Bill > S3611

This bill authorizes a $1,000,000 grant to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to conduct a comprehensive study of pediatric mental health care resources in the state. The institute will assemble a group of stakeholders, including mental health experts and program administrators from across New Jersey, to create a detailed visual map of families' experiences navigating mental health care services for children. The study will involve evaluating current mental health care services across schools, counties, state agencies, insurers, and the legal system, and will identify eligibility rules, funding structures, and barriers to accessing care. The institute will conduct qualitative research through interviews and focus groups, review applicable laws and regulations, analyze payment structures, and compile data on mental health outcomes stratified by factors like race and ethnicity. Within 13 months of enactment, the institute must submit two key documents to the Department of Children and Families: a visual map detailing the steps families must take to access mental health services, and a comprehensive report summarizing eligibility criteria, coverage details, and policy recommendations for improving pediatric mental health care programs. The documents will also be made publicly available on the department's website, with the goal of highlighting and addressing disparities in pediatric mental health care access and outcomes.

Health and Social Services

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S3611