New Jersey has launched numerous programs this year to provide mental health and addiction treatment services. Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest developments.
New Jersey Launches Mental Health Partnership for College Students
A new program will deliver mental health services to students in 44 colleges and universities in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges announced. This makes New Jersey the first U.S. state to offer comprehensive mental telehealth services to college students under a statewide system. Funding comes from $10 million in American Rescue Plan funds, complementing New Jersey’s previous $16 million investment for institutions of higher education to develop mental health community partnerships.
The state has contracted with the mental health and wellness platform Uwill to offer round-the-clock access to free, virtual mental health services for students enrolled in participating schools. Students can interact with trained and licensed mental health therapists at no cost to themselves or the school. They can also receive immediate crisis intervention or participate in wellness activities. If a student needs medication, he or she may obtain a referral to a prescribing provider.
Mental Health Services Could Soon Be Available in N.J. Homeless Shelters
In May 2023, New Jersey’s Gov. Murphy signed into law a bill that allows mental health professionals to provide care at homeless shelters in the state. Previous regulatory barriers had prevented such specialists from delivering services in shelters. This law could expand mental health services for individuals who may otherwise not seek treatment, according to Connie Mercer, CEO of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness.
New Partnership Seeks to Reduce Addiction in New Jersey
The New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) and the Archdiocese of Newark have partnered to launch an addiction treatment referral program, starting July 1, 2023. NJRC will provide voluntary training sessions for priests within the Archdiocese and help them identify individuals who want and need addiction treatment. Priests will then be able to provide appropriate NJRC referral information to interested individuals, who can contact NJRC to be referred to an appropriate professional and treatment agency.
NJRC will use a database to document the services it delivers and follow up with individuals who received a referral. If appropriate, individuals can enter NJRC’s Employment Orientation program to learn valuable skills and receive job-readiness assistance, as well as other services such as medical care and transportation. NJRC will provide progress reports on these clients to the Archdiocese.
New Jersey Medicaid Reforms Improve Access to Addiction Treatment, Study Finds
Reforms to New Jersey Medicaid implemented in 2019 significantly expanded access to addiction treatment services, researchers at Rutgers University report. These changes removed prior authorization requirements for certain treatments, increased reimbursement rates for in-office addiction care, and established regional centers of excellence to enhance addiction recovery efforts.
The study found that the number of providers offering addiction treatment grew at a faster rate following the reforms. Although the duration of active treatment plans remained stable, the state saw a reduction of 232 overdose deaths between 2021 and 2022, highlighting progress in addressing addiction.
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