Bill > A919

Introduced Session

This bill, as a condition of enrollment in NJ FamilyCare, requires a health care provider who practices under a State license with the authority to prescribe psychotropic drugs to provide information to, and obtain a consent form from, the parent or guardian of a child for whom the provider is prescribing an antipsychotic drug. NJ FamilyCare is the State health insurance program for low-income residents, and includes Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Under the bill, the definition of a child includes all NJ FamilyCare enrollees, 18 years of age and younger. "Psychotropic drug" means a medication prescribed to a patient, such as a stimulant, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, or mood stabilizer drug, to affect the central nervous system and to treat a behavioral health disorder or illness. Specifically, the bill mandates the provider to share the following with the parent or guardian: the drug's Medication Guide approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if applicable; information regarding any evidence-based alternatives to the use of the psychotropic drug to treat the child's diagnosis; and information on how to use and access the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Public Dashboard, MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form, and any subsequent tools implemented by the FDA to replace or supplement these two tools. The FAERS dashboard offers the public a means to search for data on adverse events reported to the FDA for many drug and biologic products, while MedWatch is a voluntary reporting tool open to the public to submit observed or suspected adverse events regarding human medical products to the FDA. Under the bill, providers are also required to obtain a signed consent form from the parent or guardian of a child stating that the parent or guardian: understands any potential risks or side effects of the drug, is aware of any evidenced-based alternatives to the use of the drug; and has been informed of the existing tools available from the FDA to report adverse effects of the drug on the child and to research reports of adverse effects of the drug on other patients. The provider is to retain this signed consent form in the child's patient file.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Azzariti (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document