NJAMHAA Applauds Continuation of $100 Million in Funding to Fight the Opioid Crisis in Governor Murphy’s Proposed Budget

The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) applauds the continuation of both this year’s $100 million in funding to fight the opioid crisis and the rate increases for psychiatric diagnostic evaluations with and without medical services in outpatient mental health programs, which will go into effect on April 1, 2019, in Gov. Murphy’s proposed FY2020 budget.

As mental illnesses also commonly occur along with intellectual and developmental disabilities, NJAMHAA commends Gov. Murphy on the proposed increased funding for the Division of Developmental Disabilities that includes $7 million in state funds and an additional $2.5 million in federal funds for crisis stabilization programs, as well as funding for a pilot Behavioral Health Home program for individuals with dual diagnoses.

NJAMHAA is also pleased that Gov. Murphy directs the Department of Human Services, Department of Banking and Insurance and Treasury Department to examine insurance plans’ compliance with the parity law, which requires benefits for mental health and substance use services to be at the same level as those for medical and surgical services, and to develop plans for more strictly enforce parity in the future.

Click here for more details on NJAMHAA’s budget priorities.