Gov. Murphy Announces Dr. Kaitlan Baston as New Department of Health Commissioner
July 27, 2023
On July 25, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy announced his intention to
nominate Kaitlan Baston, MD, MSc, DFASAM, as the Commissioner of
the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Dr. Baston will assume
the role in August of this year, following the
recently announced upcomin...
DHS Launches Behavioral Health Carve-in Process
July 25, 2023
On July 24th, the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of
Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) and Division of
Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) hosted a kick-off of
the behavioral health carve-in implementation, which will take
place over th...
Health Commissioner Persichilli Set to Retire Next Month
July 24, 2023
Judith Persichilli, who has served as the New Jersey State Health
Commissioner since August 5, 2019, will retire next month, as
reported by NJ Advance Media, published in the July 21st edition
of The Star Ledger.
Her tenure included supervising New Jersey's response to...
NJAMHAA and Partners Testify on Investment of Opioid Recovery and Remediation Funds
Yesterday, NJAMHAA staff and several partners testified before
the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council,
reinforcing the need for education and increased access to the
full continuum of prevention, harm reduction and treatment
services, as well as a statewide health infor...
Leadership Academy for Behavioral Healthcare Professionals Expands this Critical Workforce
Nationwide, there is an estimated shortage of nearly 4.5 million
behavioral health providers to meet the level of need, according
to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration's (SAMHSA's) Behavioral Health Workforce
Report, 2020. This dearth in the behavioral health wo...
Health Commissioner Persichilli Set to Retire Next Month
Judith Persichilli, who has served as the New Jersey State Health
Commissioner since August 5, 2019, will retire next month, as
reported by NJ Advance Media, published in today's edition of
The Star Ledger.
Her tenure included supervising New Jersey's response to the
COVID-19 pandemic...
New State Law Establishes Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority and Center
July 20, 2023
On Monday, July 17, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed
S3864 into law, establishing the New Jersey Maternal
and Infant Health Innovation Authority, as well as appropriating
money to open a state Maternal and Infant Health Innovation
Center in Trenton.
The Authority w...
New NJ Law Requires Medicaid Reimbursement for Education-Agency Provided Behavioral Health Services
July 18, 2023
On Thursday, July 13, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed
A3334 into law, which requires Medicaid
reimbursement for covered behavioral health services provided by
local education agencies to students who are eligible Medicaid
beneficiaries.
Governor Murphy was quoted ...
HHS Renews Determination of Nationwide Opioid Public Health Emergency
July 13, 2023
On July 7, 2023, Secretary of the United States Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra renewed the
determination that an opioid public health emergency (PHE) exists
nationwide.
The opioid PHE was first declared on October 26, 2017 by former
HHS ...
NJAMHAA Shares Summary of Legislature's FY2024 Budget Bill, to Be Voted on Today
Summary of FY2024 Budget Bill
Click
here to read
NJAMHAA's summary of the Legislature's FY2024 budget bill.
As noted in the document, the bill will be voted on today and
sent to the Governor to sign by midnight.
NJAMHAA will provide an update after the Governor signs
the bi...
NJ Budget Committees Continue Work Ahead of Budget Vote, Approving Expanded Tax Relief
June 29, 2023
A new annual budget is constitutionally due in New Jersey
by July 1st. In the case that a budget bill is
not passed before then, the state government is required
to shut down until a spending plan in enacted. The New
...
NJAMHAA Highlights its Impact, Reinforces More Funding Increases Needed
June 28, 2023
The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction
Agencies' (NJAMHAA's) advocacy resulted in significant funding
for the behavioral healthcare workforce and increases for some of
the services these essential workers provide in Governor Phil
Murphy's proposed budg...
DHS Extends Medicaid Coverage Termination Date for Some Enrollees
June 28, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of
Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) has shared an
update on its efforts to initiate Medicaid renewals following the
expiration of special Medicaid rules that were put in place
during the COVID-19 p...
Gov. Murphy Announces $5M Investment in Union County Youth Mental Health Services
June 19, 2023
On June 13, 2023, during an event at Kean University,
Governor Phil Murphy and other state officials announced
a $5 million investment to expand access to mental health
services in Union County for children and teens....
Human Services Equity Commission Pushes for Yearly Inflationary Adjustment
June 15, 2023
The Human Services Equity Coalition, led by Easterseals New
Jersey and of which NJAMHAA is a member, was created this year to
highlight problems faced by organizations paid by New Jersey's
fee-for-service (FFS) model.
The coalition's support for
A508/S2668,
legisl...
