We are now one quarter through the 2020/21 state Legislative Term and a number of bills have been introduced to deal with the struggle of people seeking to attain, and maintain, long-term sobriety. There was hope that we were beginning to realize a modicum of success in 2019 that could be built upon in the New Year. A number of significant reforms were enacted; the Governor and most in the Legislature were supportive of our recommendations; $100m had been pledged in the next Fiscal Year for addiction services; and overdose deaths had been reduced three percent below the previous year (for the first time in years). Then COVID-19 hit hard. The virus, and the resulting lockdown exacerbated problems of depression, anxiety, drug misuse, and overdose deaths. At a time when more folks needed treatment, many providers had to place limits on the number of patients admitted, or closed their doors altogether. Additionally, the state Budget is hemorrhaging billions of dollars and monies for addiction services have been largely frozen. Politically, attention has been rightly focused on the viral outbreak.
The challenge before us is to re-aim the spotlight on
solutions to mitigate the damage left in addiction’s wake, that impedes
recovery. Concentrating on public policies that can contribute to securing a
path to wellness is one way in which people seeking healing, and their allies,
can make a needed difference.
The following are some pending proposals being followed in
the NJ Senate and Assembly:
A.970/S.2259 – Requires public schools to administer written
student screenings for depression and other behavioral issues
AJR178/SJR85 – Recognize August 31 of each year as “Overdose
Awareness Day”
A.4221 – Mandates that the Office of Information Technology
establish a centralized, one-stop website resource guide to assist people in
navigating the State’s mental health and substance use disorder service systems
S.805/A.3004 – Permits individuals with drug distribution,
or intent to distribute, convictions to be eligible for General Assistance
(welfare) benefits
S.1109 and S.1753 – Examines the issue of health insurers’
network adequacy
A.683 – Creates the office of Behavioral Health Ombudsperson
S.151/A.672 – Limits the release of a patient’s private
information to insurance carriers
A.275/S.1112 – Reduces court-ordered fines owed by a drug or
alcohol-dependent person upon the completion of a treatment program
A.2684/S.1073 – Authorizes public libraries to maintain a
supply of opioid antidotes and permits emergency administration of an opioid
antidote by a librarian or another trained library employee
A.3364 and S.2079 and S.2170/A.2124 – Creates the Office of
Alcohol, Drug, and Tobacco Use Control Policy (Drug Czar)
S.1763/A.2280 – Prohibits certain substance use disorder
treatment facilities from paying fees, commissions, or rebates to any person to
refer patients to a particular facility (patient brokering)
S.1788/A.2642 – Requires hospitals to inquire whether
patients have a substance use disorder and establishes protocols for providing
or referring to treatment
S.508/A.3158 – Mandates that public and nonpublic secondary
schools annually conduct written or verbal substance use screening on all
students using a particular screening program (SBIRT)
S.892/A.2649 – Requires nursing homes to provide training to
staff in behavioral health issues
A.3284 – Requires pharmacies to maintain a minimum stock of
opioid antidotes
A.271 – Changes the name of “Drug Court” to “Recovery Court”
A.3295/S.1121 – Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for
certain evidence-based behavioral health services to Medicare levels
S.1731/A.2295 – Mandates the curriculum in medical schools
include instruction in the treatment and management of opiate-dependent
patients that meets the minimum training requirements established for
physicians to be authorized to prescribe narcotic drugs
A.2269/S.1844 – Requires hospitals to include a warning in
patient discharge papers concerning the risks of addiction and overdose
associated with opioid medications
A.1059 – Requires institutions of higher education to
maintain a supply of opioid antidotes and permits the emergency administration
of an opioid antidote by a campus medical professional or trained employee
A.677 – Authorizes Overdose Prevention Centers (safe
injection sites)
S.877/A.809 – Mandates state and county correctional
facilities to develop strategic plans to provide peer counseling and peer
health navigators to support the treatment of substance use disorders
S.1968 – Provides tax credits to employers who hire people
in recovery from substance use disorder
S.1969 – Includes substance use disorder on a list of
disabilities that qualify a student for state special education and related
services
A.3941 – Provides for funds received from opioid litigation
or settlements to be dedicated for use in financing substance use disorder
prevention and treatment services
S.2323/A.3869 – Requires the issuance of a prescription for
an opioid antidote to anyone receiving a prescription for an opioid medication
Ed Martone
Policy Analyst
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