New Jersey S 1629: Establishes the "Mortgage Assistance Pilot Program."

Bill Text

S1629 

SENATE, No. 1629 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator ANDREW ZWICKER

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

SYNOPSIS

���� Expressly allows health care professionals located 
outside New Jersey to provide services using telemedicine and telehealth to 
patients in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning telemedicine and telehealth and amending 
P.L2017, c.117.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 2 of P.L.2017, 
c.117 (C.45:1-62) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.� a.� Unless specifically 
prohibited or limited by federal or State law, a health care provider who 
establishes a proper provider-patient relationship with a patient may remotely 
provide health care services to a patient through the use of telemedicine, 
regardless of whether the health care provider is located in New Jersey at the 
time the remote health care services are provided.� A health care provider 
may also engage in telehealth as may be necessary to support and facilitate the 
provision of health care services to patients.

���� b.��� Any health care provider 
who uses telemedicine or engages in telehealth while providing health care 
services to a patient, shall:� (1) be validly licensed, certified, or 
registered, pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, to provide such 
services in the State of New Jersey; (2) remain subject to regulation by the 
appropriate New Jersey State licensing board or other New Jersey State 
professional regulatory entity; (3) act in compliance with existing 
requirements regarding the maintenance of liability insurance; and (4) remain 
subject to New Jersey jurisdiction if either the patient or the provider is 
located in New Jersey at the time services are provided.

���� c.� (1)� Telemedicine services 
shall be provided using interactive, real-time, two-way communication 
technologies.

���� (2)�� A health care provider 
engaging in telemedicine or telehealth may use asynchronous store-and-forward 
technology to allow for the electronic transmission of images, diagnostics, 
data, and medical information; except that the health care provider may use interactive, 
real-time, two-way audio in combination with asynchronous store-and-forward 
technology, without video capabilities, if, after accessing and reviewing the 
patient's medical records, the provider determines that the provider is able to 
meet the same standard of care as if the health care services were being 
provided in person.

���� (3)�� The identity, 
professional credentials, and contact information of a health care provider 
providing telemedicine or telehealth services shall be made available to the 
patient during and after the provision of services.� The contact information 
shall enable the patient to contact the health care provider, or a substitute 
health care provider authorized to act on behalf of the provider who provided 
services, for at least 72 hours following the provision of services.

���� (4)�� A health care provider 
engaging in telemedicine or telehealth shall review the medical history and any 
medical records provided by the patient.� For an initial encounter with the 
patient, the provider shall review the patient's medical history and medical 
records prior to initiating contact with the patient, as required pursuant to 
paragraph (3) of subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.2017, c.117 
(C.45:1-63).� In the case of a subsequent telemedicine or telehealth encounter 
conducted pursuant to an ongoing provider-patient relationship, the provider 
may review the information prior to initiating contact with the patient or 
contemporaneously with the telemedicine or telehealth encounter.

���� (5)�� Following the provision 
of services using telemedicine or telehealth, the patient's medical information 
shall be made available to the patient upon the patient's request, and, with 
the patient's affirmative consent, forwarded directly to the patient's primary 
care provider or health care provider of record, or, upon request by the 
patient, to other health care providers.� For patients without a primary care 
provider or other health care provider of record, the health care provider 
engaging in telemedicine or telehealth may advise the patient to contact a 
primary care provider, and, upon request by the patient, assist the patient 
with locating a primary care provider or other in-person medical assistance 
that, to the extent possible, is located within reasonable proximity to the 
patient.� The health care provider engaging in telemedicine or telehealth shall 
also refer the patient to appropriate follow up care where necessary, including 
making appropriate referrals for emergency or complimentary care, if needed.� 
Consent may be oral, written, or digital