In the final days of his administration, Governor Phil Murphy signed landmark legislation that significantly expands access to preventive behavioral health care for children, cementing New Jersey’s position as a national leader in early intervention policy.
GTB Partners was proud to support our clients, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and ZERO TO THREE, in advancing this critical initiative. Through sustained advocacy and stakeholder engagement, this effort helps ensure that New Jersey’s children and families can access care earlier, before challenges escalate into more serious conditions.
The new law requires both Medicaid and commercial insurers to cover mental and behavioral health services for children who are at risk or exhibiting early signs of mental health concerns, even in the absence of a formal diagnosis. By removing this longstanding barrier, New Jersey has become the first state in the nation to guarantee access to these preventive services at such a critical developmental stage.
This policy represents a fundamental shift toward proactive, rather than reactive, care, prioritizing early identification and intervention when treatment is most effective and outcomes can be significantly improved. At a time when youth mental health needs are rising nationwide, this legislation ensures families can access the support they need without delay.
We commend Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy for their leadership on children’s health, as well as Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senator Joe Vitale, and Assemblywomen Andrea Katz, Linda S. Carter, and Rosie Bagolie for championing this effort in the Legislature. We also recognize the bill’s cosponsors and advocates across the state whose collaboration made this achievement possible.
This new law marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening New Jersey’s behavioral health system, protecting access to care, supporting families, and improving long-term outcomes for the state’s youngest residents.
Read the full press release here.
