This New Jersey bill provides a 20% refundable tax credit for eligible residents who pay for in-home care services through a health care service firm. It directly affects taxpayers with gross income under $150,000 who are permanently disabled or age 65+, covering expenses for companion services (non-medical supervision/socialization), health care services (non-licensed), or personal care services (assisting with daily activities like bathing or dressing). The credit excludes insurance-reimbursed costs and applies against income tax after other credits. It takes effect for taxable years starting after enactment.
This bill (A 3366) would make it professional misconduct for licensed health care professionals (like doctors, nurses, and therapists) to intentionally share false health-related information with patients. It defines "misinformation" as any false health claim and "disinformation" as deliberately misleading health information. Licensing boards would then have the authority to discipline professionals who violate this rule, with penalties determined by the severity of the false claims. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Health Committee and has not yet become law.
This bill requires New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), School Employees Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to cover FDA-approved anti-obesity medications for eligible individuals. It mandates coverage when a patient has a diagnosed obesity or related condition, receives a prescription from a licensed provider (physician, PA, or nurse), and obtains the medication through an approved pharmacy. Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare coverage depends on securing federal approval for necessary program waivers. The law applies to all four programs for members meeting these medical criteria, aiming to expand access to weight management treatment.
This bill requires insurers to provide small employers with at least 90 days' written notice before canceling or refusing to renew stop loss insurance policies for their self-funded health plans. Stop loss insurance protects small employers from unexpectedly high medical costs for their employees' health coverage. The notice must be in a format set by New Jersey's Banking and Insurance Commissioner and applies to policies issued or renewed 90 days after the law takes effect. This directly affects small business health plan sponsors who rely on this coverage to manage financial risk.
This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $100 for low-income residents of nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, and state developmental centers who receive Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The allowance allows residents to spend money on personal items like phone calls, meals, clothing, or hobbies, separate from facility-provided care. The change directly affects approximately 30,000 New Jersey residents in these facilities who currently receive the $50 allowance. This doubles the existing amount, aligning New Jersey with states like Florida and Massachusetts that offer higher PNAs.
"Breann's Law" (Bill A-2822) requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program, and NJ FamilyCare to cover out-of-network medical services for children diagnosed with catastrophic illnesses - defined as life-threatening conditions or those posing serious disability risks - when services are provided by referral from an in-network provider. The law mandates that coverage for these out-of-network services must be provided at the same level as in-network care under the same health plan. It applies to specific health insurance contracts, including hospital service, medical service, health service corporation plans, and group health insurance policies issued in New Jersey. This policy change directly affects families of children with severe illnesses who previously faced barriers to accessing specialized care outside their insurance network.
This bill establishes a Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to serve people with severe mental illness living in the community. It appropriates $8 million from the General Fund to fund licensed provider organizations (like community health centers) to offer medication management services, including early intervention, crisis support, and collaborative care planning with clinicians and families. The program requires providers to hire clinical staff (such as psychiatrists and social workers) to minimize medication side effects and improve health outcomes through continuous quality improvement. It directly affects community-based mental health service recipients and the providers delivering those services.
This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 26) urges Congress to remove marijuana from Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act. It directly affects medical marijuana patients and businesses in New Jersey (and 37 other states) who face barriers due to federal classification, including lack of insurance coverage, banking restrictions, and high costs ($350-$500 monthly for patients). The resolution highlights that marijuana's Schedule I status conflicts with its accepted medical use in many states and scientific evidence of health benefits. It seeks to protect public safety by ending federal restrictions that force dispensaries to handle large cash amounts, increasing crime risks. The bill does not change current law but calls for congressional action to align federal policy with state legalization.
This bill requires hospitals approved to relocate from underserved communities to maintain minimum services at their original location. Specifically, it mandates that hospitals must keep all required professional departments, inpatient beds, and core services (as defined by state regulations) at their original site under the same license. It applies to hospitals relocating from areas meeting specific medical need criteria, including those designated as medically underserved by federal and state standards. The law takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to relocations approved within the prior 12 months.
This bill allows registered nurses with a multistate license (under New Jersey’s 2019 Nurse Licensure Compact) to qualify for school nurse certification in New Jersey public schools. It directly affects nurses holding such licenses who seek to work as school nurses or substitutes, and school districts needing qualified nursing staff. The key change amends certification rules to accept multistate licenses as equivalent to New Jersey nursing licenses for school nurse endorsements. This removes a barrier for out-of-state nurses with valid multistate credentials, streamlining their eligibility to serve students, including those with complex medical needs.
