Awareness.

This bill creates a new special license plate option in New Jersey to support Autism Awareness, available to any vehicle owner or lessee who registers a car in the state. The plates will feature slogans or designs related to autism awareness, with the specific design and colors chosen by the Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism. To obtain these plates, applicants must pay a $50 one-time fee plus an annual $10 renewal fee, which are deposited into a dedicated fund. The collected money will be used to reimburse the Motor Vehicle Commission for administrative costs and will be annually appropriated to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey for medical research and treatment related to autism, subject to oversight by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4001: Transfers oversight to certified nurse aides from DOH to Board of Nursing.

This bill shifts regulatory oversight of certified nurse aides from the Department of Health to the Board of Nursing in New Jersey. It requires healthcare facilities to notify the relevant oversight body when a nurse aide faces disciplinary actions, license restrictions, or other issues related to patient care or professional misconduct. The law also mandates reporting when aides voluntarily resign, are placed on leave due to health concerns, or are involved in malpractice settlements, while excluding personal conduct unrelated to patient safety from these requirements. Additionally, the bill ensures that staffing agencies receive copies of notices when nurse aides are employed through such agencies.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4025: Provides for independent prescriptive authority for midwives.

This bill would grant certified midwives in New Jersey independent authority to prescribe certain drugs, removing the current requirement that they must work under standing orders or practice protocols developed with a collaborating physician. To qualify for this new prescribing power, midwives must complete 30 hours of pharmacology training, including one hour focused on prescription opioid safety and responsible prescribing practices. The State Board of Medical Examiners would oversee the licensing process and has authority to prohibit prescribing privileges if a midwife violates relevant laws or regulations. This change expands midwives' clinical autonomy while maintaining educational standards and oversight mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4564: Establishes minimum Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare pediatric special care nursing facility reimbursement rates.

This bill establishes a minimum daily reimbursement rate of $950 for pediatric special care nursing facilities that participate in New Jersey's Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs. The funding applies specifically to facilities providing specialized long-term care and rehabilitation services to children and youth up to age 21 who require nursing care beyond conventional facilities. To qualify for this rate, facilities must comply with state and federal laws regarding licensure, patient safety, and quality of care. The bill also authorizes the Department of Human Services to implement necessary rules and seek federal approvals to ensure the funding can be used.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Children's Health Long-Term Care Medicaid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3769: Requires NJ FamilyCare payment for multiple medical encounters per day for enrollee at federally qualified health center.

This bill requires NJ FamilyCare to reimburse for multiple medical encounters per day at federally qualified health centers, provided each encounter is with a different specialty provider and medical necessity is documented. It directly affects patients enrolled in NJ FamilyCare who visit these community health centers and the health centers themselves, allowing them to bill for same-day visits with multiple specialists. The legislation includes specific definitions for specialty providers and requires the state to seek necessary federal approvals to implement the reimbursement changes. Existing rules limiting coverage to one encounter per day would be expanded under this bill, but only when the additional visits involve different specialists and are medically necessary.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Primary Care

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4656: Broadens epinephrine administration mechanisms permitted in schools, institutions of higher education, and youth camps.

This bill allows schools, colleges, and youth camps in New Jersey to use pre-filled auto-injectors to administer epinephrine to students experiencing anaphylaxis, expanding who can give the medication and how it is stored. It requires schools to keep epinephrine in secure but unlocked locations accessible to nurses and trained staff, and permits nurses or designated volunteers to administer the drug even if a student has no known allergy history or if parents have not completed standard authorization forms. The legislation also clarifies that athletic trainers can administer epinephrine without violating licensing laws and mandates that students be transported to the hospital after treatment, regardless of whether symptoms appear to have resolved.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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