TRENTON, New Jersey — January 20, 2026 — The New Jersey Early Relational Health Coalition and pediatric behavioral health experts across the state are celebrating Governor Murphy’s signature on landmark legislation that will improve access to preventive behavioral health services for children.
Under the new law, preventive services such as counseling, family guidance, and education, along with brief intervention services, can be billed to Medicaid and state-regulated commercial health plans using at-risk screening (or Z-codes), without requiring a formal psychiatric diagnosis.
“The research is clear that prevention is good medicine. Intervening early with children gives them the foundation to thrive in the face of difficult experiences and/or stressful environments,” said Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director of HealthySteps, a program of ZERO TO THREE. “We applaud the New Jersey Legislature for leading the way in advancing policies that require Medicaid and commercial insurance to pay providers for preventive behavioral health visits—something that families and providers have long advocated for. This is a game-changer for New Jersey’s children, families, and communities.”
