This bill mandates that health insurance carriers in New Jersey provide coverage for the enrollment of students in recovery high school alternative education programs. It amends existing laws to ensure that coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders is provided under the same terms and conditions as other medical benefits. The bill specifies that such coverage must be deemed clinically appropriate by qualified professionals, including certified alcohol and drug counselors and treating physicians, based on criteria from the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Additionally, it reaffirms compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, ensuring that mental health and substance use disorder benefits are not subject to more restrictive limitations than other medical benefits.

The new legal language inserted into the law emphasizes the inclusion of benefits for recovery high school programs and clarifies the requirements for health benefits plans. It also includes provisions for coverage of services delivered through the psychiatric Collaborative Care Model, which integrates behavioral health services with primary care. The act is set to take effect 60 days after enactment and will apply to all relevant contracts and policies issued or renewed thereafter, reinforcing the commitment to equitable treatment of mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:48-6, 17:48A-7, 17:48E-35.20, 17B:26-2.1, 17B:27-46.1, 17B:27A-7.5, 17B:27A-19.7, 26:2J-4.20, 52:14-17.29