NEW JERSEY
Parity Law
Unfortunately, New Jersey has no telemedicine parity law at the moment. However, in 2015 legislation was introduced to provide parity under private insurance, managed care plans and state employee plans, and is currently under review.
Type of Telemedicine Covered
New Jersey does not have a set definition for “telemedicine.”
New Jersey Medicaid currently will cover telepsychiatry psychiatry, when practiced by psychiatrist or psychiatric advance nurse practitioner.
Covered Health Services
Since 2013, New Jersey’s Medicaid program has offered coverage for outpatient telepsychiatry when the patient is at a mental health clinic or outpatient hospital. This coverage is only available for interactive audio-video, when a telepresenter is with the patient.
According to the CCHPCA:
“Telepsychiatry may be utilized by mental health clinics and/or hospital providers of outpatient mental health services to meet their physician related requirements including but not limited to intake evaluations, periodic psychiatric evaluations, medication management and/or psychotherapy sessions for clients of any age.
Eligible Healthcare Providers
New Jersey’s Medicaid program allows psychiatrists to bill for telemedicine services.
Online Prescriptions
For psychiatry, any practitioner writing a prescription for online must be licensed in New Jersey.
Informed Patient Consent
New Jersey Medicaid requires providers to get a patient’s written consent before a telemedicine visit. We recommend this anyway as a telemedicine best practice. You can find the recommended patient consent form here.
Cross-State Telemedicine Licensing
Practicing telemedicine in New Jersey requires a full New Jersey state medical license, unless the transmission is between two providers.
Restrictions on Locations
New Jersey Medicaid has very limiting restrictions on where the patient can be located for the telemedicine service to be covered. Patients can only receive telepsychiatry care when they are at a mental health clinic or an outpatient hospital.
Helpful Resources
Center for Connected Health Policy – New Jersey Page
State Medicaid Resource Website
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center