This bill exempts common oral care products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and oral irrigators from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It specifically covers items designed to maintain oral health, including powered toothbrushes and interdental brushes, regardless of whether they qualify as over-the-counter drugs. The exemption does not apply to food, dietary supplements, or durable medical equipment. This change aligns with a multistate tax agreement to standardize definitions for tax-exempt products.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a mobile cancer screening program within 180 days of enactment. The program will use staffed mobile vehicles deployed across the state, each carrying at least one qualified healthcare professional to conduct screenings based on their expertise and available equipment. The state allocates $100,000 from the General Fund to implement this program, with DOH mandated to submit a report on its results and recommendations within two years. The initiative directly affects underserved communities by increasing access to cancer screenings through mobile services.
This bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services by $4 per hour. It sets a minimum rate of $65 per hour for registered nurses (up from $61) and $53 per hour for licensed practical nurses (up from $49), applying to both fee-for-service and managed care Medicaid delivery systems. The change directly affects nurses providing in-home PDN services and requires the state to seek federal approval for the rate adjustment. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill (S 3376) requires New Jersey nursing homes and assisted living facilities to undergo inspections every two years. Within 180 days of the law taking effect, the Department of Health must establish uniform care and safety standards for these facilities. The Department will conduct these biennial inspections and post all inspection reports online for public access, ensuring facilities operate according to the new standards.
This New Jersey bill (A3675, now law as P.L.2025, c.196) allows pharmacists to dispense HIV prevention medicine (PrEP) and emergency HIV treatment (PEP) without individual prescriptions under specific conditions. It directly affects patients seeking HIV prevention or post-exposure treatment, requiring pharmacists to follow strict protocols: verify recent HIV-negative test results, screen for symptoms/contraindications, provide counseling, and notify primary care providers. Pharmacists must complete state-approved training covering medication use and financial assistance programs. The law mandates a 30-60 day supply for PrEP (with limits on frequency) and requires PEP to be dispensed within 72 hours of potential exposure, aligning with federal CDC guidelines.
This bill prohibits long-term care facilities (like nursing homes and assisted living residences) from having staff manage residents' financial affairs or serve as their legal representatives. It bans facility owners, administrators, or employees from acting as guardians or attorneys-in-fact for residents and invalidates any such agreements they attempt to create. The bill also requires facilities to use standardized admission forms developed by the Department of Health (available in multiple languages), prohibits forcing residents to sign arbitration agreements at admission, and ensures residents can sue for violations. These changes directly protect residents and their families by preventing conflicts of interest and ensuring clear, fair admission processes.
S 3381 prohibits pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies directly or indirectly in New Jersey. The law requires PBMs to divest existing pharmacy ownership by July 2027, aiming to prevent conflicts where PBMs set drug prices while also running pharmacies. This affects PBMs with pharmacy holdings and aims to increase competition for patients by reducing anticompetitive practices that limit pharmacy choices and may raise drug costs. The bill focuses on structural changes to the pharmacy market, not on specific drug pricing outcomes.
This bill requires all New Jersey nursing homes to hire a full-time or part-time patient advocate who is a health care professional or social worker with prior nursing home experience. The advocate must represent residents' interests upon request, negotiate with the facility on their behalf, and notify the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman if a nursing home violates resident rights. It directly affects licensed nursing homes (excluding hospitals, assisted living facilities, or state-run institutions) across New Jersey. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, with health and human services commissioners tasked to create implementing rules.
This bill sets specific requirements for New Jersey hospitals that advertise level-one or level-two pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). Hospitals must maintain dedicated PED spaces with board-certified pediatric emergency physicians as directors, certified pediatric emergency nurses as managers, 24-hour staffing by qualified providers, and access to pediatric subspecialists (e.g., cardiology, neurology) within one hour. Level-one PEDs also require separate pediatric inpatient/intensive care units, while level-two PEDs may use transfer agreements with level-one facilities. The Department of Health must include hospital-specific PED performance data in its annual hospital report. The bill directly affects hospitals seeking to advertise PED services and aims to standardize pediatric emergency care quality.
This bill requires owners of specific buildings - including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, public housing, and correctional facilities - to test drinking water annually for Legionella bacteria. Owners must use Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)-approved methods and labs, report results to the DEP, and notify residents if levels exceed DEP-set standards. If contamination is found, owners must begin remediation within 30 days and complete it within six months, followed by retesting to confirm safety. The law aims to prevent Legionnaires' disease outbreaks by ensuring regular water safety checks in high-risk facilities.
