Expands role of New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and transfers $3 million from DCF to DHS for establishment of dashboard and associated implementation.

S4416

SENATE, No. 4416

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 8, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator� NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator McKnight

SYNOPSIS

���� Expands role of New Jersey Health Care Quality
Institute and transfers $3 million from DCF to DHS for establishment of
dashboard and associated implementation.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

establishing a data dashboard within DHS to
support pediatric mental health access and quality, and amending P.L.2024,
c.100.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.2024,
c.100 (C.30:9A-34) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1. �a. �The Department of
Children and Families shall distribute a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to
the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to assemble a group of
stakeholders to:

���� (1) �create a comprehensive
visual journey map that outlines families' experiences in obtaining mental
health care and related support services for their children;

���� (2) �identify the eligibility
rules for various pediatric mental health care programs and resources available
to children in this State, steps and barriers to accessing these programs and
services, and how these programs and services may connect, disconnect, or
compete; and

���� (3) �provide concrete policy
suggestions to improve the structure, funding, mission, and interconnectedness
of pediatric mental health care programs ensuring that programs are family- and
child-focused.

���� b.��� The group of
stakeholders shall consist of:� representatives with subject matter expertise
in pediatric mental health care services; pediatric mental health care
providers; and mental health care program administrators from counties
representing the northern, central, and southern regions of New Jersey.

���� c.���� The New Jersey Health
Care Quality Institute shall:

���� (1)�� evaluate the current
landscape of pediatric mental health care services across: schools; counties;
State agencies including, but not limited to, the Departments of Children and
Families, Education, Human Services, and Health; insurers; and the legal system;

���� (2)�� identify the eligibility
rules, covered services, and funding structures for pediatric mental health
care programs available to children in this State;

���� (3)�� conduct qualitative
research through interviews and focus groups with families, health care
providers, and program administrators across three counties representing the
northern, central, and southern regions of New Jersey;

���� (4)�� review the applicable
laws, regulations, and contract terms governing pediatric mental health care
services in the State;

���� (5)�� highlight barriers to
care and analyze payment structures, reimbursement rates, and cost-sharing
provisions to identify financial barriers to access to pediatric mental health
care services;
and

���� (6)�� compile and analyze data
on pediatric mental health outcomes, stratified by payer type, race, ethnicity,
and other relevant characteristics that can identify disparities in access to
pediatric mental health care services and pediatric mental health outcomes
across different populations
[
;

���� (7)�� no later than 13 months
after the date of enactment of this act, prepare and submit to the Department
of Children and Families a document that visually maps the steps a child and
family are required to take in order to access mental health care services,
covering the initial contact with a mental health care provider to the
provision of mental health care and noting all the interactions, required
steps, and encountered barriers related to receiving mental health care; and

���� (8)�� no later than 13 months
after the date of enactment of this act, prepare and submit to the Department
of Children and Families a document that: summarizes eligibility criteria,
coverage details, and payment policies for pediatric mental health care
programs available to children in the State; identifies any key issues related
to pediatric mental health care and any disparities in mental health outcomes
in the State; and includes the advisory group's policy recommendations to
improve pediatric mental health care program structures, efficiency, coverage,
funding, and interconnectedness
]
.

(cf: P.L.2024, c.100, s.1)

���� 2. �(New section)�� a. �The
New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute shall serve as the designated
implementation and coordination entity to support the implementation of the
recommendations contained in the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.

���� b. �In this capacity, the New
Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, in coordination with the Department of
Human Services and other appropriate State departments and agencies, shall:

���� (1) �facilitate stakeholder
engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and convening activities necessary to
support implementation of the report recommendations;

���� (2) �provide policy, research,
technical assistance, and implementation support to State departments and
agencies, as it relates to children's mental health system improvement
initiatives;

���� (3) �assist the Department of
Human Services and other State departments and agencies in the development,
coordination, and dissemination of guidance, best practices, and
transition-of-care protocols across levels of care and service systems;

���� (4) �consult with the Department
of Human Services regarding the design, implementation, governance, and ongoing
use of the Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard established pursuant to
section 3 of this act;

���� (5) �monitor the
implementation of the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report recommendations,
identify barriers and opportunities for improvement, and support coordination
among responsible entities; and

���� (6) �prepare and submit
periodic implementation progress reports and recommendations to the Department
of Human Services.

���� 3. �(New section) �a. �The
Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Children
and Families, the Department of Health, the Department of Banking and
Insurance, the Children's System of Care, managed care organizations, health
systems, insurers, providers, and other appropriate entities, shall establish
and maintain a publicly accessible Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard.

