S.1339/A.2031 – Enhance private insurance coverage of
behavioral health services on a par with physical, medical reimbursements –
This measure would require insurance carriers to submit more fulsome data on
efforts they have undertaken to adhere to parity requirements, give the state
Department of Banking and Insurance greater authority to enforce parity
compliance, and make the information publicly available. It is anticipated that
this proposal will be moved within the next few months.
AJR70/SJR94 – Establish a temporary Task Force to examine
how best to treat individuals who experience multiple opioid overdoses and
reversals; and make recommendations to the Governor
and Legislature
A.3741/S.2415 – Mandate that all pharmacies sell hypodermic
needles and syringes to any customer over eighteen - Further, the pharmacy must
make information available concerning both the safe disposal of used needles
and local resources for substance misuse therapy.
S.491 – Require public and private high schools to annually
conduct written or verbal substance screenings on all students using a
particular program ( SBIRT – Screening, Brief intervention and Referral to
Treatment)
A.1467 – Facilitate the establishment of four new
peer-to-peer recovery community centers
A.216 – Mandate police training for interactions with people
who may have behavioral health issues
S.2100/A.3456 – Remove prohibition on voting by persons on
parole, probation or incarcerated
A.3292/S.2244 – Mandate that all prescription opioid
medication include a warning sticker advising patients of the risk of addiction
and overdose
S.1756/A.4273 – Require insurance carriers to reimburse for
Suboxone and Subutex
A.3288/S.948 – Designate sober living homes as beneficial
uses in the context of the Municipal Land Use Act
A.1189/S.1324 – Mandate that a portion of forfeited assets
in certain drug cases be directed to fund drug treatment
A.3838/S.2321 – Authorize public libraries to maintain a
supply of opioid antidotes and permits emergency administration by trained
library personnel
A.4273/S.1756 – Require health benefits coverage for
buprenorphine and naloxone under certain conditions
A.4131 – Establish vehicle staffing and performance
standards, as well as, review and reporting requirements for non-emergency
Medicaid transportation
A measure that was signed in to law at the end of August,
was A.542/S.1830. This legislation requires al NJ high schools to maintain a
stock of the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone (brand name NARCAN). The school
nurse, or other trained staff, are authorized to administer the reversal drug
in an emergency. Those utilizing the drug in an emergency situation would be
indemnified from any criminal, civil or disciplinary liability. Further, the
manufacturer of NARCAN (Adapt Pharmaceuticals) has agreed to donate up to eight
dosages of the antidote to each school, thus allowing the school to avoid the
cost of stocking the reversal drug.
For more on these proposals, or for contact information for
your representatives, see the N.J. Legislature’s website: www.njleg.state.nj.us
