REBOUND, RESTORE

The problem of addiction and, in particular, the carnage created by the opioid epidemic, continued to present itself as the worst public health issue of the past few years. The crisis garnered much of the public’s elected representatives’ attention, and the state Legislature and Governor enacted a number of mostly positive proposals in the law by the recently concluded 2018/19 Legislative Term.

The following were signed in to law:

* S.626 – Disallows health insurance plans to deny coverage due to preexisting conditions

* A.5248 and A.5506 – Requires health insurance plans to cover essential behavioral health services

* A.5501 – Mandates a continuation of health benefits dependent coverage until child turns 26 years of age

* S.824 – Eliminates driver license suspension for first DUI offense, but mandates the installation of an ignition interlock device

* A.2031 – Enhances enforcement of parity laws that mandate that health plans reimburse for behavioral healthcare on a par with the manner in which coverage for medical and surgical services is offered

* S.2861 – Requires health curriculum for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12 to include instruction on mental health and substance disorders

* A.3292 – Requires that opioid prescriptions include a warning sticker advising patients of the risks of addiction and overdose

* A.4744 – Requires the N.J. Dept. of Human Services to ensure that medication assisted treatment benefits in the Medicaid program are provided without the imposition of prior authorization strictures

* A.5823 – Removes the prohibition on voting by persons convicted of indictable offenses who are on probation or parole

* A.268 – “P.I.C.K. Awareness Act;” authorizes the issuance of special support recovery housing license plates

A number of criminal justice, penal reform and expungement measures were signed in to law, including:

* A.3979 – “Dignity for Incarcerated Primary Caretaker Parents Act”

* S.2055 – Permits incarcerated individuals to receive student financial aid

In almost every instance, people in recovery and their families provided their uniquely valuable perspective in crafting these policies.

Ed Martone, 

Policy Analyst