This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to the Department of Health (DOH) specifically for the Huntington's Disease Grant Program. The funds will be allocated to support grants for institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or New Jersey-based research organizations. These grants will facilitate services such as pre-symptomatic testing, neurology and psychiatry services, neurophysiological evaluations, treatment, disease management, and counseling for individuals living with or at risk for Huntington's disease. With this additional funding, the total available for the program in fiscal year 2023 would increase from an estimated $200,437 to $700,437.

Huntington's disease is a hereditary and fatal condition that leads to the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, significantly impacting physical and mental abilities during a person's prime working years. The bill highlights the serious nature of the disease, which affects approximately 900 to 1,200 residents in New Jersey, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 8,000 to 1 in 10,000 state residents. Additionally, there are around 7,000 individuals at risk for the disease, although this number may be understated due to the reluctance of many to undergo genetic testing.