2008 |
Parity, having narrowing missed passing in the last
legislative session, faces a difficult path in 2008. Despite data
showing parity’s
negligible costs will be recouped within 18 months of enactment,
the state’s extremely tight budget makes lawmakers disinclined
to pass any measure containing even slight costs. Advocates will
be working to find a compromise between the comprehensive Senate
version of parity and a much weaker substitute bill that has passed
the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
To combat underage
drinking, a statewide keg registration bill has been introduced.
It is intended as one in a series of measures to curb drinking
by minors. Other steps include local ordinances governing underage
drinking on private property.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2008 | BILL: S-807 /
A-2512 S-807 (Vitale, Buono) A-2512 (Gordan, Johnson, Manzo, Burzichelli,
Greenstein)
Revision of health insurance regulations to require coverage
for appropriate treatment for addiction and mental illness. NCADD-New
Jersey strongly supports S-807/A-2512. The bill holds New Jersey’s health insurers
accountable for providing coverage for appropriate treatment to the
state’s privately insured policyholders who are alcohol and/or drug
addicted. Under managed care’s limits, many of these individuals
have had to turn to the public sector for appropriate treatment for
their illness. See NCADD-NJ
position paper.
Summary of Legislation
in 2007
In 2007, Parity legislation progressed farther
that it ever had, falling just short of becoming law. The bill
passed the full New Jersey Senate. It also was released by two
Assembly committees: Health and Senior Services and Appropriations.
The measure had already been approved by an array of panels that
reviewed its fiscal soundness, namely:
Gov. Jon Corzine’s Human
Services Transition Policy Group joined the following government
panels in recommending the enactment of mental health and addiction
parity:
The Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission
The Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission
The Governor's Mental Health Task Force
The New Jersey Substance Abuse Prevention &
Treatment Advisory Task Force, NJDHSS
The Governor’s Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Abuse
The measure had broad support in the full Assembly but was not
adopted because Speaker Joseph Roberts did not post the bill for
a vote.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2007 | BILL:
S-807 / A-2512- Broad Action
and Support advanced the Parity bill through the Senate on December
4, 2006. Parity
is a word used to describe efforts to treat mental health and addictive
illnesses like any other physical illness for health insurance
purposes. Parity saves lives
and money by ending discriminatory practices used to treat mental
health and addictive illnesses. S-807 / A-2512 require health insurance
providers to cover mental health and addictive illnesses under
the same terms and conditions as for other medical conditions.
The result will be increased access to mental health and addiction
care and treatment.
NCADD-NJ has contributed key elements
to S-807, which in passing the Senate has progressed further
in the State Legislature than any parity bill to date. The agency
also has released numerous action alerts on the issue, resulting
in more than 14,000 messages sent to New Jersey lawmakers in
2006. As the Assembly
prepares to consider parity, NCADD-NJ has worked to build a coalition
of advocates and grass roots organizers, and is preparing another
round of action alerts to be sent to legislators. Additionally,
the state Mandated Health Benefits Review Commission quoted extensively
from NCADD-NJ research in endorsing the parity bill. Why do we need parity? When private insurance fails to pay for
appropriate treatment, the public sector pays. Parity will reduce
current cost shifting from the private sector to the public sector.
Parity saves money. Untreated or under-treated addiction costs
state, public and private employers in New Jersey $ 3.3 billion.
Health care costs declined by 40% for those treated for their depression
and by 23% to 55% following alcohol or drug treatment. This saves
employers up to $1.7 billion.
NCADD-NJ SUPPORTED BILLS THAT PASSED
INTO LAW
2006 | BILL: S-494/A-1852 First Introduced:
1993, Reintroduced 2004, Signed
into Law: 2006 "Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction
Act";
establishes demonstration program to permit operation of sterile
syringe access programs; appropriates $10 million for treatment
and outreach. It passed in Senate 23-16 and passed in the Assembly
49-27-4.
One of the most important aspects of
a syringe access program, many experts believe, is its being
a bridge to treatment. That was precisely the contribution NCADD-NJ
brought to New Jersey’s
needle exchange debate. The $10 million treatment appropriation
was a component of the bill for which NCADD-NJ successfully advocated.
