This bill amends New Jersey law to enhance health benefits coverage for specific immunizations and preventive services recommended by the Department of Health (DOH). It mandates that various health insurance plans, including hospital service corporation contracts and individual health benefits plans, provide coverage for preventive services without cost-sharing. These services include immunizations recommended by the DOH, which will now align with guidelines from medical associations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill also ensures that if a plan lacks an in-network provider for a required service, it must cover the service when provided by an out-of-network provider without imposing cost-sharing.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for health benefits plans, including coverage for lead poisoning screening, childhood immunizations, and newborn hearing loss screening, all without deductibles. It emphasizes the importance of notifying subscribers about any changes in coverage related to these immunizations. The bill replaces references to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the DOH, which will now make recommendations based on input from various medical associations. Overall, the bill aims to improve access to essential health services for children and ensure compliance with updated medical standards and practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:48-6, 17:48A-7, 17:48E-35.44, 17B:26-2.1, 17B:27-46.1, 17B:27A-7.27, 17B:27A-19.31, 26:2J-4.45, 52:14-17.29, 52:14-17.46.6, 30:4D-6, 17B:27A-19, 17B:27A-7, 17:48E-35.10, 26:2J-4.10, 26:2-137.1