FY2025-Annual-Report

NJAMHAA Annual Report FY 2025 9 NJAMHAA realized many wins in the Governor’s FY2025 proposed budget, including retention of the $75 million increases to rates and contracts from the prior two budget years ($37.5 million each year) and there were additional successes in the final budget bill as a result of legislative add-ons. Most notably, $22 million was added to the FY2025 budget to increase “Children’s System of Care Medicaid-based fee-for-service contracts and cost reimbursement contracts”. Other wins included: Proposed FY2026 Budget Given the state’s fiscal environment, maintaining prior levels of funding across the board is certainly a big win! This was the case for the Children’s System of Care and, notably, both the NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) and School Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP) were kept whole. While there were some reductions within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), these were largely from underspending (“trends”) and its leadership stressed that services and numbers served should not be impacted. The new line item in DMHAS’ budget for $2.4 million for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) is one of NJAMHAA’s budget priorities that was included in the Governor’s proposed budget. These funds will fully support New Jersey’s seven demonstration CCBHC programs when their enhanced federal match is reduced on October 1st. The Governor’s budget also includes a 40 cent per phone/per month fee that would support the 988 crisis services continuum. NJAMHAA has joined with other state and national associations to advocate for this fee, which is facing resistance from some legislators as they oppose all proposed taxes and fees without distinction. As we continue to educate legislators on the need for this funding and NJAMHAA’s FY2025 campaign, Untold Stories njamha.org/FB/2025-advocacy-piece/index.html scan to read State Budget Wins and Advocacy A $2 million increase for the Behavioral Health Loan Redemption Program for a total of $7 million $7.3 million to expand the Children’s System of Care respite services An end to shifting professional licensing boards’ revenue to State Police salaries, which was among NJAMHAA’s priorities (this had been $8.5 million in FY2024.) A $10 million increase to the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Supplemental for a total of $34 million Nearly doubled funding for the ARRIVE (Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence & Escalation) Together Program for a total of $20 million importance of the crisis services it would support, we remain optimistic for our ultimate success, both for the upcoming fiscal year and beyond. NJAMHAA’s current campaign, Untold Stories: Why Access to Care Must Be the Highest Priority , outlines the many areas where greater investment and policy changes are needed. We will continue to bring the messages within it to policymakers, legislators and the public through direct engagement, press releases, op eds, letters to the editor, and the use of social media as we work toward additional successes on behalf of NJAMHAA members and the individuals they serve.