���� b. �The dashboard shall
provide transparent, publicly available information regarding the children's
behavioral health system, including, but not limited to, workforce capacity,
service availability, utilization, access measures, wait times, quality
indicators, and other information deemed appropriate by the Department of Human
Services.

���� c. �The Department of Human
Services shall consult with the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
regarding dashboard design, governance, data elements, public reporting
methodologies, and opportunities to support the implementation of
recommendations contained in the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report.

���� 4. �a. �The Department of
Human Services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding or other
appropriate agreement with the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute for a
period of three years to effectuate the provisions of this act.

���� b. The memorandum of
understanding shall establish implementation activities, deliverables,
reporting requirements, performance expectations, timelines, and
interdepartmental coordination responsibilities.

���� 5. �a. �There is transferred
from funds appropriated to the Department of Children and Families in fiscal
year 2027 the sum of $3,000,000 to the Department of Human Services for the
purposes of implementing the provisions of this act.

���� b. Of the amount transferred
pursuant to subsection a. of this section, $1,500,000 shall be used during the
first year following enactment to design, develop, implement, and
operationalize the Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard.

���� c. Of the amount transferred
pursuant to subsection a. of this section, $1,500,000 shall be distributed over
a three-year period to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute pursuant to
the memorandum of understanding established under section 4 of this act, for
implementation coordination, stakeholder engagement, technical assistance,
reporting, and other activities necessary to support implementation of the
Children's Mental Health Mapping Report recommendations.

���� 6. The Commissioner of Human
Services shall apply for such State plan amendments, waivers, and federal
regulatory approvals, including an Advanced Planning Document pursuant to 45
C.F.R. Part 95, as may be warranted to further support the implementation of�
the provisions of this act and to secure the maximum available federal
financial participation for technology infrastructure and data use improvements
under the Medicaid program.

���� 7. �This act shall take effect
immediately, and section 2 through 4 shall expire following the completion of
the distribution of funds as required pursuant to section 5 of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill expands the role of
the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI) and transfers certain
funds.

���� This bill amends section 1 of
P.L.2024, c.100 (C.30:9A-34) to delete paragraphs (7) and (8) of subsection c.

���� Under the bill, the NJHCQI is
to serve as the designated implementation and coordination entity to support
the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Children's Mental
Health Mapping Report. �In this capacity, the NJHCQI, in coordination with the Department
of Human Services (department) and other appropriate State departments and
agencies, is to:� (1) facilitate stakeholder engagement, cross-sector
collaboration, and convening activities necessary to support implementation of
the report recommendations; (2) provide policy, research, technical assistance,
and implementation support to State departments and agencies, as it relates to
children's mental health system improvement initiatives; (3) assist the department
and other State departments and agencies in the development, coordination, and
dissemination of guidance, best practices, and transition-of-care protocols
across levels of care and service systems; (4) consult with the department
regarding the design, implementation, governance, and ongoing use of the
Children's Mental Health Data Dashboard; (5) monitor the implementation of the Children's
Mental Health Mapping Report recommendations, identify barriers and
opportunities for improvement, and support coordination among responsible
entities; and (6) prepare and submit periodic implementation progress reports
and recommendations to the department.

���� Under the bill, the department,
in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, Department of Health,
Department of Banking and Insurance, Children's System of Care, managed care
organizations, health systems, insurers, providers, and other appropriate
entities, is to establish and maintain a publicly accessible Children's Mental
Health Data Dashboard.� The dashboard is to provide transparent, publicly
available information regarding the children's behavioral health system,
including, but not limited to, workforce capacity, service availability,
utilization, access measures, wait times, quality indicators, and other
information deemed appropriate by the department.

���� The department is to enter
into a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate agreement with the NJHCQI
for a period of three years.� The memorandum of understanding is to establish
implementation activities, deliverables, reporting requirements, performance
expectations, timelines, and interdepartmental coordination responsibilities.

���� The bill transfers from funds
appropriated to the Department of Children and Families in fiscal year 2027 the
sum of $3,000,000 to the Department of Human Services for the purposes of
implementing the provisions of this bill.� Half of this sum�$1.5 million is to
be used during the first year following the bill�s enactment to design,
develop, implement, and operationalize the Children's Mental Health Data
Dashboard.� The remaining $1.5 million is to be distributed over a three-year
period to the NJHCQI for implementation coordination, stakeholder engagement,
technical assistance, reporting, and other activities necessary to support
implementation of the Children's Mental Health Mapping Report recommendations.