This bill establishes a two-year Urgent Care Facility Behavioral Health Pilot Program aimed at enhancing access to behavioral health care services in New Jersey. The program will be administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is designed to provide behavioral health care at hospital urgent care facilities, thereby stabilizing individuals experiencing behavioral health crises and reducing unnecessary emergency department and inpatient admissions. The pilot program will involve the selection of managed care organizations that will contract with six hospitals across the state, ensuring that integrated behavioral health care is available 24/7. Participating urgent care facilities will be required to employ a behavioral health team, partner with licensed psychiatrists, and utilize supportive care transition methods.

Funding for the pilot program will be sourced through the Medicaid program using a value-based payment system, which will provide a quarterly advanced bundled payment to the managed care organizations for the total cost of care. The payment rate will be determined by the Commissioner of Human Services based on various cost assessments. The bill also mandates that the DHS submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within 90 days after the pilot program's conclusion, detailing findings and recommendations for potential continuation. Additionally, the Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with applying for any necessary state plan amendments or waivers to secure federal financial participation for Medicaid expenditures related to the program.