Bill Text: NJ A3961 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Authorizes use of telemedicine and telehealth in connection with medicinal cannabis program for duration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-01 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [A3961 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A3961-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 3961

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 1, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Authorizes use of telemedicine and telehealth in connection with medicinal cannabis program for duration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning the use of telemedicine and telehealth in connection with the State medicinal cannabis program.

 

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

 

     1.    a.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for the duration of the state of emergency or the public health emergency declared in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, whichever is longer, health care practitioners may use telemedicine and telehealth to:

     (1)   authorize qualifying patients for the medical use of cannabis, consistent with the requirements of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-1 et al.); and

     (2)   issue written instructions to qualifying patients for medical cannabis consistent with the requirements of section 10 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-10). 

     b.    The registration of a patient who is authorized for medical cannabis using telemedicine or telehealth pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and the registration of any caregiver designated by the patient pursuant to that authorization, shall be valid for two years and shall thereafter be subject to renewal, consistent with the requirements of section 4 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-4).

     c.     For the purposes of this section:

     (1)   The definitions set forth in section 3 of P.L.2009, c.307 (C.24:6I-3) are incorporated by reference. 

     (2)   "Telemedicine" and "telehealth" shall have the same meaning as is provided in section 1 of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61), except that any waivers, orders, or requirements issued or adopted in relation to the use of telemedicine and telehealth during the COVID-19 emergency shall apply in the same manner for the purposes of this section, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of cannabis.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill authorizes, for the duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency, the use of telemedicine and telehealth to approve qualifying patients for the medical use of cannabis and to issue written instructions for medical cannabis to qualifying patients.  The registration of a patient or designated caregiver who is registered with the medicinal cannabis program pursuant to an authorization issued using telemedicine or telehealth under the bill will be valid for the standard two-year period and may be renewed.  Any waivers, orders, or requirements issued or adopted in relation to the use of telemedicine and telehealth during the COVID-19 emergency will apply in the same manner to the use of telemedicine and telehealth under the bill, provided that nothing in the bill is to be construed to require a government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a person for costs associated with the medical use of cannabis.

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