This bill mandates that health insurance carriers in New Jersey provide coverage for the enrollment of students in recovery high school alternative education programs, specifically for those diagnosed with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. It amends existing laws to ensure that such coverage is provided under the same terms and conditions as other medical benefits, contingent upon a clinical determination of appropriateness by qualified professionals, including certified alcohol and drug counselors and treating physicians. The bill applies to various health insurance contracts, including individual and group hospital service corporation contracts, and emphasizes compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, ensuring that mental health and substance use disorder benefits are not subjected to more restrictive limitations than other medical benefits.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for coverage of services delivered through the psychiatric Collaborative Care Model, which integrates behavioral health services with primary care. The new legal language clarifies the criteria for determining the clinical appropriateness of recovery high school placements and reinforces the requirement for health plans to provide equitable coverage for mental health and substance use disorder benefits. The act is set to take effect 60 days after enactment and will apply to all relevant contracts and policies issued or renewed thereafter.

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