Mental Health & Substance Abuse Providers Call on New Jersey To Save Acute Outpatient Services Partial Care and Intensive Outpatient Services are in danger of disappearing, and thousands of New Jerseyans risk hospitalization in the inevitable fallout. Since 2022 the number of programs serving clients has dropped by almost a quarter, and many more are at risk of following suit. Medicaid pays $19.89/hr for partial care, while the cost of care is as high as $27/hr. Without intervention from the state, many more programs will close,taking the progress of too many New Jerseyans with severe mental health challenges with them. Without these programs, many will backslide and find themselves hospitalized or worse. An expensive alternative, costing the state more than it would to raise the reimbursement rates for these programs to keep them sustainable and harming thousands in the process. 29 providers of these services have signed the letter below urging the Legislature to pass S668/A2868 and for the Governor to sign it into law. Letter: To Whom It May Concern, Please support bills S668 and A2868 and help pass them into law. This bill aims to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services. These services provide vital support to individuals struggling with mental health issues, helping them manage symptoms, maintain stability, and improve overall well-being. Current Medicaid reimbursement rates lag significantly behind the cost of care, putting these services at risk of disappearing. This would leave vulnerable populations without access to life-saving care and result in thousands of hospitalizations, a bigger financial PRESS RELEASES Sign up for Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence Briefing SUBSCRIBE x burden to the state. By supporting this bill, you will help ensure that mental health professionals can continue to provide high-quality care to those who need it most. This increased funding will also address the perpetuation of inequities in the system and ensure vulnerable populations receive the care they deserve. Furthermore, this bill increases rates to align our transportation costs with LogistiCare’s rates, which are funded by the state for non-emergency Medicaid transportation. Despite our efficient operations, we receive lower rates for the same services, resulting in financial losses. This rate increase will ensure our facility can continue providing essential mental health and addiction services, including reliable transportation, to the community. We urge you to prioritize the mental health needs of New Jersey’s most vulnerable populations by supporting S668 and A2868.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
The undersigned Vince Haba, Executive Director All Access Mental Health
Jim Curtin, Chief Business & Government Relations Officer Acenda Integrated Health
Brian Fitzgerald, President & Chief Executive Officer Matt Binder, Senior Advocacy Specialist CenterPath Wellness, an Affiliate of Easterseals New Jersey
Robert Davison, Chief Executive Officer Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, Inc.
Michelle Borden, Chief Executive Officer NewBridge Services Derry Holland, Chief Executive Officer Oaks Integrated Care
Debbie Chisolm, Executive Director South Jersey Behavioral Health Resources
Elizabeth Meenan, Executive Director The Guidance Center
Nicolle DeLuca, Program Director Wiley Christian Behavioral Management Services
Dan Czermak, President ACHS Viktoriya Fine, Chief Executive Officer Adult Family Health Services
Yochanan Danziger, Executive Director Advanced Behavorial Care services
Alex Kushnir, Chief Financial Officer Behavioral Crossroads and Behavioral Crossroads Recovery LLC
Martin Coleman, Program Administrator Community Care
Dov Dembitzer, Executive Director Emerald Behavioral Healthcare – Camden
Eugene Buchinger, Executive Director Helping Hand Behavioral Health – Clayton
Aron Kreiswerth, Executive Director Helping Hand Behavioral Health – Galloway
Daniel Blatt, Executive Director Highpoint Partial care Shea Jacobs, Managing Partner
Michael Lutz Medallion Behavioral Helth
Yossi Deutsch, Chief Executive Officer Mercer Behavorial Health
Eli Kaufman, Executive Director Morning Glory
Eli Schon, Executive Director New Essecare of NJ
Phil Fuhrer, Chief Financial Officer Phoenix Behavorial Health
Michael Samet, Chief Executive Officer Social Club House
Aron Taub, Founder Social Recovery Center Sign up for Insider NJ's Morning Intelligence
Zalman Drew, Governing Body Samuel Oberstfeld, Executive Director Taylor Care Adult Behavioral Health
Chesky Schomberger, Executive Director The New Hope Behavioral Center
Eli Danziger, Executive Director Unity Place of Atlantic County
Jerry Tischler, Executive Director Unity Place of Monmouth County Unity Place Partial Care
Contact: Matt Binder Email: mbinder@nj.easterseals.com
Phone: 201-341-9794
Address: 241 Forsgate Dr., Suite 200, Jamesburg, NJ 08831 (Visited 15 times, 3 visits today)