That funding will help ensure that there is treatment for syringe
access program participants who want to break free of their addiction.
NCADD-NJ also successfully advocated that the bill contain provisions
for strict oversight and outcome measurement.
2001 | BILL: S2227 Introduced: 2001 Signed
into Law: 2001
Creates six superior court judgeships to allow expansion of drug
court program; provides appropriations for court staff and substance
abuse treatment. Sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner.
The bill will allow more New Jerseyans to participate in successful
drug court programs. In drug courts, eligible defendants are diverted
to treatment programs at various stages of the judicial process.
These courts explore safe, reasonable, and less expensive alternatives
to simply warehousing more inmates in the overcrowded prison system.
Under the drug court system, judges, treatment providers, public
defenders, and the law enforcement community take a collaborative
approach to drug cases, focusing on what is best for both the offender
and the community. According to the Administrative Office of the
Courts, the first and most expensive year of an offender's drug
court program costs about $17,000, with costs decreasing each subsequent
year. Even the first year of a drug court program costs about half
as much as a year of incarceration, which can cost $34,000.
Bill: A1932 Introduced:2000 Signed into Law:
2001
Bill allocating motor vehicle alcohol treatment surcharges. Sponsored
by Assemblymen Kip Bateman (R-Morris, Somerset) and Ken LeFevre
(R-Atlantic) and Senators Gary Furnari (D-Bergen, Essex, Passaic)
and James Cafiero (R-Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland), allocates
certain motor vehicle surcharges for alcohol treatment programs,
a recommendation of the 1998 Senate Task Force on Alcohol Related
Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities in New Jersey. The bill allocates
$1.5 million in Fiscal Year 2002 from the Division of Motor Vehicles
Surcharge Fund, which contains surcharges collected from drunk drivers,
to provide grants to fund treatment programs for alcoholism and
alcohol dependency among drunk drivers. The amount will be increased
by $1.5 million per year to an upper limit of $7.5 million in Fiscal
Year 2006 and each year thereafter. The allocation would be used
to create an Alcohol Treatment Program Fund in the Department of
Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
Bill: S692 Introduced: 2000 Signed into Law:
2000
Bill to fight underage drinking. Permits municipalities
to enact ordinance prohibiting possession or consumption of alcoholic
beverages on private property by underage persons. "This legislation
will enable municipalities to take steps to prevent underage persons
from illegally consuming alcoholic beverages in areas where they
once could drink and not be affected by the law," stated Whitman.
"This also ensures that communities are not negatively affected
by the poor behavior of underage drinkers." Sponsored by Senators
Leonard T. Connors, Jr. (R-Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean) and Anthony
R. Bucco (R-Morris) and Assembly Members Rose Marie Heck (R-Bergen),
Joseph V. Doria, Jr. (D-Hudson), Christopher J. Connors (R-Atlantic,
Burlington, Ocean), Kenneth C. LeFevre (R-Atlantic) and Jeffrey
W. Moran (R-Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean).
Bill: A1301 Introduced: 1998 Signed into Law:
1998
Establishes four regional diagnostic and treatment centers for child
abuse; appropriates $1.5 million. A1301 will establish
regional centers which to be affiliated with local medical centers.
The medical centers chosen will meet the standards adopted by the
Department of Human Services in consultation with the Governor's
Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. The bill appropriates $1.5
million from the general fund to implement the provisions. The four
treatment centers include: The UMDNJ Center for Children's Support
in Camden County; The Central Child Abuse Diagnostic Center at Robert
Wood Johnson and Saint Peter's Medical Centers in Middlesex County;
The Rapid Intervention Programs at Newark Beth Israel Hospital in
Essex County The Children's Home at Hackensack Medical Center in
Bergen County. The staff at each center will include at least one
pediatrician, consulting psychiatrist, psychologist, and social
worker trained to evaluate and treat victims of abuse and their
families. A member of the staff team will work as an advocate for
the child to ensure that all actions are taken in the child's best
interests. In addition, each center will develop a case tracking
process to help the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS)
and the prosecutor's office ensure that each child gets appropriate
and timely treatment.
