NJ A3569

Creates a two-year Urgent Care Facility Behavioral Health Pilot Program to provide 24/7 behavioral health crisis care at hospital urgent care facilities, aiming to reduce unnecessary emergency department and inpatient admissions.

Requires the Department of Human Services to select Medicaid managed care organizations within 180 days to contract with six hospitals (two each in northern, central, and southern New Jersey regions), prioritizing pediatric-specialized facilities where feasible.

Mandates participating urgent care facilities employ at least one licensed behavioral clinician and one licensed clinical social worker, partner with psychiatrists for telemedicine services, and provide staff training on behavioral health awareness and intervention.

Establishes a value-based Medicaid payment system using quarterly advanced bundled payments, with managed care organizations sharing savings or losses proportionally with participating facilities.

Requires the department to submit a report within 90 days after program termination evaluating patient outcomes, cost comparisons with traditional settings, and recommendations on whether to make the program permanent.