The New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition and pediatric behavioral health experts across the state are celebrating Governor Murphy’s signature on landmark legislation that will improve access to preventive behavioral health services for children.
Under the new law, preventive services such as counseling, family guidance, and education, along with brief intervention services, can be billed to Medicaid and state-regulated commercial health plans using at-risk screening (or Z-codes), without requiring a formal psychiatric diagnosis.
“The new law affirms that prevention matters,” said Kate Shamszad, Director of Policy at the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, which facilitates the Coalition. “By expanding access to behavioral health supports without waiting for a formal diagnosis, New Jersey is strengthening families, supporting pediatric providers, and addressing children’s mental health needs at the moment when intervention is most effective.”
Prior to the law, behavioral health providers would not be reimbursed unless a child or adolescent already met criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis.
“Under the previous rules, my primary care colleagues could not bring me in to consult until a child or adolescent already met criteria for an anxiety disorder or another psychiatric diagnosis,” said Jennifer Mautone, Ph.D., pediatric primary care psychologist and Director of the Pediatric Research Consortium at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “Allowing clinicians, like me, to capture real-life stressors and risks to inform treatment, is a simple change that can be truly transformative. It will let us respond earlier, reduce stigma from premature diagnoses, and help children and families get the right care before challenges turn into crises.”
New Jersey has now joined a growing movement to make preventive behavioral health services more accessible and recognize early relational health as foundational to children’s development. This approach supports family-centered strategies that address root causes such as school stress, bullying, and parenting challenges, as well as reduces reliance on emergency and crisis care.
"The research is clear that prevention is good medicine. Intervening early with children gives them the foundation to thrive in the face of difficult experiences and/or stressful environments,” said Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director of HealthySteps, a program of ZERO TO THREE. “We applaud the New Jersey Legislature for leading the way in advancing policies that require Medicaid and commercial insurance to pay providers for preventive behavioral health visits—something that families and providers have long advocated for. This is a game-changer for New Jersey's children, families, and communities."
The Coalition extends its heartfelt gratitude to Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy for their steadfast leadership in addressing the behavioral health needs of children and families across New Jersey, along with the lawmakers who made this possible, including Senate President Scutari, Senator Vitale, Assemblywoman Katz, Assemblywoman Carter, and Assemblywoman Bagolie, along with all the bill’s cosponsors. The change takes effect in three months.
About the New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition
The New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition exists to identify and address barriers to sustainable, family-centered early childhood promotion and prevention services that strengthen caregiver-child relationships in the early years. The Coalition focuses on advancing policy solutions, enhancing financing mechanisms, fostering workforce development, and building an ecosystem of evidence-based and evidence-informed models that support early relational health and healthy child development in pediatric primary care across New Jersey. Participating members/organizations include: Advocates for Children of New Jersey; Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University; Centering Healthcare Institute; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; HealthySteps National Office; the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute; John V. Jacobi, Dorothea Dix Professor of Health Law & Policy, Play Read VIP; ; Reach Out and Read New Jersey; and Tara Adams Ragone, Assistant Professor, at Seton Hall University School of Law.
Featured in this article
Specialties & Programs
The New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition and pediatric behavioral health experts across the state are celebrating Governor Murphy’s signature on landmark legislation that will improve access to preventive behavioral health services for children.
Under the new law, preventive services such as counseling, family guidance, and education, along with brief intervention services, can be billed to Medicaid and state-regulated commercial health plans using at-risk screening (or Z-codes), without requiring a formal psychiatric diagnosis.
“The new law affirms that prevention matters,” said Kate Shamszad, Director of Policy at the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, which facilitates the Coalition. “By expanding access to behavioral health supports without waiting for a formal diagnosis, New Jersey is strengthening families, supporting pediatric providers, and addressing children’s mental health needs at the moment when intervention is most effective.”
Prior to the law, behavioral health providers would not be reimbursed unless a child or adolescent already met criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis.
“Under the previous rules, my primary care colleagues could not bring me in to consult until a child or adolescent already met criteria for an anxiety disorder or another psychiatric diagnosis,” said Jennifer Mautone, Ph.D., pediatric primary care psychologist and Director of the Pediatric Research Consortium at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). “Allowing clinicians, like me, to capture real-life stressors and risks to inform treatment, is a simple change that can be truly transformative. It will let us respond earlier, reduce stigma from premature diagnoses, and help children and families get the right care before challenges turn into crises.”
New Jersey has now joined a growing movement to make preventive behavioral health services more accessible and recognize early relational health as foundational to children’s development. This approach supports family-centered strategies that address root causes such as school stress, bullying, and parenting challenges, as well as reduces reliance on emergency and crisis care.
"The research is clear that prevention is good medicine. Intervening early with children gives them the foundation to thrive in the face of difficult experiences and/or stressful environments,” said Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director of HealthySteps, a program of ZERO TO THREE. “We applaud the New Jersey Legislature for leading the way in advancing policies that require Medicaid and commercial insurance to pay providers for preventive behavioral health visits—something that families and providers have long advocated for. This is a game-changer for New Jersey's children, families, and communities."
The Coalition extends its heartfelt gratitude to Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy for their steadfast leadership in addressing the behavioral health needs of children and families across New Jersey, along with the lawmakers who made this possible, including Senate President Scutari, Senator Vitale, Assemblywoman Katz, Assemblywoman Carter, and Assemblywoman Bagolie, along with all the bill’s cosponsors. The change takes effect in three months.
About the New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition
The New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition exists to identify and address barriers to sustainable, family-centered early childhood promotion and prevention services that strengthen caregiver-child relationships in the early years. The Coalition focuses on advancing policy solutions, enhancing financing mechanisms, fostering workforce development, and building an ecosystem of evidence-based and evidence-informed models that support early relational health and healthy child development in pediatric primary care across New Jersey. Participating members/organizations include: Advocates for Children of New Jersey; Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University; Centering Healthcare Institute; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; HealthySteps National Office; the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute; John V. Jacobi, Dorothea Dix Professor of Health Law & Policy, Play Read VIP; ; Reach Out and Read New Jersey; and Tara Adams Ragone, Assistant Professor, at Seton Hall University School of Law.
Contact us
Kaitlyn Dvorin
Government Affairs, Health Policy, and Advocacy