The following amendments were proposed
and adopted:
At least one member of staff shall also have
an appropriate professional credential or significant training and
experience in the identification and treatment of substance abuse.
Providing treatment recommendations for the child and mental health
and substance abuse treatment recommendations for his/her family,
and providing mental health and substanc eabuse treatment recommendations
for persons convicted of child abuse or neglect.
A certified alcohol and drug counselor or other professional appropriately
credentialed to identify and treat substance abuse appointed to
advisory council.
Sponsored by Assembly Members Rose Heck (R- Bergen) and Gary Stuhltrager
(R-Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester) and Senators Louis Bassano (R-Essex,
Union) and Wynona Lipman (D-Essex, Union).
Bill: S685 Introduced: 1996 Signed into Law:
1998
Establishes the 'Alcohol and Drug Counselor Licensing and Certification
Act', appropriates $95,000. The law provides for the licensing
of clinical alcohol and drug counselors and the certification of
alcohol and drug counselors by the State Board of Marriage and Family
Therapy Counselors. Only licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors
many engage in the independent practice of alcohol and drug counseling
for a fee. Certified alcohol and drug counselors may practice under
the supervision of a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors.
The Governor signed a line- item veto to eliminate a $95,000 appropriation
included in the bill. The licensing fees should adequately cover
the cost of the licensing agency from its inception. Sponsored by
Senators Robert W. Singer (R-Burlington / Monmouth / Ocean) and
Edward T. O'Connor, Jr. (D-Hudson) and Assembly Members Melvin Cottrell
(R-Burlington / Monmouth / Ocean) and Joseph R. Malone (R-Burlington
/ Monmouth / Ocean), establishes the Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Licensing Act.
Bill: S1054 Introduced: 1994 Signed into Law:
1996
Establishes an 'Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing and Disabled' appropriates $ 350,000. The
new program includes public awareness and advocacy efforts for people
who are deaf, hard of hearing or disabled and in need of treatment,
as well as development of specialized treatments. To assist in establishing
the program, the bill creates an eight member advisory committee
and mandates that five of the members shall be deaf, hard of hearing
or disabled. Sponsored by Senator John Ewing (R-Morris, Somerset),
as well as Assemblymen Melvin Cottrell (R-Burlington, Monmouth,
Ocean) and Joseph Malone (R-Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean). This legislation
authorizes the spending of $350,000 to establish an Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Program for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Disabled.
Bill: A2178 Introduced: 1994 Signed into Law:
1995
Lance-Kavanaugh Bill providing $1.7 MILLION for Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Programs. The law will help to save valuable alcohol
and drug abuse programs throughout the state, the assemblymen noted.
The $1.7 million appropriation will go directly into the Alcohol
Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund in the state budget.
"It is unfortunate, but drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise in
New Jersey," said Lance, R-Hunterdon, Warren, Mercer, who serves
as vice-chairman of the committee. "Without this additional funding,
several counties will be forced either to reduce services or close
their treatment programs. We cannot afford to lose these valuable
treatment services." "We cannot put a price tag on alcohol and drug
rehabilitation programs," said Kavanaugh, R-Somerset, Morris, who
chairs the Appropriations Committee. "We must work to help victims
rehabilitate themselves, and we can do this by continuing to support
these treatment programs." Sponsored by Assemblymen Leonard Lance
and Walter J. Kavanaugh
Bill: S1171 Introduced: 1994 Signed into Law:
1995 The new law, which was passed in the Senate as S1171,
calls for first offenders to pay $75 a day and second time offenders
to pay $100 per day for attendance at the Intoxicated Driver Resource
Center. "Driving while drunk is a serious crime. Hundreds of New
Jerseyans are killed on the roads each year by drunken drivers,"
said Ewing, R-16. "It's expensive to treat the growing number of
people who need this type of educational program. With higher fees,
more individuals convicted of drunk driving will be able to get
the professional help they need." The legislation also calls for
an increase of the fee now payable to the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation
and Enforcement Fund to support the Intoxicated Driving Program
Unit, with future increases to be determined by the Commissioner
of Health in consultation with the Governor's Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Abuse.
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