Bill

Bill > A2427


NJ A2427

NJ A2427
Establishes Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program in DHS; appropriates $8 million.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill establishes a Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program in the Department of Human Services for persons with severe and persistent mental illness living in the community. The purpose of the program is to provide these individuals with accessible medication management services to enable them to live healthfully in the community. The program shall provide licensed freestanding and hospital-based public or private nonprofit provider organizations under contract with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the department with the resources to: --educate, counsel, and support consumers of mental health services living in the community so that early signs of problems are identified quickly and addressed; --enable physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, consumer peers, consumers, and consumers' families to work together to find a medication regimen that minimizes side effects and truly encourages good health; and --achieve continuous quality improvement goals. The bill provides that a licensed freestanding or hospital-based public or private nonprofit provider organization under contract with the division may apply to the Commissioner of Human Services for a grant to operate a medication management program. The grant shall assist in the hiring and retention of clinical staff including, but not limited to, psychiatrists, advance practice nurses, social workers, mental health counselors, and caseworkers as may be appropriate for the delivery of more intensive medication management, outreach, after-hours coverage, early intervention, crisis management, and support services as needed by consumers of mental health services living in the community who are served by the provider organization. The bill also provides that the commissioner shall seek to secure the use of such funds or other resources from private nonprofit or for-profit sources or the federal government to effectuate the purposes of the bill, as may be available. The bill appropriates $8,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human to effectuate the purposes of this bill.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a Medication Management, Outreach, and Support Program within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to help individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who live in the community. The program aims to provide accessible medication management services, which involve educating and supporting individuals, fostering collaboration between healthcare providers, patients, and their families to find effective medication regimens with minimal side effects, and ensuring continuous improvement in care. Licensed nonprofit organizations contracted with the DHS's Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services can apply for grants to operate these programs, which will help them hire and retain staff like psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and counselors to offer more intensive services, including outreach, crisis management, and support. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Human Services to seek additional funding from private or federal sources and appropriates $8 million from the General Fund to the DHS to implement these provisions.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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