Healthcare

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3432: Requires certain preventive services to be provided on calendar year basis.

This bill (A 3432) requires health insurance plans in New Jersey (both hospital and medical service corporation contracts) to cover specific preventive services without cost-sharing. It mandates coverage for USPSTF "A"/"B" rated services, CDC-recommended immunizations, pediatric care guidelines, and women's preventive services, with coverage required at least once per calendar year (not policy year). Plans must cover out-of-network services when no in-network provider is available for covered services, and coverage begins one year after a new recommendation is issued. The bill affects all applicable insurance contracts issued or renewed in New Jersey, ensuring broader access to preventive care without patient cost-sharing for these specific services. (Note: The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.386.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no cost-sharing for USPSTF 'A'/'B' preventive services, CDC immunizations, and women's care, expanding access to essential healthcare without policy year limitations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Insurance

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 948: Requires DOH to conduct survey on status of antenatal and prenatal care clinics in New Jersey.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to survey all antenatal and prenatal care clinics across the state - including those that have closed or reduced services in the past two years - to evaluate maternity care access and quality. The survey will collect data on clinic availability, service gaps (particularly for low- and moderate-income pregnant women), and demographic information about patients, while excluding personal health details. The DOH must analyze the data to identify disparities in care based on income or location and develop strategies to improve access and quality. Within 18 months, the DOH will publish findings online and submit a report to the legislature with recommendations for policy action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates DOH survey to assess maternity care access gaps for low-income patients, aiming to improve service quality and availability in healthcare access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Women's Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3944: Revises requirements for assessing nursing home health, safety, and operations and for taking action against low-performing nursing homes.

This New Jersey bill (A3944) creates new performance standards for nursing homes, directly affecting facilities that receive federal one-star ratings or fail to meet metrics in three key areas: resident physical health (e.g., bedsores, falls), mental well-being (e.g., medication use, depression), and operational factors (e.g., staff turnover, vaccination rates). It establishes a tiered response system: a warning for first failures, sanctions like restricting Medicaid admissions for repeated failures, and severe penalties including removing Medicaid residents or suspending payments for persistent underperformance. Nursing homes failing standards in three of four consecutive quarters must submit a 18-month improvement plan for state review. The bill aims to strengthen accountability for nursing home quality without specifying expected outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes stricter performance standards for nursing homes, targeting resident health outcomes (physical/mental) and operations, directly strengthening care quality and accountability in healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Public Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1696: Updates scope of practice of optometrists.

New Jersey's Bill A1696 updates optometrists' scope of practice by expanding their ability to provide eye care services. The bill allows optometrists to prescribe pharmaceutical agents (including controlled substances under specific conditions), administer immunizations for coronaviruses, flu, and shingles (for patients 18+), and perform minor procedures like removing superficial foreign bodies or treating chalazions. It also permits certain non-invasive laser/ultrasound treatments (e.g., trabeculoplasty) using only topical anesthesia, while explicitly prohibiting invasive eye surgery, orbital procedures, or general anesthesia. These changes apply to all optometrists practicing in New Jersey and require adherence to CDC guidelines for immunizations and reporting to the state immunization registry.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrists' scope to prescribe medications, administer vaccines, and perform minor procedures, increasing patient access to eye care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2183: Requires school districts to provide instruction on menstrual health and hygiene as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

New Jersey schools would be required to include age-appropriate instruction on menstrual health and hygiene for students in grades four through 12 as part of their existing health and physical education curriculum. The instruction must cover proper use of menstrual products (including risks like Toxic Shock Syndrome), symptoms and effects of menstrual disorders, the impacts of period poverty (lack of access to products, education, and facilities), and how to seek medical help. Before teaching this topic, schools must notify parents or guardians about the curriculum content and state standards. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of menstrual health curriculum in K-12 health education, enhancing student health knowledge, addressing period poverty, and expanding educational access within required standards.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive menstrual health education covering medical aspects, period poverty, and seeking care, advancing public health knowledge and access to health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2471: Requires long-term care facilities to develop person-centered care plans for residents and establishes right to certain forms of visitation for long-term care residents.

