NJ A905

Residential mental health treatment facilities providing 24/7 structured care for patients with mental health conditions or substance use disorders must obtain a license from the Commissioner of Health to operate in New Jersey.

Facilities must provide care consistent with American Society of Addiction Medicine Level 3.5 standards, serving patients who need support but not inpatient hospitalization, with the goal of transitioning patients to lower levels of community-based care.

Licensed residential mental health treatment facilities cannot operate at the same location as residential substance use disorders treatment facilities or programs.

Residential mental health treatment facilities are exempted from the certificate of need requirement, eliminating the need for Department of Health approval before constructing, relocating, or renovating facilities.

The Commissioner of Health must adopt licensing regulations within 90 days of the bill's effective date, structured similarly to existing regulations for residential substance use disorders treatment facilities.