A4180

A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L.2025, c.74, and repealing section 111 of P.L.2025, c.74.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2025, c.74, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:

54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

20 Physical and Mental Health

23 Behavioral Health Services

7700 Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services

GRANTS-IN-AID

09-7700 Addiction Services ............................................. $45,000,000

Total Grants-in-Aid appropriation,

Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services $45,000,000

Grants-in-Aid:

09 Opioid Hospital Initiatives.................. ($45,000,000)

Notwithstanding the provision of any law or regulation to the contrary, the amount hereinabove appropriated for Opioid Hospital Initiatives shall be distributed to the following hospitals, in the amounts indicated, and used for the purpose of providing necessary care and treatment for victims of opioid-related health issues consistent with the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council’s most recent strategic plan: $10 million to Hackensack, $15 million to RWJ Barnabas, $15 million to Cooper, and $5 million to Atlantic Health. Each hospital, as a condition of receiving funds under this paragraph, shall submit a quarterly report to the Commissioner of Human Services until all funds received under this paragraph are expended, which report shall provide: a description of the use of all funds expended, the number of individuals served under each use, outcomes data associated with the expended funds, the balance of any remaining funds, and any additional information required by the commissioner. Consistent with CMS guidelines and subject to any required federal approval, the amounts appropriated pursuant to this paragraph may be utilized by the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services to maximize federal Medicaid funds.

2. Section 111 of P.L.2025, c.74 is repealed.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill shifts a $45 million FY2026 appropriation for opioid related care and treatment provided at certain hospitals from the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to the General Fund. Specifically, the bill makes a FY 2026 supplemental appropriation of $45 million from the General Fund to the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services (division) for Opioid Hospital Initiatives. These funds are required to be distributed to the following hospitals, in the amounts indicated, and used for the purpose of providing necessary care and treatment for victims of opioid-related health issues consistent with the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council’s most recent strategic plan: $10 million to Hackensack, $15 million to RWJ Barnabas, $15 million to Cooper, and $5 million to Atlantic Health. Each hospital, as a condition of receiving funds, is required to submit a quarterly report to the Commissioner of Human Services until all funds received under the bill are expended. The reports are to provide: a description of the use of all funds expended, the number of individuals served under each use, outcomes data associated with the expended funds, the balance of any remaining funds, and any additional information required by the commissioner. Consistent with guidelines from the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, and subject to any required federal approval, the amounts appropriated under the bill may be utilized by the division to maximize federal Medicaid funds.

Additionally, this bill removes general provision 111 from the FY 2026 appropriations act, which provides for the appropriation of $45 million from the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to the division for the identical purpose and distribution as required under the bill. Under P.L.2023, c.25, the Department of Human Services administers the non-lapsing Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, where settlement-agreement payments are deposited from producers and distributors of opioid-based pharmaceuticals concerning their alleged liability for the nationwide opioid epidemic.