This bill gradually increases New Jersey's cigarette tax rate over four years, starting July 1, 2024. The tax will rise from $0.135 per cigarette ($2.70 per pack) to $0.20 per cigarette ($4.00 per pack) by 2027. Retailers and distributors must file annual tax returns showing cigarette inventory and pay the increased tax by specific dates each year. The additional revenue generated will go to the state General Fund, while existing dedications for smoking cessation programs and hospital subsidies remain unchanged.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create and distribute pamphlets about family leave programs (under the 1989 Family Leave Act) to healthcare providers. Specifically, maternity care facilities must provide these pamphlets to patients during discharge and display them in waiting areas. The materials will explain available family leave resources, and hospitals must include them in discharge plans for patients needing after-care assistance. This affects maternity care providers and patients transitioning home after hospital stays.
This bill creates the New Jersey Board of Paramedicine to regulate paramedic and EMT licensing and practice. It establishes a 11-member board with specific qualifications, including four active mobile intensive care paramedics, two EMTs, medical specialists, and public members. The board will set standards for advanced life support (paramedics) and basic life support (EMTs), oversee licensing, and define paramedicine as a regulated healthcare practice encompassing pre-hospital care and community health services. The bill does not change current service standards but creates the governing body to administer these regulations.
This bill exempts specialty heart hospitals from paying a 0.53% assessment on their total operating revenue, provided they certify to the Department of Health and Banking and Insurance that they waive direct billing for patient services. The exemption applies specifically to hospitals certified as specialty heart facilities under New Jersey law. Funds collected from the assessment otherwise support the Health Care Subsidy Fund, which finances federally qualified health centers, charity care programs, and other state health initiatives. The policy change directly affects specialty heart hospitals seeking relief from this mandatory payment.
This bill expands New Jersey's NJ FamilyCare Advantage program to make health coverage more accessible for low-income children under 19, their parents/caretakers, and adults without dependent children. Key changes include requiring simplified income verification (like pay stubs or tax record matching), implementing continuous enrollment to prevent coverage gaps, and allowing children to get immediate coverage during hospital visits if they meet income criteria (up to 350% of the poverty level). The program will also streamline renewal processes through preprinted forms and online options. These changes aim to reduce administrative barriers while maximizing federal funding for eligible residents.
This New Jersey bill (A1647) invalidates most geographic restrictions that prevent physicians from practicing medicine in a specific area after leaving a job. It directly affects physicians by making non-compete clauses in employment contracts unenforceable, unless specific exceptions apply. Key exceptions include restrictions for large hospital systems (30+ physicians), federally qualified health centers (5-mile radius for up to 4 years), or when a "unique incentive" (like a $50,000 bonus) was clearly stated in the contract. The law applies immediately to new employment contracts and does not void other non-restrictive contract terms.
This bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover specific prenatal genetic tests during the first trimester of pregnancy. It applies to hospital service, medical service, health service, individual, and group insurance policies issued in the state. Covered tests include carrier screening (a blood or cheek swab test for inherited disorders), nuchal translucency screening, and chorionic villus sampling. Insurance plans must provide this coverage at the same level as other medical conditions, meaning no additional out-of-pocket costs for patients beyond standard coverage.
This bill requires New Jersey's four regional child abuse and neglect treatment centers to establish 24/7 mobile teams that respond to hospital requests for forensic examinations of pediatric patients under 13. Hospitals must contact their county's center when a child meets specific criteria: (1) referred by a school nurse, pediatrician, or caregiver for suspected abuse, or (2) presenting injuries inconsistent with their explanation or developmental level. The mobile teams will perform examinations at the hospital, and the state will appropriate funds to support this service. Centers must also develop hospital contact protocols and train staff on abuse identification.
This bill establishes a 36-month pilot program allowing New Jersey's NJ FamilyCare health insurance program to reimburse non-hospital-based partial hospitalization services for children aged 5-14 with mental health needs. It directly affects low-income children requiring intensive outpatient mental health care and providers who can apply to participate. The key provision changes current reimbursement rules - previously requiring services to occur in a hospital - to permit care at non-hospital locations, while maintaining all other federal and state eligibility requirements. The program requires the Department of Human Services to select one provider, monitor outcomes, and report findings to the Governor and Legislature within 36 months of selection.
This bill requires New Jersey colleges to keep naloxone nasal spray in secure, accessible locations across campus residence halls for opioid overdose emergencies. It permits licensed medical staff (like nurses or doctors) and trained resident assistants to administer the medication during suspected overdoses, based on their good-faith belief. Institutions must develop policies designating a medical supervisor, requiring staff training on proper administration and overdose prevention, and mandating hospital transport after naloxone use - even if symptoms improve. The law also provides liability protection for good-faith actions by medical staff, resident assistants, or pharmacists following the bill's guidelines.
