This bill aims to enhance behavioral health care in New Jersey through several key initiatives. It mandates that contracts between the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and residential behavioral health service providers include annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, it establishes the Residential Behavioral Health Care Access and Improvement Fund to provide grants for routine repairs and maintenance of facilities. Starting July 1, 2024, the Medicaid reimbursement rate for residential behavioral health services will be set to match the payment rate under Medicare Part B, with the Commissioner of Human Services required to report annually on the impact of these changes on service access and quality.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a grant program within the Division of Consumer Affairs to support the training of behavioral health professionals and address workforce shortages. Grants will be awarded to entities with or seeking to establish internship programs, aimed at compensating interns and instructors while expanding internship opportunities. The bill also relaxes clinical supervision requirements, allowing applicants for licensure as clinical social workers or professional counselors to be supervised by licensed professionals from different but related fields. This change is intended to streamline the licensure process and increase the availability of qualified professionals in the behavioral health sector.