This bill mandates that health insurance carriers in New Jersey provide coverage for the enrollment of students in recovery high school alternative education programs. It requires that such coverage be included in various health insurance contracts, including individual and group hospital service corporation contracts, medical service corporation contracts, and health service corporation contracts. The bill stipulates that placement in these recovery programs must be deemed clinically appropriate by qualified professionals, such as certified alcohol and drug counselors, based on criteria defined in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to ensure that mental health conditions and substance use disorders are covered under the same terms and conditions as other medical conditions, in compliance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. It emphasizes that insurance coverage must not impose more restrictive limitations on mental health and substance use disorder benefits compared to other medical benefits. The bill also includes provisions for coverage of services delivered through the psychiatric Collaborative Care Model, reinforcing the commitment to equitable treatment of 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