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 visits and inpatient admissions. The pilot program will require the selection of managed care organizations that will contract with six hospitals across the state to integrate behavioral health care within their urgent care facilities. These facilities must operate 24/7 and employ a behavioral health team, including licensed clinicians and social workers, while utilizing 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 based on various cost assessments. The bill stipulates that the payment rate will not increase, even if actual care costs exceed the established rate, and any savings from reduced costs must be shared with participating urgent care facilities. Additionally, the DHS is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within 90 days after the pilot program's conclusion, detailing its findings and recommendations for potential continuation. The Commissioner of Human Services will also seek necessary state plan amendments or waivers to implement the program and secure federal funding.