House Passes the Limit, Save, Grow Act to Raise Debt Ceiling, Threatening Health Funding and More
April 28, 2023
On April 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed
H.R. 2811, the "Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023",
legislation that would increase the federal debt limit, cut
funding for a number of programs, establish discretionary
spending limits, rescind COVID-19 funds and enact...
HHS, SAMHSA Directors Reinforce their Focus on Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce
April 20, 2023
NJAMHAA was pleased to have leaders from the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) and Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) representing Region II
(New York, New Jersey, U.S. territories in the Caribbean, and
several federally ...
HHS Announces Intent to Amend PREP Act Declaration for Medical Countermeasures against COVID-19
April 18, 2023
On Friday, April 14, 2023, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that in
the coming weeks, he will issue an amendment to the declaration
under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act
for medical...
Biden-Harris Administration Designates Fentanyl with Xylazine as Emerging Drug Threat
April 17, 2023
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP),
officially designated fentanyl adulterated or associated with
xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States. As stated in
a White House press...
Phase 1 NJ WorkAbility Medicaid Improvements Effective as of April 1, 2023
April 13, 2023
The NJ WorkAbility program offers the opportunity to receive full
Medicaid coverage for people with disabilities who are working
and whose income levels would otherwise make them ineligible for
Medicaid.
On January 10, 2022, Governor Murphy signed into law
S3445/A5...
HHS Grants Nearly $23M to Develop Teaching Health Center Residency Programs in Community Settings
April 11, 2023
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through
the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA),
announced that nearly $23 million in grant funds was awarded to
46 grantees to plan and develop Teaching Health Center residency
programs in communit...
Assembly Passes Bill to Address Level of Information on Early Childhood Mental Health Resources
April 10, 2023
On March 30, 2023, the New Jersey Assembly passed
A5240, legislation that "Requires DCF
[Department of Children and Families] to publish and
disseminate information on early childhood mental health
...
Governor Murphy Rescinds Nearly All Remaining Statewide COVID-19 Requirements
April 6, 2023
On Monday, April 3, 2023, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order
(EO) number 325, rescinding COVID-19 vaccination and testing
requirements for high-risk congregate settings, including
locations such as hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons.
Individuals who have been or...
State Comptroller Report Criticizes Lack of Action on Low-Quality Nursing Homes
Acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh has released his third
report in a series on Medicaid spending in nursing homes, titled,
"New
Jersey Medicaid Continues to Fund Poor Quality Care for Nursing
Home Residents."
The report provides a current list of 12 New Jersey nursing homes
that ...
New Jersey Receives Final Approval for 1115 Waiver Renewal from CMS
On March 30, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
provided
final approval for the "New Jersey FamilyCare
Comprehensive Demonstration" renewal that operates under a
Medicaid 1115 waiver. The approval extends several authorities
that previously had been authorized for New Je...
FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray, Narcan
Today, March 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) approved Narcan, a brand of naloxone hydrochloride nasal
spray manufactured by Opiant Pharmaceuticals, for
over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription use.
As stated in an FDA release, "Naloxone is a medication that
rapidl...
Nashville School Shooting Underscores Need for Laws, Expanded Behavioral Healthcare Workforce
March 28, 2023
Statement from Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and
CEO
Barely three months into 2023, the 89th school shooting of the
year occurred in Nashville yesterday. Actions must be taken
immediately and on an ongoing basis - through strong legislation
and expansion of the beh...
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Healthcare Costs, Written Comment Accepted through Apr. 6th
March 28, 2023
On Thursday March 23, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, held a
hearing on healthcare costs "to examine how inflation and high
health care costs have impacted patients, small businesses, and
independent medical p...
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Students with Disabilities
March 27, 2023
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled
on the case of Luna Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools,
determining that the Perez family could sue for damages under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), related to the school
providing an inadequate ...
Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Establishing Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund
March 23, 2023
On Friday, March 17, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law
S783, which establishes the Opioid Recovery
and Remediation Fund, as well as requirements for proceeds from
opioid settlements to support substance use disorder prevention
and treatment programs.
As sta...
