How S 2918 changes current law

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: N.J.S.A. 26:2S-10.8.

• N.J.S.A. 26:2S-10.8

  "Serious mental illness" means the following psychiatric illnesses as defined in the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: (1) schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorders including bipolar and depressive, and bipolar disorders including hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed; (2) major depressive disorders, whether a single episode or recurrent, including, but not limited to, any major depressive disorder with peripartum onset; and (3) post-traumatic stress disorder. g. (1) A carrier shall provide coverage for a prescription drug prescribed for serious mental illness to covered persons without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, including, but not limited to, a step therapy protocol , if the prescriber is: (a) a psychiatrist; or (b) an obstetrician/gynecologist, during the postpartum period. (2) If a person has been stable and appropriately treated for a serious mental illness using a drug prescribed by a psychiatrist or an obstetrician/gynecologist for a period of six months, another prescriber may continue prescribing that drug without the imposition of any prior authorization or other utilization management requirements. (3) The provisions of this subsection shall only apply to persons who are 18 years of age or older .

  amended