This bill requires New Jersey long-term care facilities (like nursing homes and assisted living residences) to let residents or their legal representatives designate at least two "essential caregivers" during emergencies, outbreaks, or pandemics. Essential caregivers can be family, friends, or spiritual advisors, with no restrictions on who can be chosen, and their visitation rights must match normal in-person visitation times. Facilities must document these designations in residents' care plans, post visitation rights online, and provide written information to residents about the process. The Department of Health will enforce compliance, ensuring facilities don’t impose stricter health protocols on caregivers than on their own staff.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by mandating essential caregiver visitation access during emergencies in long-term care facilities, directly advancing patient-centered healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 249: Prohibits pre-approval or precertification of medical tests, procedures and prescription drugs covered under health benefits or prescription drug benefits plans.

This bill (A 249) prohibits health insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health programs (like the State Health Benefits Program) from requiring pre-approval or precertification for covered medical tests, procedures, or prescription drugs. It applies when a licensed healthcare provider prescribes the service or drug, and it is already covered under the health or prescription drug plan. The law directly affects patients seeking covered care by removing bureaucratic delays caused by insurance company review processes. Key provisions eliminate requirements for prior authorization on covered services, ensuring payment is processed without insurer-imposed delays. The bill takes effect immediately for plans issued or purchased on or after the effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves pre-approval barriers for covered healthcare services, improving patient access to existing insurance benefits without restricting coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3099: Requires health insurance carriers to categorize mental health treatment and therapy received by victim of domestic violence as medically necessary treatment and provide full benefits coverage therefor.

This bill requires New Jersey health insurance companies to cover mental health treatment and therapy for victims of domestic violence as "medically necessary," eliminating insurance denials for these services. It directly affects insurance carriers (who must provide full coverage) and domestic violence victims (who gain guaranteed access to mental health care). The key provision mandates that such treatment be covered "to the same extent as any other medically necessary treatment" under a policy, removing barriers insurers previously used to limit coverage. The bill amends multiple insurance law sections to enforce this requirement, applying to all health insurance contracts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates full insurance coverage for mental health treatment of domestic violence victims as medically necessary, expanding access and protecting patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2225: Requires health care professionals to perform lead screening on pregnant persons under certain circumstances.

This bill requires health care professionals (such as doctors, midwives, and nurse practitioners) providing prenatal care to assess pregnant people for lead exposure risks and conduct blood lead screening when indicated. If a pregnant person has an elevated blood lead level, the professional must notify them in writing, explain the health risks of lead poisoning in plain language, and ensure children or household members under six are screened. The bill allows for written patient refusal of screening or if another provider has already completed the test. Laboratory results must be reported to health departments within five business days, with all data kept confidential and anonymized statistics used for public health purposes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates lead screening for pregnant patients and child follow-up, preventing lead poisoning risks and protecting patient health through proactive care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Public Health Women's Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 449: Requires institutions of higher education to have automatic external defibrillator on premises and maintain supply of naloxone hydrochloride.

This New Jersey bill (A 449) requires all colleges and universities to place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in unlocked locations within athletic facilities and student centers, accessible during normal operating hours. It also mandates that institutions maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray near each AED for opioid overdose emergencies, with designated staff trained to use both devices. Institutions must ensure at least two staff members are CPR- and AED-trained during facility hours and regularly test/maintain equipment, while also designating a campus medical professional to oversee naloxone use. The bill provides liability protection for institutions and staff acting in good faith when implementing these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates safety equipment (AEDs/naloxone) at higher education institutions, enhancing student/staff safety and protecting the educational environment per support indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AEDs and naloxone for cardiac/opioid emergencies in schools, improving emergency health access and public safety per healthcare topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Substance Abuse

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