Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurance carriers (including Medicaid and state health benefit plans) to base step therapy protocols - where patients must try lower-cost drugs first - on independent, evidence-based clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards. It mandates clear processes for patients to request exceptions when protocols risk harm or ineffectiveness (e.g., if a drug causes adverse reactions or previous treatments failed), with insurers required to approve or deny requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies). Insurers must also report exception data to the state, including denial reasons and medical conditions involved. The law aims to balance cost management with patient safety by prioritizing clinical evidence and physician discretion.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySJR 149 designates May 18 of each year as "Six Triple Eight Day" in New Jersey to commemorate the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-African American, all-female U.S. Army unit that served during World War II. The resolution honors the unit’s efforts in delivering 14 million pieces of backlogged military mail across Europe under challenging conditions, including racism and poor working environments. It specifically recognizes that 28 women from New Jersey served in the battalion, including members like Gladys Eva Debman-Blount and Marion VanOrkey. As a commemorative resolution, it requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging observance but contains no binding policy changes.
Maddy summarySJR 46 designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in New Jersey to honor the life and legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson, who was born in Princeton on April 9, 1898. The bill requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation encouraging public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or affect policies - it solely commemorates Robeson’s achievements as a scholar, athlete, actor, singer, and civil rights advocate. It directly affects New Jersey residents through state recognition of Robeson’s historical contributions.
Maddy summaryS 4297 would limit New Jersey's Medicaid estate recovery program to only the federal minimum requirement, covering nursing home care and related long-term care costs (including hospital and prescription drugs only when provided concurrently with nursing home care). It would narrow the definition of "estate" to assets passing through probate, such as property in a will, excluding life insurance, retirement accounts, and jointly owned property that are currently recoverable. This change would prevent recovery from certain assets, helping Medicaid recipients preserve more savings for heirs. The bill aligns New Jersey's program with federal Medicaid law, which does not require recovery for broader services or non-probate assets.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to create and maintain a free, online training program specifically for small and micro-businesses. The program will teach how to file and pay state taxes, including corporation business tax, gross income tax, and sales tax. The training must be updated as tax laws change and made available on the Division's website. It directly affects small businesses in New Jersey by providing accessible, no-cost guidance on state tax compliance.
Maddy summaryS 3610 requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury and Department of Human Services (DHS) to annually identify available state funds for NJ FamilyCare (which covers Medicaid and children's health insurance for low-income residents) and evaluate care quality. The departments must create a prioritized list of the 12 most urgent policy changes needed to address quality issues, including the specific state funding required for each initiative. This annual report will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature starting in 2025. The bill directly affects low-income residents enrolled in NJ FamilyCare by mandating a structured review of program funding and quality improvements. It does not create new benefits but establishes a process for allocating existing state funds toward quality enhancements.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to add social media development services to its Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The program currently offers e-commerce and digital marketing consulting to eligible small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses in commercial locations. The bill mandates that EDA include social media platform development assistance alongside existing services like website creation and digital marketing planning.
Maddy summaryThis bill would enter New Jersey into the Social Work Licensure Compact, creating a system where social workers licensed in New Jersey could practice in other participating states without obtaining additional licenses. Under the compact, social workers would need to meet specific requirements, including passing a national exam, maintaining an active license in New Jersey, and meeting continuing education standards. The compact establishes a commission to manage the system, share disciplinary information between states, and handle adverse actions against licensees. This primarily affects social workers seeking to practice across state lines, including those with military families who may need to move between states, while preserving each state's regulatory authority.
Maddy summaryS 3098 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of medical conditions when supported by medical evidence. The bill defines biomarker testing as analysis of tissue, blood, or other biospecimens for biomarkers, and specifies coverage must be provided when tests align with FDA approvals, drug indications, CMS determinations, or nationally-recognized clinical guidelines. Insurers must process prior authorization requests within 72 hours for non-urgent cases and 24 hours for urgent cases, while minimizing disruptions like multiple biopsies. This requirement applies to all health insurance plans, including Medicaid, which must provide coverage with no cost-sharing for beneficiaries.
Maddy summaryS 4298, the "Healthy Smiles Act," increases NJ FamilyCare's fee-for-service reimbursement rates for pediatric dental services by 20% starting July 2025, directly affecting dental providers and the 20% of New Jersey residents enrolled in NJ FamilyCare (primarily low-income children). It requires managed care organizations to pay providers at least the same rate as the new fee-for-service rate for identical services. The bill mandates annual rate adjustments based on the Northeast region's Consumer Price Index to keep pace with inflation. These changes aim to improve access to dental care by addressing historically low reimbursement rates that limited provider participation.