Bill > S1271

Introduced Session

This bill establishes in the Department of Human Services (DHS) a pilot program for the specialized treatment of individuals with behavioral health issues, including, but not limited to, mild-to-moderate mental health issues, emotional disturbances, and substance use disorders. Under the bill, the DHS will be required to select two hospitals in each Regional Health Hub in the State to participate in the pilot program. To the extent possible, the DHS is seek to select hospitals to participate in the pilot program that are not currently affiliated with the Early Intervention Support Services (EISS) program, as well as hospitals that are connected with or demonstrate a plan to connect with the Regional Health Hub's health information network and the New Jersey Health Information Network. Hospitals participating in the pilot program will be required to refer any patient presenting at the hospital's emergency department with a behavioral health issue, including, but not limited to, a mild-to-moderate mental health issue, emotional disturbance, or substance use disorder, which behavioral health issue does not meet the criteria for admission to inpatient care, to appropriate clinical behavioral health treatment and support services as are available in the community. Each designated Regional Health Hub will be required to provide administrative and support services to member hospitals and community-based providers participating in the pilot program to help connect patients to appropriate behavioral health treatment and support services. The Regional Health Hubs are to support hospitals and community-based providers in developing protocols that: 1) are designed to ensure that patients referred to care under the pilot program are provided timely referrals to behavioral health treatment and support services appropriate to the patient's behavioral health and related social services needs, including, but not limited to, the Early Intervention Support Services program, medication-assisted treatment, cash assistance programs, housing assistance programs, and other appropriate services as may be available; and 2) include requirements for timely follow up with patients, transportation coordination services, and assistance in scheduling appointments for primary care services and other appropriate health care services. The Commissioner of Human Services will be required to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. Subject to the approval of any necessary State plan amendments or waivers, the State Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs will be required to provide coverage for behavioral health services provided under the pilot program. The DHS will be required to provide funding, as necessary, to the Regional Health Hubs to support hospitals involved in the pilot program through the funding mechanisms identified in P.L.2019, c.517 (C.30:4D-8.16 et seq.), the law establishing the Regional Health Hub program.

Committee Categories

Jim Beach (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document