Medicaid Monitor
Policy Intelligence
Medicaid Monitor
Policy Intelligence
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New Jersey Monitor

9 stories

State Policy·NJ·2d ago

NJ Advocates Demand Oversight After Opioid Funds Misspent

New spending reports released Thursday show New Jersey state, county, and municipal officials spent opioid settlement funds on bounce houses, DJs, dirt bike demonstrations, ice cream events, graduation parties, and other questionable items instead of core addiction treatment and prevention priorities. The $60 million spent over the past year is part of $1.1 billion New Jersey will receive through 2038 from drug manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies to resolve opioid lawsuits. Harm reduction advocates, including the New Jersey Organizing Project and Sea Change Recovery Community, are calling for tighter oversight, pointing to prior criticism from the former state comptroller and attorney general over similar misuse, including a $45 million diversion to hospitals facing federal Medicaid cuts. Municipalities were singled out as the "worst offenders" of stretching definitions of prevention and treatment barriers to justify spending.

State Policy·NJ·13d ago

New Jersey Faces Loss of Medicaid Coverage for 25,000 Legal Immigrants October 1

A federal Medicaid eligibility change will terminate coverage for approximately 25,000 legal immigrants in New Jersey effective October 1, 2026. The policy shift affects noncitizen residents currently enrolled in the state's Medicaid program. New Jersey officials and advocates are assessing the impact on affected enrollees and state program operations. The change represents one of several federal policy modifications now affecting Medicaid eligibility for noncitizen populations.

State Policy·NJ·19d ago

New Jersey Bill Would Increase Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance for Nursing Home Residents

New Jersey legislators advanced a bill to add a cost-of-living adjustment to the monthly personal needs allowance for nursing home residents enrolled in Medicaid. The legislation would increase the allowance that residents retain for personal expenses after Medicaid pays for their care. The bill has moved forward in the legislature but timing for final passage and effective date remain unclear. The change would affect Medicaid long-term care financing and could modestly increase state Medicaid spending while improving residents' ability to cover incidental expenses.

State Policy·NJ·20d ago

New Jersey Parents Push Insurance Mandate for PANS and PANDAS Treatment Coverage

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation requiring commercial insurers to cover treatment for PANS and PANDAS, rare pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders often triggered by infections. The bill, introduced in fall 2025, has bipartisan support but has not yet received a hearing. Seventeen states have already adopted similar mandates. A state advisory commission found treatments cost $10,000-$15,000 annually per patient but noted limited clinical evidence for the most expensive therapies. The proposed mandate would not apply to Medicaid, which covers over one-third of New Jersey children, though NJ Family Care currently covers medically necessary treatment.

Federal Policy·20d ago

USCIS Public Charge Rule Allows Medicaid and CHIP Use in Immigration Status Decisions

A new USCIS rule effective September 18, 2026, permits immigration officers to consider applicants' enrollment in Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP when evaluating green card and visa applications, reversing Biden-era restrictions. The policy applies to immigrants seeking lawful permanent residency but exempts refugees, asylees, VAWA self-petitioners, and certain other groups. The Department of Homeland Security estimates the rule could reduce federal and state spending by nearly $9 billion annually due to disenrollment or forgone enrollment by U.S. citizens and eligible household members in mixed-status families. KFF projects between 1.4 million and 4.1 million Medicaid and CHIP enrollees in households with noncitizens could disenroll due to immigration-related concerns.

State Policy·NJ·33d ago

Rutgers Dental School Expands Free Sealant Program in New Jersey Schools

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine launched a school-based dental sealant program serving low-income school districts across New Jersey, providing free preventive care including sealants and oral health screenings to students. The program treated 200 students in Franklin Township starting in February 2026 and plans to expand to Atlantic County schools in fall 2026. The state Department of Health provided $55,000 in grants to support the initiative, which addresses New Jersey's high rates of untreated dental disease among children — more than one-third of third graders have untreated decay compared to one-fifth nationwide. The program targets children in Medicaid and low-income families, who face higher decay rates and limited access to pediatric dentists accepting Medicaid.

Legal·NJ·43d ago

Business Groups Sue New Jersey Over Employer Fines for Workers on Medicaid

Business organizations have filed suit challenging a New Jersey law that imposes fines on large employers whose workers are enrolled in Medicaid. The plaintiffs argue the statute violates federal privacy laws by requiring employers to inquire about workers' health insurance status. The lawsuit seeks to void the law before it takes effect. The case could affect state efforts to shift Medicaid costs to employers and has implications for how states structure employer responsibility provisions in health coverage programs.

State Policy·NJ·86d ago

New Jersey Bill Advances to Help Medicaid Recipients Meet Federal Work Requirements

New Jersey Democrats advanced legislation Monday to help Medicaid beneficiaries find volunteer positions that satisfy new federal work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP benefits. The bill aims to facilitate compliance with federal mandates by creating pathways to qualifying volunteer opportunities. The legislation responds to new federal work requirements that could affect Medicaid eligibility for certain adult beneficiaries. If enacted, the bill would provide infrastructure to connect beneficiaries with compliant work activities.

State Policy·NJ·95d ago

New Jersey Legislature Passes Employer Fee Targeting Firms With 50+ Medicaid-Enrolled Workers

New Jersey lawmakers approved legislation imposing fees on employers with at least 50 workers enrolled in Medicaid, projected to generate $145 million in state revenue. The fee targets companies whose employees rely on public coverage, effectively shifting costs to employers for their workforce's health benefits. The measure now heads to the governor for signature. This represents a novel state financing mechanism that could affect Medicaid managed care enrollment patterns and employer benefit decisions.

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