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.
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.
This bill establishes licensure for emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians in New Jersey, while also creating a certification program for mobility assistance vehicle operators. It updates the state's legal definitions for various emergency medical roles and services, including advanced life support, mobile intensive care units, and hospital transfer centers. The legislation requires the Department of Health to oversee these new standards and ensures that patient transportation services meet specific safety and care requirements.
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.
This New Jersey bill requires all health insurance plans in the state to cover genetic testing for individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The law applies to hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, and individual health insurance policies issued or renewed after the bill takes effect. Genetic testing includes tests that examine DNA, RNA, chromosomes, or proteins to identify mutations linked to pancreatic cancer and guide treatment decisions. The bill mandates that these tests be covered to the same extent as other medical conditions under each insurance contract.
This bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover the prescription and purchase of buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone for pain treatment without using step therapy or fail-first protocols. It applies to various types of insurance contracts, including hospital service, medical service, and health service corporation plans, as well as individual and group health insurance policies. The law ensures that people with these insurance plans can access these medications directly without first trying other treatments or meeting additional requirements.
This bill creates a Nursing School Expansion Grant Program in New Jersey to help nursing schools increase their capacity and improve the supply of nurses. The program will be managed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which will review applications from eligible nursing education programs at public universities, private colleges, or hospital-based schools. To receive funding, schools must submit detailed plans showing how they will increase enrollment and graduation rates, expand faculty, improve workforce diversity, and strengthen connections between different nursing education levels. The bill appropriates $25 million from the state's General Fund, with $24.5 million available for grants and up to $500,000 reserved for administrative costs.
This bill requires hospitals in New Jersey to post signs and distribute pamphlets in emergency rooms about the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. The materials must be easy to understand and include information on available services, contact details, and how to file a compensation claim. The Commissioner of Health, working with the Attorney General, is responsible for creating these resources and ensuring they are available to victims of crime in all general hospital emergency departments and licensed satellite facilities.
This bill clarifies that testosterone therapy is covered under New Jersey's existing Menopause Coverage Act, which requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary treatments for perimenopause and menopause. The legislation specifically ensures that insurance providers cannot deny coverage for testosterone therapy if it is prescribed by a medical provider, even if the federal Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for menopause treatment. It applies to hospital and medical service corporation contracts issued or renewed in New Jersey after the act's effective date. The bill also mandates that insurers provide clear information to subscribers about covered menopause treatments.
This bill allows licensed residential substance use disorder treatment facilities in New Jersey to offer residential mental health services, provided they have a formal contractual agreement with a hospital that offers psychiatric or medical support. The law requires these facilities to maintain joint clinical governance, shared treatment protocols, 24-hour psychiatric and medical consultation availability, and clear procedures for transferring patients to inpatient care when needed. Facilities must file their hospital affiliation agreements with the Department of Health and follow existing state regulations for residential mental health treatment. The measure aims to create a structured pathway for treating individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in a sub-acute residential setting that bridges inpatient hospitalization and outpatient care.