Bill > A4970

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Department of Children and Families to distribute a $1,000,000 grant to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to study and map mental health care resources for children. Under the bill, the New Jersey Health Care Quality will be required to assemble a group of stakeholders to: create a comprehensive visual journey map that outlines families' experiences in obtaining mental health care and related support services for their children; identify the eligibility rules for various pediatric mental health care programs and resources available to children in this State, steps and barriers to accessing these programs and services, and how these programs and services may connect, disconnect, or compete; and provide concrete policy suggestions to improve the structure, funding, mission, and interconnectedness of pediatric mental health care programs ensuring that programs are family- and child-focused. The group of stakeholders will consist of: representatives with subject matter expertise in pediatric mental health care services; pediatric mental health care providers; and mental health care program administrators from counties representing the northern, central, and southern regions of New Jersey. Under the bill, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute will be required to: (1) evaluate the current landscape of pediatric mental health care services across: schools; counties; State agencies including, but not limited to, the Departments of Children and Families, Education, Human Services, and Health; insurers; and the legal system; (2) identify the eligibility rules, covered services, and funding structures for pediatric mental health care programs available to children in this State; (3) conduct qualitative research through interviews and focus groups with families, health care providers, and program administrators across three counties representing the northern, central, and southern regions of New Jersey; (4) review the applicable laws, regulations, and contract terms governing pediatric mental health care services in the State; (5) highlight barriers to care and analyze payment structures, reimbursement rates, and cost-sharing provisions to identify financial barriers to access to pediatric mental health care services; (6) compile and analyze data on pediatric mental health outcomes, stratified by payer type, race, ethnicity, and other relevant characteristics that can identify disparities in access to pediatric mental health care services and pediatric mental health outcomes across different populations; (7) prepare and submit to the Department of Children and Families a document that visually maps the steps a child and family are required to take in order to access mental health care services, covering the initial contact with a mental health care provider to the provision of mental health care and noting all the interactions, required steps, and encountered barriers related to receiving mental health care; and (8) prepare and submit to the Department of Children and Families a document that: summarizes eligibility criteria, coverage details, and payment policies for pediatric mental health care programs available to children in the State; identifies any key issues related to pediatric mental health care and any disparities in mental health outcomes in the State; and includes the advisory group's policy recommendations to pediatric improve mental health care program structures, efficiency, coverage, funding, and interconnectedness. No later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this bill, the Commissioner of Children and Families will submit to the Governor and the Legislature the documents prepared pursuant to the bill. The commissioner will also make the documents available to the public on the Department of Children and Families' Internet website. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the Department of Children and Families the sum of $1,000,000 to effectuate the purposes of this bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Linda Carter (D)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Margie Donlon (D),  Pam Lampitt (D),  Ellen Park (D),  Luanne Peterpaul (D), 

Substituted by S3611 (1R) (on 10/28/2024)

Official Document